A man asked me one time, are you still saving souls? My reply was, my friend, I'm
not saving souls. I can't save my soul, or your
soul, or for that matter, anyone's soul. But I'm totally committed. to the gospel of God's grace,
which can save your soul, and totally committed to the Christ
of that gospel, who has both the merit and the power to save
your soul. Paul wrote in Romans 1 16, the
gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and then Christ is
able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him.
So we're not saving souls. Salvation is not in the hands
of a preacher. It's in the hands of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Salvation is not at the front
of the church. It's not in the baptismal pool.
It's not in the Lord's table. It's in Christ. And I was so
impressed and so touched and so moved by the prayer which
Brother Pruitt prayed a moment ago, led by God's Spirit, in
which he made this statement that ought to be our watchword
from this day forth. Lord, grant that it may always
be a place where the gospel is preached as it ought to be preached. May this always God grant. And that's the first. That's
where the request goes to the throne of God. God grant. Because
if men have anything to do with it, it won't be a place where
the gospel is preached. If we're left to ourselves, it
won't be a place where the gospel is preached. But God grant that
this may always be a place where the gospel is preached as it
ought to be preached. Now, I can't save souls, but
Christ can. He is the Redeemer. And I'm persuaded,
I'm confident that there is but one gospel. They're not two gospels. They're not two saviors. There's
only one gospel and one way of salvation. And if we're to be
saved, it'll be by that gospel and by that savior. Turn with
me to 1 Timothy. This is a scripture that we had
in our Sunday school study this morning. 1 Timothy chapter 2,
verse 5. For there is one God. Now, if anyone's coming to God,
he's going to have to come to that God. There's one God. David said, as the deer panteth
for the water brook, so panteth my soul for thee, the living
God. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, this
is eternal life, that they might know thee, the true and living
God. There's one God. And there's
one mediator between God and me. Now, if anyone's going to
come to God, he's going to have to come to that one living God.
And if anyone comes to that living God, he's going to come through
that mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. So we're committed to
one gospel. I believe there's a gospel that
saves. There is a Savior who redeems.
But it's one gospel and one Savior. Turn to Galatians chapter 1.
Now we can be lenient, and I think we ought to be. We can be tolerant,
and I think we ought to be. In many areas, there are many
areas where we can be tolerant and lenient, but the gospel is
not that area. The Apostle Paul says in Galatians
chapter 1, beginning with verse 6, I marvel that you are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some
that troubled you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though
we are an angel from heaven, though we are an angel from heaven.
Now, Joseph Smith, who was one of the founders of Mormonism,
said that he got those plates from an angel. And that made
it, that verified it. That made it acceptable that
up in New York State, out in the field, that he got the plates
for his book on Mormonism from an angel. But you know, Paul
said this. Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. As we've said before, so say
I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that you have received, let him Be a curse there's none other
name unto heaven given among me and whereby we must be saved
Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid Christ
the Lord Christ our Lord said I am the way the truth and the
life no man cometh to the father but by me and in the book of
Revelation Chapter 5 this is the song of the redeemed in glory
the redeemed of all generations are redeemed of all ages the
Old Testament New Testament believers This is their song. Listen to
it in Revelation 5, beginning, if you will, at verse 9. And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain, and hast
redeemed us to God. by thy blood out of every kindred
and tongue and people and nation and has made us unto our God
kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth the foundation
of their hope is the blood of Christ that which they're trusting
that stand even in the glory of Emmanuel's land that is the
hope of the center the blood of Christ the Lord Jesus now
Matthew chapter 7 some other folks laid another claim Fourth,
made another claim for acceptance. They said, Lord, we've preached
in your name. And we have done many wonderful
works in your name. And we've even cast out devils
in your name. And he said, I never knew you.
