The Conversion of a Jailor

Piedmont church of Christ

In the Book of Acts we find many accounts of people hearing the Word of God and responding to the Gospel Call. These things are written so that we may have examples and encouragements to likewise obey God in all things. Each person who has put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3.27) has answered the Gospel Call, as Paul stated “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2Thess. 2:14. When we respond to the call of the Gospel, we know one day we will live forever with Christ.

Paul and Silas were traveling through Greece preaching the Gospel when they were arrested in Philippi for preaching Christ (Acts 16). After worshipping God while in prison, the Lord caused an earthquake to jar open the door of the prison for Paul and Silas to escape (Acts 16.25-28). The Jailor, astonished at this, cried out to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16.30. Paul’s answer was “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house” Acts 16.31.

Unfortunately, so many people in the religious world insist on stopping at this verse and falsely claiming that all a person must do to be saved is believe in Jesus. Yet this is not what happens in this account. This Jailor does not know anything about Jesus. He has not even heard the saving Gospel yet, nor does he know of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross for his sins. All he has seen is this mighty earthquake. The following verse bear this out: “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” Acts 16.32. What happens next might surprise many people. “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” Acts 16:33.

This jailor was baptized! Why? Because Jesus stated, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” Mark 16:16. This man heard the Gospel, believed what he heard, and was baptized according to it. This man was baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2.38) in order to have his sins washed away, Acts 22.16, in order to “put on Christ” (Gal. 3.27), in order to die unto sins and be risen with Christ, (Rom. 6.3-4), in order to be added to Christ’s body, the church (1 Cor. 12.13). He was not saved, and then showed his faith by being baptized, as this is not what Jesus or the Inspired Apostles teach about salvation. A person who believes is then baptized and then saved. This is what Jesus taught. Do you believe it?

The Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., invites to you worship with us this coming Sunday. We promise to teach God’s word only with Book, Chapter, and Verse preaching so that you can determine for yourself if the things you are hearing are true. May we never “Teach for doctrines the commandments of men” Matthew 15:9.

My way or God's way?

Piedmont church of Christ

“Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder” James 2:19. Believing in God is not enough; a person must believe God and obey Him in order to be right with Him.

Many people daily tell God how it is that He is going to save them. However, we cannot determine how God will save us. God has already determined this, and we must conform to his will in order to receive salvation. We know that Jesus is the only way of salvation. Jesus taught explicitly, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” Mark 16:16. Yet people say “He that believes shall be saved and then baptized”. Do you believe God or man?

Jesus stated, “Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also” John 15:20. Jesus gave his Apostles authority to teach the whole world everything that he had taught them (Matt. 28.18-20). Jesus said that if we believe and accept his word, we would believe and accept their word also. Peter stated, “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:38. Yet people say, “Believe for the remission of your sins, and then be baptized”. Do you believe God or man? Peter also stated, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us” 1 Peter 3:21a. Yet people say, “Even faith doth also now save us, then you should be baptized”. Do you believe God or man?

Paul was told, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” Acts 22:16. Yet people say, “Have faith, and wash away thy sins, then be baptized”. Do you believe God, or man? There is much for us to do in order to be saved. We must have faith, Romans 10.17. We must believe God and confess the name of Jesus, Romans 10.9-10. We must repent of sins, Luke 13.3. We must live faithful, work filled lives until we die, Rev. 2.10, James 2.14, 17, 20, 24. James stated, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” James 2:24. Yet people say, “Ye see then how by faith only a man is justified”. Do you believe God or man?

We must follow God’s instructions for salvation. Baptism is a necessary part of our salvation, just like believing, repenting, confessing, and faithful living. Without baptism, a person cannot be saved. Baptism puts us in Christ, Rom. 6.3-4, clothes us with Christ, Gal. 3.27, and puts us in His body, 1 Cor. 12.13. Without baptism, none of this is possible. Baptism occurs before salvation and is one part of many that is required to be obedient to God. Do you believe God or man?

Join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in study of God’s word, and only God’s word. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.

The People of God

Who are the people of God? The Bible states in many places that God would choose out a people for His own possession. But who are these people? What does the Bible teach us about his subject?

Paul stated, “Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. The people of God are people who have separated themselves from this world. Peter stated, “But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9. Who are the People of God? Christians!

Those who have been “Called out of darkness” are God’s chosen people. Peter continues, “Who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” 1 Peter 2:10. Peter and Paul’s teaching is clear; God’s people, his possession, are those who become Christians by faith and obedience to Christ. This includes peoples of every nation. Peter states, “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him” Acts 10:35.

Those who first became Christians were Hebrews. Paul states that the “gospel is the power of salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” Romans 1.16. Every Hebrew who obeyed Christ became People of God. Paul teaches, “That ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ” Ephesians 2:12-13. Gentiles too, when they accept Christ, become the People of God. The Bible teaching is clear, only faithful followers of Christ are God’s chosen people. No nation has the privilege of being God’s chosen just because of who they are. People of Every Nation have that privilege if, and only if, they have obedient faith in Christ Jesus.

Many people believe that Israel is the people of God. From these verses we see that this simply is not the case. When speaking to the Churches of Galatia, Paul calls them the “Israel of God”, (Gal. 6.16). Paul tells us, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” Romans 2:28-29. Again, “For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel” Romans 9:6b. Being part of the “Israel of God”, the church, makes a person one of God’s chosen.

Are you one of God’s chosen people? Are you a person of God’s possession? Please join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in study of God’s word. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.