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                                                             | SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?Text: Acts 16:30 I. Let us answer the question.
A. "What".
1. This suggests that there is something required of man
in being saved.
B. "Must"
1. It is not a matter of option.
2. It is an absolute necessity.
C. "I".
1. This denotes the individual responsibility in human redemption.
2. God has done His part.
D. "Do".
1. This suggests activity on the part of the one being saved.
E. "To be saved".
1. This is object sought by the querist.
2. The saving is done by another.
3. But what must man do to be saved by the Savior. II. How shall we answer the question?
A. Not with feelings, opinions, and what other people may say. The
reason why is that different people will give different answers.
B. The only way is to turn to the Bible and look at the question and
observe the answer that is given each time it is found.
1. This is scriptural.
2. It will give us the right answer.
3. It will give the whole truth on this matter.
4. This question is found four times in the New Testament asked one
way or another.III. First time the question is asked is in Mark 10:17-22.
A. Jesus told the "rich young ruler" to keep the commandments (the Law
of Moses). verse 19
1. The ruler answered that he had kept them from his youth. verse 20
B. Jesus then told him to sell what he had, give it to the poor, and
follow Christ. verse 21
C. At this time the Law of Moses was still in effect.
1. It was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14
2. When Christ died upon the cross, His will became effective.
Hebrews 9:15-17
3. Therefore, if someone asks us today what they must do to be saved,
we can not give them the same answer. IV. The second time that it was asked is in Acts 2:37.
A. The sermon that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost pricked them
in their hearts and caused them to ask the question.
B. The answer that Peter gave them is found in verse 38.
1. "Repent and be baptized".
a. What part of speech is "and"?
1) A coordinating conjunction.
2) They are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that
are of equal rank.
b. We see that repenting and being baptized are of
equal rank and go together.
2. Why repent and be baptized. For the remission of one's sins.
3. Some think that the word "for" here means "because".
a. The Greek word is "eis" (for).
b. Compare the same expression and Greek words in Matthew 26:28. V. The Third time that the question was asked is in Acts 9:6.
A. The conversion of Saul is found in Acts 9, 22, and 26.
B. Paul is first introduced as a persecutor of Christians. Acts
7:58; 8:1; 26:10-11.
1. In his error, his conscience did not hurt. Acts 23:1.
a. Because he thought he was doing the right thing.
b. Thus, we see that the conscience is not a safe guide.
2. Jesus appeared to Paul to qualify him to be an apostle.
Acts 26:16; 1 Corinthians 15:8
a. Jesus did not save him (forgive him of his sins).
b. Nor did Jesus tell him what to do (other to go to Damascus
where he will be told what to do.).
C. Ananias answered the question in Acts 22:16. We see that baptism
stands between a believing penitent and the washing away of his sins.
D. Some people said that it is the blood of Christ saves us and not
baptism.
1. Christ shed His blood in His death.
2. We are baptized into the death of Christ. Romans 6:3
3. Therefore, we come in contact with the blood of Christ when
we are baptized.
VI. The fourth time it is asked is Acts 16:30.
A. Paul and Silas had been put in prison at Philippi.
B. A great earthquake hit the jail and all the doors were opened.
C. The jailer hearing the commotion started to kill himself, but
Paul stopped him.
D. After Paul and Silas had been bought out, the jailer asked the
question.
1. He was an unbeliever who was alarmed by the earthquake.
2. There is no evidence that he had ever heard a gospel sermon.
3. In all probability, he did not know anything about the one
true God and Jesus Christ.
E. This answer given to this unbeliever is found in Acts 16:31.
1. The story does not end here.
2. They preached to him that he might believe. Romans 10:17
3. The jailer then showed his repentance by washing the stripes
that had been inflicted on Paul and Silas. verse 33
4. Then he was baptized with his entire house. verse 33
VII. We have seen three (3) different answers to the same question after
the New Testament went into effect.
A. They were given different answers to the same question, because
they were at different places on the road to salvation.
1. The jailer was an unbeliever; so he was told to believe.
a. They preached to him to develop faith.
b. He then repented, and was baptized.
2. The Jews on the day of Pentecost did believe.
a. So they were told to repent.
b. and be baptized for the remission of their sins.
3. Saul was a believing penitent man so he was told only to
be baptized and wash away his sins.
B. An illustration.
1. If you were going to Nashville, TN from McMinnville, TN:
a. And you asked how far it was to Nashville while you were
still in McMinnville, the answer is about 80 miles.
b. Then you stopped in Woodbury, TN and asked how far to
Nashville, the answer is about 60 miles.
c. Then you stopped in Murfreesboro, TN and asked how far to
Nashville, the answer is about 30 miles.
2. Here you have three different answers to the same question,
yet all three are right.
3. It is same situation for the three answers of the question
"What must I do to be saved?"
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