Acts 39: Beyond all Doubt

A Visit to Remember

Go back and remember a couple weeks back… a couple verses back and remember… this is important; Paul and the others felt the Lord leading them to Macedonia.

Recal their travels

Recal the Dream

Acts 16:11–12 NIV84

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Acts 16:13–15 NIV84

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Went out of the city because there was no synagogue

Difficult process to get purple… only two options at the time… one from mucus of a particular shellfish… the other, cheaper purple was from Thyatira… where the root of a madder plant was grown and it’s root could be boiled down to produce purple…

Acts 16:16–24 NIV84

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

v16

Spirit for predicting the future… is actually spirit of “pythona”. The is a Greek culture with Greek gods and temples all over remember. Just down the road was the temple of Apollos.. he had slain a huge snake… Who’s spirit pythona now guarded his temple and his oracle who could channel the dead… Christians understood this spirit to be demonic - another reason why Christians have no business entertaining modern day fortune tellers or spirit guides - because it is demonic… Scripture reveals that right here.

v19 Only Paul and Silas b/c they were Jews… anti-Jewish race card…

v23 Stripped, beaten, humiliated in public so all would see them as they truly are

But didn’t God tell them to come to Macedonia????

Then in the pain - several hours later … when the adrenaline had worn off… when they can’t sleep, can’t even lay down because of the pain… what are they doing?

Acts 16:25–28 NIV84

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

Jailer about to die… but Paul stopped him

Can you imagine his confusion?

This groups of prisoners had chosen the presence of God above escape… because they had been set free right there in the cell.

Acts 16:29–31 NIV84

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:32–34 NIV84

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Acts 16:35–40 NIV84

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” 38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.

Philippi - retirement home to Roman soldiers

Where you can’t touch a roman without permission… here Paul and Silas, roman citizens had been beaten and jailed.

When do you play a get out of jail card? After the arrest? no before

Don’t beat me card… use it before, not after

What is Paul doing?

Maybe he’s accepted that this is God’s plan… that coming to Macedonia was God’s idea and he just needs to let it play out.

Paul went through hardship in order to share Christ.

That’s certainly one take away from the text…

Your circumstances may be about much more than you.

But I want to go back and focus our attention on the verses that have had my attention for the last couple of weeks. Acts 16:30-31

Acts 16:30–31 (NIV84)

... “What must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...”

IT’s so simple.

If you were to ask people if they were saved, many would say “I’m not sure.” When the way to be saved is simple.

Others will say “I don’t know, but I go to church or

“I have been baptized.”

“I am a member of a church.”

“Well, I hope so.”

“I try to do the best I can.”

“I just don’t think you can know for sure.”

“I’m not afraid to die.”

“I feel that I am just as good as other people.”

I think a good follow up question might be for those who think they are, or are unsure… If you aren’t sure, would you like to know so things that God says are proof of our salvation?

Some undeniable proofs?

I spent several days this week as part of a jury for a trial in the circuit court. It was my first time to serve and I learned a lot… the biggest lesson was how unlike TV it was. Yet there was a big part of me that wanted it to be like that.

Every witness that got up I wanted ot see them break down… or the attorney to ask a question that would reveal this amazing bit of evidence. But I got none of that.

What I got was once we began to deliberations - was how we really want clear and compelling evidence. WE really are uncomfortable with this idea of being convinced by a preponderance of the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Some folks are very comfortable with minimal evidence… Others need to see more… but we all… when making big decisions would prefer to see more evidence… the more the better.

When it comes to making bid decisions, the more evidence the better… right?

This applies to this question our text stirred in me this week, How can we know beyond all doubt, that we are saved? What is the evidence… that when we see it, we know beyond all doubt.

How to know you are saved.

God is so good. He knows our tendency to question… so he had John write a letter to the church, it’s called 1 John… to answer just this question.

We see the answer in the life of this jailer in today’s text.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Awareness

Unsaved approach to sin: - Not concerned about sin.

