WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
The most important question ever asked was, “What must I do to be saved?” It was asked by the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:22-32 when an earthquake struck and all his prisoners, including Paul and Silas, were set free. Fearing the wrath of the Roman government who would have executed him for losing his inmates, he drew out his sword and was about to kill himself.
Paul cried out with a loud voice and assured him that none had escaped and were all present. Significantly, the jailer called for a light and came trembling before Paul and Silas. When he had come completely to the end of himself he fell down before them and asked the desperate question, “What must I do to be saved?”
It was then, when the man had no other recourse, that Paul and Silas answered with the faithful words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” We, too, must realize that we are lost and that we cannot save ourselves by ordinances, law-keeping or any other kind of good works. The way of salvation is completely revealed in the Book of Romans. We like to call it the Romans road to redemption. It is set out in three simple steps:
The first step on the road to redemption is to realize that we are all lost.
“We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Rom. 3:9, 10
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom. 3:19
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief...” Rom. 11:32
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12
“For the wages of sin is death…” Rom. 6:23
The second step is to realize that God loves you and has provided a way for your salvation.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 2:20, 21
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8
The third step is to receive salvation as a free gift of God by believing that Christ died for you.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest…even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Rom. 1:21, 22
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.” Rom. 1:24, 25
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart that is, the word of faith, which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:8, 9
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Rom. 1:28
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1
The most important question ever asked was, “What must I do to be saved?” It was asked by the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:22-32 when an earthquake struck and all his prisoners, including Paul and Silas, were set free. Fearing the wrath of the Roman government who would have executed him for losing his inmates, he drew out his sword and was about to kill himself.
Paul cried out with a loud voice and assured him that none had escaped and were all present. Significantly, the jailer called for a light and came trembling before Paul and Silas. When he had come completely to the end of himself he fell down before them and asked the desperate question, “What must I do to be saved?”
It was then, when the man had no other recourse, that Paul and Silas answered with the faithful words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” We, too, must realize that we are lost and that we cannot save ourselves by ordinances, law-keeping or any other kind of good works. The way of salvation is completely revealed in the Book of Romans. We like to call it the Romans road to redemption. It is set out in three simple steps:
The first step on the road to redemption is to realize that we are all lost.
“We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Rom. 3:9, 10
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom. 3:19
“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief...” Rom. 11:32
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12
“For the wages of sin is death…” Rom. 6:23
The second step is to realize that God loves you and has provided a way for your salvation.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 2:20, 21
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8
The third step is to receive salvation as a free gift of God by believing that Christ died for you.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest…even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Rom. 1:21, 22
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.” Rom. 1:24, 25
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart that is, the word of faith, which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:8, 9
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Rom. 1:28
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1