Salvation

by Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil

1. What must I do to be Saved?
2. Salvation from whom?
3. Non-Christians who were saved (The book of Acts)
4. Why should one believe in Jesus Christ?

1. What must I do to be saved?

The prison keeper asked this question to St. Paul. (Acts 16:30). The answer was ?believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.?

A similar question was asked to St. Peter (Acts 2:38), by the people who were 'cut to the heart'. The answer was repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.? 

We can conclude that, a Non-Christian who accepts Jesus Christ should:

a) Repent
b) Believe in Jesus Christ,
c) Be baptized for the remission of sins.
d) Receive the Holy Spirit.

This is the crux of the advice from the apostles for the above question. But they were advising the adult non-Christians.  

2. Salvation from whom?

There is no doubt. Jesus Christ is the answer because of the following reasons:

a) "And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Mat 1: 21).
b) For there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 1: 21)
c) Jesus Christ came to save the sinners. (1 Tim)
d) Nor there is salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

3. Non-Christians who were saved (The Book of Acts)

Let us look at some of the people who were described as saved in the book of Acts. This gives us a good starting point for our discussion on salvation.

a) 3000 people on the day of Pentecost - (Acts 2:41)
b) Later 5000 people - (Acts 4:4)
c) Saul - (Acts 9:18)
d) Prison Keeper - (Acts 16:33)
e) Lydia - (Acts 16:15)
f) Cornelius - (Acts 10:48)
g) Crispus - (Acts 18: 8)
h) People of Ephesus - (Acts 19:5)
i) Zaccaus and his family, because of Our Lord's visit to his home - (Luke 19:9)
j) The Ethiopian eunuch - (Acts 8:38)

For salvation:

1) One has to listen to the true words of salvation
2) One has to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Phili.2:12)
3) For salvation one has to believe with his heart for righteousness, and confess with the mouth (Rom 10:10). God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Please refer to Acts 13:16, II Thess. 2:13, Eph 1:14, 1 Peter 1:10]  

4. Why should one believe in Jesus Christ?

Nor there is salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

There is much more than a single line answer for the above question. But let us be concise for the time being.

Excerpted from: "What Shall I Do To Be Saved?" by Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil. Translated By Mr. Paul Philipose

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