Lesson 11

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

New King James Version (NKJ)

1. Introduction

A person who is drowning wants to be rescued. A person caught in the fury of a hurricane wants to be saved. A person held hostage by terrorists wants to be freed. The idea of being rescued, saved, or freed does not make sense unless a person is in danger of suffering significant loss. Danger by itself, however, is not enough to cause a person to want to be saved. The swimmer who is unaware he is about to be attacked by a shark feels no need to be rescued. The person who is unaware of having cancer feels no need for medical treatment. For someone to want to be saved, two elements must be present--an external danger of severe harm and an internal awareness of it. (Of course, a person can desire salvation from a perceived danger that does not exist, but that kind of salvation is not the topic of this lesson).

This principle also applies to spiritual matters. Those who do not believe in hell have no fear of going there. Those who do believe in hell but who do not consider themselves sinners do not dread it. However, those who believe that God will punish sinners in hell and that they are sinners most likely want to be saved.

In this lesson, we consider the question "What must I do to be saved?" This question does not mean much to someone who feels spiritually secure. During the lesson we shall see, however, that there were people in the Bible who sincerely and urgently asked the question and who considered the answer to be of great significance. We will look at three examples from the book of Acts where people asked the question and were given an answer. We encourage you to read the Bible texts given in the section titles of this lesson in order to obtain a fuller understanding of each example.

2. The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:11-34)

Paul and Silas preached in Philippi, a city in the province of Macedonia. Certain merchants in the city who opposed them persuaded a city official to order them to be punished. Paul and Silas were first beaten with rods and then taken to the local prison. When the jailer was told to guard them securely, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks.

a. The Jailer's Question

At midnight while Paul and Silas were singing and praying, there was an earthquake. It shook the foundation of the prison, causing the doors of the prison to come open and unfastening the chains of the prisoners. When the jailer was awakened and saw the doors of the prison were open, he assumed the prisoners had escaped. Knowing a Roman jailer paid with his life for prisoners who escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. At that instant he heard Paul call out, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. (Acts 16:28). Moments later he brought them out of the prison and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts. 16:30).

b. The Answer of Paul and Silas

Paul and Silas said to him, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:31). This answer is significant. Please remember it because we will return to it after considering two more examples.

3. The Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)

Acts 2 recounts how the church was established on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. As this chapter opens, more than seven weeks had passed since Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead. In the moments before He ascended, He had told His apostles to remain in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24: 49; Acts 1:7-8).

They were in the city when Jews from around the world (Acts 2:5) came to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). While the apostles were sitting together, there was a loud noise that sounded as if it were a violent wind. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages. The apostles were not the only ones who heard the noise. The people in the city heard it, too, and rushed together to find out what had happened. They were further bewildered when they heard the apostles speaking about the mighty works of God and doing so in the native tongues of the foreigners. The reaction in the crowd was divided. Some remained puzzled by what they were seeing and hearing. Others accused the apostles of being drunk.

a. The Jews' Question

Peter, one of the apostles, used the opportunity to explain to the people what was happening. He began to quote from the prophets of the Old Testament to show that what the people were seeing had actually been predicted. He explained that Jesus, this One who had been crucified only a few weeks earlier, had been raised from the dead by God's power. Next he showed from the Old Testament scriptures that this same Jesus was in reality the Christ (the Messiah) the Jews had been expecting for so many centuries.

When Peter explained to them how they were responsible for Christ's crucifixion, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Their wording of the question is not so complete as that of the Philippian jailer, yet their intent is clear. They realized they had played a part in putting the Messiah to death. They were overcome with remorse and wanted to know what to do to be forgiven.

b. Peter's Answer

Peter was as ready with an answer for the Jews as Paul and Silas were with the jailer. He told them: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Although the questions of the jailer and the Jews were essentially the same, the answers they were given are different. The difference is significant. Remember this answer as well as the one the jailer received. We will discuss both after the next example.

4. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-18; 22:3-16; 26:10-20)

Saul was a Jew who was born in Tarsus, a city in the province of Cilicia several hundred miles north of Jerusalem. He came to Jerusalem as a youth to study religion under the famous Jewish teacher, Gamaliel, and was an exceptional student. His advancement was not merely academic but was personal and emotional. He became a zealous champion of the Jewish traditions (Gal. 1:14).

When the gospel of Christ began to spread throughout the city of Jerusalem following the day of Pentecost, he opposed it vigorously. He went through the city finding Christians, persecuting them, and having them put in prison. He even consented to the death of some (Acts 8:1; Acts 26:10). On one occasion he received permission from the Jewish leaders to go to the city of Damascus in Syria to find Christians, bind them, and bring them back to Jerusalem.

a. Saul's Question

As he and his companions were nearing Damascus, a brilliant light shone from heaven. The light blinded Saul and caused him to fall to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? (Acts 22:7).