- May regret actions if consequences are unpleasant.

- Can easily set aside guilt and shame to pursue desires.

- Justifies actions outside of laws and morality.

- Redefines sin to suit themselves.

- Compares themselves to others, finding someone worse to feel better.

1 John 1:5–9 NIV84

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Saved view of sin:

- Heightened awareness of their own sin.

- Life-changing moment of recognizing sinful condition before God.

- Confession of sin, seeking forgiveness, and true repentance.

- Growing awareness of sinful nature as God reveals weaknesses and failures.

- Continual humility, hating sin, and desiring fellowship with God.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Desire

Not Legalism - but Love

- Human nature rebels against being told what to do.

- Adam and Eve’s free will led to disobedience and separation from God.

- We are all born with free will and resist being ruled.

1 John 3:9 NIV84

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Saved vs Unsaved

- Unsaved resist God’s commands.

- Saved desire to please God, guided by the Spirit.

- Realize all God’s commands are inherently good.

- Boundaries set by God are for protection and freedom.

- True believers find comfort, security, and wisdom in God’s commandments.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Love

Way of Jesus:

- Love for brothers and sisters as a hallmark of His disciples.

- John emphasizes love 26 times in five chapters.

- Loving one another is essential to claiming to be in Christ.

1 John 3:14 NIV84

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Way of Salvation is different:

- Unique connection among believers, regardless of language or location.

- Love those whom God loves because He first loved us.

- Litmus tests for loving our brother:

- Loving God and keeping His commands.

- Willingness to sacrifice and meet others’ needs.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Theology

Acceptance of some Non-negotiables:

- True believer accepts Jesus as the Son of God, the Christ.

- His deity is not up for debate.

1 John 4:15 NIV84

15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

- Jesus is not just like God, a prophet, or a good teacher.

- Sent from heaven to reveal God to humanity.

- Faith rooted in Jesus’ true identity as the sinless Savior, fully God and fully human.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Master

Clear Distinction:

- We either serve God or His enemy, Satan.

- Salvation likened to a military rescue mission.

- Delivered from darkness to the kingdom of Jesus.

1 John 2:15–17 NIV84

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Life of a Believer:

- Serve a new Master, no longer loving the world’s things.

- Dedicate time, money, talents, strength, and lives to God’s will.

- Evaluate and prioritize actions based on Kingdom value.

- Focus on salvation and God’s call.

Evidence of Salvation: A New Power

Unique Experience of the True Believer:

- The indwelling Spirit of God, promised by Jesus.

- Presence of the Spirit is more advantageous than Jesus being physically present (John 16:7-15).

1 John 4:13 NIV84

13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Anointing of the Spirit:

- Described as an “anointing,” like an ointment smeared on.

- Priests were anointed with oil, signifying being set apart by God.

- Believers manifest the “sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him” (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

Power of the Indwelling Spirit:

- Gives power to overcome sin and temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

- Empowers to speak the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:4).

- Enables understanding of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16).

Evidence of Salvation: A New Purpose

Unsaved vs. Saved Perspective:

- Unsaved live for this world, valuing what they can see, touch, and hear.

- Unseen things may or may not matter to them.

1 John 2:28 NIV84

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

True Believer’s Reality:

- Spiritual world is the most real.

- Physical world is temporary and will pass away.

- Eternal, spiritual things are the true reality.

- Live on earth but focus on heaven.

1 John 5:20 NIV84

20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Living with Anticipation:

- Goal is not to build a good life here but to abide in Christ.

- Used up, worn out, and spent for the gospel and God’s glory.

- Anticipate the Savior’s return, when everything will be set right.

- This world holds little attraction; it's a temporary place to wait for our real lives to begin.

Bottom Line: The proof of our salvation is evidenced in our Faith, Love, and Power.

The proof of our salvation are evidenced in our faith in Christ, love for our neighbor, and the Spirit’s power at work in us… want to be sure if you are saved… there’s the proof.

Are you missing one? Seek it