GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION
Acts 8:26-39
I hardly ever use pop culture references in my sermons. However, there is a reference from a classic movie that I have not been able to get off my mind in recent days. How many of you remember the movie “Forrest Gump”? There is a moment in that film when a very angry and bitter Lieutenant Dan asked Forrest if he had “found Jesus”. Forrest responded, “I didn’t know that I was supposed to be looking for Him?” In most cases that would be just another moment of Hollywood blasphemy. But in that context (and knowing the mental capacity of Gump) he was being one hundred percent serious.
Whether he knew it or not, Forrest was on to something. We do not seek Jesus! It has been rightly said that a lost soul seeking a Holy God is the equivalent of a hardened criminal looking for a police officer. Lost men and women can only experience salvation because Jesus comes looking for us. The Savior said in John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. A few verses earlier Jesus said - v37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. Then in John 6:65 the Lord said, “no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
We have a great example of this reality in the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch. There is no question that this man was searching for something, but the only way that he experienced true conversion is because God came looking for him.
The same is true for us! If we are born again, it is because God first did an amazing work of regeneration in our lives. Prior to our conversion we were “dead in trespasses and sins”. There was nothing that we could do to deserve salvation. There was no way possible for us to work our way to God or make ourselves worthy of eternal life.
If you are a follower of Christ, it is only because of God’s divine election. This is an undeniable Biblical truth that is seen throughout the New Testament:
- Speaking to the Apostles, the Lord said “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide… (John 15:16)
- Paul said in Ephesians 1:4-6: “(God) chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
- The Apostle also said in: Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
- Then in - Romans 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy….18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
- He went on to say in: 2 Timothy 1:9 (God) saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began”.
- Also, in - Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
If lost mankind took any initiative in the process of salvation, then we would have something to boast about, but we know that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. With all that being said, God’s sovereign election does not negate our personal responsibility to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Lost men and women are commanded in scripture to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation. From the outset of His earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed this requirement to the multitudes. He said in - Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news”! Christ’s Apostles continued to preach this imperative truth after His ascension. On the day of Pentecost, the people were convicted of their sins and they asked Peter “what shall we do”. He responded “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38). When preaching to the crowd gathered at Solomon’s Colonnade Peter again said, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Not only does the Bible tell us of God’s Sovereignty and man’s responsibility, it also tells us of the consequences for those who reject God’s amazing provision of salvation though His only begotten Son. Again, quoting the Apostle Paul in - Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
There are devastating and eternal consequences for rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, it must be said that anyone who dies lost in their sins and faces eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire will be there because they willingly rejected God’s Son.
It is only when we grasp the reality that the only thing that we contributed to our salvation was our sin that we can truly comprehend the beauty of regeneration and the privilege that a holy God would call us to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Again, this truth is illustrated in the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch.
- I would like to look at Luke’s account of his conversion and preach on the subject “God’s Sovereignty In Salvation”.
In this story we see several important facts about God’s work in the life of this man who became the first Gentile convert to Christianity. The scriptures make it clear that God knew who this man was, God knew where this man was, God knew what this man needed, and God provided everything that he needed. Each of these realities are true concerning lost men and women today.
- Let’s begin with the fact that:
I. GOD KNOWS WHO YOU ARE
v26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.,) 27 (Philip) rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure.
“Eunuch” seems to refer to an emasculated official in the royal court. This type of emasculation was sometimes done in an effort to prevent temptation and corruption. Because he was a Eunuch, this man was excluded from the worshipping community of Israel. (Reference Deuteronomy 23:1). It is very likely that this man would have been barred from the temple in Jerusalem. This is not only because of his physical condition but also because he was a Gentile.
The Ethiopian Eunuch oversaw the treasure of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. Candace was not a proper name, rather it was a title for the queen mother who ruled in the place of her son. So, Candace is a title, such as Emperor or Caesar. This shows us that this is a man who was respected by many and one who held a position of great prestige and power. However, his social standing in Ethiopia had no bearing on his status in the worshipping community of the Jews. Though he was an outcast, God knew exactly who he was.
