Acts 16:30-34
About midnight Paul and Silas (in jail) were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Religion today has complicated the whole issue of salvation. If you ask 100 Christians what it takes to be “saved”, I think you would get close to 100 different answers. Many people today think that salvation is about going to church, being a good person, and NOT going to hell. On the other hand, many think that being saved means you are better than non-believers, are more “blessed” than non-believers, or that you obey all the commandments and rules churches present to their followers.
The true gospel of Jesus Christ is that salvation simply comes by “believing IN the Lord Jesus”. IN is the keyword here. Believing IN is trusting, knowing, or being assured that you are in a relationship with the Lord and Savior of this universe. It is a simple but mystical rebirth of one’s spirit that allows us to claim and believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins because he paid the price for our sins by dying in our place on the cross. Believing in that is seemingly simple, yet the Bible also says no one can say Jesus is Lord unless the Holy Spirit gives them the ability or faith to do so. Romans 10:9 says,“…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? Yet I would suggest that “believing in your heart” is a calling of the Spirit to YOUR spirit. And it is confirmed by the “confessing with your mouth” that Jesus is Lord. I truly believe that it is very difficult to say “Jesus is Lord” with passion or meaning if you don’t really believe it.
Finally, it is not just about “believing” Jesus was a real person. Even Satan and other religions like Islam believe that Jesus was real or was a prophet, yet when it comes to declaring him Lord of your life…that is the real deal. For most people, I don’t think that comes easily. It often takes years of wandering in a world of unbelief and doubt before one can finally submit to the reality of His Lordship. I was a tough case. It took 35+ years of wandering and doubting before I finally submitted to God’s Holy Spirit with my life and understanding. Wow…what a difference that confession and submission make in one’s life. “Everything has changed and all becomes new”.
Historically, jailers have not been happy, spiritual people. From previous psychological studies I have seen, the psychological profiles between jail keepers and those they incarcerate are very similar. The key difference is usually which side of the law they have decided to live and act on or grew up around. In this case, the jailer was a family man entrusted with securing the lockdown of this prison. The penalty in Roman times for failing in your job was very often capital punishment and extreme shame. In this case, when the spiritual singing of Paul and Silas while in prison brought about the earthquake and releasing of their doors and shackles, the jailer was ready to take his own life immediately because for him all hope was lost when he perceived he would be blamed for the escaping prisoners. It was in that moment in perfect timing that only God’s Holy Spirit could orchestrate, Paul shouted out to him that they had not chosen to escape and hope was NOT lost. It was at that moment the jailer understood the meaning of these events and he knew he needed what these Christian evangelists had. To sing praises at midnight while in a nasty jail would make most people think you were looney tunes. Until the earthquake, that is probably how they were perceived.
God not only saved the jailer, but also his family by the timely witness of these prisoners for the faith. It was the jailer who initiated the conversation of “what must I do to be saved?”. The apostle’s answer wasn’t “repent from your sins” or “change your behavior”. They simply said, “Believe IN the Lord Jesus”. Because of the miraculous circumstances, he was immediately ready to do so and did, not only him but his whole family! The apostles then “spoke the Word of the Lord” to him and his family AFTER he had made the decision. That very night in the middle of the night his family tended to the wounds these prisoners had suffered who then baptized them immediately as a symbol of their conversion by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I would love to read the book of this jailer and his family going forward. I would guess they had a lot to learn and changes to make in their lifestyles and attitudes towards life, but I would suggest their conversion was once for all time even if in the future they had difficulties or occasional doubts. I believe the Holy Spirit gave them fellowship and confidence to change according to God’s will over time…not the will or timing of men.
I think today there are many who doubt their salvation who are actually saved. They have let culture and people tell them what salvation looks and sounds like which creates doubt and a return to rituals and legalism to affirm false faith. Likewise, I believe there are many who think they are saved that are not! I am not their judge, but the Bible is clear that at the final judgment “many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers'” (Matthew 7:22-23) Only those who “do the will of my Father” will be part of the new kingdom to come (see verse 21).
Salvation comes to the humble, the repentant, the most imperfect among us. It is not evidenced by perfection, legalism, or moral superiority. It is not something that can be bought or “qualified for”. Some of the best, most righteous people I know do not profess faith and thus are not promised salvation or eternity with Christ. Meanwhile, many of us imperfect or weak vessels are assured salvation and eternity solely based on faith, not works, “lest anyone should boast” in their salvation.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
So we can have confidence today that we are God’s workmanship. It is He who perfects us unto salvation and eternity with Him. In ourselves, we have no ability to understand, obey, or accept His great gifts. It is only through faith, by humbling ourselves and recognizing our need for Him that we can hope for salvation, and beyond that the sanctification and glorification He has promised those who believe IN Him.
Please don’t complicate it or disbelieve it because it is so simple. The work is already done. He has paid the price for our sins and imperfection. We can now sit or stand in His presence and ask Him anything…not because of anything we have done, but because of what he did once and for all 2000 years ago on that cross and by rising again from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for all of us imperfect, weak believers.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) Just ask the jailer.