For people interested in serving God, this is probably the single most important question that might be asked. Philosophers and theologians have debated for centuries a question that is as old as Christianity. In fact, this very question was posed on the day the church was established (Acts 2:37).
Even in New Testament times we read of three different answers being given to this one enquiry, “What must I do to be saved?” A look at the Bible will help us to resolve how Christians in the first century answered it and how those who were seeking an answer were assured by God of their salvation.
After the apostle Paul and Silas had preached in the northern Greek town of Philippi and converted some of the locals to Jesus Christ, they were accused of being law-breakers. They were then beaten, and handed over to the city jailer who “threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks” (Acts
The jailer, knowing his predicament, then asked Paul and Silas, 
“‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household” (Acts
On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter took his stand with the eleven other apostles and preached to the crowds that had gathered and in no uncertain terms told them that they were responsible for the death of Jesus and in so doing had insulted God Almighty; “God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Realising that they were in serious trouble before God 
they asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37). These Jews in Jerusalem were different to the man in Philippi; they believed in God, the Scriptures and the prophecies about Jesus Christ, he knew nothing about any of that. The jailer was told he needed to believe, but what do you tell men who are already believers? The apostle Peter told these men who had listened to and believed him to “repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts
Interestingly, it is the apostle Paul himself who gives us our third example of someone asking, “What shall I do to be saved?” Before he became a Christian, Paul was an unbeliever; “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” of Christianity and the church of God (1 Timothy 
Paul had previously believed that Jesus had died and not risen from the dead, now this once dead Jesus was talking to him from heaven, very much alive from the dead. Do your think he believed in Jesus now? He was temporarily blinded and had to be led by the hand to the city to his lodging where “he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:9). Fasting may be an indication of his attitude of repentance toward God and his desire to find forgiveness. But the Lord had told him someone in the city would answer his question. That someone was Ananias, a Christian whom Jesus sent to Paul, an already repentant believer. How was Ananias going to answer Paul’s (and our) question? Acts
One other question might help by way of illustration; “How far is it to Dublin?” To a man in Cork, wanting to travel to Dublin the answer is 251km. But, to repeat our answer ad nauseum to him is not going to be helpful if he is in Cashel and asking the same question. Now the distance to Dublin in 154km. And if he asks how far it is to Dublin once he reaches Port Laoise, obviously the first two answers are no longer sufficient. So it is with the Biblical question, “What must I do to be saved?”
For the Jailer who knew nothing of Jesus, it was imperative he “believe” the words spoken, repent and be baptised. After doing these things we are told he "rejoiced greatly” (Acts
For those Jews in Jerusalem who believed the word of Peter concerning Jesus, it was imperative they “repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of sins.” “Those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls … And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:41, 47).
For Paul, who believed he met and talked with the risen Christ, then spent three whole days fasting in repentance, he was told to “be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).
One question, but three answers. But which answer is correct? All three. Just like the man travelling to Dublin, the answer given depends upon where you are. Have you believed in Jesus as your Lord, repented and turned away from your old ways and been baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins?
When we listen to all that God has to say to us in His word, we can have the assurance that God gives us in that word. “The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the things that my Father in heaven wants” (Matthew
