Salvation: The Need and the How.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Every one of us is a sinner. Every one of us have come short of God's glory.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Because of our sin, we deserve death, eternal punishment, the wrath of God. But God, because He loves us, has provided a means to have eternal life with Him. That means is the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
You must receive him. Nobody is born into salvation. Nobody deserves it.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You must call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believeing on him, in his sacrifice for YOUR sins.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Jesus Christ was God Himself. He was God, the Son. The Word. He came and died for your sins. He made the sacrifice required for your sin.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There is nothing you can do to earn salvation. You must be saved by the grace of God, in receiving him (the Lord).
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Once you receive the Lord, believe on him, that he was sacrificed for your sins, and rose again never to die, you KNOW you are saved.
No prayer saves you. Your BELIEF is what counts. You may pray to God now, but your prayer is simply an affirmation of your belief. Prayer is an important part of your Christian life, but it has nothing to do with salvation. Do not trust in a prayer, an act, or a baptism. Trust Christ only!
"What must I do to be saved?"
Simply believe in the Lord's completed work; trusting completely on him for your salvation.