WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
Acts 16:30-31
30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
The Philippian jailor asked the apostle what he must do to be saved. Because he was pricked to his heart that these people are children of God and himself is not yet a child of God knowing that he is separated from God and the people who were in the jail had God in themselves that had done the miracle of opening the jail doors.
From his response it seems that he had heard about the message of salvation. We can see in Acts 2:14-37. Peter began to explain the scripture about salvation. He made it clear to the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is their power of utterances. Peter began to explain what happened that it was the fulfillment of prophecy in the book of Joel 2:28-38. Here Peter explained the gift of the Holy Spirit that been promised through the prophesy that the prophesy had fulfilled and they are witness to what has happened.
THE PROMISE OF GOD
We saw that God left man without His spirit as it is written in Genesis 6:3 – And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Since man is carnal he cannot do the will of God anymore. Man had became carnal and living in his own dictates and no longer mindful of God. When God saw that man has been disconnected from Him, then He made the arrangement how to bring man back to Him and this God spoke through the Prophet Joel to let the people know that a day is coming when the spirit will be restored to man. The fulfillments of this prophesy in Joel 2:28-32 had taken place and the people were surprised to witness the fulfillment of the prophesy and hence Peter stood and explains to the people.
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE.
Peter explained how the prophesy was fulfilled in our eyes and this promise is for everybody and not fir Jews but to every nation that whosever will acknowledged this will be saved. The person will be reconciled with God. The prophesy has been fulfilled and only about 120 people had received the promise. When peter was explaining about the promise that was meant for everyone. The people were eager to be part of this promise. He further let them know that the Christ they killed was the object of the salvation. Through him was the promise fulfilled.
THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING THIS PROMISE
Since Jesus came to offer himself for the salvation, and due to ignorance in the people they crucified Jesus, so when Peter explain this what led to the promise of the Spirit of God and how it was restored through the death and resurrection of Jesus and because they had already believed in Jesus so they have received the Spirit and the people listening to had the same opportunity to receive the same spirit.
When the Philippian Jalior asked what must do be saved it means that he had already understood what salvation meant which Peter had explained earlier. Here Peter did not start the process from the begin because he has understood that we need to be saved from hell and the Apostles are the people assigned to grant this opportunity to mankind.
Therefore, what he will do is to believed in the name of Jesus and that will give him salvation and also everyone that will also believe if his household. The person will also receive salvation from eternal death. The man accepted the words of the apostle and gave himself to be baptized and all his household. Due to joyful heart he offer them hospitality and they were happy that salvation has been granted to them.
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household
The mark of their belief is that they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and the people were set free as a result of the miracle that the jaior witnessed. The punishment of the apostle had brought the jailor salvation trough the miracle he witnessed,
HOW TO BE SAVED
Believe the gospel as the man did, we need to acknowledged that we are sinners that needs a savior as the bible made it clear that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23
It was sin that separated us from God and when the sin is been removed we can communicate with God again.
THE STEPS TO SALVATION
1. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER
When we acknowledged that we are sinners we need to make decision to turn away from our sins and follow the way of God. This is called repentance.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1,2).
“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” (Romans 10:9).
2. ACCEPT GOD’S LOVE
“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 3:16).
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
“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” (John 1:12).
3. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S SOLUTION
What can we do to get man’s problem solved? Is there a way out?
God knew that we would not be able to find a way out through our own efforts. He provided the solution. His love for fallen man made Him draw the plan of salvation. He allowed His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us, so that through His suffering and sacrifice we can pass from death to life.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” – (Ephesians 2:4).
4. ACCEPTANCE OF GOD’S SOLUTION
Accepting God’s Solution means that you must be baptised to show complete obedience to be partaker of the death of Christ.
“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” (Romans 10:9).
“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” (John 1:12).
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
You have a part to play in order to benefit from God’s love. You cannot benefit unless you respond personally. Salvation is God free gift. But, you must receive this gift before you can enjoy it.
1Peter 3:21
21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also— not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God— through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,