May 4, 2024
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Salvation
What must I do to be saved was a question asked with urgency and sincerity.
Within the context of the Scriptures is revealed the text, what must I do to be saved?
God not only manifest light on an open door of service, but also an open door of a needy heart.
God sends a servant, prepares an opportunity, directs attention to individuals, provides the witness, prepares the circumstances, presents the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation plan but also personalizes the individual.
The Context
"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:25-34)
The Question?
Directed, Individual, Decisive, with Desired Solution
1. What must I? (Individual)
A. Salvation is individual - whosoever.
B. Salvation is personal - what must I?
C. Salvation though individual and personal affects others. Paul and Silas - the jailer - the jailer's household.
2. What must I do? (Decisive)
A. Salvation brings an individual to a place of question.
B. Salvation brings an individual to a place of choice.
C. Salvation brings an individual to a place of truth.
D. Salvation brings an individual to a place of decision. Question - What are you going to do about Jesus?
3. What must I do to be saved? (with desired solution)
A. Realize salvation is for you, the individual.
B. Realize salvation is making a choice.
C. Realize salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. This comes by hearing the Word of God and the Gospel. (Ephesians 1:9-14)
2. This comes by God the Holy Ghost's conviction upon one's heart.
3. This comes by an individual convicted as a sinner, convinced as a sinner desiring and acting upon, repenting, confessing oneself a sinner, and putting one's faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Results of Being Saved
1. Salvation puts an individual in fellowship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Salvation cleanses an individual from confessed sin and brings joy within.
3. Salvation brings access into the Christian family, a new life in Christ, a future home in Heaven, and a personal relationship with the Godhead; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (II Corinthians 6:2)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
Pastor Birch
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)