Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

10 July 2025

Reading From Acts 16:22-40

“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. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”

—Acts 16:31-34

     Salvation is by grace through faith and is obtained through belief, confession, repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Implicit in this is the surrender of one’s will to God.  This new birth experience transforms the very core of the true believer to be like Jesus and begins a process of spiritual growth and sanctification by which every area of life is gradually brought into alignment with the principles of the Word of God and the son or daughter of God conformed into the image of Christ Jesus.  The love of God inspires the Christian to obey His precepts as the Spirit flows through the yielded heart to will and to act according to His good purpose.

     This is the new life which transformed the Philippian jailer and his family from sons and daughters of Adam into sons and daughters of the Most High God and brought them into He eternal family.  It was not by decree of Paul and Silas or water baptism that they were united with Christ and His family, but rather by their individual acceptance of the Word of the Lord the apostles shared with them and their subsequent inner baptism, a spiritual washing of rebirth and renewal by the Spirit in the blood of Jesus.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.[1]  The secret to having joy is to believe in God and grow in faith, hope and love by the grace of our Heavenly Father.

“Lord, it is my desire for my faith to increase and be strengthened.  Expand my knowledge and understanding of You and Your Word and empower me by Your Spirit to apply truth to my life.  Make me more like You.  Conform me into Your image as You remove impurities from my heart and mind.  Thank You for Your goodness and mercy to me, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

—Titus 3:4-7

And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

—I Peter 3:21

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[1] Romans 10:17