Salvation
In Acts 16, we read about Paul’s second missionary journey, where he and his team were led by the Holy Spirit to Philippi. There, Paul encountered a young slave girl with a spirit of divination. After Paul cast out the demon, a series of events led to his and Silas’s arrest and imprisonment. Despite their situation, they prayed and sang hymns, resulting in a miraculous earthquake that freed them from their chains and opened the prison doors, signalling divine intervention.
When the prison guard saw the open doors and feared the prisoners had escaped, he was about to take his own life. Paul intervened, reassuring him that everyone was still there. Deeply moved, the guard asked Paul, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
Webster’s Dictionary defines “salvation” as:
- Preservation from destruction or failure.
- Deliverance from danger or difficulty.
In biblical terms, however, salvation means deliverance from the power and effects of sin.
The Greek word “sozo” (σώζω) translates to “saved” and carries a broad and deep meaning. It includes not just salvation from sin but also concepts of rescue, healing, and preservation. The related term “soteria” (σωτηρία) translates to “salvation” in a broader sense, encapsulating the complete work of salvation that Jesus accomplished. It addresses both our immediate and eternal needs.
In Classical Greek, “soteria” was used in a material or temporal sense, but in the New Testament, it is more frequently used in a spiritual and eternal context.
Understanding the Question: What Must I Do to Be Saved?
The prison guard’s question reflects six key attitudes:
- Recognition: Acknowledging the need for salvation.
- Understanding: Believing that salvation is possible.
- Willingness: Being open to receiving salvation.
- Necessity: Realizing the importance of being saved.
- Personal Decision: Recognizing that the decision to be saved is individual.
- Need for Action: Understanding that salvation requires a response.
How About You?
Historically, when people were in distress, they would send out an SOS, which in Morse code (…—…) stands for “Save Our Souls.” Is this where you find yourself?
The Romans Road to Salvation
The “Romans Road” is a series of Bible verses from the Book of Romans that outlines the path to salvation through Jesus Christ. Each verse highlights a crucial aspect of the gospel message:
- Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one;’”
This verse underscores that no one is righteous on their own, establishing the need for salvation. - Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This reveals that everyone has sinned and needs redemption because no one meets God’s perfect standard. - Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This highlights God’s immense love, demonstrated through Jesus’ sacrificial death. - Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”
This explains the origin of sin and death through Adam and its impact on humanity. - Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It contrasts the consequences of sin (death) with the gift of eternal life through Jesus, emphasizing salvation as a gift. - Romans 10:9-11 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
These verses outline the essential steps for salvation: confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. - Romans 10:13 – “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
This assures that anyone who calls upon Jesus will be saved, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the gospel.
Together, these verses offer a comprehensive view of the Christian message of salvation, explaining our condition, Christ’s solution, and how to receive eternal life.
Prayer for Salvation
At this time, if you have recognised that you are lost and that you would like Jesus to save you, please pray this simple prayer below.
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge my sinfulness and my inability to save myself. Thank You for Your immense love in sending Jesus, who lived a sinless life and took my place on the cross, so that I could be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. I believe in Jesus—His teachings and His guidance as revealed in the Bible. I dedicate this day to You, Lord. I to following You today and every day until I am with You in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed this modest prayer, I would like to say welcome, (bienvenue, benvenuto, willkommen, bienvenido, bem-vindo, hoş geldin, witaj, selamat datang, svaagat he, Добро)пожаловать, huanying, ba-ruch ha-ba, kalos irthate) into the family.
Assurance of Salvation
- Confession: Confession is a public declaration of faith in Jesus.
- 1 John 4:2: By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.
- Romans 10:10: For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Change: True conversion involves internal transformation, not just external reformation.
- 1 John 2:29: If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
- Acts 3:19: Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
- Compassion: Compassion reflects a transformed life.
- 1 John 4:7: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
- Conflict: Our struggle is not with flesh and blood…
- 1 John 5:4: For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
- Romans 7:18-20: There is an inner conflict between good and evil within us.
- Conduct: Living out one’s faith involves a change in conduct consistent with a new identity in Christ.
- 1 John 3:9: Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
- 1 John 5:18: We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
