THE PROCESS OF SALVATION!
Acts 16:25-34 (as I understand it) - And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard 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 every one's bands were loosened. And the keeper of the prison awakening 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. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and all those who are living in your house and also believe. And they spoke unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
SOME IMPORTANT THINGS OF WHICH TO TAKE NOTE!
* Paul and Silas gave evidence of their faith with prayer and singing, even thought they had been beaten and were bound in prison. The other prisoners, having great respect for the faith of the two, did not try to escape, but followed their lead.
* Not only did the earthquake open the doors to the cells, but it miraculously released all the prisoner's bonds. Obviously, this "earthquake" was a special act of Almighty God.
* When the jailer discovered that all the prisoners had remained, following the leading of Paul and Silas, he realized he needed to be saved, and he understood that Paul and Silas could tell him what he needed to know.
* The answer to the jailer's question was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!" This offer of salvation was also offered to the entire family and their servants. It is extremely important to note that believing preceded salvation; they were told, "Believe (the Greek Aorist tense, an action that neither diminishes or stops) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be (the Greek Future tense, where an action begins and continues forever) saved."
* It was after Paul and Silas preached the Word of God to them, that they believed and were baptized. Here, the "Word of God" has to have been the Gospel message found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, for according to Romans 1:16, only the Gospel message has the power to save the lost.
BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS OF SALVATION!
Romans 10:9-17 (as I understand it) - If you publicly confess with your mouth your faith in the Lord Jesus, because you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes and is declared righteous by God; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: for the same Lord is rich in mercy and grace unto all who call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone telling them? And how shall they proclaim Him, except they believe? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things . . . So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
JESUS DIED AS SAVIOR FOR YOUR SINS!
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AS THE LIVING LORD!
BELIEVE THIS AND YOU SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
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