Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, Paul's answer was simple: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved' (Acts 16:31). Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's message is centered on believing the gospel — that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again — not on the Law, works, or repentance and baptism.
Acts 16:31 — Paul's direct answer to the question 'What must I do to be saved?' is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul defines the gospel he preached — Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose again — which is what a person must believe to be saved.
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' Paul replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house' (Acts 16:31). Paul also declared that the gospel he preached is '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' (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Furthermore, Paul wrote that 'the gospel of Christ... is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Romans 1:16).
Les Feldick emphasizes that when the Philippian jailer — an individual Gentile — asked Paul, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul's answer was simply 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Les contrasts this with Peter's message in Acts 2, where the covenant nation of Israel asked, 'What shall we do?' and Peter answered, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you.' Les explains that Peter was dealing with Israel under the Kingdom program and the Law, while Paul was dealing with individual Gentiles under grace, so Paul's answer contains no mention of repentance or baptism (clips 0, 3, 4). Les stresses that the belief Paul calls for is not just mental assent. It is a genuine, Holy Spirit-driven belief that our eternal destiny is based on what Christ did for us on the cross (clip 5). Paul's one gospel, Les says, is that Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose again — the gospel that Paul received from the ascended Lord. Salvation is not in the Law, not in works, not in repentance and baptism, but in believing this gospel (clips 2, 7). Les also highlights the personal nature of salvation: God does not save people in lumps; He saves individuals one at a time (clip 3). So when Paul says, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,' he is implying the full gospel message — that Jesus died for the jailer's sins and rose again (clip 4).
Paul told him, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved' (Acts 16:31). Les notes that this is all Paul could get across: the gospel — that Christ died for sins and rose from the dead. The jailer's belief was not merely that God exists; he was believing everything Paul had put forward concerning God's dealing with mankind (clips 4, 6).
According to Les, the difference is the audience and the program. Peter was addressing the covenant nation of Israel, and the nation asked, 'What must we do?' Peter answered, 'Repent, and be baptized, every one of you.' Paul, on the other hand, was dealing with an individual Gentile on Gentile ground under grace. Therefore Paul's answer is simply 'Believe' — a change of program, not a contradiction (clips 0, 3, 4).
Paul declared, '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' (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Les explains that this gospel was revealed to Paul by the ascended Lord, and it is by believing this gospel — not by the Law, works, or repentance and baptism — that we are saved (clips 2, 7).
The Jailer's Question and the Comparison with Acts 2
Les shows that Paul addressed a pagan Gentile jailer as an individual, while Peter in Acts 2 addressed the covenant nation of Israel — setting up the difference in their answers.
The Requirement Is to Believe That Jesus Died and Rose Again
Paul's requirement is not repentance, baptism, or church membership; it is believing that Jesus died and rose again, as Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 4:14.
Salvation Is by Believing the Gospel, Not Works
Les explains that Paul's gospel, received from the ascended Lord, is that Christ died, was buried, and rose again — and salvation is by believing that gospel, not by the Law, works, or repentance and baptism.
Individual Salvation for Gentiles
Les contrasts Israel's national question ('what shall we do?') with the individual Gentile's question ('what must I do?'), showing that God saves individuals one at a time.
Believing Implies the Full Gospel
When Paul says 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,' he is implying that Jesus died for sins and rose again — the heart of his gospel message — with no mention of repentance or baptism.
Genuine, Holy Spirit-Driven Belief
Les says the belief Paul calls for is not mere mental assent but a genuine, Holy Spirit-driven confidence that our eternal destiny is based on what Christ did for us on the cross.
Believing That Everything Has Been Accomplished
Paul's instruction to the jailer was to believe that everything necessary for salvation had been accomplished; the jailer's response was full belief in Paul's message.
The Gospel Revealed to Paul
Les shows that the gospel by which we are saved is that the Son of God died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again — not based on Judaistic law.
Acts 16:30-31: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
This is Paul's direct answer to the jailer's question about salvation.
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.
This is the contrasting message Peter gave to Israel, which Les distinguishes from Paul's answer to Gentiles.
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:
Paul defines the gospel by which we are saved.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul says the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
No. Les Feldick points out that when Paul answered the jailer, he didn't say a word about repentance or baptism; he said believe. Paul's gospel is that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and salvation is by believing that gospel (clips 2, 4).
Les teaches that it means believing the gospel — that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. It is a genuine, Holy Spirit-driven belief that rests on what Christ did, not just mental agreement (clips 4, 5).
Les explains that Peter was addressing the nation of Israel with a national question and gave the answer 'repent and be baptized,' while Paul was addressing an individual Gentile on Gentile ground under grace, so his answer is simply 'believe' (clips 0, 3, 4).
Watch the Teaching: What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 2 vs. Acts 16 Explained