Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 8 A Biblical Look at Salvation A familiar narrative to illustrate the power of the Gospel. Paul and Silas are preaching and are forced to confront a demon-possessed girl. Paul exorcises the spirit of divination and frees the girl. The business owners that used her get upset and have Paul and Silas arrested. Acts 16: And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

2 Page 2 of 8 30 Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. The Philippian Jailor and his family were never the same and are in the "presence of the Lord" today. His family, your family, and my family are in desperate need today. Why? There is none righteous. (Romans 3:10-18) We are all sinners in desperate need of Jesus. Salvation is a person, Jesus Christ. Paul and Silas' behavior and words in prison made an eternal difference.

3 Page 3 of 8 Does our behavior and words make a difference? I believe so, but... Salvation is not about keeping up appearances Matt 15:7-9 Jesus says, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings. Matt 6:2 Jesus says, When you give to someone in need, don t do as the hypocrites do blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. Luke 16:15 Jesus said to them, You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God. If salvation is not about appearances, then what happens when I am saved? We are forgiven. Luke 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. We are justified. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

4 Page 4 of 8 We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. We are redeemed. Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: We become a child of God. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave him power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: We become a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We are reconciled to God. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his

5 Page 5 of 8 Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. 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, We are accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. We are indwelt by Christ. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. We possess eternal life. John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. We have peace with God. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 1 John 5:4-5 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world

6 Page 6 of 8 our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Salvation: Not and Is Salvation is not a formula to obey. It is a Person to know and love. (Jn 17:3) Salvation is not a personal feeling, background, promise, or morality to God. It is a position before God, given to you as a gift of Jesus. (Eph 2) The essence of salvation is not behavioral change, but it is a heart change, which in turn leads to a renewed behavior. (2 Co. 5:14-15) Salvation is not an easier life, but an abundant life. (Jn. 10:10) Salvation is not a prayer to pray, but a Person to praise. (Titus 3:5) Titus 3:5-7 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

7 Page 7 of 8 Salvation is not a degree of your faith, but the Object of your faith. (Heb. 12:1-2) Salvation is not the pursuit of God, but God s pursuit of you. (Jn. 3:16-17) Salvation is not the transaction of our works for God s acceptance, but the gift of His grace for our shortcomings. (Eph. 2:6-9) Salvation is not a formula to be followed and adhered, but a Person to be followed and adored. (Jn. 17:3) Salvation is not an emotion to be felt, but a truth to be embraced. (Acts 4:12) Salvation is not a theoretical concept to cognitively acknowledge and accept, but a historical Person to wholeheartedly embrace and surrender too. (1 Co. 15:6) Salvation is not a hand raised up, but a life laid down. (Mt. 16:24) Salvation is not a formula for making bad people good, but a power to make dead people alive. (Gal. 2) Salvation is not that we have overcome sin and the world, but that Jesus has overcome the world. (Jn. 16:33)

8 Page 8 of 8 We must be OVERCOMERS, through Christ, over: Sin, Trials, Tests, Temptations, by Believing, Trusting, and Obeying God's Word! John 16:33 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.