Home
>
Spirituality
>
Salvation: The Divine Imperative

Salvation: The Divine Imperative

Of the many individuals who were touched through the ministry of Paul while on his second missionary journey, three are specifically mentioned. His first convert was Lydia, a businesswoman; the second was a young lady who had been used and manipulated by her masters so that they could profit financially. But, when she was saved, her masters were offended because their bank account had closed and so they had Paul and Silas taken before the magistrates on false allegations and they were subsequently, beaten and thrown into prison.

Paul and Silas were escorted to the lowered dungeon, uncomfortable, in chains, mistreated, hurting and still probably bleeding from the beatings. One would expect them to be belligerent, angry, complaining but instead we find them singing and rejoicing. At midnight when it would seem they would have been trying to rest and soothe themselves, they prayed and sang praises to God.

Now the prison guard was in charge and it is interesting that Scripture omits any reference to his telling the prisoners to cease and desist with their noisy singing and praying. In fact, he goes to them with a question of utter urgency. Instead of telling them what to do, he was asking them what to do.

In this paradoxical turn of events, an important question was raised. After hearing about Paul and Silas' ministry and now hearing them rejoicing in their suffering in the midnight hour, he began to realize that they apparently had something that he did not. This devoted servant of the Roman government sensed the need for a new allegiance. He turns to Paul and Silas and asked that all important question that all seekers of truth must ask: What must I do to be saved?

The jailer wanted to know, What must I do to be saved? He was not playing with them or mocking them or trying to "get their goat." Neither was he asking this question for purposes of conversation to keep from being bored. Rather, he asked this question out of a sincere desire to know how to receive salvation. We understand this because the word "must" communicates a sense of urgency. It implies something that needs to be addressed and cannot be avoided. It is an a divine imperative; the same imperative that sent Jesus to the cross.

Calvary to Christ was not an if, or a maybe, but a must. Consult your Bibles and observe how frequently Jesus used the word, must.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Matthew 16:21

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6

But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 14:49.

Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49.

"I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." Luke 4:43.

"Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." Luke 19:5.

For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: Luke 22:37.

?All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." Luke 24:44.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, John 3:14.

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. John 9:4.

Jesus repeatedly said "I MUST" and this prison guard wanted to know what must I do to be saved. It was a pressing matter, an issue of ultimate concern. He was not interested in what others needed to know. It was his own soul that concerned him right now. Let others do as they please, but I need to know what it is I must do; what course must I take, what tasks must I complete.

This jailer understood that something needed to be done and that it needed to be done by him. The question of salvation is a personal one. There is no salvation by proxy. The jailer was ready and willing and wanted to know what he had to do. Paul gives him the simple gospel: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. That is it! No long drawn our procedures; no written applications or exams, no probationary periods.

The question of our salvation is one that we cannot escape. Sooner or later, somehow, some time, in some way, the question will rise up before you ? What must I do to be saved? And to experience salvation, we have to investigate our own life under the probing spotlight of this eternal question.

Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' John 3:7

There is no other way of salvation than through Christ Jesus our Lord and no other way of being saved but by believing in Him. And the moment you take that step, whether you are 6 or 106; whether you can comprehend the theology of the Trinity or can even spell it, whether you are in a great cathedral or your bedroom, the moment you believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are welcomed into His Christian fold.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

trusted cleaning company Bannockburn ..

In The News:

Apple's iOS 26.1 update delivers major security fixes, performance boosts and enhanced privacy controls for your iPhone. Discover why updating now protects your data.

Russian hackers use fake CAPTCHA tests to spread dangerous malware targeting governments and journalists. Learn how to protect yourself from these deceptive attacks.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Miami-Dade debuts America's first autonomous police SUV with AI cameras, drone deployment and real-time crime detection in groundbreaking law enforcement pilot.

Bank impostor scams cost Americans $2.9 billion as criminals use AI voices and caller ID spoofing to steal life savings. Learn nine essential fraud protection tips.

Foreign-owned apps secretly harvest personal data from seniors, making them prime targets for scams. Learn how to protect your privacy and stop data brokers today.

Sens. Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal introduce bipartisan GUARD Act to protect minors from AI chatbots through mandatory age verification and disclosure requirements.

Ghost-tapping scammers exploit wireless technology to drain accounts through small transactions, but RFID-blocking wallets and transaction alerts can protect you.

French pilot project demonstrates wireless charging roads that can deliver over 300 kilowatts of power to EVs while driving, potentially eliminating range anxiety.

YouTube's Ghost Network spreads information-stealing malware through thousands of fake videos offering cracked software, using compromised accounts and fake engagement.

Protect your privacy by disabling your smart TV microphone. Most TVs have hidden mics that listen even when voice commands are off. Learn quick steps to stop unwanted audio capture.

SessionReaper vulnerability hits Magento and Adobe Commerce stores, compromising 250+ sites in one day. Hackers steal data and hijack shopping sessions.

Master essential parental controls and digital safety tools to protect your kids online. Learn screen time limits, location settings and privacy controls every parent needs.

Cybersecurity expert shares six essential steps to protect against dark web threats, including data removal services, password managers and antivirus software.

NVIDIA GPU space mission could revolutionize cloud services by enabling orbital data centers that make apps, games and AI tools faster and more efficient.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Microsoft warns Windows 10 users face serious security risks as 90% of ransomware attacks target unsupported systems. Learn why upgrading to Windows 11 is crucial.

Nike unveils Project Amplify, revolutionary motorized shoes developed with Dephy that add powered assistance to every step for runners and walkers.

Cybersecurity experts warn about one of the largest credential compilations ever found, urging users to check "Have I Been Pwned" and change passwords immediately.

Quick iPhone and Android battery optimization techniques help your device stay powered all day by turning off hidden features that secretly drain power in the background.

Kodiak Driver autonomous truck achieves perfect 98 safety score, matching top human fleets in groundbreaking AI evaluation by Nauto's VERA system.

New 401k catch-up contribution rules in 2026 will change taxes for high earners over 50. Learn how scammers exploit these changes and protect your retirement savings.

Kurt Knutsson's guide covers social media privacy protection through location settings, account privacy controls and two-factor authentication to prevent scams and data breaches.

Revolutionary retinal implant restores central vision in 80% of patients with advanced macular degeneration, offering hope where treatments once only slowed blindness.

Learn how to use passkeys on Windows and Mac computers without cameras or fingerprint readers. Discover secure authentication methods that replace passwords.

Salvation: The Divine Imperative

Spirituality