“What Must I Do to Be Saved?”

 

Acts 16:30–31(CSB)
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

Few questions in life matter more than this one. Everything else—career success, relationships, wealth, even health—fades compared to the eternal weight of this question: What must I do to be saved? This question wasn’t asked in a synagogue, by a scholar, or during a peaceful Bible study. It was asked by a Roman jailer in a moment of crisis. An earthquake had shaken the prison where Paul and Silas were held. Chains had fallen off. The cells were open. Death seemed imminent, and yet, what the jailer feared most wasn’t losing his life, but losing his soul.

Why did he ask this question? It wasn’t just the earthquake that rattled him—it was the peace he saw in Paul and Silas. Despite their wounds and chains, these men prayed and sang hymns to God. That joy and faith amid suffering were a powerful witness. The jailer saw something real, something deeper than religion—he saw the transforming presence of Christ.

Today, we live in a world full of distractions and false hopes. Many people believe that salvation comes through good deeds, religious rituals, or personal merit. Others avoid the question altogether, thinking they can delay spiritual matters until later. But the gospel cuts through the confusion with clarity and grace: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Belief in Jesus is not a vague acknowledgment of His existence. It’s a surrender of heart. It means recognizing our sins, accepting that Jesus died and rose again for us, and yielding our lives to Him as Lord. This is not a transaction; it's a transformation. The moment we believe, the Holy Spirit enters our lives, sealing us for eternity and beginning to make us more like Christ (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

And what happened to the jailer didn’t stop with him. His entire household heard the gospel and believed. This is the ripple effect of salvation—it moves through individuals, families, communities, and generations. You may be the first believer in your family, or perhaps you're still praying for your loved ones to know Jesus. Take heart. God is in the business of saving households, just as He did with this Roman jailer.

Reflection:
Have you asked this question— “What must I do to be saved?”, and responded in faith? If so, rejoice in your salvation. If not, let today be the day of your salvation. And for those of us who have believed, may our lives, like Paul and Silas', reflect the joy, peace, and power of the gospel so clearly that others are compelled to ask the same question.

May God bless and keep you, and may the Lord help you renew your spirit.

Dr. Dimas Castillo