INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. Hear of the faith.
2. Believe in the gospel.
3. Repent of sins.
4. Confess faith in Christ.
5. Be baptized into Christ.
Introductory Remarks.
1. The “gift” of salvation is given to all by God’s grace, not by our faith or works of merit. Salvation is not given merely upon our faith in Christ; but, in our obedience through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a precious gift. It is not deserved or earned; but divinely given to all who accept Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:16-18. The gospel of Christ is not obeyed "in the heart." But, "from the heart," Romans 6:17-18. It is more than a confession of faith, Romans 10:9-10. It is obedience to the faith, Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 15:18-19.
2. Salvation by grace must be accepted on God's terms of pardon, through our belief and obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, Romans 10:16-18. Most Baptists and Evangelicals argue: that salvation is by grace alone. They leave no room for obedience in their view of God’s salvation by grace. However, we will demonstrate faith and obedience are both necessary for one to be saved by grace. God’s grace is offered, but believers must accept it on His terms. And here is the problem: these denominational preachers want to accept and preach God's offer of grace on their terms. However, Paul’s preaching of “God’s grace” included faith and obedience to the gospel: as taught in Isaiah’s report, Romans 10:16-18.
3. God did not impart this pattern of conversion unto the world until after Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, Acts 1:8. The God of heaven then uncovered His conversion process, through which all believers could be called into His grace.
4. The calling of grace is through the hearing of the faith, belief in the gospel, repenting of all past sins, confessing Christ to be the Son of God, and by being baptized: in the name of the Lord Jesus: “for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:36-41; Acts 22:16. Let’s consider Paul’s preaching of Christ unto the Jailer and his house in Philippi.
BODY OF LESSON
I HEAR OF THE FAITH
A. Preaching Christ in Europe. The faith is continuing to be preached unto the Gentile nations in Europe. Paul and Silas are continuing their missionary journey into the city of Philippi, a Roman colony. The Jerusalem Council has just concluded after settling one of the church's biggest challenges regarding the faith of the Gentiles. Paul and Silas are now delivering the Letter to the Gentile's churches, exhorting them to contend for the faith in Christ Jesus. Paul had just received his vision of the "Macedonian Call" to preach Christ in Philippi, Acts 16:9-10.
B. After Lydia’s conversion. Paul and Silas began to spread the message of Christ throughout Philippi. As they continued in prayer and teaching, a certain damsel having a spirit of divination followed them, declaring that they were: "servants of the High God, which show unto them (citizens of Philippi) the way of salvation,” Acts 16:16-17. The damsel followed them many days. Paul, being grieved, turned to her and commanded: "in the name of Jesus, the spirit come out of her." This he did in the same hour. When her master saw his hope of gain was gone, they caught and drew them into the marketplace before the magistrates. Saying, these men being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. "Teaching custom, which is not lawful for them to receive, neither to observe, being Romans," Acts 16:18-21.
C. Paul and Silas were imprisoned. The magistrates rented Paul and Silas’ clothes and commanded them to be beaten. They then charged the jailer to keep them safe. After they had laid: "Many stripes upon them, they were cast into the prison. Who, having received this order, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks," Acts 16:22-25.
D. At the midnight hour. Paul and Silas: “Prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake…And the keeper of the prison awaking out of sleep, seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled,” Acts 16:25-27. A Roman guard knew the penalty for losing a prisoner. He was about to take his life. He supposed that all the prisoners had fled the jail.
E. Paul cried out: “With a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here,” Acts 16:28. God is going to declare His goodness unto this Jailer and his house. Paul and Silas will teach them the "way of salvation" at midnight. God calls His elect at the most inopportune times. He never sleeps; he never slumbers, always watching over His chosen ones. The jailer and his house will hear, believe, and obey the gospel sometime after midnight. The jailer and the prisoners heard Paul and Silas singing. Now, he and his entire house will hear the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation. Observe,
II BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL
A. What must I do? Luke continued his narrative: "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas. And brought them out and said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:29-30. Here is one of the most direct questions any person might ask about their salvation. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Recall, Jesus said: "Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," Matthew 7:7-8. Solomon wrote of wisdom: “I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me,” Proverbs 8:17; James 1:5. Here is a man seeking to know the way of the Lord. Let's see what these men of God instruct the jailer to do.
B. Paul and Silas answer. Then they said: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shalt be saved, and your house," Acts 16:31. Are you currently looking at your bible? I want to ask you: what should the jailer believe? This situation is like the blind man Jesus healed in John chapter nine. John wrote: "Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he had found him, he said unto him: Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said: Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him? And Jesus said unto him: Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said: Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him," John 9:35-38. The jailer at this time must be asking: who is this Jesus Christ that I might believe? All he heard up to this time, is prayers and singing of praises unto God. There was no preaching of the gospel of Christ yet!
