This phrase were the very words spoken by the Philippian jailer when he realized that Paul and Silas, along with all of the other prisoners under his stead, could escape due to the jail being compromised by an earthquake.  We can read what it was that Paul and Silas did that landed them in jail in the first place in Acts 16.

Paul and Silas Imprisoned:

“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. ²⁰ And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; ²¹ and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” ²² Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴ Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”                                                 – Acts 16:16-24

• God’s purpose was to save the jailer and his family, so He set up the scenario to facilitate that exchange.

The Philippian Jailer Saved:

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. ²⁷ And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” ²⁹ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴ Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”                        – Acts 16:25-34

·         If you are truly repentant, like this Philippian jailer, of your sin and you truly believe that Jesus Christ is God Almighty and only He can forgive your sin and save you, than you can be saved.

 Jesus met with a leader of the Jews named Nicodemus one night. Nic asked Jesus how he could be saved.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? ¹¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” ¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”                                              – John 3:3-21

The idea of placing our faith in Jesus is critical to the salvation experience.  If you are not saved and you want to be saved from the consequence of your sin, that is, to be forgiven of all your sin and cleansed from your unrighteousness, then pray this prayer, believing in your heart, and you will be saved.

 “Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I know that you died for my sins.  I want you to be the Lord of my life, my personal Savior.  Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from my unrighteousness.  Make me a complete person, forgive me, and empower me with your Holy Spirit.  Please help in the days and weeks (months or years) to come for I know they will be difficult.  I know I missed the rapture, but I know I can still be saved.  I ask you into my heart right now Lord Jesus – Amen.” 

 ·         If you prayed that prayer than you are now saved and you can begin a new life in Christ, one that will insure your eternal residence in heaven after you die.  This is an assurance (a guarantee) that can only come from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:22 – “…who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a                                         guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:5 – “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has                                   given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” Ephesians 1:14 – “…who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the                                    purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

 

You can know for sure that you are saved by praying this prayer, with faith in Jesus, this is how to be saved.  The Holy Spirit will confirm in your spirit that you are saved.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”   – Romans 8:16,17

Some people think that they are good enough to get into heaven, but in reality, we all need forgiveness for our sin and only Jesus can provide that for us. When we confess our sin to the Lord and believe on Him for our salvation by faith in God, this is how we can be a born again Christian.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”                                                                                        – 1 John 1:8-10

Going to a good Bible believing church is critical to your faith in God and spiritual growth.  We are told by the Hebrew writer that we need to be in fellowship with other believers, to be encouraged in God’s Word, and to be around others who have a like faith in Christ.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”   

 – Hebrews 10:23-25

May the Lord bless you as you continue to read your Bible and study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing God’s Word and to learn more from the Lord and more about His truth.