Acts 16:22-34 WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE SAVED?
Intro: Ill. The context. Paul and Silas are in deep trouble, but the Lord
delivers them from prison and gives them an opportunity to share their
faith. When the jailer appears in the prison, he asks the most important
question that anyone will ever ask, "What must I do to be saved?" Some
of you have been dealing with this question. Maybe you know that you
need to be saved, but you don't understand it as well as you should. I want
to help you with that this evening.
The question the jailer asked was important, but the answer he
received was just as important. If you hear the wrong answers about how
to be saved, you will never get to know God. I would like for us to take a
moment to look at Paul and Silas' answer to this man's desperate question
and see for ourselves exactly what you must do if you will be saved.
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
A. A Definition - Saved - To rescue from harm and from danger. (Ill.
We have all seen people get saved from dangerous situations in the
movies and on TV. Well, this is kind of the same thing, except the
danger is far worse.)
B. The Danger - Until we are saved, everyone in this room is in terrible
danger. Why?
1. We are all sinners - Rom. 3:23, Ill. You may not think you are a
sinner, but anything that we do which violates the Law of God is
a sin. Such as disobedience, lying, back talking, cheating,
stealing, etc. You see, the bad things we do are just the proof
that we are sinners. In truth, we are born into this world as
sinners. We are guilty before God when we are born, Psa. 58:3.
As a result, we are the enemies of God, Rom. 8:7.
2. We are all headed to Hell - Rom. 6:23. This verse tells us that
there is a price on sin. If we do not come to Jesus for salvation
then God has no choice but to send us to Hell. No one here
wants that to happen!
C. The Difference - When a person gets saved, he receives certain
wonderful blessings.
1. The Forgiveness Of Sins - Psa. 103:12; Eph. 4:32
2. A New Life - 2 Cor. 5:17
3. Escape From Hell - Rom. 5:9
4. A Home In Heaven - John 14:1-3 (In fact, the only way to get to
Heaven is through Jesus Christ.)
II. WHO IS THIS MAN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
A. He Is The Son Of God - Matt. 3:17 (He is God - John 1:1; 14)
B. He Is The Sacrifice For Sin - 2 Cor. 5:21 (Ill. The Cross!)
C. He Is The Only Source Of Salvation - 1 John 5:12; John 14:6
III. WHAT IS THE METHOD OF SALVATION?
A. It Is Very Simple - Ill. Believe - To trust! (God made salvation so
simple that anyone can do it. Ill. Rev. 22:17; John 6:37. (Ill. We all
exercise faith everyday. Each time we flip a light switch, use a
remote control, eat a meal, ride in a car, etc.) Being saved is nothing
more than placing your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation. It is
choosing to trust Him and nothing else to save you and to take you
to Heaven - Eph. 2:8-9.
B. It Is Very Secure - Salvation comes with an ironclad guarantee.
Once you are saved, you can never be lost again! (John 10:28; John
6:37). If you will place your faith in Jesus Christ, you need never
fear dying lost and going to Hell!
Conc: What must you do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you will be saved! Would you like to be saved right now? If so, I invite
you to come to Jesus and believe on Him. Will you do that right now?
