They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’

What does ‘to be saved’ actually mean? What does ‘believing’ in the Lord Jesus look like? How come the household is saved if salvation is personal?

Let’s look at these questions through the lens of this passage. This particular verse comes in the context of Paul and Silas imprisoned (after severe flogging) for their faithfulness to the Gospel, continuing to worship and pray and remaining in their prison cell despite their chains being loosed and the doors opened wide.

This gives us a clue as to what ‘believing’ in the Lord Jesus actually looks like. It should be evident in the way we live our lives. It is more than words: more than, say, reciting the creed or speaking out the words of the confession. It is trusting Him to have our lives in His grip and stepping out to follow Him – wherever He takes us, and whatever the circumstance of our life looks like. It’s continuing to worship him, no matter what! Actions speak louder than words. The spiritual condition of their jailor was of greater concern to Paul and Silas than their freedom.

Rose, the heroine of the film Titanic, declares that her rescuer Jack ‘saved her in every way it is possible for a woman to be saved.’ Salvation fulfils that hope. Physical – resurrection from the dead; emotional – healing and restoration for past hurts; spiritual – reconciliation to our Creator. It is more than being rescued out of a troubled world – it is being transformed from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of light and sent back into this world as a kind of rescuer ourselves to reconcile people to God.

The decision to put our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross – His one atoning sacrifice for our sin – always has to be personal. But one person’s faith in a family can cover those in the house in blessing. There’s a kind of vicarious blessing through the presence of one believer in a home. (1 Cor 7:14 for example). Note that even in this passage the principle of influence is at work. All the prisoners are set free, but none escape. There is a kind of divine containment at work for the benefit of all.

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Application:

As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in the communities around us. One of the ways we do this is simply by allowing our faith to shine when we are facing suffering, pain or hardship in our own lives. Paul and Silas did nothing other than continue to prioritise their relationship with God. May we follow in their example.

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that you will make me a blessing to my community today. In Jesus name, Amen.