Acts 16 salvation teaching and tract

            I am doing a salvation teaching and tract based on the verses in Acts chapter 16, which illustrate that God can use anything to bring people to Christ even an earthquake, and the apostles singing also witnessed to the other prisoners. The main point here was Paul’s jailor took note of the events, then asked to be saved and did all that was asked so that him and his family were all indeed saved. Here is the account from Acts chapter 16

(Acts 16:25)  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

(Acts 16:26)  and 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 bonds were unfastened.

(Acts 16:27)  When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

(Acts 16:28)  But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."

(Acts 16:29)  And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

(Acts 16:30)  Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

(Acts 16:31)  And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

(Acts 16:32)  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

(Acts 16:33)  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

(Acts 16:34)  Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

And now I am going to follow Paul’s lead and give you also the word of the Lord from the various bible scriptures so that you too can make the same decision as the jailor and his family did then and be saved.

As stated all have fallen short and need the gift of salvation though Jesus who was put forth as a propitiation by His blood

 (Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(Romans 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(Romans 3:25)  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans chapter 5 states that Jesus died for us while we were weak and that as sin came through one man righteousness came from one man’s obedience- Jesus to death so that the gift of God can be given- this is verses 6 through 11

(Romans 5:6)  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

(Romans 5:7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--

(Romans 5:8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:9)  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

(Romans 5:10)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

(Romans 5:11)  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation

Here also in Romans chapter six we are to present ourselves as slaves to righteousness

(Romans 6:19)  I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

(Romans 6:20)  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

(Romans 6:21)  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

(Romans 6:22)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As some of the above verses do remind us, this verse really drives home the point that eternal life from heaven is really a gift from God and cannot be earned in any way by our own works  so God Himself has provided the means to escape hell and to have eternal life with Him.

(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

(2 Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The scriptures in 1 Timothy which encourage prayer and supplication for God wants all people to be saved as stated in these verses

(1 Timothy 2:1)  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

(1 Timothy 2:2)  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

(1 Timothy 2:3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

(1 Timothy 2:4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

(1 Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

(1 Timothy 2:6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

The verses in Titus also stress and reinforce the message in Timothy, above, on salvation

(Titus 2:11)  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

(Titus 2:12)  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

(Titus 2:13)  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

(Titus 2:14)  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

(Titus 2:15)  Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

This verse in 1 Peter said that Jesus suffered for our sins to make us alive in the spirit

(1 Peter 3:18)  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

And so does these two verses in 2 Peter 3 for time is nothing to the Lord and He wants all to come to repentance and is patient

(2 Peter 3:8)  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

In John 14 Jesus then makes it very clear that nobody can come to God but by Him

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But Jesus also makes it clear in Revelation that He indeed is seeking people always

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The verses in Romans ten state how we are to be saved, believing the word which is near to us, to hear it then confess Jesus as Lord and believe God has raised Him from the dead- in that is our key to salvation

 (Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

(Romans 10:14)  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

(Romans 10:15)  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

(Romans 10:16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Now those people are now a new creation in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come

And also at peace with God being justified by faith

(Romans 5:1)  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 5:2)  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

These two verses promise no condemnation with those in Jesus

(Romans 8:1)  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 8:2)  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death

Then it also asks if God is for us then who or what can be against us, in these verses towards the end of Romans chapter 8

(Romans 8:31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

(Romans 8:32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

(Romans 8:33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

(Romans 8:34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

(Romans 8:35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

(Romans 8:36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

(Romans 8:37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

And nothing can now separate us from the love of God in Jesus, either

(Romans 8:38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

(Romans 8:39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am sure you have now seen enough now to be ready to pray to be saved. I am now including a short prayer that you can say to ensure that you are saved and have eternal life when you die, going to heaven to be with Jesus forever and not end up going to hell.

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours