Yes, salvation is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to Les Feldick's teaching, the answer to the question is found in Acts 16:31: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' This was Paul's response to the Philippian jailer, a Gentile. Les contrasts this with Peter's message to Israel in Acts 2, which included repentance and baptism, but emphasizes that for Gentiles (and all today), the sole requirement is faith in the gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Acts 16:31 — This verse directly records the answer Paul and Silas gave to the Philippian jailer's question, 'What must I do to be saved?'
In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer, after an earthquake opened the prison doors, asked Paul and Silas, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' (Acts 16:30). The immediate answer they gave was, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved' (Acts 16:31). This is the only recorded response to his question. In Acts 2, when Jews asked a similar question after Peter's preaching, Peter told them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins' (Acts 2:38). This was addressed to the nation of Israel. The Bible also teaches that the gospel Paul preached was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Les Feldick emphasizes a clear distinction between God's program for Israel and His program for the Gentiles. He teaches that the Philippian jailer, a pagan Gentile, was told simply to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ'—not to repent and be baptized, as Peter commanded in Acts 2. Les points out that this was a 'simple response' for the jailer: 'You don't do anything jailer. You believe.' Les highlights the sovereignty of God in the jailer's encounter, noting that God miraculously kept all prisoners in place so the jailer wouldn't kill himself, and then directed him to Paul and Silas. He also stresses that the gospel to believe is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and that this remains the criteria for salvation today—for both Gentiles and Jews. He contrasts the two answers to show that the 'repent and be baptized' message was for the covenant nation of Israel, while the 'believe' message is for individual Gentiles (and all who are not under that national program). Les emphasizes comparing Scripture with Scripture to see this distinction.
Les teaches that the answer depends on the audience. Peter in Acts 2 was speaking to the 'covenant nation of Israel' and gave the national program of repentance and baptism. Paul, speaking to a Gentile jailer, gave a different answer: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Les points out that if 'repent and be baptized' were the criteria for salvation, Paul would have said so, but he did not. This was the Jewish program, which was rejected by Israel.
Les suggests the jailer likely had heard Paul and Silas teach and preach in Philippi and had witnessed their arrest and beating. He was given charge over them. The miraculous earthquake and the prisoners' refusal to flee showed God's sovereign power, leading the jailer to fall before Paul and Silas and ask the vital question.
Grace to Sing in Suffering
Les illustrates the grace of God that enabled Paul and Silas to sing in prison, showing God's sufficiency in trials—a preface to the jailer's conversion.
Comparing Acts 2 and Acts 16
Les shows the difference between the national question of Israel ('what must we do?') and the individual question of a Gentile ('what must I do?'), setting up the contrast.
The Jailer's Dilemma
Les notes that God sovereignly directed the jailer to Paul and Silas, showing that the answer to the jailer's problem was not just about prisoners but about his own soul.
Paul's Answer to the Jailer
Les directly contrasts Peter's 'repent and be baptized' with Paul's 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ', emphasizing that the latter is for the Gentile and for today.
Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained
Acts 22, I always have to jump in at about verse 17, I guess, when Paul is speaking to this great Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. He's now under protective custody of the Romans, or they would have pulled him limb from limb. But under the protective custody of the Roman troops, he stands on the stairway and he addresses this great crowd of Jews, and he's rehearsing his salvation experience.
The Simple Response
Les explains that the jailer was told to do nothing but believe, and that the gospel—Christ died, buried, and risen—is the content of that belief.
The Miraculous Earthquake
Les explains the miracle of the prison doors opening and prisoners staying, preventing the jailer's suicide and setting up his question.
The Setting of the Earthquake
Les describes the jailer's likely prior exposure to Paul and Silas and clarifies that this miracle is still within the era of signs and wonders.
Acts 16:30: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
The jailer's direct question to Paul and Silas.
Acts 16:31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The direct answer given to the jailer.
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.
Peter's answer to the Jews, used to contrast with Paul's answer to the Gentile.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Les references this as the content of the gospel Paul preached.
In Acts 2, Peter tells the nation of Israel to 'repent and be baptized.' In Acts 16, Paul tells a Gentile to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Les teaches that the first was for Israel's national program, while the latter is for individual salvation and applies to us today.
Les emphasizes that the jailer was told simply to believe, not to repent and be baptized. He notes that if repentance were part of the criteria for this Gentile, it would have been stated in Acts 16, but it was not. This indicates that belief in the gospel is the sole requirement.
Watch the Teaching: What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 16 Explained