Now once again, turn in your
Bible to the book of Acts. The book of Acts, chapter 19. Chapter 19. Chapter 19 in the book of Acts.
Look at verse 1. And it came to pass. And it came
to pass. What do you think of when you
see that in Scripture? We read it often times when we
read through the Word of God. came to pass. Nothing comes to
pass without the sovereign purpose of God bringing it to pass. We just read it a moment ago
in Ephesians chapter 1. He works all things after the
counsel of His own will. And it came to pass. God ordered it from eternity
and in time it came to be. And it came to pass, of him,
through him, to him, or all things to whom be the glory, both now
and forever. And it came to pass. That while Apollos, this is one
of God's chosen, one of God's elect, who was saved by grace,
who was called into the ministry, who was sent preaching the gospel.
This is the same Apollos that we read of in the book of Corinth
1 Corinthians, it says here that Paulus, he was at Corinth. And while he was at Corinth,
Paul, having passed through the upper coast, came to Ephesus. Now this is Paul's, beginning
of Paul's third journey, which he went, which he was sent, preaching
the gospel. He came to the upper coast of
this region known as Ephesus, and he came to this city, and
when he got there, finding certain disciples. Now remember, he was
there once before. If you look back at chapter 18,
when he was there before he came to Ephesus, chapter 18 verse
21, Paul said, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh
in Jerusalem, but I will return again unto you if God will. You see that? If God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. Now here we find him back at
Ephesus according to the will of God and the purpose of God. He was blessed of God to continue
in this place for two years. Now this is kind of an unusual
method for Paul. He usually preached a few days
or weeks or months. In Corinth he stayed 18 months
and then he moved on. But here it says in verse 10, And this continued by the space
of two years, so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the
word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." This place
in this city of Ephesus was known as a preaching center. From this
center in Ephesus, the gospel was spread all over that known
country, and God was pleased to establish this gospel church
here, and they were greatly used of God to spread the gospel. When he writes to those there
in Ephesus, in that epistle we read earlier, he writes to the
saint and the faithful in Christ Jesus. Wherever you find a believer
resting in Christ, you also find this description. Faithful. Faithful
in Christ Jesus. Believers are made faithful by
the grace of God. And here we see the foundation
or the beginning of God establishing this gospel church here in Ephesus. When Paul came there in verse
1, it says that he found some disciples. He found some who
were believers of the gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus. And when he came there, he sought
out believers to worship with, and he sought out these believers
to instruct them in the way of grace. And it says here that
these certain disciples we know of, it says in verse 7 that they
were twelve men. Twelve men that God had selected,
and by the providence of God, when Paul came to Ephesus, he
met these twelve men. and they worshipped together
and rejoiced together. He found these twelve men who,
like Apollos, were faithful disciples of John, John the Baptist, God's
prophet." Now hold your place here. I want you to find John,
the Gospel, chapter 1. John chapter 1. There were some
others who were disciples of John. very notable, who later
became apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apollos and these twelve
men here, but notice, if you will, in John chapter 1, John
chapter 1 verse 35, and again the next day, John stood and
two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said,
Behold the Lamb of God. Now the day previously, he said,
Behold the Lamb of God, same message, who takes away the sin
of God's elect in this world, and two disciples heard him speak
and they followed, John didn't get upset. He said, there's the
Messiah, follow him. Two of those disciples heard
him speak and they followed the Savior. That's what John's ministry
was all about, pointing sinners to Christ. Then Jesus turned
and saw them following, and said unto them, What seek ye? They
said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, being interpreted, Master,
where dwellest thou? And he said unto them, Come and
see. And they came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him
that day. For it was about the tenth hour, and one of the two
which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's
brother." Now it says here, one of the two. Now, John being the
writer, like Matthew, doesn't mention his name, so most of
the commentators think that it was John and Andrew who were
early disciples of John the Baptist, but when the Lord Jesus came
on the scene, they quit John and followed Christ. His ministry
was all about pointing centers to the Lord Jesus Christ. These
disciples were believers in the Lord Jesus. John's ministry,
as I said, was all about pointing sinners to Christ. He said, I
must decrease, he must increase. They professed faith in Christ
by being baptized. Certainly they would not receive
John's message and then not confess Christ in believer's baptism.
