Good morning family and friends. Welcome. We are so happy to have the privilege of assembling together at every opportunity at 906 E. Harding Street in Morrilton, Arkansas. It is hot for sure but very soon we’ll walk outside in the morning and “feel” fall in the air. At this moment we’re just trying to stay cool. So sorry about cancelling our VBS this year. Let’s do our very best to stay safe and healthy in these troublesome times. Cindi and I chose to take the vaccine several weeks ago and felt no ill effects concluding that this was our best way to stay safe and healthy. I’m glad we did.
GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION – “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” – There is a very interesting account of a man who asked this very question in Acts 16:30.
“And he (a jailor) brought them (Paul & Silas) out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So, they (Paul & Silas) said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he (the man who asked the question) took them (Paul & Silas who had been beaten for their faith in Jesus and their preaching) the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he (the jailor) had brought them (Paul & Silas) into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”
The gospel (Good News regarding Jesus the Son of God and Savior) must be HEARD. The jailor didn’t know what to believe until Paul and Silas “spoke the word of the Lord to him.” We know that “Faith comes by hearing the word of God” – Romans 10:17.
The gospel must be BELIEVED. When Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to this man, he had a choice to believe it or not. He chose to believe the message of Jesus. You cannot be saved unless you believe in Jesus Christ – John 8:24.
We know that the man who asked what he needed to do to be saved REPENTED of his sins. Note that he “washed” Paul’s and Silas’ stripes, welcomed them into his house, and gave them food to eat. Is this not repentance? This man did just what those on the Day of Pentecost did when they too asked about salvation and Peter answered, “Repent and be baptized…” in Acts 2:37-38.
Even though the text before us does not specifically mention this man CONFESSING Christ Jesus, we know that “with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” – Romans 10:10. His rejoicing is evidence of his confession that Jesus is indeed Savior and Lord.
Also note that he was BAPTIZED, he and all his family. They all were baptized “immediately,” right then and there…no waiting, no questions, no doubts, or confusion. Verse 34 declares that after his baptism “he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”
Now that you know what you must do to be saved, how about it? Make your selection today. Hear. Believe. Repent. Confess. Be baptized. Rejoice having believed in God.
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