What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Acts 16:25–34

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 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 one’s bands were loosed. 27 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. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Two weeks ago we spoke of the triumphal entry of the Lord. The day that Jesus presented himself as the King of Israel, the day the people acknowledged that this same Jesus is the one spoken of all through the Old Testament and presented himself on the very day Daniel wrote of 483years earlier.

To the very day that Cyrus, king of Persia made his proclamation in both speech and also in writing;

2 Chronicles 36:23

23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Incredibly however, while one day the people rejoiced in Jesus and exalted him as their king and that all should follow him, a few days later he was turned upon, falsely accused before a multitude and sent through no less than three fake, unlawful trials before being presented with false witnesses, until he was unlawfully condemned by the testimony of his own lips.

Remember beloved that accusations must be PROVED by the accusers.

 Accusations are NOT to be defended against, they are TO BE PROVED. 

This happens to each and every one of us from time to time,

You will have people forcing you to defend against an accusation, but the burden of proof is on the accuser. “Innocent until PROVEN guilty” is the correct manner of law, not ‘guilty until PROVEN innocent’. 

Those seeking you to answer an accusation are reversing the lawful burden of proof.

This is what occurred to Jesus. He was asked to defend himself against an accusation, but the burden of proof is ALWAYS on the accuser. 

What happened to Jesus was LAWLESSNESS. This same LAWLESSNESS is repeated often today.

What we witness in the Bible during this time was that the cries of “Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”, four days later gave way to “Crucify him, Crucify him”.

Not even the Governor Pilot could get an answer as he cried out “Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more saying Let him be crucified.” Mt 27:23

Three days and three nights later the resurrection of Jesus Christ became the single most proven historical event of all history, the denial of which would require the denial of ALL history not video recorded. 

What then came of all of this?

Opportunity for eternal life began to be preached to all the world as a testimony to the truth of Christ for the salvation of the world.

       The world was changed, NOT BY WAR, but by WORD!

The testimony is that Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son, died for the sins of the entire world and eternal life became available to ALL who would choose to believe it.

       While “…the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;” it became “unto us which are saved…the power of God”,

Paul continues;

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:18–21

AND SO THE QUESTION IS STILL ASKED TODAY AS IT WAS THEN;

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Do you know the answer beloved?

Acts 16:30

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Built within the question of Acts 16:30 is an internal recognition of personal condemnation.

When a man asks the question, “what must I do to be saved?”, he testifies to his full understanding that he is ETERNALLY LOST.

The question here is not one related to a physical salvation. 

He was not drowning in a sea of water and in need of help. 

He was not stuck down a mine shaft and desired to be saved,

and he was not making enquiry as to his personal safety from the punishment due for runaway prisoners, for they already told him “we are all here” (v28).

No, the “keeper of the prison” was asking for the sake of his eternal SOUL.

Have you EVER asked that same question?

Have you EVER had a care for the state of your eternal soul?

Have you EVER wondered whether or not you will be accepted by God into heaven?

Have you EVER feared the reality of falling headlong into hell?

You know, each and every minute, of each and every day, of each and every year, someone dies and opens their eyes in hell.

Think on this for just a moment Christian!

The disciples themselves asked of Jesus, “are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Lk 13:23-24).

In Matthew 7 Jesus makes it clear saying;

 Matthew 7:13–14

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

You walk past people each and every day who, without YOUR personal intervention and witness of Christ that the person might have OPPORTUNITY to be saved, may end up in hell for your silence.

To you however who still sit condemned by sin, this alone is of eternal value to think about:

There is literally NOTHING preventing you for falling into hell this very minute. Turn to the obituaries just locally, and see how many people have “died suddenly” in the last DAY, and wonder what if it were you?

No doubt, you, like they, have made plans for tomorrow. You made plans for your next holiday, but what if the expectation of those plans perished in a moment and you were suddenly brought down to hell?

Proverbs 11:7

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

Jesus gave his parable on this matter and it is worth seeing the word of God for yourself, turn to Luke 12:16

Luke 12:16–20

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 

No doubt the hope of many is for a longer life. A time to fulfil dreams and purposes that never had God in the frame. 

No doubt they expected that they made their plans well concerning eternity. They said their prayers daily, they attended their religious services and NEVER EXPECTED to come to hell for their troubles?

The Psalmist wrote;

Psalm 73:18–19

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 

I have a personal story that might best illustrate the “slippery places” the Psalmist speaks of.

Working in the construction sector for many years, there were times I would need to walk on a pitched tin roof. On a dry day, the best and most sure footing a person can have while working up there are a pair of gum boots.