Now verse 2, notice this. And he said unto them, now this
is the apostle meeting these twelve men, who were believers,
resting in Christ, who confessed Christ in believers' baptism,
and he entered into them, verse 2. Here's Paul's question. Have
you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they
said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be
any Holy Spirit. Now here's Paul's question. Now
this is not referring to the work of the Spirit in quickening,
regenerating, and convicting. No man can believe the gospel
but by the Spirit of God. No man calls Jesus Lord but by
the Spirit of God. So it's not saying that these
men were ignorant of the Holy Spirit, because they would not
have been able to believe the gospel, except the Holy Spirit
quickened them and gave them life. But rather, referring to
the special gifts and helps of the Holy Spirit, that he had
given to the early church to aid rapidly the spreading of
the gospel. Now their answer does not mean
they knew nothing about the Spirit or His work, if you'll turn to
Matthew chapter 3. I can make good on that, Matthew
chapter 3, because John talked to his disciples about the work
of the Holy Spirit in regenerating and quickening. In Matthew chapter
3, verse 11, he says, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes
I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the
Holy Spirit, with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, whose fan is in
his hand. He will thoroughly purge his
floor, gather his wheat into the garner, and he will burn
up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Well, certainly we can
say they weren't ignorant of the Holy Spirit's work, but they
were unaware of the fulfilling of the promise of His coming
upon the early church as the Lord told His disciples. Now
turn to John chapter 16. John chapter 16. Remember the
Lord said in John 16, if I go not away the Holy Spirit will
not come? They were ignorant of the fulfillment of that promise
as it was fulfilled there on the day of Pentecost. In John
chapter 16 verse 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the
truth, it is expedient for you that I go away." He's talking
here about going away to the cross to accomplish our salvation,
to put away sin, to fulfill all Scripture. For if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I'll send
him unto you, and when he has come, his person, He will reprove
the world of sin, convict, convince, and of righteousness, and of
judgment, of sin, because they believe not on me, of righteousness,
because I go to my Father and you see me no more, of judgment,
because the Prince of this world is judged. Yet I have many things
to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now, cannot bear them
now, howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come. He'll guide
you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever
He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He'll show you things
to come. Look at verse 14, now, He'll glorify Me. That's the
chief purpose of the Holy Spirit, to glorify Christ. He shall receive
of Mine and show unto you all things that the Father hath of
Mine. Therefore said I unto you, He shall take of Mine and reveal
that unto you. Now the Lord told, turn to Acts
chapter 1, this is how we started in the book of Acts. Acts chapter
1, the risen resurrected Lord gave them this message in Acts
chapter 1. Verse 4, being assembled together
with them, Acts 1-4, commanded them that they should not depart
from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which,
saith he, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with
water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now, hence. And when they were come together,
they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou again at this time
restore the kingdom of Israel? And he said unto them, It is
not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father hath
put in his own power but you shall receive power after the
Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost
parts of the earth." So they're saying what they're saying here.
Now look back at the text. They were ignorant of the fulfilling
of God's promise concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit. the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and giving the early church special
credentials to promote the gospel. Now, notice verse 3. And he said unto them, Unto what
then were ye baptized? And he said unto them, John's
baptism. These disciples, like John, these
disciples, like John and Andrew and Apollos, were baptized confessing
faith in Christ Jesus. They would not have been his
disciples and not received his message nor submitted to believers'
baptism. Now, notice verse 4. Now here's
what Paul said. Verse 3 and verse 4. Paul said,
then said Paul, verse 4, John, speaking of John the Baptist,
his ministry, truly, John truly baptized with the baptism of
repentance. Repentance? is acknowledging
sin is put away by the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb of God,
saying unto the people that they which should believe on him,
and what he's doing here, he's describing John's ministry. Saying
unto the people that they which should believe on him, which
should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. And those who
heard John's message, verse 5, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here's what Paul said about John's
ministry. He baptized those who believed.
Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It
was a believer's baptism. There was no, now listen, there
was no scriptural evidence that any of John's disciples were
rebaptized. Paul is not saying, doesn't say
herein Paul rebaptized them. Apollos wasn't re-baptized. Andrew,
none of the apostles were re-baptized. They were all baptized, confessing
Christ in believer's baptism. It doesn't say that Paul baptized
or re-baptized these people. So we can rightly conclude that
the baptism of John the Baptist is the same as believers today,
identification with Christ Jesus and confession of faith in Him.
