Originally published: 3/6/2019 Updated 9/24/2021
No one on the face of the earth can blame God for missing Heaven and going to Hell. Romans 1:20 lets us know that we all are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
This scripture lets us know that even the invisible things about God are understood based on what we can see. We cannot look at the sky, the stars, trees, little birds, or bugs and not know that some greater power created them. Knowing what we do know should then set in motion a desire to know the true and living God. Titus 2:11, which states, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, assures us that He will present His grace to every man. How God gives His grace to every man is in the mind and heart of God. Only God can do such a thing. But, at some point in life, God will assure that His grace, His opportunity to be saved, is offered to every man or woman. The question is, what will each man or woman do with their chance to be saved?
Every human being on the face of the earth must come to a point where he asks the question: what must I do to be saved? Within this question is a realization that we are lost and in need of a Savior. At some level, we all know that there is something on the other side of this life, and God assures us that His Grace will be shown to everyone.
In the 16th chapter of Acts, Paul and Silas, two missionaries for Jesus Christ, were in Philippi, preaching and teaching the Word of God. Because of the power of their ministry, they angered some of the Jewish community by casting the devil out of a damsel who had the spirit of divination. They were beaten, thrown into jail, and their feet were fastened in stocks. But these men of God received a miracle of deliverance. Acts 16:25-26:
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Instead of crying about their situation and bemoaning their circumstances, they sang and praised God. Verse 27 says: And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Now you know, if you or I were in a prison cell and we were suddenly loosed by an earthquake, we would have broken out immediately, right? But Paul and Silas were in tune with God, and they waited for further instructions from God. Apparently, so did the other prisoners. The jailer knew that he was as good as dead if all prisoners had broken out on his watch, so he decided to kill himself before his superiors did.
28 Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.
When the jailer discovered that the prisoners had not escaped, he knew that something supernatural was going on. He knew that God had intervened. He fell on his knees before these men of God, and he humbled himself as we are instructed to do in
1 Peter 5:6 says 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
The 30thverse in Acts 16 says that the jailer asked one of the most critical questions that every human being must ask:
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
When we realize the truth of our need to be saved, we must take advantage of the opportunity for salvation that God presents. That opportunity may be a tract that someone hands you on a street corner or a blog that you just “happened” to read. It might be a song that you hear, or it might be a message like the one you are reading now entitled “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” How God gets the news to you does not matter. What does matter is that it might be your one and only, your first or last opportunity to get yourself right with God.
Some of you may have heard the Word of God preached in times past, but it didn’t really sink in that it was meant for you. You could be the one who suddenly realizes that you have been given at least one opportunity to be saved, but you rejected it. Well, for you, it is not too late because this is another opportunity given to you. Some individuals reject their chance for salvation, thinking that time is on their side or that God will continue to provide additional time and opportunities in the future. But what you need to know is that that type of thinking is of the Devil. He will continue to entice you to wait and accept the invitation “the next time” it’s offered. He will continue to encourage you to procrastinate until you are in Hell. “Do it the next time,” he will say until it’s too late for you.
Hebrews 3:15 says Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.
None of us knows exactly where or when our death will occur. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, so we must take care of the business of today on today!
Hebrews 9: 27 tells us And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Surely no one believes that he is going to live here on earth in its current state forever. We’ve seen too many people leave here through death to believe that. In our minds, however, we often see our death as an event in the distant future. Others simply refuse to think about their death because the thought is too scary. But the truth of the matter is, our death might be sooner than any of us may think. The Coronavirus is making it abundantly clear that death could soon be a reality for all of us. Eventually, we must take the blinders off of our eyes and realize that death is coming. And, knowing that the first part of Hebrew 9:27 is correct, then the second part of that scripture must also be genuine. A Judgment Day is coming. Anyone who finds himself standing at the Great White Throne Judgment will be there because they did not have Jesus Christ, God’s precious gift of salvation, as their Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ died for us so that we might all be saved. But, friend, you do not have to be there because you are being allowed to be saved by accepting Jesus Christ.
The jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” was answered in verses 31 and 32:
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Paul and Silas did what Saints are attempting to do for lost mankind every day. They helped the jailer and his whole house to understand the Word of God. They told them what they needed to do to be saved.
Romans 10:13 says: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 John 1:9 tells us If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And Acts 1:8 says: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I strongly encourage each of you who have read this post to examine yourself and get saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost so that you can live with God forever. God had made salvation a relatively simple process for us because Jesus did the hard work when He died for us. God did the hard job of giving His Only Begotten Son so that we might have the right to the tree of life.
Romans 10:9 says That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Repeat these or similar words and believe them with all of your heart:
Father, I’m sorry. I have done things in my life that I know have not been pleasing unto you. Please forgive me of all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Father, if you will save me, I will live for you for the rest of my life. Give me the power to live a life that is pleasing to you. Give me the Holy Ghost.
God loves you; Jesus died for you, and He will give you eternal life if you ask for it. May God bless you all.
Click on the link below to learn more about your new life in Christ. https://www.FGHT.org. This is the church where God brought me out of sin and shame, and I recommend my church, Full Gospel Holy Temple Church in Dallas, TX, to you.
