Sermons From The New Testament - What Must I Do To Be Saved?

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                     "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"

                             Acts 16:30-33

INTRODUCTION

1. In Ac 16:30-33 we find a familiar passage...
   a. In which Paul is confronted by the Philippian jailor
   b. Who asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

2. This is a most important question...
   a. Salvation from sin is our greatest need - cf. Ro 6:23
   b. The answer must be according to the Word of God

3. The answer given is often limited to what is mentioned in Ac 16:31...
   a. Without consideration of all that is said in the context
   b. Without noting what is taught elsewhere in the Scriptures

[If one asks "What Must I Do To Be Saved?", how should we reply?  Shall
we limit our response to the words of verse 31?  Well, consider first of
all...]

I. WHAT IS NOT MENTIONED

   A. THE NEED TO REPENT OF SINS...
      1. Nothing is said about the need to repent
      2. Yet Jesus wanted repentance to be preached in His name - Lk 24:
         46-47
      3. And so the apostles often preached the need to repent of sins
         a. As did Peter in his first two sermons - Ac 2:37-38; 3:19
         b. As did Paul in his sermon in Athens - Ac 17:30-31
      -- Shall we conclude that repentance is not necessary because it
         is not mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailor?

   B. THE NEED TO CONFESS CHRIST...
      1. Nothing is said about the need to confess
      2. Yet Jesus taught of the necessity of confessing Him before
         others - Mt 10:32-33
      3. And so the apostles often mentioned the importance of
         confessing Christ
         a. Confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus leads to salvation
            - Ro 10:9-10
         b. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God leads to abiding in
            God - 1Jn 4:15
      -- Shall we conclude that confession is not necessary because it
         is not mentioned in the conversion of the Philippian jailor?

[We would be mishandling the Scriptures to suggest that simply because
repentance and confession are not mentioned in Ac 16:31 that they are
not necessary to salvation.  But now let's consider...]

II. WHAT IS MENTIONED

   A. BELIEVING ON THE LORD...
      1. We are told of the need to believe on the Lord - Ac 16:31
      2. This is consistent with what Jesus Himself taught
         a. Believing in the Son is key to having eternal life - Jn 3:36
         b. Unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins - Jn 8:24
      3. And so the apostles often proclaimed the importance of faith in
         Jesus
         a. That one might have life in His name - Jn 20:30-31
         b. That believing with the heart leads to righteousness - Ro
            10:9-10
      -- Without question faith is imperative to salvation, because of
         what the Bible says about it

   B. BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY...
      1. We notice that the jailor and his family were baptized
         immediately - Ac 16:33
      2. This is similar to what we read elsewhere in several cases of
         conversion
         a. 3000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:41
         b. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized as soon as he saw water
            - Ac 8:35-38
         c. Paul was encouraged not to delay - Ac 22:16
      3. Why were they baptized immediately, even when it was after
         midnight?
         a. Peter said it was for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
         b. Paul was told it was to wash away sins - Ac 22:16
         c. Paul later wrote that it was a cutting away of the body of
            sins - Col 2:11-13
         d. Peter later wrote that it saves us through the resurrection
            of Christ - 1Pe 3:21
      -- When one sees what is revealed about baptism in the New
         Testament, we can understand why it was received as soon as
         possible by those who heard the gospel

CONCLUSION

1. Why does Paul only mention faith in answer to the question in verse
   31...?
   a. Because the answer takes into consideration one's spiritual state
      or condition
   b. For the jailor, he first needed to be told to believe in Jesus
   c. For the 3000 on Pentecost, they already believed by the time they
      asked their question, so faith is not even mentioned (but implied
      nonetheless!)

2. What answer should we give to those who ask "What must I do to be
   saved?"...
   a. Our answer depends upon what the state the person is in
      1) If they have yet to believe in Jesus, then they need to believe
         in Him - Ac 16:30
      2) If they believe in Jesus, then they need to repent, confess, and
         be baptized for the remission of their sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16;
         Ro 10:9-10; Ga 3:26-27
   b. Our answer should entail all found in the Word of the Lord
      1) Paul proceeded to speak the word of the Lord to the jailor and
         his family - Ac 16:32
      2) Such evidently included the need to be baptized immediately
         - Ac 16:33

A proper answer to "What must I do to be saved?" will take into
consideration both the spiritual state of the inquirer and all that the
Word of God reveals on the subject.  Have you responded to what the Bible
teaches regarding salvation in Christ...?
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