The warm roof, together with the soft rubber sole gave a surer footing than any other hard soled shoe and you can work in total comfort and assurance, expecting to get your work done in time.

But if a single splash of water hit that roof where you were standing, there is literally nothing to stop you from falling. Your own weight, while previously helping you stand firm, would now work against you and accelerate your fall.

So too are all those who think they stand safe who have never sincerely asked the question;

The question “What must I do to be saved?” had not really been asked or answered sincerely, and so they are now in torment and only wish for a drop of water to cool their tongues.

Turn forward a little in your passage in Luke 

Luke 16:19–24

19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The first thing we recognise is that the rich man does not have a name. 

This is true for all those in hell; while they have every desire to make a name for themselves on earth, they are forgotten in hell. 

Proverbs 10:7

7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The second thing we recognise is that the rich man does not question why he is found in hell. 

No doubt he thought he laid out plans otherwise and took good care to never be there while yet alive, but now there is no indication he questioned the justice of the matter.

Those who think they will have something to hold God to account for after death, may be surprised to find THAT the conscience they seared and sealed on earth, be fully informed in eternity and have NOTHING TO SAY.

Thirdly we see that it is CONSCIOUS TORMENT.

The man is fully aware of the torment of his soul that it is ALL CONSUMING; 

send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

LASTLY (and there are many other items to bring out, but this last is my present desire to show); THE MAN HAS NO EXPECTATION OF DELIVERANCE…EVER.

Not only does he not request “time out for good behaviour“, but ONLY for the TEMPORAL relief of his torment, He does not even want the company of FAMILY MEMBERS.

27 I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

AS to the nature of the condemnation, there is NOW only ONE!

Turn to John 3

John 3:19–21

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Here in this same text is an assumption that some WAY has been made available for people to be SAVED.

The question assumes SALVATION is an option.

For the man no doubt has tried much to attain that good place in his own merits and his own ability, but is aware to have come short of it time and time again.

Imagine for a moment that you have tried to purge all your own sins in your own effort, only to have a cat cross your path unexpectedly and you curse and swear as it almost tripped you up!

Well now you would need to go back on your knees, or count some additional rosery beads, or face the right latitudinal direction and pray, or hope that the god you worship wasn’t listening to the profanity under your breath.

No, clearly you, like the Keeper of the Prison, would know you needed to be “SAVED“. What a relief it would be IF ONLY someone ELSE made a WAY!

Beloved, God is just, he is not going to let sin slip, there is a cost to sin against God just as there is a cost to crime against man, and that cost MUST BE PAID FOR. 

Some provision MUST be made available in order to SAVE YOU for paying the cost yourself, a WAY to be delivered, a SUBSTITUTION made in your place for YOUR sin.

Even a sacrificial atonement, voluntarily made for it to be just, by one who was innocent of any and all transgression you had made, and one that is Approved BY GOD to have met the criteria HE requires.

Having something DONE for you in this case is INFINATELY different for you DOING it yourself.

“What must I do to Be saved?” from this gentile jailor is a very different question to that asked of Jesus by the rich young ruler, 

Matthew 19:16

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

You see, this is the question asked of ALL RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD. All have a different answer, but ALL PRESUME there are NO provisions available, and ALL must DO some good thing to “have eternal life“.

All the days of their life is preoccupied with that “good thing” and IF they have ever done enough.

ALL people, except for those who have trusted that JESUS made PROVISION for their sin. 

For them, the work is DONE, and all they need “DO” is believe Jesus did it all.

Ephesians 2:8–9

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.

“Works” assumes that if you live according to the law, you can be justified, but this is NOT the PURPOSE of the Law and is expressly DENIED IN SCRIPTURE;

Romans 3:20

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Turn to the book of Acts and see what is said when men have tried to convince those who think to earn ETERNAL LIFE by THE LAW OF MOSES;

Acts 15:6–11

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

NO my friends, none can EARN eternal life, it is a YOKE that no man is able to bear. What is needed is PROVISION to be made FOR OUR SIN.

Else, we all must give our account once our appointment with death comes;

Hebrews 9:27–28

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

The next verse in that text gives to us the culmination of this sermon and the answer to the question we began with AND identify the PROVISION made, 

Hebrews 9:27–28

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

Acts 16:25–34

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 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 one’s bands were loosed. 27 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. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believeon the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Not by OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 64:6

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

BUT, BY PROVISION MADE

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 53

AND SO, THE ANSWER IS GIVEN;

John 3:14–18

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Do Not Neglect So Great A Salvation;

Hebrews 2:1–4

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

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