Now, as I've said to you many times, Believer's baptism is
a confession of Christ, His death, His burial, and His resurrection.
The pool and the water does not wash away sin. The blood of Christ
cleanses us from all sin. And that was John's message,
and that's our message. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Baptism is for those who have heard the gospel and those who
believe the gospel and those who rest in Christ Jesus and
who have no other hope of salvation but in Christ Jesus. And we publicly
own and identify with the Lord Jesus Christ in believer's baptism. Now here in verse 6 of our text
is what Paul did. Here's what he did. Here's what
he said. concerning he certainly gave
authority and approval of John's ministry, didn't he? He certainly
did. He owned and honored John's ministry
by saying it is a good ministry of God. And here's what he did
in verse 6. When Paul had laid hands upon
them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spake with tongues. and they preach the gospel. Now
because the disciples of John were believers and had been baptized
and did confess Christ, here's what Paul did, which gives further
evidence to us that Paul was, he was an apostle of our Lord
Jesus Christ. So as we read through scripture,
no one had the ability, turn to Hebrews 2, No one had the
ability to lay hands on another and confer the special gifts
of the Spirit but the apostles. And by this we know that Paul,
here we have scriptural evidence that Paul was an apostle, a special
chosen vessel of the Lord. Hebrews chapter 2, look at verse
3. How shall we escape? Hebrews
2, 3, "...if we neglect so great salvation, which at first began
to be spoken of the Lord by the Lord and was confirmed unto us
by them that heard Him, God also bearing them witnessed both with
signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts, distribution
of gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." So Paul was
an apostle. Only an apostle could give these
gifts. Now I'll show you another example of that. Turn in the
book of Acts back to chapter 8. When Philip, Philip was a
faithful servant of the Lord, a preacher of the gospel, but
he wasn't an apostle. When Philip came down to Samaria
preaching the gospel in Acts chapter 8, but when they, verse
12, when they believed Philip preaching the thing concerning
the kingdom of God, and in the name of Jesus Christ they were
baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also,
and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, wondering
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now
when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and
John." Now Philip was already there, but Philip wasn't an apostle. This Philip wasn't. But they
sent Peter and John, who when they were come, prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet he was not
following any of them, only that they were baptized in the name
of the Lord. Then laid their hands on them, and they received
the Holy Spirit." So here we can see evidence that Paul was
an apostle, and he did the same thing that Peter and John did
on the believers there in Samaria. And it says back in our text,
they preach the gospel. God blessed these twelve men,
verse 7, it says that twelve men to be given special spiritual
gifts and ability to preach the gospel in a language other than
their native tongue. They could go into different
parts of that country when they were different languages, dialects,
and they could walk into a village and they could preach the gospel
in that language. And this was given to the early
church to give them more opportunity and open doors to preach the
gospel in different areas and speak unto them about the unsearchable
riches that are in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, there are no apostles
today. All the apostles that God had
chosen, all the apostles are gone. They all died. They're
sealed there. The testimony of their faith,
these all died in faith. And there are no men today who
are going around who are bestowing these gifts by laying on of hands.
That ceased when the apostles were removed. So be it known
and be warned. Those who parade around and say
that they can do these things are charlatans, they're liars,
they're not to be believed. Now, here's what happened. When
these men had received these special gifts, gifts, these early
helps that God had determined to give His church to spread
the gospel, to preach the gospel in other places, and when they
were conferred with these special gifts, Verse 8 says, He went
with these twelve into the synagogue. Now this place is an assembly
of the Jews who were practicing the Law of Moses, practicing
ceremony in Judaism. And they went in there with the
intent not to point sinners back to the Law, but they went in
there with the intent of preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, showing how the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the
Law. for his people. And they spake boldly for the
space of three months, 90 days. Here was a 90-day meeting preaching
the gospel. And they spake of things concerning,
disputing the thing concerning the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God. Now, turn
back to Acts chapter 1. Where did they hear that message,
the thing concerning the Kingdom of God? For the risen Lord had
given them that message. Acts chapter 1, notice this,
verse 3. Acts chapter 1, verse 3, to whom
also he showed himself alive after his passion, after his
suffering, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty
days. Here is a resurrected Lord, bodily
risen from the dead, living with these apostles forty days, and
speaking to them the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Now that's
how the story begins in the book of Acts. Now let me show you
something interesting. Turn to Acts chapter 28. We find the close of this book
in Acts chapter 28, the last chapter, the last two verses.
