|
QUESTIONS ON HOW TO BE SAVED
ACTS 16:25-34
(September 8, 2019 – SUN a.m. – MBC baesa)
• In our own church there a lot of times that people who are members from far provincial places and even in other cities are not sure of their salvation and asking how to be saved. Most of them were baptized and church members..
→ There is nothing wrong with ‘making sure’, but there is a problem when someone keeps on ‘making sure’ again and again.
→ There is struggles and problems with this and we want to help and give them answers from the Bible,
• This is a topical message, so we are going to be looking at several passages.
I- WHAT GOOD THINGS SHALL I DO? (Matthew 19:16-22)
A. THE MAN ASKS FOR WORKS (v. 16-19)
This man wanted works so Jesus gave him the works. This man proud to say he trusted all his works since his youth days.
Matthew 19:16-19 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
B. THE MAN ADDS MORE THAN HIS WORKS (v. 20)
The man wanted more than the works he accomplished, and he told Jesus something was lacking.
Matthew 19:20 “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”
C. THE MASTER APPEALS TO THE MAN TO PUT GOD FIRST (v. 21-22)
Jesus squeezed on this man the work of putting God first and avoid coveting.
Matthew 19:21-22 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
→ For this man his morality is not enough and did not satisfy him. Therefore he realized he need to more and more, he want guarantee that will satisfy his longing of answer.
→ Probably this man is thinking of some additional religious action, a vow to God to fulfill annually and regularly as long as he lives, or wants to start foundation or support charitable programs.
→ This man stumbled over the notion of Jesus words of giving up everything to God. This man wanted to go to heaven on his own terms.
• This man in our passage resembles lot of people struggling with works. Many people who depends on morality or on religious practices to gain God’s approval.
EXAMPLE: Even you serve earnestly in your church, donating such sacrifices at the altar or church leaders, spending more time in your church services or mass, you know like this man that such works will not save you. You just convinced yourself that you will go to heaven without any further basis from the Scriptures.
• We know that man in our passage did not enter in the heaven – Matthew 19:23-26
Matthew 19:23-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
→ People are looking for this kind of life that this man have, riches and works, but sadly no eternal life in heaven.
• You also know that God is supreme and you have acknowledged your need of salvation by him and him alone.
→ But some people are plagued with the notion that they are still not accepted by God.
II- WHAT SHALL WE DO? (Acts 2:37-42)
A. AWARENESS OF WHAT TO DO AFTER THEY WERE CONVICTED (v.37)
• After the Israelite have heard the sermon of Peter they were convicted of their sins, and they knew that they
must do something.
Acts 2:37“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do"
B. APOSTOLIC ANSWER IS TO REPENT AND BELIEVE (v.38)
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
The apostolic answer is Repent and believe. Repenting from sins and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ- Acts 20:21
Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. Baptism a sign of belief (especially for Jews) –v.14,22,36
2. Promise of receiving the Holy Spirit upon repentance (v. 38)
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
3. Promise is for all who will believe (v. 39)
Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
4. Persistency of Peter with the same invitation to be saved (v. 40)
Acts 2:40 “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
C. ADDITION OF THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE WORD AND BAPTIZED (v. 41-42)
After they received the Word of God and been baptized they were added unto their number.
Acts 2:41- 42 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
• Riches could not redeemed souls – Psalm 49:6-8
Psalm 49:6-8 “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)”
• Religious tradition could not redeemed souls – 1 Peter 1:18-19
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
• What did these people have to do? Put their trust entirely in God and in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. They had to give up their confidence in their religion, their nation, their law-keeping.
III- WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? (Acts 16:25-34)
A. THE QUESTION THAT NEEDED URGENT ANSWER (v.30)
Acts 16:30 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
This is Philippian jailer who was seriously looking for an answer. The lost desperate needs for salvation of soul.
B. THE ANSWER THAT GIVES ASSURANCE OF SALVATION (v.31)
Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The apostolic answer, the only biblical answer. The Apostles direct answer is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”.
1. Preached the same message of gospel of salvation to the entire household (v. 32)
Acts 16:32 “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”
Ephesians 1:13 “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,”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
2. The whole household responded in faith and were all baptized (v. 33)
Acts 16:33 “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”
3. The whole household rejoiced greatly (v. 34)
Acts 16:34 “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
• The Answer of the apostles is consistent – entire dependence on God and His Christ alone. There is nothing
else that can be done.
IV- WHAT SHALL I DO, LORD? (Acts 22:1-10)
A. PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF PAUL’S CONVERSION (v.1-6)
• This is one of three records of Paul’s conversion – Paul is giving verbally his experience of salvation.
B. PERSECUTOR WHO STOPPED BY JESUS CHRIST (v.7)
Acts 22:7 “And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
C. PURPOSE FOR IDENTIFICATION (v. 8)
Acts 22:8 “And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.”
D. PREACHER’S APPOINTMENT (v. 10)
Acts 22:10 “And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.”
• Notice the difference of question on how to be saved and the one who got saved. “what shall I do, Lord?’
→ Paul accepted the Lord as Lord the moment after Jesus identified himself
→ Paul knew there was nowhere else to go thus surrendered himself to God and was changed.
→ Paul knew he had to depend on one man alone that is Jesus Christ and he was now at his service.
→ Paul wasn’t wondering about salvation, he was wondering about service when he asked “what shall I do, Lord?”
V- HOW ABOUT THOSE WHO DOES NOT WORK (Romans 4:5)
A. Salvation is not by any kind of work (v.1-2)
Romans 4:1-2 “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “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.”
Titus 3:5 “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;”
B. Salvation is by believing (therefore, believing is not a work) (v.2-3)
Romans 4:2-3 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
C. Faith is counted as righteousness (v.3-6)
Romans 4:3-6 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”
Romans 3:20-22 “ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”
• This is the biblical salvation that the Apostles understands. They had experience it and they preached it.
→ It is the Apostles who said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
• The work has already been done, trust Christ alone, there is nothing you can do!
Conclusion:
• What about some people who have lacks of assurance?
→ I just don’t know if I ‘really believed’ that time.
→ I know I’ve sinned and displeased God, he must not want anything to do with me.
→ I can’t believe God would accept me.
• Every one of these problems have one thing in common. They think their conversion depends on what they do
• Everything is already done. The only doing left to do is to follow Christ after you got saved.
|
