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l death will come to be the end.
Will Will
Will you be ready for eternity?
Text:
Acts 16:25-34 KJV (Be sure to read the text.)
Introduction: This text is
commonly known as the conversion of the Philippian jailor. In this
text, Paul and Silas are beaten and cast into prison. Their
imprisonment seemed to be an obstacle to their preaching ministry.
However, these men used this obstacle as an opportunity to minister.
Our text tells us, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25 KJV).
Then God sent an earthquake. This
caused the doors of the prison to be opened and their bands to be
loosened. Every prisoner was free. Yet, no one tried to escape. They
were held captive by the testimony of Paul and Silas. The jailor came
running in. Thinking the prisoners in his charge had escaped, he
prepared to take his own life.
Paul cried out, “Do thyself no
harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28 KJV). The jailor was so stirred that
he cried out one of life’s most important questions, “what must I do to
be saved?” (Acts 16:30 KJV).
Having considered what God has done
to make possible your salvation, you will now examine what you must do
to be saved. While salvation occurs instantly, there are three
spiritual steps you take in order to be saved.
I.
Step of Recognition
The
first step in salvation is recognition. There are two things you must
recognize in order to be saved.
A.
Sin Must Be Recognized
The
first thing you must recognize is your sin. It is the Bible that
informs you of your sins. From the Scriptures, you discover two things
about sin.
1. All
have sinned: The Bible says, “As it is written, there is none righteous,
no, not one” (Romans 3:10 KJV). The reason is “For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV). As a lost sinner, you
do not have a right standing with God because of sin.
2. Sin
has a price: Grave are the consequences of unforgiven sin. Romans 6:23
states, “For the wages of sin is death. . . .” The price on your sin is
death. This death is twofold.
a.
Earthly Death: Sin will cause you to experience earthly death. In
Romans 5:12 Paul tells you, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that
all have sinned.” You will one day die physically as a result of sin
unless the Lord returns first.
b. Eternal
Death: Far more serious are the consequences of sin than earthly death.
Unless you are saved, you will one day experience what the Bible calls
eternal death. Concerning this spiritual death, John wrote, “And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
(Revelation 20:14 KJV). If you should die before you get saved, then you
will experience the “second death” or “eternal death.” This death will
cause you to be eternally separated from God in Hell.
Sin certainly has grave
consequences. The most common word to describe the unsaved is that they
are “lost.” Indeed, this is a good word to describe them. Those who
die without Christ will lose everything!
From the Bible, you are able to
recognize the truth about sin. The Holy Spirit has been given to make
this truth real to your heart.
B. Saviour Must Be
Recognized
It is
only after you are aware of your lost condition that you are able to
understand your need of the Savior. Not only does the Bible warn you
about sin, but it also informs you about the Saviour.
Paul
wrote, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV). His death makes it
possible for you to be saved. Since Jesus paid the price of sin, Paul
could write “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord” (Romans 6:23b KJV). The law demanded your physical and your
spiritual death. Christ’s death enabled you to have forgiveness of sin
and eternal life. Indeed, Christ is the Saviour for all who believe on
Him!
II.
Step of Repentance
The
second step to salvation is repentance. Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5 KJV). It
is impossible to be saved unless you repent of your sins! Multitudes of
people have uttered the sinner’s prayer without experiencing
repentance. According to the Saviour, they are still lost. This
profession without repentance is often called “easy believism.” Because
repentance is essential to salvation, it is important that you
understand the meaning of “biblical repentance.” It has often been
simply defined as “a change of mind.” In order to understand this
change of mind, consider two words which best describe it.
A.
Abandonment
The
first word is abandonment. As the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, you
change your mind about it. You become willing to abandon or turn from
your old life of sin and of self.
The
sinful things that once brought you pleasure now trouble you. The Bible
has made you aware that these things are wrong. Being aware of God’s
displeasure with these things, you become willing to give them up. So
you abandon these things.
B.
Attainment
The
second word is attainment. As you change your mind about sin, not only
are you willing to abandon it, but also you are willing to turn to a new
life in Christ. The landmarks of the Christian life are not those
things you give up, but those things you gain or add.
There
are some wonderful things you may attain and enjoy as a Believer. You
now find church attendance to be a joy. Also, your Bible becomes a
delight to read and study. As you add prayer, it becomes an important
part of your new life as a Christian. Perhaps you say, “I want to be
saved, but I am not willing to give up my old way of life.” Then Jesus
says to you, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
III. Step of Reception
The
third step to salvation is that of reception. Of this step, John wrote,
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 KJV).
How can
you receive Christ? To receive Him, there are two things you must do.
A.
Confidence in Christ
The
first thing you must do is to believe on or to place your confidence in
Christ for salvation. John wrote that to receive Christ is to “believe
on” Him. You must believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross
for your sins. Also, you must believe that He rose from the dead,
conquering both sin and death. You believe or place your faith in the
fact that it pleased God to let Jesus die for your sins. With
confidence, you then ask God to save you because of what Christ has done
in your behalf. You place your confidence for salvation in Jesus Christ
and in the blood He shed at Calvary for your sins. God saves you for
Christ’s sake when you believe on or place your confidence in Jesus
Christ.
B.
Call on God
The
second thing you must do is to call on God. Because you believe on
Christ for salvation, you call on or pray to God for His salvation.
From your heart, you pray a prayer similar to this one. “Dear God, from
the Bible I have learned that I am a sinner. I know sin is serious and
will cause me to go to Hell for eternity. I believe that Jesus died on
the Cross for my sins. I repent of my sins, and I ask you to forgive me
of them. Save me on the basis of what Christ has done. Amen.”
Concerning calling on God, Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Again he
wrote, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved” (Romans 10:13 KJV).
Have you
followed these simple steps to salvation? If not, then why don’t you,
from a repentant heart, call on God to save you? These steps are
essential to a true salvation experience!
By
Evangelist Donnie Melton
Permission given to post on our web site.
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www.glbaptistchurch.com
© 2004-2005
Gospel Light Baptist
Church
3020 State Road 44
Lecanto, Florida 34461
Citrus County USA
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