Now here's Paul in Rome. in prison. And God, by special
arrangement, gives him a prison house where he can receive those
who want to hear his message. In Acts 28, verse 30, Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired house, received all that came
in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, teaching those things
with concern The Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding. His message did not change. The
Apostle's message did not change. Now, right there in Romans 1,
right below where you're reading, in Romans 1, Paul a servant of
Jesus Christ, verse 1, to be called an apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God which he had promised it for by his
prophets in the Holy Scripture. What's the gospel of God all
about? speaking the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God concerning
Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according
to the flesh, declared to be the Son of God with power according
to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead.
These are the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Salvation
in our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I want you to turn
back to as we were in this morning, studying from 1 Corinthians.
Turn over there. I want you to look at 1 Corinthians
chapter 4, verse 20. 1 Corinthians 4.20. 1 Corinthians 4.20. For the kingdom
of God, that is salvation, He spoke unto them the things concerning
the kingdom of God. Salvation in Christ Jesus. Now
look what it says there. 1 Corinthians 4.20, For the kingdom
of God is not in word, that's just not a word, it's power. I'm not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation. Now, for the benefit of you who
were not here this morning, let's turn to 1 Corinthians 1.30. And
I could go through my message again. from the Bible study this
morning, but of Him, verse 30, but of Him. You see this? This
is what we endeavor to preach every time we're given opportunity
to preach the thing concerning Christ, the Kingdom of God. Look
at verse 30, 1 Corinthians 1, verse 30. Have you got it? How
many of you have that Scripture marked in your Bible? Mark it. If you don't have it marked,
draw a big circle around it. But of Him are you in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us everything I need. He is my
wisdom. He is my righteousness. He is
my sanctification. He is my redemption. Those are
the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Now, if you weren't here
in the Bible study this morning, please get that message and listen
to it again. This is what the Gospel is all
about. It is about the setting forth
the person and the work and the glory and the accomplishment
of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what Paul preached about.
Now, we turn back to the text again. Acts 19, verse 8. He went into the synagogue and
spake boldly for the space of three months. You can imagine
the privilege. What a privilege that God afforded
these people to sit under the teaching the teaching and preaching
ministry of the Apostle Paul. And you would think, well, he
disputed, he persuaded the things concerning the Kingdom of God,
and everyone there believed the truth. What does the next verse say? But when divers, different ones,
were hardened... You see, my friend, the same
message Melts the sinner's heart by the power of Almighty God
to the heart of God's elect to his sheep is the same message
that hardens the rebel. It hardens the reprobate. And
here's why. Turn over here to John again.
John chapter 10. Look at this carefully. John
chapter 10. You see, they believed not. They
were hardened. You know, the hot sun of the
day melts the wax, but the same hot sun will harden the clay. Same sun. Look what it says over here in
John chapter 10. Now look at this carefully. John
10, 22. And it was at Jerusalem, the
feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked
in the temple on Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about
him and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? They
blamed him for their unbelief. If thou be the Christ, you tell
us plainly. And he said, I told you. I told
you I'm the Christ. And you believe not the works
that I do in my Father's name. They bear witness of me. The
dead are raised up, the blind see, the lame walk. They had
evidences, but you believe not. What does it say there? because
you're not my sheep. As I said unto you, my sheep,
they hear my voice, I know them, they follow me, and I give unto
them eternal life, and they'll never perish, neither can any
man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them to
me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father's hand." Does the gospel of God's grace melt your
heart, or does it harden you in your rebellion? I'd be alarmed. But if the gospel of God's grace
doesn't move you, I'd be alarmed. I'd be concerned. I'm sure that many of them who
were there believed, but others were not convicted. They were
hardened in their rebellion. Now I want you to look at one
other Scripture on this. Find 2 Corinthians 2. Look at verse
14. The same message that calls and
quickens the elect will also serve to harden and to expose
the reprobate. They believed not and they spoke
evil of that way, of the way of Christ. They spoke evil of
it. Now look what he says here in
2 Corinthians 2. 2 Corinthians 2 verse 14, Now
thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ,
and make manifest the savor, the sweet fragrance of His knowledge
by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor
of Christ in them that are saved and in them that are perishing.
