INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. The Question is Personal
2. The Question is Participative
3. The Question is Profitable
Introductory Remarks.
1. In today's lesson, we will discuss a man who asked the most compelling inquiry of his lifetime. A question having eternal implications! This is a question all men will ask if they are unaware of God’s terms of salvation. Not everyone has or will receive the same answer as this man and his entire family. Many are looking for an answer in all the wrong places. It’s not found in the Old Testament; it foretells a Messiah. Nor in the Four Gospels; they reveal unto us the Lamb of God, who came to take away the world's sins. The answer we seek must be found in the Book of Conversions, The Acts of the Apostles, as revealed by the Holy Spirit. I know this introduction requires further explanation. But as we proceed, let's consider...
2. First of all, this question is personal. The jailer asked only for himself: "What must I?" - making this question personal. We can only save ourselves. We can teach and encourage others, but they, like this man, must save themselves.
3. Secondly, this question is participative. "What must I do?" It implies participation on the part of the jailer. It is active in response and not passive. One must do something to be saved. Everywhere we read in the Acts of the Apostles, they were asked what “must I do?” or “what shall we do?”
4. Lastly, this question is profitable. Salvation was the desired end of his question. Jesus asked: “For what is a man's profit if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” See Matthew 16:26. If one would ask this same question today, would the answer be the same? I think not. However, God's terms of pardon and salvation have not changed since this man's conversion experience! He is the "same yesterday, today, and forever." In the same hour of the night - this man's life was saved both from suicide and sin by these men of God. He and his entire household heard, believed, and obeyed the Gospel! I want everyone here today to do the same! Let’s consider our first point: the question is personal.
BODY OF LESSON
I THE QUESTION IS PERSONAL
A. A short history of Paul and Silas called into Macedonia. They made their way to Philippi, a Roman city and colony. The gospel was now being preached in Europe about A.D. 50.
1. God had sent them to Macedonian through a vision of a man beckoning them to “Come over into Macedonia and help us,” Acts 16:9-17. Perhaps that’s why you are with us today in this assembly or on the air. You may have asked God for “spiritual help” to understand what he desires for your life.
a. Paul and his companion perceived that God had called them to preach in Macedonia.
b. I believe God has called me to Selma to stand before you now and give you some answers to the questions that may be troubling you regarding your salvation.
c. The “fear of God is the beginning of knowledge,” Proverbs 1:7. The word “fear” means reverence and respect for God.
d. God places us where He wants us to help those “seeking to do His will.”
2. Paul’s first family in Philippi to answer the “call for help” was Lydia and her house. They were present, joining some ladies for their customary prayer on the sabbath day.
a. They were gathered at the river, where he spake unto them about the Lord. "The Lord opened her heart...as she attended unto the things spoken of Paul. And she was baptized, and her household," Acts 16:13-15.
b. How was her heart opened? Through Paul's preaching and teaching! The tender words of Jesus’ love and grace touched her heart. When believers have a “good and honest heart,” they hear the word of God, believe, and obey it.
c. Lydia and her house obeyed the gospel of Christ on Saturday, down in the river at Philippi.
B. Paul and Silas’ next work in Philippi. Was to cast out of an evil spirit from a damsel who brought her master much gain from “soothsaying.” She followed them and proclaimed: "These men are the servants of the (Most High God), which show unto us the way of salvation," Acts 16:16-24.
1. For this act of mercy, they were beaten and imprisoned for doing well.
2. For their healing of this maiden, Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into the “inner prison, with the feet fast in the stocks," Acts 16:23-24.
C. Paul and Silas in prison. They had church in prison. They sang praises unto God and prayed. They found this beating and suffering a time of rejoicing. Like Peter and John: “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name,” Acts 5:41-42.
1. First, there is no time or place where prayer is not acceptable to God or heard by Him. Peter wrote, "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are opened unto their prayers," 1 Peter 3:12.
2. Further, the words in songs and prayers are no sweeter or more moving to God than during the afflictions and suffering of His people.
a. When in their hour of trial, they pour their hearts unto Him.
b. James wrote: "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is there any Merry? Let him sing psalms. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," James 5:13-14. When God's children cry unto Him, He will work on our behalf.
3. Finally, God heard their songs of praise and prayers of faith and went to work at midnight in the city of Philippi. Not long after their rejoicing and thanksgiving prayers ascended, heaven's answer came! And He went to work to accomplish His will due to their suffering.
ILLUSTRATION: Elvis Presley's "Jail House Rock" - - Hit Song '50.
