Throughout the entirety of God’s Word, this question is asked only once in explicit terms:
“What must I do to be saved?”
Given the widespread confusion surrounding salvation, what more important question could an unsaved individual ask? And what clearer answer could be given than the one provided by Paul and Silas in Acts 16:31?
Seizing the moment, they answered the question plainly and decisively—without qualification, addition, or delay:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Many who profess Christianity would readily offer a hearty “Amen” to this verse. The difficulty arises not with what the text says, but with what it does not say.
The passage does not say:
- “Be baptized in water.”
(though the jailer and his household were baptized after believing) - “Join the church.”
- “Repent of all your sins.”
- “Pray a prayer.”
- “Give your life to Christ.”
- “Take up your cross.”
- “Keep the commandments.”
- “Be a good person.”
- “Sin less”
- “Give to the poor” or “Donate to charity.”
Friend, what saith the Scripture?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
This is the only response consistent with the uniform testimony of Scripture. Salvation is not conditioned upon works, rituals, commitments, or reform, but upon faith in a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Harry Ironside rightly observed:
“To the inquiring jailer at Philippi, who asked the definite question, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ there came as definite an answer, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ Baptism followed believing. It was the God-ordained way of confessing Christ as Saviour and Lord. Many have been saved who could not possibly be baptized. Consider again the case of the penitent thief, and be assured that God has never had two ways of saving sinners. The same grace that saved him will save you, when you trust in Jesus, whose blood alone cleanses from all sin.” — Harry A. Ironside, Full Assurance, p. 105
The Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Today, He freely offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life—not as a reward for effort, but as a gift to be received by faith alone.
Jesus Himself said:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:14–16
The question has been asked.
The answer has been given.
Will you take God at His word today?