Que Debo Hacer Para Ser Salvo?

"Señores, ¿qué debo hacer para ser salvo?" Respondieron: "Cree en el Señor Jesús, y serás salvo, tú y tu casa" (Hechos 16:30-31 (RVC)

Pocas preguntas en la vida importan más que esta. Todo lo demás —el éxito profesional, las relaciones, la riqueza, incluso la salud— se desvanece comparado con el peso eterno de esta pregunta: ¿Qué debo hacer para ser salvo? Esta pregunta no la hizo en una sinagoga, ni un erudito, ni durante un tranquilo estudio bíblico. La hizo un carcelero romano en un momento de crisis. Un terremoto había sacudido la prisión donde estaban Pablo y Silas. Las cadenas se habían caído. Las celdas estaban abiertas. La muerte parecía inminente, y sin embargo, lo que más temía el carcelero no era perder la vida, sino el alma.

¿Por qué hizo esta pregunta? No fue solo el terremoto lo que lo conmovió, sino la paz que vio en Pablo y Silas. A pesar de sus heridas y cadenas, estos hombres oraron y cantaron himnos a Dios. Ese gozo y esa fe en medio del sufrimiento fueron un testimonio poderoso. El carcelero vio algo real, algo más profundo que la religión: vio la presencia transformadora de Cristo.

Hoy vivimos en un mundo lleno de distracciones y falsas esperanzas. Mucha gente cree que la salvación se obtiene mediante buenas obras, rituales religiosos o méritos personales. Otros evitan la pregunta por completo, pensando que pueden posponer los asuntos espirituales para más adelante. Pero el evangelio aclara la confusión con claridad y gracia: «Cree en el Señor Jesús y serás salvo».

Creer en Jesús no es un reconocimiento vago de su existencia. Es una entrega de corazón. Significa reconocer nuestros pecados, aceptar que Jesús murió y resucitó por nosotros y entregarle nuestras vidas como Señor. Esto no es una transacción; es una transformación. En el momento en que creemos, el Espíritu Santo entra en nuestras vidas, nos sella para la eternidad y comienza a hacernos más como Cristo (Efesios 1:13; 2 Corintios 5:17).

Y lo que le sucedió al carcelero no se detuvo con él. Toda su familia escuchó el evangelio y creyó. Este es el efecto dominó de la salvación: se extiende a través de individuos, familias, comunidades y generaciones. Quizás seas el primer creyente de tu familia, o quizás todavía estés orando para que tus seres queridos conozcan a Jesús. Anímate. Dios está en el trabajo de salvar hogares, tal como lo hizo con este carcelero romano.

Reflexión:

¿Te has preguntado: "¿Qué debo hacer para ser salvo?", y has respondido con fe? Si es así, regocíjate en tu salvación. Si no, que hoy sea el día de tu salvación. Y para quienes hemos creído, que nuestras vidas, como las de Pablo y Silas, reflejen el gozo, la paz y el poder del evangelio tan claramente que otros se sientan impulsados ​​a hacerse la misma pregunta. Que Dios te bendiga y te guarde, y que el Señor te ayude a renovar tu espíritu.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

Things Are a Mess—But There's Hope

 

If you've been following the news lately, you've probably noticed—we live in a messy, upside-down world. What was once considered good is now called evil, and what was once evil is now celebrated. Our world could be a much better place, but it's broken. Why? Because we sinned against God.

In the beginning, it wasn't like this. God created a perfect, sinless world for us to enjoy. He gave Adam and Eve clear instructions: "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die" (Genesis 2:16–17). Sadly, Adam and Eve chose to disobey, and sin entered the world.

It began with a conversation between Eve and Satan, who appeared as a serpent. We don't know what the serpent looked like, or whether the conversation included small talk—but we *do* know the strategy Satan used. It's the same one he still uses today.

1. Satan casts doubt on God's Word.

He begins with, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1). I twists God's generous command into something restrictive. Eve responds, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but... you must not touch it, or you will die." This slight alteration opened the door.

2. Satan invites us to trust ourselves instead of God.

Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, so she took and ate. Then she gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate (v. 6). She trusted her senses and desires over God's Word. She leaned on her own reasoning instead of God's truth.

And we still do the same today. Satan tempts us to trust in ourselves—our systems, traditions, feelings, programs, even our own "goodness." He'll try to keep us from reading the Word or distort it in our minds. Either way, his goal is to make us trust ourselves or anything else instead of God.

When confronted, Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. And Adam even hinted at blaming God! The blame game began—and continues. But make No mistake: sin always devastates. Our spiritual condition is no one's fault but our own. As we look around today—at the moral decay, the disregard for human life, and the lack of virtue in leaders', it is clear: we made the mess.

Genesis 3 tells us how we went from "It is very good" to "What a mess!" Our sin broke a perfect relationship with God. But even in the middle of our rebellion, God gave a promise. In Genesis 3:15, God speaks to Satan: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." This is the first promise of the Messiah. That one of the descendants of Eve would suffer one day at Satan's hand, but ultimately defeat Him. That descendant is Jesus.

Even while the stench of sin still lingered in the Garden, God was already planning redemption. Though Adam and Eve were spiritually dead, God promised One who would restore spiritual life. God's grace was already at work.

So how do you begin again? It starts with faith. The Lord is supreme over all things. We can be honest with Him about our faith. His power does not fade and flows along with our confidence in Him. Regardless of how we feel, we can trust that God is always in control. While we are limited in our human ability to change the world, God has infinite power. God must awaken your heart, and you must respond. Here's a simple, honest prayer:

"Father, I don't come with any excuses. Like Adam and Eve, I've often turned from You. I am a sinner, and I've made a mess of my life. Today I accept the salvation You offer. I believe that Jesus died in my place, for my sin, and that His resurrection opened the door for anyone who believes—including me. I place my trust in Christ. Lead and direct my life. Thank You, Father, for Your grace. Love.

Yes, things are a mess. But they don't have to stay that way. May the Lord bless you and keep you always.

 Dr. Dimas E. Castillo