The world may not know your name. You may not hold a position of power, prominence, or prestige. You may not be one who is well known throughout your community. You may even be a social outcast who is rejected by the masses. Regardless, God knows your name. In fact, He knows all there is to know about you. He not only created you, but He also created you in His own image. The astonishing reality is that even though you may not know Him, He knows you! Even greater is the fact that He cares about you and your eternal destiny.
- Not only does God know who you are, the Omniscient Lord knows where you are. Let’s consider the reality that:
II. GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE
Some are foolish enough to think that they can run and hide from God. If this describes you then it is important for you to understand that this is an exercise in futility.
- David said in Psalm 139:
1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
You may be sensitive and interested in the things of God, or you may currently be living in outright rebellion against Him. Either way, He knows exactly where you are. Consider that:
A. HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY
This was true concerning the Ethiopian Eunuch. He had been to Jerusalem for worship. Now he was on the road that “goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This man was traveling through “a desert place”.
God knows that you are currently sitting inside the walls of Stockdale Baptist Church. There is no place that you can go in this life where your presence escapes His knowledge. God not only knew where the Eunuch was literally and physically, more importantly, God knew where he was spiritually. Again, this applies to you.
- It is imperative that you understand that:
B. HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY
There is no question that the Ethiopian Eunuch had an interest in the things of God. (v27b He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.) This man was clearly intrigued by the God of Israel. But equally as apparent is the fact that he lacked a personal relationship with Him. There is even an indication of some frustration on his part in his conversation with Philip. Though he wanted to know and understand what the scriptures meant concerning the “suffering Servant” mentioned in Isaiah 53, he simply could not grasp the words of the Prophet.
There may be times in your life when it seems that God is a million miles away. Though you have yet to enter into a personal relationship with Him, at the very least you acknowledge His existence. You believe everything that the Bible has to say about Him. Like this man, you may even spend time in the Holy Scriptures. You may pray on a regular basis. Like the Eunuch you have come here today for a time of worship. These are all admirable traits, but they will do you little to no good if you fail to repent and believe in His dear Son. However, if you study the scriptures, pray, and seek to worship this is an indicator that you are searching for something. Some are just searching for answers, a crutch for addiction, a quick solution for a failing marriage, a cure for a physical malady or help with some other problem. On the other hand, there are some unbelievers who are genuinely seeking answers for their spiritual condition.
If this is the case for you, then you can rest assured that this is a move of God. Through His Holy Spirit, He is working in your life. Your situation may be similar to this passage in that you too are constantly searching the scriptures looking for answers about Jesus and salvation. You may be frustrated or discouraged because you just can’t grasp all that God’s Word has to say about regeneration and redemption. If this describes you then I encourage you to keep searching and, in His time, He will provide all that you need, just as He did for the man in our selected text.
- You can rest in the fact that God is Omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. As a result:
III. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED
Again, there may be times on your journey when it seems that this God that you have heard about is silent and just doesn’t care about you. You may think that the Almighty God could not be bothered with your needs. Nothing could be further from the truth! He knows who you are, He knows where you are, and He knows exactly what you need.
- He knows that:
A. YOU NEED DIRECTION
God certainly knew that the Ethiopian Eunuch needed scriptural and spiritual guidance. In response, He sent someone to assist him.
29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
This man was wise enough to admit that he did not have all the answers and he desperately needed help. If you are lost, then you need direction. God knows this and He has placed certain people in your life who have been faithful to point you in the right direction. They have pointed you towards Jesus. The fact that you are in attendance today shows that their faithfulness has had its intended result. However, you need more than direction, you need pertinent information.
- This leads us to the fact that God knows that:
B. YOU NEED INFORMATION – v31b And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
Philip was obedient to God’s command, and he went to where the Eunuch was. When he arrived at his chariot, he heard him reading aloud from the scroll of Isaiah. The exact passage is found in Isaiah 53 and the subject is the Suffering Servant. This is a reference to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Philip asked the man if he understood what he was reading, and he quickly admitted that he had no clue and he needed someone to help him. Philip picked up right there in Isaiah 53 and began to expound the scriptures and to give the man the information that he needed.