But these who have washed their robes and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb, their song is, worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lamb. for thou hast died and thou hast
redeemed us by thy blood out of every kindred nation tongue
and people under heaven there are two things there are two
things for which the gospel of christ is commended unto us turn
to first timothy chapter one two things for which the gospel
of christ is commended to us and that is this the truth of
it and the worth of it the truth of it and the worth of it. You'll
find true peace of mind when you discover the truth of the
gospel, that there is a gospel, that there is a way of redemption,
that there is a way to God, that there is a way for a poor, fallen,
sinful creature to come into the presence of the living God.
There is a gospel. There is a way. And he says here
in 1 Timothy 1.15, this is a true saving. This is a faithful saying. This
is a true saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners
of whom I'm chief. This is a true saying. And you'll
find peace of mind when you discover the truth of this gospel. And
then secondly, you'll find peace of heart when you discover the
worth of it. It is worthy. It is worthy. It is worthy of acceptation by
all men that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners
of whom I'm chief. This is a true gospel. This is
a true gospel. And men will find peace of mind.
They can quit searching. They can quit seeking. And they
can begin resting when they discover that this is the gospel. This
is the gospel. This is the saving gospel. This
is the gospel of God. This is the redeeming gospel.
They can rest in it. They can cease from their labors
and they can enter into Christ's rest. Come unto me, Christ said,
I'll give you rest. My peace I give unto you. I'm
confident that this is the gospel. I am persuaded beyond a shadow
of a doubt this is the gospel. There is no other way to God
except through Christ. Christ meets my need. Christ
meets the need of the law by satisfying it, by honoring it.
Christ meets God's need. You say God has a need. God's
justice must be honored. God's justice must be satisfied
and Christ meets every need. Every need. Christ meets all
of the prophecies and promises and types of the Old Testament.
Christ meets every need. He's the fulfillment of everything.
It's all fulfilled and finished in Him. This gospel fits the
scripture. This gospel honors the law. This
gospel satisfies the justice of God and no other gospel does. And that's the truth of it. And
you can enter into a peace and a joy and a rest of mind when
you discover the truth of this gospel. And oh, the joy of heart
when you receive it and rest in it and discover the worth
of it. Let me show you something in 1 Peter, chapter 1. When I was studying for this
message, I discovered something that was so think important and really enlightening
to me he mentions two groups of people he mentions the prophets
and he mentions the angels the prophets look if you will at
first Peter 1 verse 10 Now he's talking about this gospel, this
salvation. He's talking about back in verse
7, he said the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 11
he talks about the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's
talking about our Redeemer, the Savior who died that we might
live. And he says in verse 10, of which
salvation? Of which gospel? The prophets. Now who's he talking? He's talking
about Moses, He's talking about Jeremiah. He's talking about
Isaiah. He's talking about Malachi. He's talking about all of the
prophets, Samuel, Eli. This gospel, this salvation,
the prophets have inquired and searched diligently. They prophesied. of the grace that should come
to you. They searched, they were searching what or what manner
of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify
when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should follow. I want you to think what the
prophets prophesied. Now they prophesied many things.
They prophesied the rise and fall of kings. They prophesied
the coming of famines. They prophesied the coming of
wars and droughts, and they prophesied the coming of days of plenty.
They prophesied the rise and fall of empires. They came and
challenged even the greatest men concerning their sins. They
prophesied death. They prophesied judgment. They
prophesied eternal hell. But the prophecy they diligently
searched into and the prophecy which they studied And the prophecy
which captured their imagination and their diligent inquiry into
it was what? The sufferings of Christ. That's
what occupied Moses, that's what occupied Abraham, saw my day. Moses wrote of me. Isaiah said,
a root out of a dry ground, a man of sorrows acquainted with greed,
wounded for our transgression. And though these men prophesied
great and wonderful and mighty things, that which occupied their
attention was the gospel of the sufferings of Christ. Hold that
place right there and turn to Acts 10, and let me show you
that. In the 10th chapter of the book of Acts, verse 43 it
says in verse 43 of Acts 10 to him give all the prophets witness
to him give all the prophets witness that through his name
whosoever believeth in him should receive the forgiveness the total
cleansing the remission of all their sins that's what occupied
Moses mind You know, a lot of folks think that Moses was occupied
mainly with delivering nations out of bondage, or splitting
seas, or hitting rocks, or doing all these other things. But you
know what Moses was concerned about? He wanted to see God's
glory and redemption. For that's what he said when
he came after he'd been through the great exodus. And after he
had seen the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, after he'd seen the
mighty power and work of God, in that little tent of meeting,
out yonder in the camp of Israel, Moses spake to God as a friend,
face to face, and he said, Lord, show me your glory. And God said,
all right, Moses, I'll cause all my goodness to pass before
you. I'll be merciful to whom I will be merciful. I'll be gracious
to whom I will be gracious. It looks like that you and I
today would be interested in that which herald the attention
and the diligent study of men like Moses and Abraham, Isaiah
and Jeremiah, the sufferings of Christ. That's what it says
here. You look at which salvation the prophets have inquired and
searched diligently. they search what manner of time
the Spirit of Christ which was in them did testify when it testified
beforehand of the sufferings of Christ that's what they were
concerned with that's what occupied their thoughts redemption forgiveness
mercy pardon salvation the sufferings of the Redeemer you know I think Simeon was in
the line of those men When he stood there in the temple that
day, and that old white-haired man, probably frail and feeble
on his feet, he'd been ministering about the things of the temple
for a long time, but he lived for one thing, to see the salvation
of the Lord. He lived for one thing, to see
the consolation of Israel. And when they brought the child
Jesus and placed him in the hands of that old man, he looked up
and he said, I can die now. Lord, let your servant depart
in peace. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. That's what occupied these men's
minds. God's salvation. And God's salvation's Christ.
God's salvation's in the sufferings of Christ. God's salvation's
in the merit of Jesus Christ. That's where it all is. It's
in Christ. And these men searched and inquired diligently, it said,
into these things. They wrote. I don't know how
much they understood of what they wrote, but I know they looked
into it. I don't know how much they understood of what God wrote
through them, but I know this occupied them. The redemption
of true Israel. Now we'll go further than that.
Look down at verse 12, the last line. It says in verse 12, which
things the angels desire to look into. You think what the angels have
seen Think what the angels have witnessed the angel saw the creation
of the world The angel saw the beautiful garden of Eden the
angel saw the temptation and fall of man the angel saw the
destruction of the world by flood the angel saw the rise and fall
of Israel and The angels saw such kingdoms as Solomon's and
David's. The angels saw all these things
and yet what do the angels desire to look into? The sufferings
of Christ, Charlie. That's what the angels, the angels
desire to look into. It says here the sufferings of
Christ We preach the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent
down from heaven, which things the angels of God desire to look
into. This is why I don't understand
why any preacher could become preoccupied with anything other
than the greatest treasure and the greatest story and the greatest the greatest act of God, and
that's the redemption of sinners through Christ. It just seems
to me that a man couldn't become preoccupied with a battle called
Armageddon, or with a mountain called Sinai, or with anything
else. When the prophets of God, the
greatest men who ever lived, were preoccupied and diligently
studied one thing, Gospel of Christ and the angels themselves
around the throne of God desire to look in to the gospel And
here we have it. We've been entrusted with the
gospel. We've had the gospel revealed to This is a true story
This is an unbelievable story, but this is a true story You
know, you don't believe everything you read in the newspaper, but
this is a verified story. This appeared in the newspaper
many, many years ago. It was an old paper that I read
years and years and years ago. There was a truck driver by the
name of Rupert Lewis who was driving from Jackson, Mississippi
down to Vicksburg, Mississippi one night. And it was pouring
down rain. It was raining terribly hard,
lightning, thunder, rain just coming down in torrents. And
he drove along on, I forget the highway number, but he had to
cross a river called the Pearl River that runs right down through
Mississippi. And when he got to the Pearl
River, he was driving along, and suddenly, he said, there
was nothing but blackness. The water had risen so high that
it swept the bridge away across the Pearl River. The whole bridge
was just swept downstream. There was nothing there, the
highway and the river. And his truck plunged headlong
into the river. Somehow, he said, he managed
to escape, to get out of that cab and swim over to the shore
and climb up the muddy bank. You can imagine what he looked
like. He swam up to the bank and climbed up on the edge and
got his thoughts together and he realized that there were other
cars coming down the road. So he climbed up the bank and
he ran up the highway a safe distance. He felt like he could
flag people down. Now there was danger there. He'd
been there. He knew it. He'd experienced
it. He had escaped by the grace of
God. So he stood out on the highway
and here came a car. And he stood there, and he flagged
it. The car headlights hit him in the face, and the people saw
him flagging. You know what the day? They went
around him, Jay. Went right off into the river.
