Salvation

In Acts 16 we find the story of the jailer who asks how he can be saved: 

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to 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 everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:25-31)

Salvation is inextricably linked to Jesus Christ. Jesus made this profound and exclusive statement in John 14, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Salvation means having a living relationship with Jesus Christ in which we are united with Him so that we share in His redemption and all of its blessings. 

This living relationship involves faith. 

Saving faith involves believing that Jesus Christ was born for us, each one of us, personally and He has accomplished for us the work of salvation. 

Saving faith not only means believing that something is true, but it is being ready to act upon that belief, and relying on it. 

Saving faith unites the believer with Christ. “To know Christ is to know his benefits.” Faith makes both Christ and his benefits - which are forgiveness, justification, and hope - available to us.

The jailer began a living faith in Jesus Christ. It was more than a belief that He existed historically. It was a belief that Jesus was born, lived and died for him personally. It was a belief that was acted upon by putting his whole life and future in Christ’s hands. And in doing so, Christ was united to him and his whole household.

What was true for the jailer then is still true today. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.  If you need to talk to anyone about this, if you have questions or you want someone to pray with you about this, please call us. Or, if you like, click on the prayer request link under “Questions about Faith” and send us a request. We would be pleased to talk and pray with you.