35) CONFIRMING ANOTHER'S SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST
TEXT: Acts 8:30-31
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?
RECAP
Now over the last few week’s we have talked about how we can share the Gospel
And effectively tell others about Jesus.
And what we discovered through the Scriptures is that we should have a Strategy in doing this.
Remember the Apostle Paul, a Godly man, who was fully committed to the preaching of the Gospel,
Was not without a strategy in following God’s calling.
In fact, he declared in Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing,
…and hearing by the Word of God.
Here Paul simply states the facts – that if people are going to hear about Jesus...
And believe in the Gospel truth – the Word of God must first be shared with them.
Remember the Gospel is not our message – it is God’s message,
And He declares that message best through His Word.
However, as we discovered, Paul’s strategy had two key parts:
The first centred around God’s Word...and second hinged upon meeting people.
You see, it’s “other people” that we want to reach with the truth.
God’s saves People – and ultimately its people we want to reach with the Gospel.
In this regard, Paul declared in 1 Corinthians Chapter 9,
How we sought to continually reach out and meet people on their level – wherever they were at:
...I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you
That’s what Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23.
Now this was a simple strategy Paul used,
And our strategy for preaching the Gospel should be the same...
We need to share the Word of God with other people – in any way we can!
Of course, last week we added to our knowledge and understanding for...
The need of this kind of strategy - to also talk about how we can put that strategy into affect.
Jesus said to the disciples in Mark 16:15:
…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
But the question we asked ourselves was How? – How do we do that?
Well the simple answer we found in the Scriptures was to do two things:
1) We Evangelise Inside the Home
2) We Evangelise Outside the Home
You see, Evangelism should always begin within the Home and with those closest to us.
After all, If we don’t care enough for our families to share with them the truth – who else will.
Every single one of us has a ministry that begins within the home,
And it is often within our own homes - that the need for Jesus is greatest.
However, the challenge and the calling of the Great Commission
Is not to just sit and to preach at home – but to “Go”.
Our purpose and calling - is to go out and share the Gospel with as many as we can.
And that purpose can only be fully realised – as we venture out...
And “Go” to evangelise outside of our own homes.
So these are some of the learnings we have grasped in our previous studies.
Today however, I want to add to our understanding in all things a little bit
To not just talk about the need to share the Gospel,
But to also emphasise the importance of “Confirming Salvation In Christ” with those we meet.
You see, it is one Thing to share the need for someone to be saved,
But it is another thing altogether to confirm that person’s Salvation.
CONFIRMING SALVATION
Brethren this is the danger...
Some people think they are saved when they are not!
Please don’t get me wrong – getting saved is not hard.
What does the Bible say: “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” - Acts 16:31
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
We have already learnt all of this – People get saved by God’s Grace...
Through believing in Jesus Christ alone...because this is God’s Gift to mankind...
And it all has absolutely nothing to do you with your own good works!
That is the Gospel truth – pure and simple.
And yet even so – many people still stand confused about how to get saved.
Sadly, much of this comes from the confusion of Religion.
Religion Verses Christianity!
Mark my words – there is a profound difference between Religion and true Christianity.
There is estimated to be some 10,000 different religions in the world today.
Now you think about that – because that is a very scary thought.
There should not be 10,000 different regions because there is only one God and one truth!
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: - Deuteronomy 6:4.
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:15 about the:
…Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
One God – One truth!
John 4:23 says: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
Now notice that there are two key elements to what this verse teaches.
The Bible says “True worshipers”... not speaking of those from thousand’s of different religions,
But True Worshippers must worship God in two ways: 1) In the Spirit, and 2) In the truth.
1) The Spirit
Now the reference here to “the Spirit” - is of course the Holy Spirit,
Which is a very real and distinct part making up the one true God.
And Bible teaches us that it is the Holy Spirit...
That actually plays a critical part in the whole process of Salvation.
You see, it’s the Holy Spirit that takes up residence within a every believers heart...
At the point they first receive Christ and get saved.
Remember of course, that as the Bible teaches...
It’s the Holy Spirit that stands as a mark or a seal of a person’s salvation,
And which ultimately preserves them fully until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13 & Eph 4:30).
Jesus Himself even talked about the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the whole process of salvation...
And declared it to be like a Spiritual Birth to Nicodemus in John chapter 3.
And it’s in this light - that the Scriptures also declare...
That there is only one unpardonable sin – and that is the “Blaspheme of the Holy Spirit”.
Now this is talked about in Mark 3:29 and also in Luke 12:10,
And it really speaks of one who rejects the receiving of the Holy Spirit in their life.
Now considering that we receive the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation...
You can see why this is referred to as the unpardonable sin...