D. An earthquake at midnight. I cannot but think of Elvis Presley’s hit song: “Jail House Rock.” However, when I consider this conversion experience, Paul and Silas sang this hit song at midnight in Philippi. And in truth, the jailhouse rocked!
1. This earthquake was due to Paul and Silas's singing and praying. Their singing, no doubt, prompts the God of heaven to pat His foot upon His footstool, causing the earth to move beneath His feet. What would happen if God started to pat His foot with our singing and praises unto Him on the “first day of the week?”
a. Job wrote: “He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble...And (if) God does not restrain his anger; even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet,” Job 9:6; Job 9:13.
b. Jesus said: “That heaven; is God’s throne: and the earth; for it is His footstool,” Matthew 5:33-35.
2. Stephen said of God: “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? Saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?” Acts 7:49-50. The earth is God’s footstool! We are where we need to be now, Acts 16:25-34.
3. The jailer was awakened from sleep. The earthquake shook the prison and awakened the jailer. So violent was this earthquake that the "prison doors were opened, and every man’s bands were loosed," Acts 16:26. Luke continues...
a. “And the keeper of the prison awakening out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had fled.”
b. “But Paul cried loudly, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here,” Acts 16:27-28.
4. He called for a light: “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. We are now at the verses of interest in this lesson.
E. Jailer’s question. It took an event of this magnitude for the jailer to ask the most critical question of his life. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The jailer asked: “What must I do to be saved?” This might be your question right now. If it is, your answer is coming! Let’s consider our second point.
II THE QUESTION IS PARTICIPATIVE
A. The Jailer's question and his response to God. The jailer rightly inquired, "What must I do to be saved?" He recognized there was something for him to do! And he had to be a willing participant in his salvation. This is not foreign to the New Testament’s: “pattern of conversion.” The teaching of men has caused this confusion. Jesus said, “Ye do error, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God,” Matthew 22:29; Isaiah 9:16.
1. Like the Pentecostals, who asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" See Acts 2:37.
2. Saul asked, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" See Acts 9:6.
3. To Cornelius, the angel of the Lord said: “Send to Joppa for Peter, he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do,” Acts 10:5-6.
4. Notice the jailer inquiry: “Sirs, what is necessary for me to do so that I may be saved?” EGNT, page 363. Your text might read: What must I do to be saved? Both are correct. Please note, not what I must believe, but what must I do! He understood there was something “he had to do.”
B. God desires to save all men. Notice Paul: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time," 1 Timothy 2:3-6.
1. Peter wrote: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering, to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16.
2. Jehovah says, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; turn from your wicked way and live,” Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11.
3. Jesus came: “To seek and save that which was lost!” Luke 19:10.
4. God is calling all to salvation. Jesus’ invitation "Come unto Me," Matthew 11:28-30.
C. All humanity needs salvation because all have sinned, Romans 3:23. Notice:
1. Paul: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again," 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 5:8-10.
2. We were or are still “dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1-3; Isaiah 59:1-2.
3. “There is none righteous, no not one…for all have sinned,” Romans 3:11; Romans 3:23-26.
D. The jailer recognized his need for salvation and asked, "What must I do?" You cannot ask this question for your mother or daddy. And if we are to help others, we must first find out what to do ourselves, do it, and then share it with others. Salvation is a personal matter. Peter said unto the people on the Day of Pentecost, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation," Acts 2:40.
E. Paul and Silas' answer to the Jailer. The jailer was told: "To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house," Acts 16:31. Can anyone be saved without faith in Christ?
1. Jesus said: "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins," John 8:24. True faith leads to obedience and salvation, Romans 1:5; Romans 16:25-26.
2. What had the jailer heard at this point? He heard singing and praying. Recall, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Romans 10:17.
3. No preaching of Christ was done in the jailhouse by Paul or Silas. Look at your bible! “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” Matthew 16:26. Notice now our last point.
III THE QUESTION IS PROFITABLE
A. They spake unto him. Luke wrote: “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house,” Acts 16:32.
1. Paul, Silas, and the jailer left the jailhouse and went to his house.
2. Preaching and teaching were done at the jailer’s house, not in the jailhouse! Are you with me?
3. What did Paul teach them? To have faith in Jesus. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” Romans 10:17.
4. Paul and Silas preached: “That Christ died for their sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried and rose again from the dead according to the scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - no doubt reference Isaiah Report, Romans 10:16-18. “But they all have not obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”
B. What did they do? Still, the jailer’s question has not been answered.
1. “Sirs, what is necessary for me to do so that I may be saved?”
