"What must I do to be saved?" There is no more important question than this. If our answer is biblically correct, the Scripture promises us everlasting fellowship with God. If we answer this question incorrectly, our eternal future holds separation from God and everlasting torment. Even worse, we face the possibility of leading others, including our own children, down the wrong road.

We spend countless hours trying to secure our family's financial security and build a bright future for our children. Shouldn't we be even more diligent about clarity and certainty concerning what God's word teaches about the way of salvation? 

What must I do to be saved? We will consider the answer to this question as we study the context and the content of a precious promise of God's Word found in Acts 16:31.

Paul, Timothy, and Silas were the first European missionaries. God had directed them to preach the Gospel in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-11), and the first city in which they preached was Philippi (Acts 16:12-13). 

A business woman from Thyatira named Lydia was saved (Acts 16:14-15). Paul was used to expel a demon from a slave girl who had a talent with divination (Acts 16:16-18). When this took place, the slave girl's masters were very unhappy. They had been making a few shekels from her magical skills, and now that she was in her right mind, they had lost a steady source of income (Acts 16:19). As a result, they brought Paul and Silas to the authorities and accused them of a crime (Acts 16:20-21). The resulting "trial" took place in the open market, in the presence of an angry mob. Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into the inner prison (Acts 16:22-24).

While in prison, Paul and Silas exhibited a joy and steadfastness that could only be produced by the Spirit of God. Rather than murmuring and whining, the record simply tells us that they "prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25). It is interesting to note that, years later, Paul wrote a letter to the people of the city of Philippi. In it, he included these words of encouragement:

Paul wrote these words from revelation and experience! This mental attitude of prayer and thanksgiving, which results in peace, was a reality in his life. This was the first miracle. The attitude of gratitude that is produced in a Spirit-filled believer's life regardless of circumstances is a supernatural work of God. 

The second miracle was physical in nature. The record tells us: "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" (Acts 16:26). This earthquake was sent by God, and resulted in all the prison doors being opened and the prisoners' bands being loosed. Yet, an even more remarkable miracle was to follow. 

The jail keeper, seeing these fantastic events, was certain that all the prisoners had escaped. He knew his life would be taken as the penalty for allowing this to happen. He was ready to commit suicide on the spot (Acts 16:27). However, Paul informed him of the third miracle: "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here" (Acts 16:28). Can you imagine opening all the doors at one of our federal prisons and waiting to see how many prisoners would stick around? Miraculously, God saw to it that all these prisoners remained.

You may have noted an interesting comment that was made regarding the songs and thanksgiving of these two preaching prisoners. It is stated that "the prisoners heard them" (Acts 16:25). When believers are living for Jesus Christ, people will take note. Whether it be a song, an attitude, or a work ethic, people ought to notice a difference in the lives of God's people. The testimony of Paul and Silas set the stage for the "million dollar question" by the Philippian jailor. 

The jailor knew just which prisoners were responsible for these remarkable events. He had heard their songs of praise. He had heard their prayers of thanksgiving. The question the jailor was about to ask was prompted by the testimony of God's servants, the Holy Spirit's work in his heart, and the God-produced fear that showed him his personal need. His simple question was: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Isn't that a wonderful question? 

Let us examine the words of this question carefully to catch their impact: 

Sadly, people today are side-tracked with secondary questions. Who won the big game? Is the stock market up? What is the weather forecast? Are the fish biting? There is nothing wrong with any of these questions, but let's put them in their proper perspective. Who cares if your team won, when tomorrow you may slip away into a Christ-less eternity? So what if the stock market is up if you can't take it with you? Does it really matter if it rains (or snows) tomorrow when eternity is hanging in the balance? You may catch a big one, but lose something even bigger if you aren't ready for eternity. 

It is surprising that people are not banging down the doors of churches today demanding answers to the question "what must I do to be saved?" Why isn't this eternally critical issue even considered in the minds of people today? Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer has an interesting comment on this issue in his book "True Evangelism." 

How do we explain this indifference (which Chafer calls a "spell") toward the issues that matter the most? The answer is found in 2 Corinthians 4:4:

This blindness handicaps every unsaved individual when it comes to spiritual things. However, God is able to overcome this blindness with the light of the Gospel message, and that is exactly what He did for the Philippian jailor.

The answer that Paul and Silas gave to the jail keeper is simple: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31). 