C. The most important question: “At this time, what had the jailer heard about Jesus?” Are your eyes still on this text? Now watch how the narrative of Luke changes. They will leave the jailhouse and go to the jailer's house sometime after midnight. Notice,
D. They spake the word. Luke wrote: "And they (Paul and Silas) spake unto him (the jailer) the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house," Acts 16:32. Now, here is the situation. Paul and Silas left the jailhouse and went with the jailer to his home. They (Paul and Silas) spake unto him and his entire house: “the word of the Lord." Why is this important? There was no teaching at the jailhouse. The preaching took place at the jailer's house. After waking them up, they gathered somewhere in the jailer's house, and they held a bible study sometime after midnight.
E. Faith comes by hearing. Paul wrote: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, certainly, their sound went into all the earth, their words unto the end of the world," Romans 10:16-18. Here we now have a better picture of when and where Paul and Silas answered the jailer's question. It was in his house. He and his entire house learned at the same time: "What must I do to be saved?" Hearing the gospel, believing it, and then obeying it will yield forth the "grace of God,” Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10. Let’s see how this bible study concludes. Recall, repentance is also necessary to obey the gospel.
III REPENT OF SINS
A. Repentance is the believer's response to the gospel, Acts 3:19. To some, it is immediately evident, yet, to others, it is not. In this case, the jailer was not commanded to repent, as in other conversion examples. However, repentance is necessary because all are under sin, Galatians 3:22. There is "none righteous, no not one," Romans 3:10.
B. Preaching Jesus. In Luke's account of the Great Commission, Jesus commanded the apostles to: "Preach repentance and the remission of sins in His name," Luke 24:46-47. The Lord: "Came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance," Luke 5:32; Although not mentioned in our text, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23. Therefore, all are required to repent in order to receive the remission of sins, which is granted through the grace of God.
C. Paul preached and testified: “Both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance, and remission of sins was a part of gospel preaching. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change in life. Repentance is turning from sin and idols unto God. After Peter's return from Caesarea, the brethren of Jerusalem acknowledged: "That God also has granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life," Acts 11:18. Repentance then would include the jailer and his household, to whom Paul is now preaching the grace of God. Paul reminded the elders at Miletus: "How he kept back nothing profitable unto them…Testifying both to the Jews and the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," Acts 20:20-21. Repentance and faith are essential components of gospel preaching, unto all desiring to be saved by grace.
D. Godly sorrow worketh repentance. Paul wrote: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death,” 2 Corinthians 7:10. I might add here, being sorry about your sin is not repentance. Repentance means you are willing to turn from your sins and submit your life unto God, Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20.
E. God commands repentance. Luke wrote: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom God hath ordained; of which He hath given assurance unto all men, in that, He hath raised him from the dead,” Acts 17:30-31. The question now for us all, are we willing to repent and be obedient to the will of God? Let's see if the jailer and his household were willing to accept God’s grace on His terms.
IV CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST
A. Confession of faith. When one believes in Jesus as believers did in the first century, they are told to confess their faith in Him, as the Son of God. John wrote: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest these leaders should put them out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God," John 12:42-43; John 9:22. Yet, unlike the Jewish leaders, who would not confess Jesus as the Son of God. The jailer at Philippi, and his household would willingly confess Christ to be the Son of God. Before Paul and Silas, and all the other members of his house. This is the confession of faith; the repentant believer must make before completing, their obedience to the faith of Christ.
B. Jesus taught: “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, he will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men; he will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33. Brother Warren would say: "This is a fifty; fifty proposition, you confess me, and I will confess you. That's fair in anybody's business."
C. Confess Jesus as the Christ. Paul wrote: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation,” Romans 10:9-10.
D. Jesus is the Son of God. The confession the repentant believer makes before being baptized is that they believe: "That Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. When asked about being baptized, the man on the road was told: “If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest,” Acts 8:37. The man on the road responded: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37.
E. Confession of faith. The believer must confess: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. The first confession of faith is with their mouth: that Jesus is the Son of God. The confessions after that will be a "profession of their faith." Paul wrote Timothy: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and humility. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses,” 1 Timothy 6:11-12. You will tell the world now; you believe Christ is the Son of God. But, for the rest of your life’s walk with Him, you will profess your faith and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. Now, let's notice how Paul’s preaching to the jailer and his household concluded.
V BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
A. They went to the water. Luke continued: "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his (household), straightway," Acts 16:33. When Paul and Silas' bible study was concluded: the jailer and his household took them to the water at midnight. And for what purpose: first to wash Paul and Silas' wounds, showing love and compassion for their suffering in the name of Jesus. Then, they all were baptized: he and his house straightway. The idea is baptism was done, instantly, immediately, presently, or soon. The soon was at midnight! Thus, showing the importance of this act of obedience. Many preachers and leaders do not teach or baptize the seeker of salvation at all. They consider this act of faith unnecessary. No one with a "good and honest heart" can read this act of conversion and teach Paul and Silas did not consider baptism important. They did it immediately, after the bible study, at midnight! The answer, to why did they do it at midnight. It was required for their salvation!