It’s because that person is rejecting the Gospel message and the Salvation that is offered.
John 4:24 says this: God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
You see, Sometimes people believe in a god – but they don’t believe in thee God!
And the real tragedy in this - is that “these God’s” who many people believe in,
Are not the God’s who save!
Jesus Christ alone is the one who saves...
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
Brethren we need to always be preaching the Gospel...
But we also at times need to confirm a person’s salvation is Jesus Christ.
You see, there is just so much confusion in wider religion today,
That many are living their lives thinking that they are in right relationship with God
And that they are serving God as He desires – when they are not.
What do the Scriptures declare? Matthew 7:21-23:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Now the real scary thing for us to consider - knowing this,
Is how many people are there out there thinking they are saved - when they are not.
Brethren this is why we need to confirm a person’s salvation.
Remember – “True Worshippers” will be worshipping how....in the Spirit!
When do we first receive the Spirit – when we first get saved!
That’s is when we come to know Christ as our Saviour...
That is when the promise of His Holy Spirit seals us...
And that is the first thing necessary to worship God.
A lot of people out in Religion profess to know God...
But none can truly know Him - if they have not first received His Son
And the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ.
2) The Truth
But remember this is just the first thing...
“True worshippers” - …must worship Him in spirit [having been saved] and in truth.
So lets talk about the truth then.
If you are a genuine follower and disciple of God, as so many claim to be...
You will worship the Lord in the truth!
How can 10,000 different religions - that all believe and practice different things
Be worshipping God in the truth?
You see, not all religions are the same – because they are not all for God.
That’s why you and I - knowing what we believe is so important...
Because there is a difference between Religion and real Christianity.
Please understand this – not all religions worship in the truth!
And any worship offered to God outside of the truth...Is no real worship at all.
It’s not enough for someone to say ...“I believe in God – and here’s my worship to Him”
It’s simply not enough to show up to any church and to offer up worship in any way you please.
You worship God His way, according to the truth – or you don’t worship Him at all.
The fact that some sources suggest there to be upto 10,000 different religions today,
Is of grave concern to me – because it proves that not everyone is worshipping the same God,
Or holding to the same standard of truth.
Some people think that because they go to Church...
Or because they are in a “Religion” - that they are saved.
Indeed some people may even say:
“Well I believe in this God or that God...so my salvation is sure”,
But how can it be sure - if they don’t believe in the one true God,
And have not received the true Gospel of Jesus Christ?
And sadly this is the problem facing so many today...
Religion has clouded the Gospel and darkened men’s eyes to the truth.
Please hear me when I say – that it is not always enough for us to just preach the Gospel,
Because sometimes we need to also Confirm a person’s Salvation.
PHILIP’S EXAMPLE
So how then do we do that?
How do we actually confirm if a person is genuinely saved?
Well let’s look back to the Scriptures and to our opening text in Acts Chapter 8.
Remember we found Philip talking someone asking if he “...understood all that he was reading”,
And the man simply replied - “how can I unless someone teaches me”.
And there is a real lesson in this for us all...
Don’t just assume that someone who reads the Bible or goes to church...
Knows Jesus Christ and has accepted the truth of the Gospel.
Now together lets read this account in more detail now.
For the sake of context lets pick up our reading in verse 26:
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: - Now lets just pause here for a moment.
Notice again that it was God’s expressed command for Philip to “Arise and Go”.
Philip was not to sit idle…he was not to procrastinate…
He was not to become complacent – He was to Go out to be used of God.
And as Christ’s Disciples today, His command to us is the same in this regard,
God wants us to go out into the world…
So that we can be used of Him in the preaching of the Gospel.
And notice also, the place were God directed Philip was into the dessert,
And we are told in the first part of verse 27 - And he arose and went:
No questioning God’s will…no doubting of the purpose or destination,
Just a willing heart to follow where ever God led.
Oh that we would possess such a heart as this today. Amen!
Verse 27:
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Now again lets pause here to take stock of what is happening.
Here we have a foreign Ethiopian man…
Who has travelled a great distance to come to Jerusalem - to Worship
But “true worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” – remember.
This man was not a Jew…
He came from a different country…from a different culture…
And what is more, he probably even came from a somewhat different religious backround.
Be it as it may – he still came to Jerusalem with a sincere heart to worship.
Now there is a difference between religion and true Christianity,
But it’s important to realise that there are some very sincere people from other religions.
People who have a heart and desire to want to follow God…
But are people who despite their sincerity,
Are sincerely wrong in the way that they are trying to do it.
What do we see here? Does God write people off who are from other religions?
Does God turn his back on those who are confused about the truth?