The gospel, the same message is foolishness. It's an offense.
To the one we are a savor of death unto death, to the other
a savor of life unto life. Who is sufficient for these things?
But we are not as many which corrupt the word of God, or deal
deceitfully with the word of God, but as of sincerity, as
of God, in the sight of God speak we of Christ." We're going to
keep preaching the gospel, and God's people will hear it, they
will believe, and the rebel will get upset, he'll get hardened.
But the gospel, my friend, of God's truth and grace in Christ
Jesus, it divides. The sheep from the goats. Now
it does. I've seen it. I've experienced
it. We've had it happen here. Now notice what it says here
in verse 9 of our text. Divers were hardened and believed
not that they spake evil of the way before the multitude, and
he departed from them. Judgment. Judgment fell upon
them and separated the disciples, disputing daily, in the schoolhouse,
in the school of one tyrannous. There is a time to preach and
there is a time to separate. Remember the Pharisees, how they
hounded the Lord Jesus and hounded His disciples? Especially one
time when the disciples ate without washing their hands and they
got so upset, And the Lord said, it's not what you put in your
mouth that's your problem, it's what comes out of your wicked
heart. And the disciples said to the Lord, you know, the Pharisees
were offended when they heard that. You remember what the Lord
said? Well, let's go back and wash
our hands. Let's just all get along. You
know what He said? Leave them alone. They'd be blind
leading the blind, and they'll all wind up in the pit. in the
ditch, leave them alone. There is a time to preach the
gospel of God saving sovereign grace, and there is a time to
separate from those who hate sovereign grace, who hate the
way of grace in Christ Jesus. Now there's an article in your
bulletin by an old preacher named Roth Barnard, and I spelled his
first name wrong, forgive me, someone corrected me. That's
R-O-L-F-E, Barnard. But when he came to Ashland in
1950, preaching the gospel of God's grace to that church, those
people there had never heard the gospel. Pastor Mahan, by
his own admission, didn't know the gospel, didn't know God,
didn't believe the truth, until Barnard stood up that day and
told the truth. God is God. Salvation is all
of God's grace. Grace and works will not mix. And when God saved that young
preacher, just in his twenties, and God taught him the truth,
what happened? Separation. He couldn't stay there and worship
with those who hated the Christ of God. Sovereign grace and free
willism will not mix. And I'll tell you why. They've
got a different God. You say, preacher, you're crazy. No, I'm not. I'm not. They worship a God who wants
to and can't. Who's done all he can do, now
it's, friend, won't you let God have his way. That's a peanut God. That's an
idol of man's imagination. They've got a different God.
That's why we must separate ourselves from those who worship idols.
I'm not being hard. I'm not being unkind. There's
a time to tell the truth. Doctors, sometimes their treatment
is conservative. Sometimes when you need an amputation,
it's radical. Cut it off. Throw it away. Sovereign grace and free willism
will not mix because they have another God. They have a different
Christ. They don't have the Christ of
God. They have a Christ who tried to save, and fail. We read in the scripture that
the Christ of God, He cannot fail, that He did all that He
accomplished, that He put away sin, established righteousness
to the satisfaction of God, that He's victorious. That's the Christ
we worship here. That's the Christ we preach here.
And by God's grace, I intend to die preaching that message. God help me if I don't. I'm not
his servant if I compromise. And my friend, sovereign grace
and free willism will not mix. Different God, different Christ,
and it's a totally different gospel. It's not good news. A false gospel is not good news.
Paul clearly set forth the gospel of God's grace. Though we or
an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached, how Christ came, how He saved, how He delivered,
how He ascended victoriously, let Him be cut off, damned. If any man love not thee, Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha. I'm not speaking in
tongues, but that may let him be damned when the Lord comes.
And my friend, it's time to, as Brother Mahan used to say,
sit on our hands and choose up sides. This preacher and this church
stands for the way of God's grace in Christ Jesus with no apology
and no compromise. Are you with me? Go with me. We've got the truth. And by God's
help, we're going to stand for it. Without compromise. That's exactly what the Apostle
did.