He couldn't fade. They wouldn't stop. And he stood
there and flagged. Another car came, and a truck
came. 10 cars and two trucks. Not one of them would stop. Not
one was stopped. There were 16 people killed and
eight critically injured. He said some of them tried to
run over him. Some of them would just make
a beeline at him and turn away just before they got to him.
He was trying to warn them of death. He was trying to warn
them to stop them, and they'd pay no attention to it. Is that
not what we're trying to do? We stand here having experience.
We know the pit from which we were digged. We know the precipice
from which we've been lifted. We know the hole from which God
has taken us. We know the danger. We know it's
by the grace of God that we've been saved. We know it's through
Christ that we've been redeemed. And we stand in front of eternity-bound
men and women, plunging into death and judgment and eternal
hell. And we say, won't you just stop
and listen? Some of them try to run over
you. Some of them go around you. Some won't do anything in their
power to keep them listening to you. But once in a while,
we'll find somebody that'll listen and inquire into this glorious
gospel. Can it be that the angels, can
it be that the prophets of God diligently focus their attention
on the gospel, while men today whose only hope is that gospel,
whose very life depends upon that gospel, are not even interested
in it? But if I can get you to listen
just a little while tonight, I want you to consider four things.
And I believe these are the four most important things that I
can lay before you. It says here in verse 9 of 1
Peter chapter 1, talks about the salvation of your soul. The
salvation of your soul. Now brethren, I'm interested
in my soul's salvation. I'm not interested in getting
religion. I'm not interested in proving to anybody how pious
I am. I'm not interested in proving
theology. But I am vitally, earnestly,
sincerely, totally committed to the salvation of my soul.
And I believe in the salvation of your soul. whatever it cost
us and whatever is required of us and whatever is demanded of
us and whatever is expected of us we gonna deal with this subject
again and again and again and again the salvation of your soul
and I say it rest upon four things number one it is a salvation
it is a salvation that's all together by grace now look if
you will at verse 10 He says, the salvation of your soul, of
which salvation? The prophets have inquired and
searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come
to you. Salvation is altogether by grace. Paul said it's not of works.
Works do not enter in at all. If works make any contribution
to your salvation, then it's not of grace. If it's of works,
it's not of grace. If it's of grace, it's not of
works. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves, it's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man
should boast. No man is justified by the law
in the presence or sight of God. Salvation is altogether of grace,
a grace which comes from God in his mercy to man in his helplessness. This salvation does not come
to us as a reward, but a gift. It does not come to us on the
ground of justice, but pure mercy. It does not come to us as a plan
to be fulfilled or obeyed. It comes as a proclamation. It's
a free gift. Everything for nothing. Naked,
the songwriter wrote, naked, I come to thee for dress. Helpless,
I look to thee for grace. Vile. I to the fountain fly. Wash me, Savior, or I die. Could my tears forever flow?
Could my zeal no respite know? These for sin could never atone. Christ must save and Christ alone. Salvation, grace planned it.
