Over two millennia ago, a jailer in the ancient Greek town of Philippi asked the apostle Paul a question that has reverberated throughout the centuries.

“What must I do to be saved?”

The answer was short and to the point. “Believe on the Lord Jesus.” The answer Paul gave is just as valid today as it was that night 2000 years ago.

This unnamed man understood he had a need. He was in a state of desperation and was acutely aware that without help he would remain in deep trouble. He knew that should he die that night, there was no chance he would end up in Heaven. He simply wasn’t good enough.

I doubt that Paul’s answer was what the jailer was anticipating. Perhaps he expected Paul to tell him he needed to clean up his life immediately and begin living in a way that would please God. Maybe he needed to apologize for mistreating the prisoners in his care and promise never to do that again. That is what a lot of folks today would have prescribed.  But that is not what Paul told him.

In the Greek text from which we get our English translations, the word translated “believe" can also be rendered “trust.” This jailer needed to simply trust Jesus Christ, and his sins would be forgiven, and he would receive eternal life. He would be “saved.” The solution to his problem was simple but profound. Faith alone in Christ alone.

The Scriptures tell us that we were all born physically alive but spiritually dead. And to confirm that status, all of us have done things that we know are not consistent with the character of a holy God. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We have a need that we cannot meet in and of ourselves. God is perfectly holy; we are not. And because God is holy, He can only have fellowship with those who share His righteousness. No amount of behavior rehabilitation can make us as righteous as God. Try as we may, we can never be good enough to get to Heaven.

Since God is just, as well as holy, someone had to pay the penalty for the sins of that jailer as well as everyone who has ever lived. Jesus Christ was our substitute. He paid the penalty that was due each of us.

Now, God offers forgiveness and the free gift of eternal life to those who will simply place their faith in Jesus Christ.

My friend, no amount of good works will ever get you to Heaven. The only way you’ll get there is through Jesus Christ. Faith alone in Christ alone. This decision is too important to put off. Simply tell God that you know you have sinned and fallen short of His holy standard and that you are trusting Jesus Christ apart from any work on your part to save you. Come to God with the empty hands of faith. Please don’t delay. Do it today. Do it now.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

“Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die'.” John 11: 25-26

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9