ACTS 16:31 - "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED, YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD"

 

 

Acts 16:31 was quoted by a friend yesterday. “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

It is not uncommon for this verse to be quoted out of context and misintepreted that salvation is assured for one’s entire family when one believes in Christ.  

 

I felt the need to read up about this passage, and the Lord’s timing is impeccable.  This week’s 1st readings are taken from Acts 16-18.  Sunday’s Gospel of 17 May from 1 Pet 3:15 serves as a reminder too, for us to be always ready to give an explanation….

 

And so I dug into Scripture….

 

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The 1st reading of 18 May is from Acts 16:11-15 and tells of the conversion of Lydia.  

• Verse 14 tells us that "...the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to Paul", and she believed.  
• Verse 15 tells us that “...she and her household were baptised."

The 1st reading of 19 May is from Acts 16:22-34 tells about the conversion of the jailer.

• Verse 30 - the jailer asks “what must I do to be saved?"
• Verse 31 - Paul and Timothy answered, “Belive on the Lord Jesus, and you wil be saved, you and your household."
• Verse 32 tells us that Paul and Timothy went on to speak the word of the Lord to the jailer “and to all who were in his house."
• Verse 33 tells us that “he and his entire family were baptised without delay” that same day.

In both stories, Christ’s kerygma is proclaimed to not only Lydia and the jailer, but to their entire families.  The offer of salvation is given to all, “…you and your household”.  But the offer has to be accepted - in believing and in baptism. 

 

Mark 16:16 clearly tells us "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned."

 

Acts 2:37-39 also tells us that believe (and therefore repentence) and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is necessary.  “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you wil receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him."

 

 

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And so, I am reminded that

• The promise of salvation is offered to all - to us and to our households.
• We are called to be a witness for our families, and we have the duty to do so.
• Each person in our household are invited to exercise our God-given free will - to believe and to be baptised. 

For those of us striving to be that means of salvation for our loved ones, let us continue to strive in hope and joy

• Persevere in praying for our family members
• Believe that God knows our hearts and is pleased with our love for them
• Live out our faith, in prayer and in action, that they will experience God through us
• Exercise patience and grace, He makes all things beautiful, in His time.

 Praise be to God!