Acts 16:29 - 31
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
Most of us know this story in the book of Acts chapter 16, how Paul and Silas were arrested and thrown into Jail. At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to the Lord and the prisoners were listening to them. The Bible tells us that there was an earthquake and the doors of the prisons were opened. God responded to the prayers and the singing of hymns by Paul and Silas.
The Bible tells us that the jailer was scared and could have killed himself because he thought that the prisoners have escaped. However on seeing Paul he asked a very important question, the most important question “What shall I do to be saved?” This is a question that most of us would love to hear someone ask us. Paul answered the jailer by saying “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, not just you but you and your household”.
Salvation is not just for the father, it is not just for the mother, it is not just for the children but for the whole household. Jesus did not die for just an individual He died for the whole world. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son who so ever shall believe shall not die but ever lasting life.
When we have a deeper understanding that God has special interests in our families, our approach to household salvation will change. When God looked at the wickedness of man during the time of Noah he chose to save not just Noah but Noah and his household.
Genesis 7:1 - The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have
found you righteous in this generation.
If God was merciful to Noah and his family, not just to Noah but his household, I am sure God will be faithful to you and your family. He is the same yesterday today and forever.
When God instituted the Passover meal when rescuing the children of Israel from Egypt, see the book of Exodus 12:3 - Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household.
There was to be one lamb for each household. Jesus is the Passover Lamb for each family today, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. Our God is a God of relationship, in the core of His invitation is relationship. He is a God of Love. He is the God of the whole earth. God is concerned about your household; He is concerned about your children, about your unsaved spouse and even your extended family.
John 4:53 says, "Then the father knew that it was in that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives; and he believed, he and his whole house."
When Nicodemus believed he was saved with his household.
Acts 10:2 says that Cornelius was "devout and one who feared God with his entire household, giving many alms to the people and beseeching God continually," and 11:14 says, "...who will speak words to you by which you shall be saved, you and all your house."
When Crispus the synagogue ruler believed in the Lord, it was with his household and salvation came to his household.
Acts 18:8 says, "Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with his whole household...and were baptized."
Scripture is full of examples of household salvation from the Old Testament through to the New Testament.
God is concerned about you, your spouse and your children, your parents, your siblings, your extended family and more. He is concerned for their salvation and wants you to reach out in prayer, in word, in deeds and in lifestyle.
Don't give up on them. God is still on the throne.