Saul did not realize who was speaking to him. He asked: "Who are you, Lord?" Jesus answered: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,'" (Acts 22:8). Saul responded: "`What shall I do, Lord?" (Acts 22:10). Saul was now overcome with the awful realization that he had been waging a tragic battle against God and His Son. Like the jailer in Philippi and the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, he wanted to know what he needed to do.

b. The Answer of Ananias

Jesus did not give Saul a direct answer. Instead, He told Saul to go into Damascus where someone would tell him what to do. Saul's companions led him into the city to the house of Judas. Three days later a Christian named Ananias came to Saul. When Ananias said to Saul, "Receive your sight," Saul was able to see again. After explaining God's plans for him. Ananias finally answered the question that Saul had asked outside Damascus: And now why are you waiting? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).

Notice again that the answer is different from the answer Paul and Silas gave the jailer even though the two questions are essentially the same. Furthermore, it is not entirely the same as the answer Peter gave the Jews on the day of Pentecost. We summarize the three answers in the following table:

5. Reconciliation of the Answers

It may seem confusing that the same question was given three different answers. It may even appear to be grounds for rejecting all the answers because they seem to be in conflict. In fact the three answers are in harmony and together provide a biblical understanding of what anyone needs to do to be saved.

a. An Illustration

To see the harmony of the three answers, consider the following illustration. Suppose a traveler is making his first trip from New York to Chicago. Before he leaves, he fills his tank with gasoline. He asks a service-station attendant, "How far is it to Chicago?" The attendant replies, "835 miles." About seven hours later he stops in Youngstown, Ohio, to eat and asks the server, "How far is it to Chicago?" She tells him, "419 miles." From Youngstown he drives to Toledo, Ohio, where he stops to refuel. He asks the attendant, "How far is it to Chicago?" He is told, "244 miles." The traveler is not surprised at the different and seemingly conflicting answers he receives even though the question is always the same. He accounts for the difference because he understands the question was asked at three different locations.

b. The Application

Let's apply this principle to the three examples of salvation. The jailer, the Jews on the day of Pentecost, and Saul of Tarsus were given different answers to the same question because they were at t hree different locations on the road to salvation.

1) The Jailer.

The jailer was a man who, when he asked what to do to be saved, was at the beginning of the road. Paul and Silas gave him an answer appropriate for his need. He could not be saved until he first believed in Christ. Notice, however, that Paul and Silas did not stop teaching the jailer and his household after answering his initial question: Then they spoke word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house (Acts 16:32). We see the change of heart (repentance) in the jailer and his household by their treatment of Paul and Silas: And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes (Acts 16:33a). Later, he set food before them (Acts 16:34). Furthermore, we see how the jailer and those of his household responded when they learned of their need to be baptized: And immediately, he and all his family were baptized (Acts 16:33b). Now that we more fully understand the circumstances and events that followed the initial question of the jailer, we can revise our table of answers to show what he and his household did to be saved:

2) The Jews on Pentecost.

When Peter answered the Jews on the day of Pentecost, they were farther along the road to salvation than the Philippian jailer. Peter gave them the answer appropriate for their need at the time. He told them to repent and be baptized.

Why didn't he tell them to believe in Christ? It was because they already believed. Peter has already preached to them about Jesus. He has already shown them from their own scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth was actually the long-anticipated Messiah. It was only after they believed who Jesus really was and understood their role in His death that they asked what to do to be saved. With this understanding of what happened on the day of Pentecost, we can again modify the table:

3) Saul of Tarsus.

When Ananias spoke to Saul in Damascus, Saul was farther along the road of salvation than either the Philippian jailer or the Jews at Pentecost when they asked what to do to be saved. Ananias gave Saul an answer that was appropriate for his need at the time. He told him to be baptized.

Saul already believed on Christ. He had seen Christ in a vision outside the city three days earlier. He had already repented, as demonstrated by his deep remorse as he waited for Ananias to come. During those three days, he fasted and prayed (Acts 9:9,11). When Ananias arrived, he did not need to tell Saul to believe or to repent. Saul had already done those things. All that remained for him to do was to be baptized and wash away his sins.

When we complete our table of answers, we see that the answers given to those who wanted to know what to do to be saved are entirely consistent and harmonious. The differences in the answers are explained by the differences in the spiritual states of the inquirers at the time they asked the question.

An element of salvation not brought out in these three examples but plainly taught elsewhere in the New Testament is confession of one's faith. God requires that one who wants to be saved must publicly profess (confess) belief in Jesus: But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom. 10:8-10).

