Many people use the word saved and I have asked the question, “saved from what?” How is it they have to think a while and answers sure do vary. The word save, saved, salvation and Savior in the Greek meaning is deliver, deliverance and deliverer. Lets look at what Paul wrote to Timothy about salvation...

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul was writing to Timothy that God's will all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.
The holy scriptures can make you wise to what is salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In the end times Paul wrote that people would not be saved not because they did  not love God, but because they did not love truth! The biggest enemy of truth is lies, and he has a cousin called tradition. Tradition knows the bible and is very popular among men of all classes and denominations.

Tradition teaches that baptism is works and we are not saved  by being baptized.
The scriptures can make us wise unto salvation. Oh but you have to love truth. Read on!  

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
 
Notice we have two scriptures clearly telling us in baptism we are saved and it can save us.
I have yet to find a scripture saying baptism is works.         

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

In Acts 19:4 Paul had started the church in Ephesus and stayed over two years there.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians about  grace and we know grace is a free gift of God. Faith is how we respond to this gift and without faith you can’t please God. James wrote in 2:17 "...even so faith if it had not works it is dead", he wrote this five times in his epistle. It must be very important that we get this. Here is an example of grace and faith in our life today...

My neighbor Grace came and told me my car was on fire in my driveway I believed she was telling the truth. I ran and grabbed the hose and poured water on the car..Yes I put out the fire. Your soul is like this car how valuable is it. Grace awakened me, cared for me, and gave me knowledge. It's your soul needed to do something, faith is your works in action. James wrote Five times “Faith without works is dead”. Jesus warned us. Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (notice his soul)
 
Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Paul wrote to Timothy about saving himself and others by the doctrine. We know he was talking about the apostles doctrine since Peter was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus himself. Peter on the day of Pentecost told the crowd save yourself the next verse said they were baptized and three thousand souls were added to the church. What name were they baptized?

In Acts 11:13-14 Peter quotes what Cornelius was told by angel that appeared to him. Lets read...

Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; [14] Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

What message did Peter preach to get this man and his household saved?

Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. [43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

One thing I learned about the scriptures is faith and obedience to authority is us humbling ourselves before God. From my own experience I was baptized without understanding it fully. Abraham the father of faith did not understand why God wanted him to sacrifice his own son. But obeyed and after the test of faith he was justified. (James 2:21)


Lets look at the keeper of the prison and what Paul and Silas told him.

Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [32] And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. [34] And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his.

When you study this out in detail you see some things that are important.
Why does he ask about being saved?         
Why do they tell him he and his household could  be saved?
Why does he get baptized at night with his household?

Notice believing in God and rejoicing after baptism. Paul and Silas had talked to him while they were in prison. He told his family about this plan of salvation and heard them sing and pray. How did they, know his house hold wanted to experience  salvation. They were telling him believe on the teachings of Jesus and the plan of salvation of the Lord Jesus taught and obey it. When he witnessed the earthquake he knew God of creation heard their prayer. They believed in their deliverer and told him of his great power. Fear gripped his soul that they escaped? Their escape meant his life.

The word saved  in Greek means deliverance and to the Jews the greatest story of deliverance is when they  came out of Egypt.  
Paul wrote that it took faith to cross the Red sea ( Heb 11:29)
Paul wrote that it was their baptism which they all partook in ( 1 Corinthians 10:2)

Egypt and sin are both places of bondage just like pharaoh and the devil makes you their slave.
God has a plan to deliver you but will you follow the way out. Moses had the rod of authority in his hand and the church has the authority of the name of Jesus.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The word “call” means to invoke with authority. That is why Peter commanded Cornelius and his house hold to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Peter called on the name of Jesus in baptism.
The Israelites cried out to God to save them at the edge of the Red sea ( Exodus 14:10) were they saved?
The authority was in Moses hand and he invoked his authority the Red sea opened for them to see salvation of the Lord ( Exodus 14:13)
The Israelites crossed over the Red sea and the sea destroyed and washed ashore their enemy.
Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
They were never saved by the signs and wonders until the one who had them in fear and bondage was destroyed. 
You see how grace, faith and obedience worked in bringing about the salvation of Isreal.


1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In baptism the sting of death is destroyed.
In baptism the victory over the grave is given.
In baptism sin is put to death.
In baptism the law of sin has lost its strength.

Acts 2:38-41(Peter tells multitude to be baptized in the name of Jesus and 3,000 respond)
Acts 8:16 ( Philip baptizes in Samaria in the name of Jesus)
Acts 8:38 (Philip baptizes the eunuch)
Acts 9:18 (Ananias baptizes Paul)
Acts 10:48 (Cornelius and his house hold baptized in the name of Jesus)
Acts 16:15 ( Paul baptizes Lydia and her house hold)
Acts 16:33 ( Jailer and house hold baptized by Silas and Paul)
Acts 18:8 ( Crispus and his house hold Baptized by Paul)  
Acts 19:2 ( John’s disciples baptized by Paul in the name of Jesus)
Acts 22:16 ( In Jerusalem Paul tells how Ananias baptized him in the name of Jesus)                      
Acts 26:18 ( Paul tells king Agrippa The words of Jesus in the vision he had. That people would turn to God and receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance.)
Luke wrote the words of Jesus in 24:47 "...repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Romans 6:3 They were baptized into Jesus Christ
I Corinthians 1:13 Baptized in the name of the one crucified
Colossians  2:12 Buried with him in baptism.
I Corinthians 6:11... but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified but je are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.


It's amazing to me when Jesus said many will call him Lord (Matthew7:22) on judgment day, they will make many claims about what they did in his name but this one thing they never said, have we not baptized in your name. It will be to late to ask for another chance at salvation when he no longer is the Savior but the righteous Judge. My only reason for writing on this subject is to help the hungry eat from the bread from heaven. The thirsty drink from the water of salvation. The naked to be clothed with the garment of his righteousness. And those in prison to tradition, the truth wants to set you free.    

And I too was a stranger and alien to the word of God and the house hold of God.
I leave you with the words Jesus told Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

Thanks and God bless!

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