Four Adventures In Ephesus Series

Title: "Four Adventures in Ephesus"

Scripture: Acts 19:1-41

Good morning, church. We find ourselves joining Paul as he starts out his 3rd missionary journey. Today we get to dive deep into the heart of Ephesus—a city pulsing with life, bustling trade, and a vibrant mix of cultural influences. Ephesus, with its majestic temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, was not just any city; it was a hub of economic vitality, spiritual mysticism, and religious fervor. The temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was more than 4 times larger than the Pantheon in Athens!

It is here in Ephesus that the Apostle Paul delivers the message of Christ with such transformative power that the very spiritual and economic foundations of Ephesus are shaken. Today, we explore the this section of Acts 19, where God’s Word and His miracles emerge as forces of transformation that confronts entrenched beliefs and challenges the status quo for the people of Ephesus.

So, as we journey through this chapter, and see 4 different adventures of Paul, let us open our hearts to the wonders of God’s transformative power, ever mindful of the the proclaimed Word and the miracle of souls being saved every day.

Let’s dive into the first part of our text.

Acts 19:1-7

Acts 19:1–7

 NLT

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.

2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

These verses can be confusing at first glance, let me explain what is happening here. Upon arriving at Ephesus, Paul runs into 12 guys who believed in the one true God, the God of Abraham. They were also aware of the teachings of John the Baptist and knew that they had to confess and repent of their sins. But they didn’t know who Jesus was. They didn’t know what Jesus had done. And they had not placed their faith in the finished work of the cross or awesomeness of the empty tomb. They had not committed their life to follow Jesus and been obedient to the Word’s of Jesus and been baptized in the Name of Jesus.

Because of this incomplete Gospel, this half salvation, They were not really saved! The evidence is that they had not received the Holy Spirit.

This brings me to my first point this morning.

1. We Must Realize the Entirety of Redemption

A lot of people believe in God. This text is evidence that this belief will not save you. A lot of people attend church. Not going to save you. A lot of people are trusting in a baptism to save them. Again, right here in this text it shows that a dip in the water and saying you are sorry for this and that, you guessed it, Not going to save you.

SALVATION ITSELF

Today Jesus Christ is being dispatched as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere example. He is that, but he is infinitely more; He is salvation itself, He is the Gospel of God. --Oswald Chambers

The entirety of the Gospel message, the entirety of Redemption must be embraced to be saved. You must call on the the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:13

 NLT

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Those who call on the name of the Lord are those who recognize Him as Savior. Whether it is a first-time calling upon Jesus’ name for forgiveness of sins or a continuous calling as the relationship progresses and grows, giving Him lordship over our lives in surrender to His will, calling on the name of the Lord is vital to spiritual life. Ultimately, calling on the name of the Lord is a sign of humility and dependence on God our Creator and Redeemer.

The disciples in Ephesus only knew the baptism of John. Paul introduces them to the baptism in the name of Jesus.

We need to understand and seek the fullness of God's salvation, not just a mere acknowledgment.

Don't settle for a partial understanding; fully embrace the depth and breadth of God's redemptive work in Christ, continuously calling on Jesus’ name.