People are prone to add to it, expand upon it, and complicate the proper response to God's offer of salvation. Human reasoning is prone to make things more elaborate, more man-centered, more religious, so man can get at least some of the glory. However, God's prescription for salvation by-passes human pride and effort. It is so simple that people miss it! Let us consider the elements of this amazing offer to the Philippian jailor that also applies to every person born into the human race. 

The word "believe" in the Greek is an aorist active imperative. The aorist tense is an interesting contrast to the jailor's question "what must I do." Recall that "I do" was in the present tense, indicating habitual action. The aorist tense speaks of a complete event without respect to time. Paul could have told him to "continually believe" by putting this verb in the present tense. However, to state that salvation is a complete act (in this case, a point in time), Paul employs the aorist tense. 

The active voice for the word "believe" means that the jailor must make a choice to believe. Believing is the human responsibility connected with salvation. There is no other human condition than simply to believe the Gospel message. 

The imperative mood tells us that Paul is issuing a command to the jailor. This is not a suggestion or an alternative, it is a necessity. Recall that the jailor had asked "what MUST I do…" 

We see clearly that the human response to God's offer of salvation is not works, but faith. It is not trying but trusting. It is not religion, but reliance on God's provision. It is not doing, but depending. But what is the object of our faith to be? People could potentially believe any number of things. Does it really matter what or who we trust? 

Paul and Silas state the correct object of faith, which results in salvation, in three words: "the Lord Jesus Christ." Let us examine each of these terms. 

The word "he" in the above verse is not in the original. Jesus told the Pharisees that they must believe in Christ as the "I AM" or they would die in their sins. They would have clearly understood the term "I AM" as a name for God (Exodus 3:14). 

His purpose in coming to earth was to provide salvation. How did He do this?

He gave his life for you and me. We are all born into this world sinners, in need of salvation, and incapable of saving ourselves. Christ came to pay the sin penalty on our behalf on the cross. The death He died was substitutionary. He died in our place. 

What must we believe in order to be saved? We must believe in the God-Man who came to provide salvation by His sacrificial death. We must accept the work of the Redeemer who had been promised and predicted dozens of times in the Old Testament. We must simply trust in who He is and what He has done.

A common response to this wonderful plan of salvation is "Well, that's just too simple! There has to be more to it than a person simply trusting Christ and receiving eternal life." But it really is that easy! It is our religious pride that gets in the way, thinking we have something to offer God. We must come to Him empty handed, as the song writer so accurately said, "Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling." 

What is the result of believing in Christ? Paul and Silas gave the jailor a simple summary statement. The result of believing in Christ is: "thou shalt be saved." 

The English words "shalt be saved" are the translation of one Greek word, which comes from the word "sozo," which means "I save." Paul and Silas put this word in the future passive indicative. The future tense indicates that the jailor was not yet saved, but if he would believe at some time in the future, salvation would be his possession. The passive voice emphasizes the fact that the jailor could not save himself. He had to let Someone else do the saving. The indicative mood indicates a reality. This is a fact that Paul and Silas are communicating to the jailor. It was not "you might be saved if you are lucky." It was not "nobody can really be certain, but this seems like a good idea." Do not be satisfied with a "hope-so" salvation! God's Word says that you can KNOW that you have eternal life! (1 John 5:13) This is the promise of God. 

Some people have struggled with the interpretation of the next three words: "and thy house." The meaning is quite simple. Paul and Silas are telling the jailor that the same offer of salvation applies to the members of his household. If they believe the good news, they can be saved as well. We could extend the offer to the entire world this way: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and the whole world!" This offer of salvation does not apply to a select few who are members of the right race or religion. The offer is open to all mankind. What a great promise we find in Revelation 22:17, which is the last invitation to salvation in the Bible:

Do not pass up this offer of salvation! If you have never personally trusted Christ to save you from your sins, do it right now! You don't need to work, because all the work was done on Calvary. You do not need to make any promises to God, for He has promised eternal life to you, if you will simply trust His Son. You don't need to give your life to God, He wants to give His life to you. 

If you are already a believer in Christ, make sure you are communicating the right response to the Gospel message. Do not confuse God's plan of salvation with man-made responses like "ask Jesus into your heart," or "commit your life to Christ." These phrases only serve to distract from Christ's work on the cross and point people toward themselves rather than the Savior. God has stated over 100 times in His Word that salvation is conditioned upon believing in His Son. Let us not garble the gospel with our own ideas. When dealing with issues that concern the eternal souls of those around us, we cannot be too careful. 

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