B. They returned home. Luke concluded: “And when he had brought them into his home, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his family,” Acts 16:34. After the baptismal ceremony was concluded, the jailer and his house returned home with Paul and Silas. He set meat before them sometime after midnight. They sat together, rejoicing over their believing and obeying the gospel of Christ, and giving thanks to God for His amazing grace. The jailer and his house heard the gospel, believed it, repented of sins, confessed their faith in Christ, and were baptized: "To wash away their sins, calling on the name of the Lord," Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:4-7. The jailer's washing the stripes of Paul and Silas indeed was an act of compassion, and repentance for his sin of imprisoning, and the magistrate’s cruel beating of them, for preaching the way of salvation to the city of Philippi.
C. Baptism and conversion. Baptism, then, is the final part of the conversion experience. In every act of conversion in the Book of Acts, baptism was commanded, requested, or directed. This part of the "pattern of conversion" is the most ignored or eliminated in denominational preaching and practice. This disregard of truth and disobedience to Christ is because these evangelists and ministers do not believe that: "Baptism is essential to salvation." Even though Christ has commanded it! Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16.
D. Their preaching of Christ. Paul and Silas' preaching of Christ included baptism. Isn't it surprising that when one preaches Jesus, he also preaches baptism? Recall, the treasurer asked the preacher about baptism. He said: "See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Paul and Silas taught baptism is, “that act of obedience that makes one free from their sins,” John 8:31-32. Most Baptists and Evangelical ministers, preachers, and teachers neglect this command and example of Jesus' teaching. Will you be saved and your household today by: “obeying from your heart that form of doctrine, which is being delivered unto you, that will make you free from your sins?” Romans 6:17-18. Baptism is the act of faith that puts a believer: "in Christ," Galatians 3:26-27. Salvation by grace still resides in Christ, 2 Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 2:8-10. My question at this time: Are you in Christ?
E. Lord added to the church. We learned from Peter's preaching that the saved are added to the church after baptism. Luke wrote: “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,” Acts 2:41. They were: “Praising God, and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47. After Paul and Silas had shared Christ with the jailer and his house, they were baptized. They then returned to the house, and he set meat before them and rejoiced together, believing in God with all his house. This household became another family that would form the church at Philippi. I extend to you and your household an invitation to accept God’s grace, as the jailer and his house had done. Let me summarize what I have discussed….
CONCLUSION
A. Outline
1. Hear of the faith.
2. Believe in the gospel.
3. Repent of sins.
4. Confess faith in Christ.
5. Be baptized into Christ.
B. Summarize main points
1. The "gift" of salvation is given to all by God's grace, not by our faith or works of merit. Salvation is not given merely upon our faith in Christ; but, in our obedience through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a precious gift. It is not deserved or earned; but divinely given to all who accept Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:16-18. The gospel of Christ is not obeyed "in the heart." But, "from the heart," Romans 6:17-18. It is more than a confession of faith, Romans 10:9-10. It is our obedience to the faith, Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 15:18-19.
2. Salvation by grace must be accepted on God's terms of pardon, through our belief and obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, Romans 10:16-18. Most Baptists and Evangelicals argue: that salvation is by grace alone. They leave no room for obedience in their view of God’s salvation by grace. However, we have demonstrated faith and obedience were both necessary for one to be saved by grace. God’s grace is offered, but believers must accept it on His terms. And here is the problem: these denominational preachers want to accept and preach God's offer of grace on their terms. However, Paul’s preaching of “God’s grace” included faith and obedience to the gospel: as taught in Isaiah’s report, Romans 10:16-18.
3. God's pattern was not imparted unto the world until after Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, Acts 1:8. The God of heaven then uncovered His conversion process, through which all believers could be called into His grace.
4. The calling of grace is through the hearing of the faith, belief in the gospel, repenting of all past sins, confessing Christ to be the Son of God, and by being baptized: in the name of the Lord Jesus: “for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:36-41; Acts 22:16.
C. Invitation. Jesus is still calling all to come unto Him, Matthew 11:28-30.
D. Motivation. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save thyself from this untoward generation,” Acts 2:40.
E. Persuasion. "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
NOTE: If you want to obey the gospel right now, reach out to any minister, preacher, or teacher of the church of Christ in your community, and tell them you want to confess Christ and be baptized. They will assist you in being baptized into Christ. Remember, today is the day of salvation! May God bless you with this decision! Let me hear from you if this lesson helped you make this decision.
NOTE: Download these lessons from SermonCentral.com by Ron Freeman.
1. Baptism For The Remission Of Sins; and
2. Baptism "for" or "because" of remission.
Ron Freeman, Evangelist
Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org
https://wwmchurchofchrist.org
Contact me at: wwmcoc@earthlink.net
ronald.e.freeman@wwmchurchofchrist.org