God's plan of salvation is consistent and harmonious--strong evidence that the things a person must do to be saved today are no different than the things required when Paul, Silas, Peter, and Ananias were answering the question almost 2000 years ago. Have you complied with this simple plan for being saved? If you are convinced you are saved but did not follow this Bible plan, what is the basis for your conviction?

LESSON QUESTIONS

(Using the above lesson text and your open Bible please answer the following questions)

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PART 1--Fill in the blanks

Look up the following verses in the Bible, click on the blank and type your answer

1. Mark 16:16 He who and is will be ; but he who does not will be .

2. Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that and of should be preached in His name to all , beginning at Jerusalem.

3. Acts 8:12 But when they Philip as he preached the concerning the of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were .

4. Gal. 3:26-27 For you are all of God through in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were into have put on .

5. Eph. 4:4-6 There is one and one , just as you were called in one of your calling; one , one , one ; one and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

6. Tit. 2:11-12 For the of God that brings has appeared to all men, teaching us that, ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live , , and in the present age,

PART 2--True or False:

Select "True" if the statement is correct or "False" if incorrect.

True False 7. Jews from many places in the world came to Jerusalem for Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks) according to Acts 2.

True False 8. A person who wants to be saved evidently feels the presence of a danger of suffering considerable loss.

True False 9. Ananias told Saul to arise and repent to obtain forgiveness of his sins.

True False 10. Paul and Silas waited till the end of the month to baptize the jailer and his household.

True False 11. An earthquake in Philippi defeated the devices in the prison for keeping the prisoners secure.

True False 12. Saul's sins were forgiven when the bright light blinded him and he saw Jesus outside Damascus.

True False 13. Saul's purpose in traveling to Damascus was to seize Christians.

True False 14. A person who does not believe that people are accountable for sin will probably not feel a need seek salvation.

True False 15. It is possible for a question to have more than one correct answer if the answer depends on the circumstances that exist when the question is asked.

PART 3--Multiple choice

Select the phrase or phrases that correctly complete each statement.
PLEASE NOTE: SOME statements have MORE THAN ONE correct completion.

16. The Philippian jailer's question to Paul and Silas was:

    a. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?".

    b. "Sirs, what charges caused you to be sentenced to prison?".

    c. Motivated by a sense of being in danger.

    d. A request for information needed for the papers authorizing their release from prison.

17. When the Jews on Pentecost asked, "Brethren! What shall we do?", Peter did not tell them to believe that Jesus is the Christ because:

    a. God does not require Jews to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.

    b. The Law of Moses does not say anything about belief.

    c. Peter chose to present them a plan of salvation that does not require belief.

    d. Peter has already convinced them that Jesus is the Christ.

18. Before the Jews on Pentecost asked, "Brethren! What shall we do?"

    a. They were blinded by a brilliant light and saw a vision of Jesus.

    b. They came together in Jerusalem because of an earthquake.

    c. They were convinced by Peter that they were responsible for the death of Jesus the Messiah.

    d. They had traveled to Jerusalem to persecute Christians.

19. Paul and Silas were put in prison in Philippi because:

    a. They stole a loaf of bread.

    b. Of the influence of local merchants who opposed them.

    c. They were mistaken for men who had committed a crime.

    d. They did not have permission from the Romans to enter Philippi.

20. On the day of Pentecost, Peter:

    a. Quoted Old Testament prophets.

    b. Asserted that Jesus had been raised from the dead by God's power.

    c. Claimed that the events of that day had been predicted in the Old Testament.

    d. Proved that Jesus was the long-anticipated Messiah.

21. Saul realized on the road to Damascus that:

    a. He would never see again.

    b. His sins had been forgiven.

    c. That the Jesus whose followers he had been persecuting had indeed been raised from the dead.

    d. His companions could not be trusted.

22. Evidences that the Philippian jailer was repentant were:

    a. That he washed the stripes inflicted on Paul and Silas caused by their earlier beating.

    b. That he was immediately baptized when he learned of the need to do so.

    c. That he asked to be beaten with rods because of his wrongdoing.

    d. That he prepared a meal for Paul and Silas.

23. When the Philippian jailer asked what to do to be saved, the first thing Paul and Silas told him to do was:

    a. To perform works of penance.

    b. To contribute a sum of money for the advancement of the gospel.

    c. To repent and be baptized.

    d. To believe in Christ.

24. When the Jews on Pentecost asked what to do to be saved, the first thing Peter told them to do was:

    a. To repent and be baptized.

    b. To believe on Christ.

    c. To believe the Old Testament prophets.

    d. To face up to their guilt in the death of Christ.

25. Overall, in order to be forgiven of our sins, God requires that we:

    a. Believe in Christ, repent of our sins, confess our belief, and be baptized.

    b. Repent and be baptized, if we are in Jerusalem.

    c. Be baptized, if we are in Damascus.

    d. Believe in Christ, if we are in Philippi.

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