No – God sends his servant Philip to explain the truth more clearly.
Verse 39:
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Brethren this is the reality of things…
Some people are very sincere in how they are following God…
But they are sincerely wrong in how they are doing it.
Some people read the bible and go to worship…
And still struggle to know and understand the truth.
Some people think they are saved – but don’t really know for sure.
What did Philip do? He sought to confirm this man’s salvation
Verse 32:
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Now this is a mesonic prophecy – concerning sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
And it was a great lead in to the preaching and declaration of the Gospel. Verse 34:
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Amen!!!
Brethren is not our goal? Is it not to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ
With those from every culture, background and religion! Verse 36:
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Now notice with me a couple of more things here,
Firstly, Philip clearly used the Gospel message...
To launch out from in the Scriptures - and to teach many other spiritual truths.
No where in this context did the prophet Isaiah speak of Baptism.
In fact, Baptism is a Church ordinance seen taught under the New Testament,
And it is a step that comes after one is saved.
First you accept Christ as your saviour – that’s Salvation,
Then you make a decision about whether to follow Christ in the waters of Baptism – that’s Service.
Let’s not get the two confused – once you get saved then you can serve Christ,
But your service is not what saves you.
Baptism – is a spiritual picture of the Gospel...
Being the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
But the act of Baptism is not what saves you.
Baptism is an outward sign and a picture, of one who has already been saved by the Gospel,
Then wanting to dedicate their life to following Christ.
Notice what goes on here – The Ethiopian asks in verse 36: what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
In other words, you get saved first and then you can be baptised.
And how does one get saved – by believing in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Acts 16:31)
So Philip first seeks to confirm the mans salvation – before baptism is made.
And how the Ethiopian respond to Philips querry – he said
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Amen!
THE QUESTION METHOD
So this is what Philip did at the prompting of the Lord,
He met another man who was confused about the truth,
And he sought to teach and to share with him Jesus.
He sought to Confirm this mans salvation in Christ.
Now there is one final thing I wish to share with you all today.
And that is, two questions I like to ask others I meet when trying to share the Gospel.
And I find these questions both useful and effective when trying to share the word...
And confirm whether a person is genuinely saved.
Question 1
“If you died right now – do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?”
This is a simple question to answer for those that have faith in Christ,
And for those who know and understand the Gospel truth.
But for many others a question like this can fill them with dread and doubt.
The thing I like about this question...
Is that for those who are unsure of their salvation,
It provides a wonderful opportunity to share the Word of God and the Gospel truth.
I like to tell people of how God wants them to know for sure that they are saved,
Because as the Scriptures declare in 1 John 5:13:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”
This is not a think so...
Hope so...
Maybe so...could be kind of a situation.
I use this question to reassure people of the absolute surety...
They can have in God’s Promise of Heaven,
Because as 1 John 2:25 declares:
And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.
Question 2
Now the first question breaks the ice,
Then the second question continues to clear a path.
“If you died today, and God asked you – ‘why should I let you into heaven?’
What would you say?”
The good thing about this question - is that it helps us to determine
Where exactly people are at spiritually.
What are basing their hope and faith of salvation on?
Remember, the problem many face in religion…
Is they are confused about the truth of the Gospel.
There are a lot of sincere well meaning people out there,
But many don’t know what is required to be saved.
And this question provides yet another opportunity to share the Word of God
And to declare salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is my experience that People who are often caught up in religion,
Try to answer questions like this – by trying to link salvation...
Back to themselves and to the things they do in order to earn Gods favour.
They say things like – “I would ask God to permit me into heaven because I have been a good person and tried to live a morally just life”
There is of course no other way to salvation other than through Jesus Christ,
And we can then show them this in the Word of God.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The Bible tells us that everyone makes mistakes, and does things inherently wrong.
That’s what God calls sin – and it sins are what separates us from God
And are what keeps us from going to heaven.
This leads us nicely into another verse like…
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The truth is, because we are not perfect beings– one day we will die.
But – God wants to give us eternal life…
And a free home in heaven through Jesus.
From here you can go to John 3:16 or Ephesians 2:8+9…
Or where ever you feel led of the Lord to go in the Scriptures.
Brethren, it’s questions like these that can be used to effectively measure...
Exactly where a person is at spiritually.
By their answers we can learn what they believe,
And what exactly they are placing their faith in.
More importantly, we can confirm their salvation in Jesus Christ,
Through the God’s Word and the preaching of the truth.
Brethren, let us always be a people...
Who are willing to go and to preach the Gospel,
And given so much wide spread confusion in wider Religion...
Let us also use wisdom to Confirm a person’s Salvation in Jesus Christ!
