Believe, Be Baptised, Be Filled

Scripture Reading

Acts 16:22–34 NIV84

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. 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!” 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.” 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.

Introduction

This evening we will be rejoicing in three individual testimonies of God’s saving grace.

These three people will be going through the water of Baptism as a public declaration before the gathered church of God’s profound saving grace towards them.

As they do this, we are able to rejoice in the Gospel that brings salvation.

Our God is a saving, redeeming God, and He has purposed to bring sinful, rebellious people, into joyful relationship with Him.

The separation brought about as a consequence of the fall in the Garden of Eden has been remedied through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As such, what we will witness this evening, although symbolic, points to the most glorious truths that could be imagined.

As we consider what Suzanne, Janine and David will be testifying this evening as they go through the waters of baptism, I’d like to consider Gospel message and its impact upon the Philippian jailer and his family.

I will do this by considering 3 points relating to saving faith.

The means of saving faith

The Sign of Saving Faith

The Appropriate Response to Saving Faith

1. The Means of Saving Faith (vv.31-32)

Ultimately, the means that God uses to save people is through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just consider this account of the Philippian jailer. He is tasked with guarding the prisoners.

If he fails in his task… he faces severe consequences, probably death.

He’s sleeping, while the Apostles are singing hymns.

The text tells us that a massive earthquake suddenly hit, causing not only the doors to all fly open, but the chains of every prisoner to fall off.

This would have been a frightening event… probably for all of the prisoners.

But not nearly as frightening as for the jailer.

The prisoners would have been overjoyed… the doors were open… their chains were off… They were free!!

But the Jailer was petrified...

Note v.27-29

Acts 16:27 NASB95

27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

Acts 16:28–29 NASB95

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,

Dear friends, this provided the context for the transformation in the life of the jailer.

In a sense, these were the conditions that God used to prepare the soil of the heart of the jailer to receive the Word.

Let me apply this… Each one of those who will come to be baptised this evening have had the soil of their hearts prepared by various circumstances that led to their conversion and profession of faith in Christ.

They are so vastly different from each other, but as you hear their testimonies, listen to how different the buildup was to their profession of faith.

In each case, rejoice that God has so worked in each of them based on their circumstances and lives to bring them to that point where they were prepared and ready to receive the Gospel.

But that leads us to really consider the means of saving faith.

Because, following on from these events, and the jailers fears, he seeks to know how it is that he may be saved.

Verse 30 reads...

Acts 16:30 NASB95

30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

His heart was prepared, and so Paul and Barnabas, teachers of the truth of the Gospel, began to teach him…

In verse 31 we read...

Acts 16:31 NIV84

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:32 NIV84

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

The simple Gospel message is mentioned in verse 31, but the further teaching of Scripture is touched on in verse 32: “They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.”

Friends, it is this Gospel proclaimed to a heart that is ready to receive the truth that brings about repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:14–15 NIV84

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Here is the process of Gospel proclamation. And it is absolutely critical to the conversion of lost souls. People are saved through the transformative power of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16 NIV84

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Dear friends, what we will hear this evening is the manner in which the Gospel has worked in the hearts and lives of these being baptised. And it is only because of this Gospel message proclaimed that they are saved.

Now friends, we need to appreciate the simplicity of the means of salvation, and the profundity of the means of salvation.

In one sense, so simple. It is a message stating that a Saviour, the perfect Son of God, was crucified on behalf of sinners, that He took upon himself the wrath of God that ought to have come upon us, and that died at the hands of soldiers, was buried in the ground, but rose again to life on the third day.

That’s the simplicity of it. And if anyone repents of sin and believes in Him, they will be saved.

But this is also a profound message. And it’s profound because it’s simply not how man would have done things. And it runs so contrary to the natural inclinations of the human heart.

And God knows this. The human heart cannot believe such messages…

1 Corinthians 1:18–24 NIV84

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

This simple message was proclaimed to the Philippian jailer. This simple message was proclaimed to those who will be baptised this evening, and by the grace of God, they have accepted the word as faithful and true.

This leads us to consider, secondly...

2. The Sign of Saving Faith (v.33)

We read in verse 33...

Acts 16:33 NIV84

33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

We must not underestimate the importance of this step in the life of the Philippian jailer, his family (or in the lives of believers).

This step of baptism was always required by those expressing faith in Christ.

Acts 2:38 NASB95

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41 NASB95

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12–13 NASB95

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

We must understand that Baptism here was a profound declaration on the part of the one being baptised. In other words, here was the visible declaration, the public declaration of their allegiance to Christ.

It is through the waters of baptism that those who have come to know Christ demonstrate that they have indeed submitted themselves to the Lordship of Christ. They identify themselves with Him through baptism… Notice two Scripture passages in this regard…

Emphasize identification with Christ…

Colossians 2:11–12 NIV84

11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

And Romans...