Salvation, grace executed it. Salvation, grace applied it. Salvation, grace sustains it. Salvation, grace perfects it. Preachers today give man something
to do. God, in Christ, gives man something
that's already done. It's already done. I say, in
the matter of the redemption of your soul, in the matter of
the salvation of your soul, in the matter of the forgiveness
of your sins, there's absolutely nothing that you contribute.
It's Christ plus nothing minus nothing. My hope is built on
nothing less than Jesus' blood and His righteousness. I dare
not trust the sweetest frank. I wholly lean on Jesus. Now,
it's all of grace, all of grace, all of grace, all of grace, amazing
grace. That's the song Merle wanted
to sing. I'm glad we did. How sweet the sound that saved
a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm
found. I was blind, now I see. And it
was all the work of God. I made no contribution to it.
I make no contribution to it now. We love Him because He first
loved us. We choose Him because He chose
us. We seek Him because He sought us. It's a gift. All right, secondly,
quickly, in verse 11 and 12, it's a salvation not only of
grace, but it's a salvation revealed by the Holy Spirit. Men do not
discover it by natural wisdom. Men do not discover it by natural
understanding. It's revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Look at verse 11, if you will. The prophets searched what or
what manner of time the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ,
which was in them, did signify when he testified beforehand
the sufferings of Christ. Verse 12, unto whom it was revealed. My friends, it was the Holy Spirit
that spake to the prophets. And if you know the gospel, it's
the Holy Spirit that spoke to you. It's the Holy Spirit that
inspired Isaiah to write, he was wounded for our transgressions.
And it's only the Holy Spirit who can reveal who that is. It's
like the Ethiopian eunuch said, of whom does the prophet speak,
himself or some other man? It must be revealed by the Holy
Spirit. Turn to 1 Corinthians 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. And you know I hear people pray
this, God grant that the pastor may say something that will move
the heart of some person. Now listen to me, I know what
you mean by that. But if you're depending on me to say anything
to convince a man of sin, you're depending on the wrong person.
The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin. It's only the Holy Spirit
that can open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears and give light
to darkened understanding. If you're expecting me to say
something that will convince anybody that Christ is the only
Savior, you're looking to the wrong feller. I speak to the
ear. God speaks to the heart. My words
stop right here. God's word is sharper than a
sword. It goes clear down between the
marrow and the bone. down to the deep recesses of
a man's innermost being. You talk about somebody who can
strip a man? Only God. Who can break a hard
heart? Only God. Who can make Lazarus
live? Only God. I heard a preacher
say one time, we can put Lazarus in a hole and make the community
a better place in which to live. We can put perfume on him and
make him smell good and clothes on him make him look good, but
the only one who can say, Lazarus, live, is Christ. And when he
says, Lazarus live, Lazarus lives. First Corinthians 2, it says
verse 9. As it's written, I have not seen
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things
that God's prepared for them that love him. But God, but God,
but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. What man
knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in
him? Even so, the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit
of God. Verse 14, the natural man receives
not the things of the Spirit of God, their foolishness to
him, neither can he know them, because they're spiritually judged
or understood. But he that is spiritual, how
does a man become spiritual? Born of the Spirit. born of the
Spirit of God. He understandeth all things,
yet he himself is understood of no man. The Holy Spirit convicts
of sin. Christ said the Holy Spirit will
guide you into all truth. He said the Holy Spirit will
glorify me. So this glorious gospel of redemption,
this glorious gospel of salvation is not only by grace, but it's
got to be revealed by the Holy Spirit. Our Lord said, that which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and it can understand fleshly
things, it can perform fleshly deeds, it can live a fleshly
life. That which is born of the Spirit
is Spirit. It understands spiritual things,
it performs spiritual sacrifices, and it lives and walks in the
Spirit. As we're born of our parents naturally, we're born
of God spiritually. It's regeneration. It's a miracle. It took a miracle to put the
stars in place, it took a miracle to put the world in space, but
when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, it took a
miracle of love and grace. All right, thirdly, look back
to 1 Peter 1. This salvation of our souls is
by grace, it's revealed by the Spirit, it's accomplished by
Christ. If you will, verse 11 again,
the sufferings of Christ. the sufferings of Christ. There's
the point, there's the key. To save our souls, Christ suffered. He was a man of sorrows, he was
acquainted with grief. To save our souls, the Lord Jesus
Christ suffered. Turn to Philippians chapter 2.
