Knowing God
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“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)
The Doobie Brothers. While one might object that no Christian devotional should begin with the name of a famous rock music group, one song they are famous for actually fits well with this week’s word. Their song “Jesus Is Just Alright With Me” filled the Oneida Walmart last week. Many times, as rock songs do, these lyrics were repeated. We cannot know what the Lord Jesus really thinks about being “alright” with the Doobies. In fact, the really important question is whether or not the Doobie Brothers are alright with Jesus. All of us are have one of only two standings with God: forgiven or condemned. We are either saved or guilty and under God’s righteous condemnation. It took the Philippian jailor in our text coming to a point of suicide before he thought clearly about his soul’s salvation. He cried out to the Apostle Paul and Silas as his world crumbled around him “What must I do to be saved?” It is true, according Bible scholars, that what was involved in this salvation probably was unclear to this desperate man. His soul was shaken, and he came to the all important realization that He needed to be saved. To be saved in the way God defines it includes two essentials: first, we must be forgiven of our sins by confessing them and turning from them from the heart; second, we must receive the gift of eternal life given us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our spirits. This, and only this, is being saved by God. Paul said the man must “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” To believe is to commit one’s life to Christ, to forsake all and follow Him, to firmly and continually believe Jesus is God’s Son and our Lord and to do HIS will. The jailor, a moment ago at the door of eternity and hell, now shows he truly believed in the Lord Jesus. He, as others have noted, was himself washed of his sins and washed the wounds of his prisoners. He washed their stripes and was washed from his sins. True salvation will always be manifested in a changed life even if it takes a while for the new heart to break through like a seed through the crusty soil. Jesus may be alright with the Doobie Brothers but He will not be judged by them. They will be judged by Him, as will we all. His eyes are flames of fire. Today is the day of salvation. Woe to those among us who delay getting right with God one hour too late.