"What must I do to be saved?" It's not a theological debate question but a soul-level, eternity-shaping cry that demands an answer. In this powerful teaching from Acts 16, we witness a midnight jailhouse encounter that perfectly captures the essence of salvation.

The scene unfolds dramatically—Paul and Silas, beaten and imprisoned for preaching the gospel, sing praises at midnight instead of complaining. When an earthquake shakes the prison's foundations and a desperate jailer faces what he believes is certain execution for losing his prisoners, Paul reassures him everyone remains. The jailer's response? He falls trembling before them with the most urgent question any human can ask: "What must I do to be saved?"

Their answer cuts through centuries of religious confusion with stunning clarity: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." No rituals. No prerequisites. No moral checklist. Just genuine faith in the person and work of Jesus. This biblical faith transcends intellectual agreement—it's about trust, dependence, and submission to Christ as Lord.

The message reveals profound truths about salvation: it begins with God's initiative rather than our seeking; it requires our response while flowing from divine grace; its power stems from Christ's sufficiency rather than our strength. Most beautifully, we see how salvation extends beyond the individual to transform entire households and communities.

Whether you're exploring faith for the first time, have recently begun following Jesus, or have walked with Him for decades, this teaching takes you to the heart of the gospel. Salvation isn't for the worthy but for the unworthy; not for the righteous but for the repentant. If a hardened Roman jailer could be saved through simple faith, the same grace remains available to you. What story might God write through your response to this timeless question?

What does it truly mean to be saved? In this powerful opening message of the "God Saves" series, Pastor Timothy Mann cuts through common misconceptions to reveal the radical truth of salvation from Ephesians 2:1-10.

Like someone floating face down in water, our spiritual condition before Christ isn't just injured or struggling—we're dead. The stark reality is that apart from divine intervention, we're spiritually lifeless, enslaved to the world's values, under Satan's influence, and captive to our own sinful nature. This isn't describing particularly bad people—it describes all of us.

But then comes the divine turning point: "But God, who is rich in mercy." When we couldn't take a single step toward Him, God took the initiative. Not because we deserved it, but because of His character of love and mercy. Salvation isn't about self-improvement—it's spiritual resurrection.

Through vivid exposition, Pastor Tim reveals that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, not of works. We bring nothing to salvation except the sin that made it necessary. Even our faith itself is a gift from God, leaving no room for human boasting. Yet this humbling truth is also liberating: we are God's workmanship, His masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared in advance.

Whether you've been a believer for years, are newly saved, or still exploring faith, this message will deepen your understanding of what it means to be rescued by grace and transformed for God's glory. You'll discover why the backdrop of our spiritual deadness makes God's mercy shine so brightly, and why believers will spend eternity in awe of the grace that reached them when they were helpless.

What makes someone a genuine Christian? It's a question that strikes at the heart of faith itself, and one that Pastor Timothy Mann addresses with remarkable clarity in this enlightening message from Providence Church.

Nicholas Kristof once had a public conversation with Pastor Tim Keller that was published in the New York Times. In this exchange, Kristof asked if he could be considered a Christian while rejecting core Christian doctrines—a question that reflects the spiritual confusion of our age. Pastor Mann uses this as a springboard to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding authentic Christian identity.

At the core of this message are three essential pillars: what a Christian believes, how a Christian behaves, and where a Christian belongs. Pastor Mann skillfully demonstrates why this order matters profoundly. Christianity begins with belief—not just any belief, but specific convictions about God's existence, our sinfulness, and Christ's saving work through his death and resurrection. Drawing from Romans 10:9 and other key passages, Mann establishes that certain doctrines like the virgin birth and bodily resurrection are non-negotiable for genuine Christian faith.

With pastoral wisdom, Pastor Mann warns against the dangerous heresy of moralism—the false gospel that suggests we become Christians through good behavior rather than through faith. Instead, he clarifies that our behavior changes as a result of our belief, not as a prerequisite for it. When we truly believe, God declares us righteous (justification), and through the indwelling Holy Spirit begins making us righteous (sanctification), producing virtues like those described in 2 Peter 1:5-9.

Whether you're questioning your own faith, seeking to understand Christianity better, or wanting to grow in your ability to explain the gospel to others, this message provides the biblical clarity you need to address life's most important question with confidence and hope.