God has a way of putting certain people in our lives who can give us the information that we need concerning the scriptures. To the lost person I say, God knows what you need, and He will provide direction and information.
- He does this because in His infinite wisdom, God knows your greatest need. God knows that:
C. YOU NEED SALVATION -
This man was a worshipper, one who studied the scriptures, and it is a safe assumption that he spent time in prayer, but he was lost and rebellious against God. None of his rituals or observances could help him with his greatest need. Even his genuine desire for the things of God were not enough to secure his salvation. Though he was obviously seeking answers concerning spiritual truths, ultimately, he was saved because God came looking for him. All the spiritual things that he was involved in were just biproducts of the effectual calling that God was working out in his life.
God knows that your greatest need is salvation. Not only does He know about your lost, sinful, and rebellious condition, He cares enough to do something about it. Peter tells us in his second epistle that the Lord is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
How compassionate is the Lord God? How interested is He in your eternal destiny? So much so that He knows who you are, He knows where you are, He knows what you need and because of His great love for you:
IV. GOD HAS PROVIDED EVERYTHING YOU NEED
There are vast multitudes of people who are trying to work their way to God. Entire religions are based on works, rituals and observances that are designed to teach men and women how they can do enough good or avoid enough evil in an effort to earn God’s favor. The reality is that there is no way that any fallen man could ever be worthy of a personal relationship with God. However, before the foundation of the world God had a plan for the redemption of lost mankind. In His perfect plan, God took the initiative and provided us with a perfect, holy and acceptable sacrifice that was more than sufficient to secure our salvation.
- God knows your need, and He desires your salvation, for this reason:
A. GOD HAS SENT A MESSAGE
It was no accident that Philip arrived at this chariot the very moment that the Eunuch was reading the scroll of Isaiah. This was a divine encounter that God had arranged for a very specific and special purpose. The Lord was about to call this man out of the darkness and into the light. God was going to take this man from death unto life. The Ethiopian Eunuch’s life was about to be changed eternally. It was God who sent Him a special message to him in the person of Philip the Evangelist. Philip arrived and told him the good news about Jesus Christ.
There are some people in attendance today who have yet to enter in to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is important for you to know that God knows what you need and He has sent you a message. In fact, throughout your life God has put people in your path who have shared the Gospel with you. This is because He knows that you need guidance, information, and salvation.
The Word of God is essential in the process of salvation. - Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
God knows that you need salvation and for this reason He has sent you a message. The heart of this message is that you are lost and deserving of an eternity in Hell, but He has provided salvation through His only begotten Son. Knowing your greatest need:
B. GOD HAS SENT A SAVIOR
When Philip encountered the Eunuch and began to expound the content of Isaiah 53, he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The message that you need is the same message that this man received. You need to know that you are lost in your sins and the consequences of your sin is death, judgment, and condemnation. In the Garden of Eden, Adam rebelled against God. This rebellion brought death, suffering and separation from God into this world. That sin has been passed down throughout the ages and each of us are guilty before God. (Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned). The Bible says that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
The consequences of sin are physical and spiritual death. Furthermore, because we have sinned, we deserve to be punished by spending eternity in a Lake of Fire. To make matters worse, there is absolutely nothing that we could do about our sin. But the good news is that God has done something that we would never do. Though "the wages of sin is death", it is also true that "the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord!"
God sent His only son, Jesus Christ into this world. He lived a sinless life and suffered on our behalf. At Calvary He took your place and paid your sin debt. Jesus died on the cross, but on the third day, He rose again. Through faith in Him we can be saved from our sins and receive everlasting life and a home in Heaven.
- Everything that we have seen in the life of the Ethiopian Eunuch applies to lost men and women today.
God Knows Who You Are
God Knows Where You Are
God Knows What You Need
God Has Provided Everything You Need
If you have never surrendered to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I implore you to repent and believe in Him today. If you know for certain that you belong to Him, then I encourage you to never cease to praise God for His sovereignty in salvation.
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