2. Paul taught them, but his question remains unanswered.
3. Perhaps this is where you are now in your life. You may have heard and believed but have not obeyed Isaiah's Report. Let’s look at what happened next.
C. The jailer’s response. "And he (the jailer) took them (Paul and Silas) the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and his entire house, straightway," Acts 16:33. Why are you looking at me strangely; aren’t you reading it in your bible? Now,
1. At midnight, they are out searching for water. Has anyone asked why? Well, let me tell you.
2. Apostolic preaching always included faith and baptism. You can’t preach Christ without directing, commanding, or requiring the repentant believer to be baptized: “for the remission of sins,” Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48.
3. The jailer and his house “washed Paul and Silas’ stripes with soothing river water.” No doubt in the same place where they had earlier baptized Lydia and her house.
4. After the Jailer and his house heard the word of truth, they acquired the proper faith and showed signs of repentance. Silas no doubt baptized them sometime after midnight. They, therefore, did what was necessary so that they may be saved. The jailer and his house, straightway, were baptized in the same hour of the night. Notice how Paul explained this “pattern of conversion” to Ephesus.
5. He wrote: “In whom ye also trusted, after that, ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory,” Ephesians 1:13-14. God has purchased us, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28. Let’s outline his points:
a. They trusted in Christ, whom Paul had preached (just like the jailer and his house).
b. They heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation.
c. In whom they believed.
d. They were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Acts 19:1-7.
e. Who is the earnest (down payment) of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession; the redemption of the body, Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:11; Romans 8:23.
6. Conclusion: What the beloved apostles preached to the jailer and his house; he preached to Ephesus. The Ephesians heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation (the way of salvation), believed in Jesus Christ, repented of their sins, confessed their faith in Christ, and trusted in the Lord’s promise they were baptized “to do what was necessary so they may be saved.”
D. Paul's message and actions were consistent with Christ's and the other apostles' teachings concerning the conversion experience. Consider...
1. He also taught faith and baptism as necessary to obtain salvation, Mark 16:15-16. Those who preach Christ without requiring such are not declaring the “apostolic message” of Jesus Christ as outlined in the “Great Commission,” Matthew 28:19-20.
2. Jesus taught that the only way to experience the "new birth" was only possible if a “man is born (ek) of the water and the Spirit,” John 3:3-5. In Greek (ek) means "out of" or "through the means" of: "the water and of the Spirit." Observe,
a. Philip’s Preaching and Baptism. “They went down into…come up out of the water,” Acts 8:25-40.
b. Recall our lesson on “Is There Water in the Plan?” We discussed this important issue then.
3. At midnight, the jailer’s entire house was saved after hearing the gospel, acknowledging their faith in Christ, and being baptized to remit or be forgiven of their sins.
a. This same process of salvation is still required today – if one wants to be a member of the kingdom of God, Acts 8:5, Acts 8:12.
ILLUSTRATION: Get in the Barrel. Man-type rope walking across Niagara Falls.
b. We must demonstrate our faith by getting into the barrel. Our barrel is the water of baptism.
c. Don’t trust men’s words; put your trust in what the “word of God saith.”
E. After their baptism: "He (the Jailer) had brought them (Paul and Silas) into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with his entire house," Acts 16:34. Consider,
1. Baptism is where man's faith and God's grace come together. It is God’s means of regeneration: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Titus 3:5. To be born again, John 3:3-5.
2. The Jailer and his household willingly submitted to the gospel and baptism (at midnight) in their desire to be saved.
3. I trust you have followed me along in this lesson. Now, as I conclude, let me review quickly what we discussed.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. The Question is Personal
2. The Question is Participative
3. The Question is Profitable
B. Summarize main points.
1. Salvation is a personal thing. If you are to be saved from your sins, you must ask the right person and act immediately upon the answer given by the word of God. The Bible answers this question.
2. As the jailer had to participate in his salvation by doing something, so must all today. We must acquire the proper faith, repent of our sins, confess the name of Jesus as the Son of God, and be baptized like this jailer and his house in water for the remission of sins and to be saved.
3. This example of conversion was profitable to the jailer and his household. It can also be profitable for anyone who follows his example of faith and obedience.
C. Invitation. Discuss the pattern of conversion.
D. Exhortation. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying: save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
E. Motivation. We love you here at this congregation of God’s people and want the best for your life and your family. We invite you now to come and respond to God's love and his Son's death. What you do today will have lasting benefits for you and perhaps those you love, whether family or friends.
Sermons by Ron Freeman, Evangelist. Download from SermonCentral.com.
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Sermon Preached In Selma, AL 11/3/2024