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What Must I Do to be Saved? The Best Kept Secret So, what shall we do? That is the very question that a multitude of people asked Peter and the apostles on the day of Pentecost. On that day thousands of people had gathered to listen to Peter. On that day, the people finally understood who Jesus was, they understood that they had crucified their Savior, and they believed that he was raised up from the dead! They asked Peter and the apostles, "What shall we do?" Brace yourself, because his answer is not want you have heard a million times before. In fact, you would think that Peter's answer was the best kept secret in the bible! Acts 2: 38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. So, in response, what the people do? Did they act on Peter's answer? verse 41 And they that gladly received his word were baptized. Peter did NOT say, "Repeat this sinner's prayer." Peter did NOT say, "Invite Jesus into your heart." Peter did NOT say, "Just be a good person." Peter did NOT say, "Believe. Have faith." Peter did NOT say, "Call on the name of the Lord." Calling on the name of the Lord:   If you look in your bible at verse 21 of Acts chapter 2,, Peter said, "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." But, he continued to preach. So, listen to what he said next. There was more! That was not the end of the lesson! In verses 22-36, the people continued to listen to him preach, Then, when they were convinced, they believed, and his words cut to their hearts, and then they asked the question, "What shall we do?" His answer was, "Repent and be baptized for forgiveness of your sins!" Why didn't he simply say, "Call on the name of the Lord?" The answer is demonstrated in Acts 22 with Saul's conversion. Jesus appeared to Saul, verse 8, "I am Jesus" and Jesus told him, "Go to Damascus and there you will be told what to do!" You see, there was something that he needed to do. So, Saul went. What was he told to do? Acts 22: 16 And now, why tarrist thou? (Why do you wait?) Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. You see, it is in the act of baptism that we call on the name of the Lord. What is baptism and why is it important? Baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo" which means to make fully wet or immerse. It comes from the root word "bapto" which means to cover wholly, to dip, to stain (as with dye) or to wash. 1) Baptism is a new birth. Have you ever heard that we must be born again? John 3: 3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. We have all experienced the physical birth. But now we must be born again of Water and Spirit. 2) Baptism puts you inside Christ. Romans 6: 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ... Galatians 3: 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ... 3) Baptism buries you with Christ so that you can share in his    death and resurrection. Romans 6: 3-5   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Colossian 2: 12 12   Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 4) Baptism saves us... 1 Peter 3: 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark 16: 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 5) Baptism washes away your sins... Acts 22: 16 Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins. and Acts 2: 38 ...be baptized for the remission of sins. How Urgent is Baptism? The book of Acts is the book of conversions. There we find examples of people being converted to Christ. The following people responded to the gospel by being baptized. Example #1    The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized immediately upon hearing the gospel, Acts 8: 26-39 ...they came to a certain water: and the enuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest... and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him. Example #2    The Jailer and his whole family were baptized the same hour that they heard the gospel. Acts 16: 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Example #4    Saul was blinded for three days, but as soon as his eyesight was restored, he got baptized immediately. Acts 9: 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. Example #5    Cornelius received the Holy Spirit FIRST, but he still got baptized immediately! Acts 10: 47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Never once did Peter or any apostle tell anyone at any time to say a sinner's prayer. Never once did they tell anyone to invite Jesus into their heart. What did Peter say? Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter's answer is the gospel of your salvation! ... the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit... Ephesians 1:13. It was the first gospel message after the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts, Christ's church was established. Those who were baptized were added to the church and they received the Holy Spirit. You may be asking yourself, "Why should I care what Peter said?" The answer is in Matthew 16:18-19. Jesus said... And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven... There you have it! Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter. He gave the keys to one person, not anyone else: not the pope, not Billy Graham, not your preacher, and not you. Jesus gave them to Peter and that is why I listened to Peter's gospel of salvation. Peter holds the keys! Peter said it, so it is bound on earth and in heaven. If you want to be sealed by the Holy Spirit, then you should listen to his answer and then be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. Key #1... Believe Key #2... Repent Key #3... Be Baptized for forgiveness Key # 4... You will receive the Holy Spirit! Peter's answer and the answer for every believer was always the same: Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22: 16.