The title of this article is the question asked by the Philippian jailor, as recorded in Acts 16:30.  The same question, with just a little different wording, was asked by those Jews gathered in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts 2:37.  Paul, Saul of Tarsus, asked a similar question as recorded in Acts 9:6. We are living in a world of questions; some interesting, some important, some informing and some otherwise.  Some questions are trivial and foolish, 2 Timothy 2:23.  Some questions cause awe and reverence, such as “What is man?”, recorded in Psalm 8.  Some questions have no answers, Deuteronomy 29:29.  But with regard to the question raised in this article, one needs the whole truth, that is, what does the Bible say on the matter.  What is involved in accepting the truth of the answer to this question?

The title of this article is the question asked by the Philippian jailor, as recorded in Acts 16:30.  The same question, with just a little different wording, was asked by those Jews gathered in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts 2:37.  Paul, Saul of Tarsus, asked a similar question as recorded in Acts 9:6. We are living in a world of questions; some interesting, some important, some informing and some otherwise.  Some questions are trivial and foolish, 2 Timothy 2:23.  Some questions cause awe and reverence, such as “What is man?”, recorded in Psalm 8.  Some questions have no answers, Deuteronomy 29:29.  But with regard to the question raised in this article, one needs the whole truth, that is, what does the Bible say on the matter.  What is involved in accepting the truth of the answer to this question?

One must first recognize what it means to be lost, and the need of salvation.  In the three incidents mentioned where the question was asked, there was a realization of need.  The Bible makes that need very clear.  “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”.  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:10,23).  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”.  “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (I John1:8,10).  One is not born a sinner, as some teach, but sin is a transgression of the law of God (I John 3:4).  No one is good enough to go to heaven of his own doing, so what has God told us, in His word, relative to an answer to the above question?

Secondly, implied in the question, is a desire for salvation.  When one is in a state of unbelief, or has a sense of security, he will not ask such a question.  It is the truth that will make us free, John 8:32.

Thirdly, the above question suggests that something is required of the one desiring salvation.  One cannot do just anything and expect salvation. So when we begin to examine the scriptures, we find the answer that was given to individuals.  For example, in Acts 16:30-31, the unbeliever was told to believe.  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”.  Many in the religious world want to stop right there and teach that faith only brings about salvation.  But that is not the end of the context.  In addition to telling the jailor to believe, “they spake unto him the word of the Lord” (v.23).  The man didn’t know what to believe, thus he needed further instruction.  As a matter of fact, the only time “faith only” is mentioned in the Bible, it is preceded by the word “not” (James 2:24).  In Acts 2:38, those who already believed were told to “repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...”.  We also learn from Acts 8:36-37 and Romans 10:10 that a confession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son is involved.  When that Ethiopian inquired of Philip concerning the passage he was reading (Isaiah 53), Luke records that Philip “began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus”.  When the eunuch inquired about baptism, Philip answered, “If thou believest with all thine hart, thou mayest” (Acts 8:37).  Then he made the Biblical confession, not some man made confession of faith.  He simply stated, ”I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”.  Peter made this same basic confession as recorded in Matthew 16:16.  Those believers, who have repented of their sins and made that confession, were then told to “be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  Ananias told Saul of Tarsus the same thing, as recorded by Luke in Acts 22:16.  “And now why tarriest thou?  Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”.  One might recall that this is exactly what Jesus told the apostles in the Great Commission.  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).  While Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”, many in the religious world will tell you, “He that believeth and is NOT baptized shall be saved.  That is the same lie that the serpent told Eve.  “Thou shalt NOT surely die.  He is still telling that same lie today, and it is sad how many people believe and teach that same lie.  It might also be of interest to note at this point that when Philip had taught the eunuch, preaching unto him Jesus, the eunuch’s first response was, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized” (Acts 8:36).  It would seem rather obvious that preaching Jesus involves also preaching baptism.

In the fourth place, the question of the title says that something is essential, a “must”.  It is not a matter of choice, if we desire salvation

In the fifth place, it is obvious from the question that this matter is personal, something that “I” must do.  God has made the gracious provisions by giving His Only Begotten Son (John 3:16).  Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and then sent the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to the Apostles (John14:26; 16:13) so we would know exactly what God expects from us.  No one else can obey for you.  It is something that each individual must do.

In the sixth place, the question makes a demand of action – “do”.  Some would have us believe that the sinner is wholly inactive in the matter of salvation.  The Hebrews writer says that Christ is the “author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).  Jesus said it like this, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

When one does what God requires relative to salvation, the end result is that the person is in Christ.  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).  That individual is now a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).  That person is now on his way to heaven and will make it there by faithfully following the will of God (Revelation 2:10).

If you have further questions about the matter of your salvation, feel free to contact us via this website.  We have available tracts that further deal with the matter of salvation that we would be delighted to send to you.  We also have a free Bible correspondence that will highlight your responsibility in salvation.  Please feel free to contact us if we can be of further assistance to you.