There is a great question that is asked in the conversion of the Philippian Jailer.  This question is one that I hope many will ask themselves and those who are able to tell them how to be saved.  I would like to look at what happened in the answer to the jailers question.   (Acts 16:30-31) “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  Here the jailer is told to believe.  I know that this is simple.  Maybe people do not understand how simple it is.  Some denominations like to think that it is as simple as believing in Christ and accepting him as your savior.  They like to end the reading at verse thirty-one.  The problem is the lesson goes on.  (Acts 16:32-33) “And they spake 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 baptized, he and all his, straightway.”  I do know that many advocates of faith alone do not like us Church of Christ preaches whom point out the fact that after hearing they were baptized.  I want to look at what real conversion is.  I want all to read this to be able to know what they must do to be saved!  I will supply much Biblical proof and then it is on the person reading.

    (Mark 16:15-16) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  Why does this verse not say that he who is baptized not shall be damned?  It does not say that because on cannot be baptized unless they first believe.  So we know that from both the Jailer and this verse that belief and baptism are required to be saved from damnation.  Paul wrote to the Church at Rome and told them that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).  We cannot obtain faith without hearing (Romans 10:14).  One whom truly believes would surly be obedient.  The problem is what must one hear to be ready to be saved?  The must hear about Christ and his Church for sure.   (Acts 8:12) “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”  Since they must hear about the Church they must know that the Church is the Church of Christ.  They must know that there is only ONE Church and they are baptized into that ONE Church (Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 1:18, and I Corinthians 12:12-13).  They must realize that there is salvation only in that Church (Ephesians 5:23).  They must hear the word which is truth (John 17:17).  One cannot be taught wrong and properly converted.

    (Acts 2:38) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”   One who wants to be saved must realize that repentance is prior to baptism.  They must make those changes in their lives that need to be changed to be a righteous person.  Repentance is a turn from the world to God (Acts 26:20).

     (Acts 8:36-38) “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”  The Eunuch made confession that Christ was the Son of God prior to baptism.   Confession is unto salvation (Romans 10:10). 

    Finally, we can know that baptism is the point at which we receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Are sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).  Baptism is the point at which we put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).  Baptism is the time when we are buried with Christ and rise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6).  Faith alone cannot save.  All five steps of salvation are required and without them there is no salvation.  Today is a day in which you should choose to be part of the Church that Christ died to establish (Acts 20:28).  Here is a thought on the belief that one is saved by faith alone, and the choice is in the hands of the reader of this writing.  (James 2:18-24) “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” 
 

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