WHEN IS A MAN SAVED 4
Let us examine two other scenarios where the gospel was preached in the book of Acts.
Paul and the Jailor:
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? they said, belie Vs 31 And ve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house Notice Paul and Silas’s response to the Jailor was not explanatory, thus, the Jailor and his house could not have been saved in Verse 31 . Also, the response was only to him, his household was not in view here. However, in Verse 32 , Luke recorded that Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and his household. That is, they explained the gospel to them. Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in house. It was after Verse 32 his , that Luke recorded that they believed. 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.
Paul and Agrippa:
Acts 26:1 Then Agrippa said unt o Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: Vs 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of t he Jews... Vs 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. Vs 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. Vs 26 F or the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. Vs 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Vs 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 Vs And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. Hear Paul in Vers e 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. However, 28 Agrippa’s responses in Verse obviously is proof that he did not believe in the gospel Vs 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Agrippa at best can be described as “nearly a Christian”, which is not the same as salvation. Vs 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. T he phrase “as I am, except the bonds” can be better understood in context Acts 26:18 turn them To open their eyes, from and from darkness and to to light, the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them wh sanctified by faith that is in me. ich are Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: He referred to faith in of Sins .
Hence, Christ for the remission SALVATION IS FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. Thus, knowing the prophets, or reading the scriptures is not the same as Faith in Christ. The Jews had read the scriptures for centuries but did not believe in the person that the scriptures spoke (witnessed) of. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in th em ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Vs 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Life is in a person! Salvation is in a person! Salvation simply is faith in Christ; in his resurrection!
CONCLUSION
SALVATION IS FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS This has nothing to do with getting earthl y comfort or solutions to problem. That was why many who received healings and miracles for Jesus, did not believe in Him. Hence, to preach sermons centered on human circumstances, miracles and healing and not the person of Jesus (His resurrection) is not the preaching of the gospel! If it is the gospel of Christ…it will focus on Him (his resurrection from the dead). That is, a ny message that does focus on material things, people’s physical and emotional needs, miracles, healings, finances and such like, a nd not on the resurrection of Jesus CAN NEVER save. ONLY the gospel of Christ has the ability to save a man!
Paul warned about this in his letter to the Church at Corinth 1 st Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. Vs 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Vs 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Vs 4 And my speech and my p reaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: Vs 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
In other words, when the message is not focused on Christ ALONE (Hi s resurrection from the dead), it is at best excellency of speech; a display of oratory. Likewise, the faith of the recipient is not in the resurrection of Jesus (the power of God); in the gospel of Christ, rather, it is in the preacher’s excellency of spe wisdom and oratory skills. ech, The gospel is the power of God (demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead) unto salvation, and the moment a man believes this in his heart, he is saved.
Paul and the Jailor:
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? they said, belie Vs 31 And ve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house Notice Paul and Silas’s response to the Jailor was not explanatory, thus, the Jailor and his house could not have been saved in Verse 31 . Also, the response was only to him, his household was not in view here. However, in Verse 32 , Luke recorded that Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and his household. That is, they explained the gospel to them. Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in house. It was after Verse 32 his , that Luke recorded that they believed. 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.
Paul and Agrippa:
Acts 26:1 Then Agrippa said unt o Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: Vs 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of t he Jews... Vs 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. Vs 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. Vs 26 F or the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. Vs 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Vs 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 Vs And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. Hear Paul in Vers e 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. However, 28 Agrippa’s responses in Verse obviously is proof that he did not believe in the gospel Vs 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Agrippa at best can be described as “nearly a Christian”, which is not the same as salvation. Vs 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. T he phrase “as I am, except the bonds” can be better understood in context Acts 26:18 turn them To open their eyes, from and from darkness and to to light, the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them wh sanctified by faith that is in me. ich are Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: He referred to faith in of Sins .
Hence, Christ for the remission SALVATION IS FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. Thus, knowing the prophets, or reading the scriptures is not the same as Faith in Christ. The Jews had read the scriptures for centuries but did not believe in the person that the scriptures spoke (witnessed) of. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in th em ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Vs 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Life is in a person! Salvation is in a person! Salvation simply is faith in Christ; in his resurrection!
CONCLUSION
SALVATION IS FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS This has nothing to do with getting earthl y comfort or solutions to problem. That was why many who received healings and miracles for Jesus, did not believe in Him. Hence, to preach sermons centered on human circumstances, miracles and healing and not the person of Jesus (His resurrection) is not the preaching of the gospel! If it is the gospel of Christ…it will focus on Him (his resurrection from the dead). That is, a ny message that does focus on material things, people’s physical and emotional needs, miracles, healings, finances and such like, a nd not on the resurrection of Jesus CAN NEVER save. ONLY the gospel of Christ has the ability to save a man!
Paul warned about this in his letter to the Church at Corinth 1 st Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. Vs 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Vs 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Vs 4 And my speech and my p reaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: Vs 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
In other words, when the message is not focused on Christ ALONE (Hi s resurrection from the dead), it is at best excellency of speech; a display of oratory. Likewise, the faith of the recipient is not in the resurrection of Jesus (the power of God); in the gospel of Christ, rather, it is in the preacher’s excellency of spe wisdom and oratory skills. ech, The gospel is the power of God (demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead) unto salvation, and the moment a man believes this in his heart, he is saved.
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