In Philippians the second chapter, beginning the reading with verse
5, it says in verse 5 of Philippians chapter 2, let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought
it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation
took on himself the form of a servant was made in the likeness of me
and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and
became obedient unto death even even the ignominious humiliating
suffering of a cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted
him and given him a name which is above every name and With
the exaltation of Christ comes the exaltation of those who suffered
with him Nobody's gonna reign with him who hasn't suffered
with it Nobody's gonna be exalted with him who has not been a based
in him. I Nobody's going to be crowned
with him who has not died on the cross with him. That's what
scripture declares. When he exalted Christ, he exalted
us. So the sufferings of Christ.
And he says in 1 Peter 1 11, the Holy Spirit testifies and
reveals the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.
Whose glory? His glory. And His glory is my
glory. When all of my labors and trials
are o'er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near
the Lord I adore, will through the ages be glory, be glory for
me. So the gospel, the salvation,
is by grace, revealed by the Holy Spirit, it's purchased,
it's accomplished by the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
should follow is based upon the sufferings of Christ, and then
last of all, it's received by us, by faith. No other way. Look at verse 9. He says, receiving
the end of your faith, the goal of your faith, the object of
your faith, the consequence of your faith, the results of your
faith, not of your works, not of your religion, not of your
penance, not of your gifts, not of your merit, not of your righteousness,
receiving the results of your faith, the salvation of your
soul. Salvation is not received by
penance, pain, or promise. It's received by faith. Salvation
is not received by works, deeds, or obedience. But it's received
by faith. You mean, preacher, that all
of this mercy and all of this grace and blessing is ours just
by faith and faith alone, simply by believing on Christ? Well,
that's what God says. Turn to Acts 13 and let me show
you that. Acts 13 verse 38. This is what
it says. You mean to tell me that with
all of my sins, past, present, and future, and all of my rebellion,
and all of my evil, the corruption of my birth, the corruption of
my standing in Adam, the corruption and the hatred of my very existence,
the flesh, I can be made holy before God, I can be justified
in the presence of God, and I can be sanctified by the Spirit of
God, and I can be clothed in the righteousness of Christ,
I can be a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ, and be
glorified together with Him just by believing? Well, let's see
what Scripture says, Acts 13. Acts 13, beginning with verse
38. Now, this is the apostle preaching. Be it known unto you
therefore, men and brethren, that through this man, who's
he talking about? The Lord Jesus Christ. That through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and the
salvation of your soul. All right, read on. And by him,
all that are baptized, no. And all that live their lives
in sacrifice and toil serving the kingdom of God, no sir. all
that are baptized by immersion in the proper mode at the proper
time by the proper administrator no sir and by him all that believe
believe believe are justified from all things from which they
could not be justified by the law of Moses now you better beware
he said therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in
the prophets Behold you despisers, despisers of the gospel, despisers
of the sufferings of Christ, despisers of justification by
faith. Behold you despisers, and wander
and perish, for our work are work in your days, a work which
you shall in no wise believe, though a man preach it to you.
I'm going to be merciful to whom I will be merciful. I'm going
to be gracious to whom I will be gracious. I'm going to reach
down in the pit of sin and from the dunghill of corruption, I'm
going to lift the people by my power, by my merit, by my grace,
by my mercy. I'm going to bring them just
to believe, not to rest in anything they do, but in what I've done.
Not to trust in anything that they can give to me, but in everything
through Christ I give to them. And I'm going to raise them and
seat them with Christ. And I'm going to work a work
in your days that you won't believe, though a man preach it to you.
