ARE YOU SAVED? --- A LEGITIMATE QUESTION

The fearful Philippian jailer had just experienced an earthquake that unlocked all of the prison doors and shook the shackles off every prisoner in the prison. Would they all try to escape? This came shortly after having heard two Christians praying and singing loud praises to their God late into the evening. Believe it or not, this came after these same two men had been stripped and beaten for the crime of casting out a demon from a local fortune teller!

So what did this jailer do? After coming to the point of suicide, he then fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas (the two praying / praising men) and cried out: “SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" (Acts 16:30)

There are several important points to be made here:

1.This jailer was stricken with fear - bordering on terror! That fear had obviously created an inner turmoil giving rise to questions within him.

2.The jailer’s fear brought him to the realization that he needed to be saved! He needed a Savior! The Holy Spirit had begun to work on him, and he had legitimate concern over the state of his soul. (John 16:8)

3.In his fear, the jailer saw that he did not know the way of salvation!

4.The jailer’s fear caused him to cry out in hope that salvation was possible and that someone could tell him the way.

5. But in error, the jailer thought that if there was indeed a hope for salvation, then surely there must be something that he could do to earn his salvation. He instinctively, like most of mankind, looked to his own abilities. Surely that would be sufficient to whoever God was he must have thought. Perhaps that's why he asked "What must I do..."

So how did Paul and Silas respond to the jailer's question of: "What must I do to be saved?"

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (Acts 16:31-32)

Rather than giving this jailer something to do, they told him to believe --- in the Lord Jesus Christ! That's the essence of grace! Not something to work for! Then Paul and Silas shared the word concerning Christ (the gospel - Philippians 1:5; I Corinthians 15:1-4), because they knew that faith would come by hearing the word about Jesus! (Romans 10:17)

But it was also about who Jesus was. Twice Jesus was referred to as Lord in the Acts 16 passage (verses 31 & 32). Then after the jailer and his family were baptized they were thrilled that they had come to know God (verse 34)! The connection was made between Jesus and God -- that He is God! He is Lord! Eternal life had been granted. As it is written: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3)

Apparently, like the Ethiopian eunuch that Philip the evangelist had encountered in Acts 8:35-39, the jailer and his family had believed the gospel wholeheartedly -- and then were baptized due to their faith. Saving faith exhibits complete trust in Jesus' death for their sins and His resurrection. Within that good news is the righteousness they needed to relate to God! Saving faith clings to the promises God made through Christ! It not only is from the heart, but also changes the heart! Faith believes for the unseen based on the promise and the Promisor Who made it. As the writer to Hebrews put it: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

So, why does anyone need to be "saved."

1. Without Jesus -- mankind is lost (Luke 19:10), without hope and without God (Ephesians 2:12)

2. Mankind needs to be saved from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Why?

3. Because "in their sins" mankind is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and in need of being brought to life (Titus 3:5-7)

4. Because mankind's sins lead to God's wrath & judgment apart from Jesus and His blood (Romans 5:9; Jude 22 & I Thessalonians 5:9)

Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." I Timothy 1:15

So, who needs to be saved? Every one of us! Wise king Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:20 -- "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." That covers us all.

So ...... are YOU saved? That is a legitimate question to ponder. And yes, praise the Lord, you can know that you are saved! Hallelujah! (I John 5:13; Romans 8:16)