Hello,
This has got to be one of the most important questions that has been asked since Biblical times and with all good reason.
This question was asked by a jailer in the book of Acts Ch. 16:32, and the response by the Apostles was:

quote:

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Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

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How is it that something so easy has become so complicated? The Pharisees also made it complicated with rituals and ceremonies, and lots of extra laws.

2000 some odd years later with over 1,000 different Christian denominations the way to Salvation has a variety of 'tests' to determine if someone is ready i.e. baptism of the Holy Spirit, Communion, perfectionism, etc etc..

What was the sequence of events that led the jailer to be saved and his household?

quote:

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Acts 16:32-34
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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The jailer had a repentant heart and was humble as well (The Holy Spirit must have been working on him since no man can change anyone) and the whole house rejoiced as they ate and believed.

How do we teach others about Jesus Christ, so they may be baptized when they ask in their hearts 'What must I do to be saved'? Is it by sharing the Word, witnessing to them in word and deed? Has anyone baptized anyone in the same day\hour after sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them and they (convert) believed? Or do we muddy the waters with complicated rules and regulations turning people away?

Any thoughts on this?

God Bless,
Will

While reading Chapter 32 of The Great Controversy titled Snares of Satan the following words from Sister White struck a chord of familiarity:

quote:

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When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when indifference prevails in the church and the world, Satan is not concerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, "What must I do to be saved?" he is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ, and to counteract the influence of the Holy Spirit. {GC88 518.2}

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We don't have to answer this in this thread (although it would be nice), but it is a question with a very important result it will either be etaernal life or lost forever.

God Bless,
Will

Will, I agree with you. Answering this question is more important than anything else we can study. You are, no doubt, familiar with the answer I have embraced.


In Christ we must:
1. Repent (Acts 3:19).
2. Crucify our old man habits and traits of character (Rom 6:1-23).
3. Be born again (John 3:1-8).
4. Walk in the Spirit and mind of the new man (Gal 5:16 and Eph 4:24).

It would be nice to take some time to thoroughly study this topic. I realize most MSDAOL members are sick and tired of my views on sin, rebirth, moral perfection, righteousness and salvation, but please don't let that prevent the rest of you from digging deeper into the most important doctrine in all the Bible.

Are we following the counsel of God?

TDG 93
Brethren, we must sink the shaft deep in the mine of truth. You may question matters with yourselves and with one another, if you only do it in the right spirit; but too often self is large, and as soon as investigation begins, an unchristian spirit is manifested. This is just what Satan delights in, but we should come with a humble heart to know for ourselves what is truth. The time is coming when we shall be separated and scattered, and each one of us will have to stand without the privilege of communion with those of like precious faith; and how can you stand unless God is by your side, and you know that He is leading and guiding you? Whenever we come to investigate Bible truth, the Master of assemblies is with us. The Lord does not leave the ship one moment to be steered by ignorant pilots. We may receive our orders from the Captain of our salvation. . . . {TDG 93.1}

If a brother is teaching error, those who are in responsible positions ought to know it; and if he is teaching truth, they ought to take their stand at his side. We should all know what is being taught among us, for if it is truth, we need to know it. The Sabbath school teacher needs to know it, and every Sabbath school scholar ought to understand it. We are all under obligation to God to know what He sends to us. He has given directions by which we may test every doctrine--"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). But if it is according to this test, do not be so full of prejudice that you cannot acknowledge a point when it is proved to you, simply because it does not agree with your ideas. {TDG 93.2}

Do not catch at every objection, however small, and make it as large as possible, and preserve it for future use. No one has said that we shall find perfection in any man's investigations, but this I do know, that our churches are dying for the want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ, and for kindred truths. {TDG 93.3}

No matter by whom light is sent, we should open our hearts to receive it in the meekness of Christ.--Review and Herald, March 25, 1890. {TDG 93.4}

LDE 200, 201

Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have answered, "It is the third angel's message in verity."--1SM 372 (1890). {LDE 199.4}

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders [E.J.] Waggoner and [A. T.] Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. {LDE 200.1}

Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.--TM 91, 92 (1895). {LDE 200.2}

The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel.--6T 19 (1900). {LDE 200.3}

The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.--COL 415, 416 (1900). {LDE 200.4}

According Webster's "verity" means:

1 : the quality or state of being true or real
2 : something (as a statement) that is true; especially : a fundamental and inevitably true value (such eternal verities as honor, love, and patriotism)
3 : the quality or state of being truthful or honest (the king-becoming graces, as justice, verity -- Shakespeare)

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=verity

Well, the answer in Acts 16:21 was obviously believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!

The obvious result of their believing on the Lord Jesus Christ was that they were saved.

Water baptism followed the fact that they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and they were saved.

I also believe that it was at this point of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, that they were born again. The result of this born again salvation relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ was water baptism.

Jesus defines believing on the Him as behaving like Him. Are we born again behaving like Jesus?

John
14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

If that is the case, then, using your definition, the jailer and his family, who obviously believed on Him, would also have behaved like Him, however, I question your definition as I don't see how they would have so quickly behaved like Him.

I cannot take the credit for Jesus' definition of what it means to believe on Him. Is there a Bible text to support your position? Where in the Bible does it teach the jailer was born again unlike Christ? Jesus contrasted new born believers before and after rebirth in the following passage:

John
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

And Paul wrote:

Galatians
5:16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Regarding new born babes Peter wrote:

1 Peter
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.

Concerning evil speaking James wrote:

James
3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.

Was the jailer born again in the flesh or in the spirit? As a newborn babe did he retain or lay aside the sins listed above? In what way was he unlike Jesus?

Mike,
The jailer was born again.. No dynamics on being completely immaculate. He and his family heard the Word of God, they believed, and were baptized that same hour. It does not state that he was not born again like Jesus and that he was born again like Jesus. He was born again and him and his whole family are saved.
God Bless,
Will