“Lord, what do I need to do to save my soul?” This pressing question, punctuated by an urgent sense of divine intervention, forms the centrepiece of Acts 16:25-31—a query echoed by countless souls seeking solace in a world fraught with uncertainty. In the quest to unravel the answer to this existential inquiry, we discover two overarching truths that every soul lost in sin’s maze must confront.

First, it’s an awakening to our inherent frailty. The Book of Romans (3:9-18) elucidates that sin engulfs us all, body, soul, and spirit. We can start the journey towards salvation by embracing this revelation – as illustrated in Luke 18:13, and confessing our fallibility (Rom. 7:24).

But despair not, for the penitent soul, is not left without a beacon of hope. The knowledge that salvation is within reach is indeed a lifeline (1 Tim. 1:15). The cry of the heart, “Lord save me!” (Matt. 14:30) and “Lord save us: we perish” (Matt. 8:25) must be amplified with a burning desire for deliverance. It’s not enough merely to yearn for salvation, but we must act, just like the prodigal son (Luke 15:20), blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5-9).

How, then, does one find salvation? The response resounds from the heavens: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). For He alone is capable of saving to the utmost (Heb. 7:25), the thief on the cross (Luke 23:44), and the woman of Samaria (John 4:1-28) bear testament to this. By accepting Him, we gain the promise of life (John 6:53). Without Him, we possess no life.

Belief in Christ promises salvation for the individual and the entire household (Acts 16:31). salvation liberates us from the chains of sin (Matt. 1:21; Gal. 2:17; 1 John 3:8) and consecrates us for the Kingdom of God.

Salvation brings about a profound personal transformation. It alters our attitudes, shapes our actions, and revolutionises our relationships (Luke 19:8; John 4:26-29). It fills us with joy in the service of the Lord. The jailor (Acts 16:32,33), the Samaritan woman (John 4:28,29), and Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 8:29,30) stand as luminous examples of this transformative power.

Moreover, salvation isn’t confined to character refinement, as crucial as that is. It promises the hope of eternal life (1 Tim. 4:8) and the fruit of God’s kingdom (John 15:1-11; Matt. 21:38-43).

So, when we ask, “What must I do to be saved?”, we must recognise the imperative of the term “must.” It’s a non-negotiable. As shown throughout the Bible, this term leaves no room for alternatives. “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7), “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), and “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). These profound declarations illuminate the immutable nature of God’s decrees. A firm realisation of the seriousness of these “musts” can galvanise us into action, catapulting us onto the path of true salvation.

Indeed, when God presents us with a “must”, it is not merely a suggestion or an optional extra. It is an insistent, resolute directive. It demands our attention, our obedience, and our commitment. This divine imperative, reinforced through scriptures, underscores the urgency of our need for salvation. Without it, we find ourselves aimlessly adrift in a turbulent sea of sin and despair.

And so, dear reader, in the face of such uncompromising divine decree, I ask you: Are you prepared to take the necessary steps towards your salvation? Will you heed the urgent call of the “must”, or will you remain on the sidelines, oblivious to the divine promise of redemption and eternal life?

The path to salvation is clear. Embrace your need for redemption. Yearn for it with every fibre of your being. Then, and only then, may you find salvation. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. The kingdom of God awaits those who earnestly pursue it. So, in the immortal words of Jesus Christ, I say unto you, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17).