King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Chapters: Acts 15-16
Message: The Only Gospel
Hello My Friend,
Salvation. What is salvation? Salvation is defined as; The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity. It is also the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death. Eternal death is just as real as eternal life. Eternal life means living forever, whereas eternal death means dying forever. Eternal death is another word for damnation, and that is what happens to the soul that is not saved. There is only one way to be saved and receive eternal life, and that is through our faith in Jesus Christ. And not just in believing that He is the Son of God, we must believe in the Gospel, [Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]
So, what is the Gospel? It is believing in the sinless death of Jesus on the cross, His burial, and resurrection three days later. Period! We do not need to be baptized in water after we accept this or start obeying every command written in the Bible. We are simply saved by grace, through our faith alone in Jesus Christ. So, why do the majority of religions who proclaim Christ have all these rules that one must obey in order to be saved? The simple answer is this, fame and money. The Bible proves time and time again, even from the Old Testament, that salvation has always been given by the grace of God. God certainly knows that we never could obey one command let alone hundreds of them, and promised from the first sin committed that He would send someone to save our soul from the curse of death. Paul and Barnabas traveled together for a time preaching the Gospel, they were encourage to go to Jerusalem, when they got there there was quite a stir when certain believers of Christ, who were Pharisees, started telling the Gentile men that they needed to be circumcised.
[Acts 15:1-6 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.]
[And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.] Consider the matter? If all these things need to be done after we accept Christ as our Saviour, then why did Jesus suffer and die on the cross? It is by our faith alone in Jesus Christ that saves our soul, and nothing more! Now, we who are saved keep the Law to some extent, (some of the commands do not apply today), but it has nothing to do with our salvation, and everything to do with faith in Christ. Well, Peter stood up as well as James, and declared that it is only by grace through our faith in Christ that saves our soul, and we ought to just maintain some of God’s commands.
[Acts 15:8-11,19-20,22,28-29 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.]
[which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?] This is why Jesus died for us, from creation we have never been able to follow one command, let alone six hundred of them. However, if we want to see Christ work in our lives, and reap the benefits that come by maintaining the ones that are important, it would be wise to do so, [I Thessalonians 5:15-23 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.]
[for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.] You see, it is not about keeping our salvation, it is about doing what is right to give thanks to God for all that He has done for us, and for Jesus sacrificing His own life to save our soul. It is the least we could do. Amen! Every person born is born with the knowledge of God from the start, and are in fact, predestined to be saved. However, freewill, and a corrupt world full of people who believe themselves to be a god are what turns a person into a reprobate, beyond the point of salvation. It is actually the Holy Spirit that leads us to Christ, and even directs us on who to tell about Christ. We learn of this as Paul and Barnabas were directed by the Holy Spirit where to preach the Gospel.
[Acts 16:4-8,13-14 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.]
[but the Spirit suffered them not.] We often wonder why we are led to lead some to Christ while others we are not, well, this is why. God already knows who will accept His Son alone, if people are going to trust their religion over the Gospel, then God will not save them unless they repent of their religion and turn to His Son for their faith. Now, after some altercations and disputing on who they should take along with them to further their ministry, Paul and Barnabas separate, Barnabas takes John while Paul takes Silas with him. They were traveling through Philippi where they met this woman who was able to tell the future, and making some people very rich in doing so. Paul became greatly annoyed by her constantly coming up to them, talking about salvation, but not doing anything about it, he touched her, yelled at the spirit to come out of her and it did. Of course, the people making money off of her did not like that and had them put into jail.
[Acts 16:17-19,23 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:]
[I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.] Until we are saved, Satan has the ability to send his evil spirits into the souls of the lost. Do you see by this how corrupt the world is, and why God does not give us those abilities? They will exploit them, and use them for their own personal gain. But let me tell you, God uses every opportunity to reach the unsaved who do believe in Him with the Gospel. Paul and Silas got arrested that day simply because these men were losing money as the girl was no longer useful to them, but God uses this opportunity to reach the prison guard, and his family with the Gospel.
[Acts 16:25-34 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.]
[Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,] There is only one way be saved from eternal death, and it is as easy as A, B, C. A) Admit you are a sinner, and understand that the price for sin is eternal death in hell. B) Believe that Jesus died to pay that price for you. C) Confess that you believe in and accept Jesus as the payment. To be saved, all you have to do is Ask Jesus to save you believing these three things, and it is that simple. if any religion or group states you need anything else for salvation, then you are not believing in Jesus alone by faith, and that means you are not saved. Ignorance saves no one, [Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your grace, it is sufficient enough to save me from eternal death in hell and from every trial I face. While I know I cannot work my way to salvation, I can show You my love and thanks by living my life as a faithful witness of Your Son living in me. Lord, Lead me, and guide me in Your will, and help me to serve You in all You call me to with contentment, reverence, and respect for You. Let me not do anything or get around anyone that would cause a division, and let me be a fruitful witness that will lead others to Your Son. I love You Lord, and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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