Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. vs30-33

This is the question of questions. The Lord Jesus Christ has come into the world, and we must be saved. We can’t let it slip! The Son of God CAN’T die, and we perish forever! What a wasted life that would be! It is impossible to imagine, but there is a real hell to be saved from - the wrath of God that’s never extinguished - and we must be saved from our sins. We cannot get to heaven with sin as our master; its dominion must be broken.

Some would be saved from one sin or another. They are tired of drunkenness, but not adultery. They are tired of beating the wife, but not idolatry: they live for themselves quite well.

I’m reminded of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus. Only 1 came back to glorify Him [Luke 17:15-17]. The other 9 were healed of leprosy - bad marriages, drinking problems, crimes of this sort or the other - but only one was healed from sin, and that’s what must happen: we must be done with sin, if we’ll ever be done with hell. We must escape God’s wrath the only way possible - by forgiveness and cleansing.

Secondly, we must hear the gospel [Acts 17:32].

“Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house.”

How can they call upon Him whom they’ve never heard, and how can they hear without preaching? We are not saved by ignorance but by knowledge. Of John the Baptist, it was said,

“And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” [Luke 1:76-77]

We must know that Christ died to put away sin, and He succeeded! He did not fail, and He’s not waiting on us. He did what God the Father gave Him, and then He raised Him from the dead, showing His full approval - that Christ actually SATISFIED justice. Sins are put away, so He comes preaching peace [Eph 2:17].

You don’t have to feel it; you don’t have to do something; but you must believe -that by faith alone, you are saved and forgiven; you are righteous, and you are heaven bound! You are God’s elect, and He will keep you, bring forth fruit, and He will be with you forever!

And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. [1 John 5:11-12]

Can you believe it? Can you believe on Christ? Believe, my brother. Only believe!

Finally, be baptized [vs33-34].

At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

Baptism is the confession of faith; it declares that our faith is real, and we’re willing to live the new life. It isn’t a secret thing added onto my life, but we’ve received life itself. Baptism says, “I’m committed to God and His people!”

Many want to believe without baptism. They say, “I’m the boss. I’m still in charge. I take some doctrine, but I go no further. I don’t want to disturb people. I won’t be a radical.” Friend, the only kind of Christian worth being is radical. Everything else is coldness, lethargy, and deception. Don’t take it! Take the real thing, and be all out for Christ. Show your colors. Raise your flag. If you are a new creation then live like it.