Romans 6:4–8 NIV84

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Friends, those who will go through the waters of baptism are declaring to all that they are united with Christ in his death and resurrection.

The implication for the believer is that they have died to a former manner of life. This is a public declaration that they are no longer living their lives for themselves, but instead are living to the glory of God, for the honour of Christ, for the purpose of proclaiming Him through all of their life.

I would like to encourage and challenge us on this point.

If we have been baptised, then this has been our public declaration of union with Christ. Because our hearts have been circumcised by the powerful grace of God, and we have declared our unity with Christ.

There are implications to that…

Galatians 2:20 NIV84

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Peter 4:1–2 NIV84

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

As those professing faith, there are great implications. We are demonstrating a commitment to a life of service under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

This is a powerful and profound declaration.

It is one that can only be lived by the grace of God, but it is nonetheless one that is to be actively pursued by those who profess this saving faith in Christ.

This leads us finally to consider...

3. The Response of Saving Faith (vv.33-34)

We see a wonderful response from the Philippian jailer here....

Two things are noted.

3.1. A Life of Service (v.33-34)

This Jailor, following his conversion, didn’t wait in terms of finding opportunities to serve. In verse 33 we read...

Acts 16:33 (NASB95)

33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds...

Keep in mind, Paul and Barnabas had been severely beaten. They were probably full of blood and open wounds. The jailor was immediately moved to help them and to tend to their needs.

Further to that, note what else he did… In verse 34 we read,

Acts 16:34 (NASB95)

34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them...

Not only was this man prepared to care for the physical wounds on the bodies of Paul and Barnabas, but he was moved to set a meal before them. He showed them hospitality.

This is all taking place in the middle of the night!!

Here was a fitting response from a heart transformed by the Gospel. The truth of the Gospel must lead those who understand and perceive its implications to a life of service.

I would suggest to you that it is impossible to claim a Gospel transformation of the heart without being moved to service of others, at least not as a normative pattern of life.

To submit to Christ, and to publicly profess that submission to christ and identification with Him, must move a person to a life of service.

Philippians 2:3–8 NIV84

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Matthew 20:25–28 NIV84

25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

To those being baptised this evening, one of those marks of your profession of faith that you would seek to look out for, and that you would seek to grow in as you live a life of submission under Christ, is that you are living a life of service to others.

The second response of saving faith…

3.2. A Life of Joy (v.34)

Acts 16:34 (NASB95)

34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

He was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God.

Here is a true recognition of the profound mercy and grace of God. When the Gospel is understood and perceived in terms of the riches of God’s grace demonstrated, it will lead to a life filled with joy.

Joy is a hallmark quality of the kingdom of God. I’m not suggesting that there can never be times of trial and difficulty, even depression for Christians, I don’t think that this ought to lead a person to live perpetually without joy and hope.

Galatians 5:22 NIV84

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 14:17–18 NIV84

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV84

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

The Philippian Jailor was filled with joy… he had come to know the forgiveness of his sin, and reconciliation with almighty God.

And this led him to be filled with joy....

And so it should be for us… Because of God’s kindness and mercy towards us.

Application / Conclusion

In a few moments, there will be three people testifying to the grace of God in their lives.

I would encourage each one here, each one listening, to consider their own profession of faith in light of what we’ve considered.

The means of saving faith is the preaching of the Gospel. If you do not yet understand the Gospel, listen to simple Gospel messages until the Lord grants you understanding.

Learn the joyous truths of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

It is a message of foolishness to the world, but it is the means by which we are saved.

And if you have been saved, give thanks again to God for His kindness to you.

Further to this, baptism is a distinct act / declaration of union with Jesus Christ. It is done in order to demonstrate union with Christ. And as I’ve said, there are great implications of this.

For those being baptised, this is a joyous declaration, but also a serious one. My encouragement to you is to delight in this moment, and continue to prayerfully seek the Lord as you humbly walk with him.

For those of us who have been baptised, and are witnessing these being baptised, let us once again consider our own profession of faith, and the manner in which we are living each day.

Are we living with a clear perspective of what that means for us in daily life?

Perhaps we may use this as an opportunity to remind us of our own profession of faith, and to humbly seek to make changes in those areas that we have strayed away from a life lived in submission.

Further to this, let us also commit to help and encourage one another to continue to live in this manner before God and the world. We are called to love one another, to spur one another on in the faith, to encourage one another, to exhort / instruct one another… Let us be reminded to do this.

Finally, let this remind us to respond appropriately in light of the Gospel.

Let us live lives of humble service to one another.

And let us live joyful lives before God.