What is that work? Justification by faith. That's where it all is. Turn
to Acts 16. Act 1631. Now here, and I'll close with
this, a man named Paul, a man named Silas, ministers of God,
apostles of Jesus Christ, were in prison. They had been beaten
and put in prison, and the keeper of the prisoners and the prison
was a hard man. They had been beaten, and he
went outside and went to sleep. He wasn't. Somebody said he was
under conviction out there listening to them sing the hymns. That
man was sound asleep, Jack. He couldn't any more care about
it. He'd beaten fellas before. He'd locked them in prison before.
He'd chained religious fanatics before. He'd never met Paul. And he's sitting out there asleep.
And God sent an earthquake and shook that prison off its foundation,
opened every door in that place, and that fella fell off his chair
in the floor, opened his eyes, and all the doors were open,
and smoke and dust was throughout the place. And he ran and looked
in there and saw the doors open and he took out his sword because
he was responsible for those men. He was held accountable
for those men and he knew if they had escaped when the magistrates
came and found them gone, they'd kill him. So he took out his
sword and would have stabbed himself and Paul hollered, hold
it! We're all here. We're all right
here where you left us. And he came in there and looked
around and there ever one of them were. The gates were open,
the fetters had fallen off, and they were just standing there.
Just standing there. And that man was so overcome
by the power of God, by the demonstration of God's power, that he fell
on his knees. He called for a light and sprang
in. Verse 29, came trembling and fell down on his knees. And
he brought them out and he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? The salvation of my soul. I've
seen the power of God. Well, Paul, here it is. Now, here's a direct question.
What must I do to be saved? If it's necessary to be in the
right baptism, and the right church, and the right sacraments,
and the right communion, and the right name, and the right
this, that, you better tell that fella, because there he is. He's
asking you. If a man has to do certain things
and make certain commitments, and this is the way of saying,
what must I do to be saved? He didn't say, what must I do
to serve God, or what must I do to continue in the faith, or
what must I do to be an example to others, or what must I do
to be a good witness? We'll get to that later. He wants
to know, what must I do to be saved? And Paul said, here it
is. Translated, interpreted, inspired,
God breathed by the Holy Spirit. Believe, believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. That's it. That's it. Brethren, that's the
salvation of your soul. It's by grace, pure grace. It's
revealed by the Holy Spirit because a natural man is going to try
to do something. He's going to try to work his way to heaven.
He's going to try to find some grounds upon which God can accept
and receive him on the basis of what he's done. He wants some
credit. He wants some glory. He's not willing to commit himself
to Christ. And it's revealed by the Holy
Spirit. And it's accomplished fully, completely by Christ.
And it's mine by faith. It's there. You can be saved. Our Lord said, go ye into all
the world and preach this gospel, this good news to every creature.
And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that
believeth not shall be damned. That's it. He that believeth
on the Son of God hath life. He that believeth not the Son
of God shall never see life. The wrath of God abideth on him.
This is by faith. Receive it. What'll be the consequences,
preacher? The consequences? Believing faith
is working faith, praying faith, loving faith, godly faith, honest
faith. It'll bring forth the fruit of
the Spirit. But I'm saved by faith. Only by faith. Our dear Lord used the message
we've preached tonight, what we felt that you would have us
to preach, and we've presented it as you've given us the ability
and the power to present it. Lord, men have got to hear somebody
else speak besides me. They've got to hear you speak
by the power of your Spirit and through your Word. It's your
Word that will not return void. It's your Word that will convince
men of sin. It's your Word that will reveal
Christ Jesus. It's your Word that will beget
faith and life. May it please thee for your glory
to give hearing ears to somebody here tonight and a receptive
heart. May they hear the gospel, not
in word only, but in power and the Holy Ghost and in much assurance
to the redemption and the salvation of their souls. Strengthen us
in the faith of Christ Jesus. For his glory, we pray. Amen.