What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

Acts 16:25-34

Acts 16:25-34But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."

Acts 16:25-34 cont.Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Question Implies: Life After Death!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our

outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is

being renewed day by day. For our light affliction,

which is but for a moment, is working for us a far

more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while

we do not look at the things which are seen, but at

the things which are not seen. For the things which

are seen are temporary, but the things which are

not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

Where Did Jailer Get This Idea?Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. (Acts 16:16-18)

Old Testament Teaches Life After Death

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb. 11:9-10)

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Heb. 11:13)

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:16)

Old Testament Teaches Life After Death

And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died)…

(Gen. 35:18)

"But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back

again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

(2 Sam. 12:23)

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit

will return to God who gave it. (Eccl. 12:7)

“Have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am

the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of

Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

(Matt. 22:31-32)

Afterlife More Fully Revealed in the NT

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt. 7:13-14)

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

Afterlife More Fully Revealed in the NT

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:21-23)

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord… (2 Thess. 1:9)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

Question Implies: I Am Lost!

Why Did Jesus Come?

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Why Did Peter Preach?

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” (Acts 2:40)

Question Implies: I Am Lost!

At Least Two Groups on the Road to Hell!

“Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.” (Matt. 21:31-32)

Those who know they are lost –

And, those who think they are saved.

What Causes Me To Be Lost?

SinBehold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. (Isa. 59:1-2)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (Ezek. 18:20)

What Is Sin?

Literally: To Miss the Mark.

1. Transgression of God’s Law (1 Jn. 3:4; 2 Jn. 9).

2. All Unrighteousness (1 Jn. 5:17; Rom. 1:16-17; 10:3).

3. Know to do good, but not doing it (Jas. 4:17).

4. Violating Our Conscious (Rom. 14:23).

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.All unrighteousness is sin…Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Sin Is Serious! Deadly Serious!

1. Adam & Eve cast out of Eden (Gen. 3:23). Ate forbidden fruit

2. 14,700 Israelites killed because of sin (Num. 16:49). Complaining

3. Moses not allowed to enter Promised Land (Num. 20:12). Struck rock, thus dishonored God

4. Nadab & Abihu devoured by fire (Lev. 10:1-2). Used unauthorized fire on the altar

5. Uzzah struck dead because of sin (2 Sam. 6:6-7) Touched the Ark of the Covenant

6. Gehazi struck with leprosy because of sin (2 Kgs. 5:27)

1. Greed

Rom. 6:23; 1:18-21; Heb. 2:1-4; Rom. 3:23-26

There Is Something I Must Do!

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)

He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. (Acts 10:6)

Who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved. (Acts 11:14)

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him… (Heb. 5:9)

There Is Something I Must Do!

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:21-23)

There Is Something I Must Do!

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. (Matt. 7:24-27)

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

1. Hear the Gospel (Mk. 16:15; Acts 16:32).

Why? Faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17)

2. Believe the Gospel (Mk. 16:16; Jn. 8:24).

Why? Cannot please God with faith (Heb. 11:6)

3. Repent of my sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30)

Why? Sin separates from God (Eph. 2:1; Isa. 59:1-2)

4. Confess my faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10)

Why? So Christ will confess me before God (Mt. 10:32)

5. Be Baptized in water (Acts 16:33).

Why? For the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16)