Seventh Sunday of Easter, Morning Worship, June 1, 2025
Sermon: What Must I Do to Be Saved?
Accompanying Scripture: Acts 16: 16-34
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
He arrives at the jail, shaken by the fiercest earthquake he’s ever experienced. He’s already counting dead bodies in his head. Especially, Paul and Silas. There’s no way either of them could have survived.
He unlocks the jail and discovers that the doors are ajar to his horror. This is his worst nightmare. It was his job to keep the prisoners behind bars. This act of nature won’t be enough of an excuse; he’s as good as dead.
Without further thought, he draws his sword. He doesn’t consider the effect on his family. He only wants as painless a death as possible. He pauses a moment and then hears voices. Are the Romans arriving already? No, the voices are inside the jail. Curious.
“Don’t do that. We’re still here. Nobody’s run away.” (Acts 1628c The Message.)
The jailer pauses, then kicks into action. He orders lights and finds that Paul and Silas sit in their cell as casually as anyone can sit in a rocky, uncomfortable cell.
In that moment, the jailer’s life passes before him. Not that he’s about to die, but he’s on the precipice of something new. And better.
“Sirs,” he responds. “What do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” (Acts 16:31 The Message.)
What did it take for you to reach the end of your rope and decide you wanted something better? When was your life controlled by others? When have you felt shackled by life?
What happened to put your life into perspective? Or are you still waiting?
There are so many ways in which to be in bondage. We’re trapped by the idols of money, wealth, and beauty. We’re held hostage by addictions. We can become separated from real life by video games and social media.
“What must I do to be saved?”
What must I do to really live? How do I turn my back on my fears or habits? How do I stop others from controlling my life? How do I end the addictions?
The questions are countless. The answer is simple. “Say yes to God.”
The Greek word for “saved” is “metanoia.” Meta refers to the big picture. Jesus invites us to turn around and see the bigger picture—to turn around and see what our lives could be, to turn around and see life made completely new.
What does that look like? It looks cool and refreshing, with the hard work of change involved.
For the jailer, it was letting go of others’ expectations and demands on him and his life. His household rejoiced when he was baptized, perhaps because they saw a new man trying to come out. They sensed a happier man who wouldn’t take his fears and angst out on them.
You see, our unhappiness affects those around us. When we are tied up in our own lives and unable to see those around us, we hurt those we love the most. Turning around means turning away from hurt, shame, and anger—especially anger. It means turning to see what life can mean for us in new, life-giving terms.
What the jailer experienced is what each of us experiences in our lives. We get caught up in something and want to change. We get lifed and reach out to the One who can make a difference in our lives.
You see, being saved can mean being saved from a life of hell beyond the grave. But, it definitely means being saved from a life of hell here on earth in this age. It means finding joy and happiness even while we see pain. It means we see God first. And we see the world through God’s eyes: eyes that shed tears and love us more than we can imagine.
The jailer and his family no doubt attended worship at the local house church. He probably remained a jailer, but was better for his conversion. His family life improved, and his friends embraced him.
Life isn’t easy. At times, it’s as difficult as anything can be. Where we put our focus determines how we come through it, because coming through hard times is important.
This is the promise we read in Psalm 97. The Lord guards the faithful.
Say yes to the good news: God brings healing, wholeness, and unity to those who turn to him.
Give your shackles to God.
Say yes to salvation.
All glory and honor be to God.
Amen.