The Conversion of the Jailor

TEXT:  Acts 16:16-34

INTRODUCTION:

A.      USED TO TEACH FAITH ONLY SALVATION.

          1.       What was the answer to the jailor's question?

          2.       Only faith is mentioned, faith alone must be okay.

B.      WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT CONVERSION FROM THIS?

I.      THIS TYPE OF REASONING PITS ONE PASSAGE AGAINST

ANOTHER.

A.      Acts 16:31.  ONLY FAITH MENTIONED.

B.      Acts 22:16.  ONLY BAPTISM MENTIONED.

C.      Acts 2:38.  REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM.

D.      THUS WE HAVE 3 DISTINCT THEORIES.

E.      THIS PASSAGE IS OFTEN LINKED WITH Eph. 2:8-9 TO SHOW

          MAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS OWN SALVATION; THAT

          THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN SALVATION

          AND WORKS.  BUT IN THIS PASSAGE, FAITH IS A WORK

          ( John 6:39 ).

II.     THE JAILOR'S QUESTION - AND PAUL'S ANSWER.

A.      "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"

B.      IN ANSWERING, PAUL GAVE AN ANSWER CONSISTENT WITH

          THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE JAILOR.

          1.       He'd never heard about Jesus, or what to believe about him.

          2.       So Paul started where he was.

          3.       Illustrations:

                   a.       How do you bake a pie?  In an oven, from a recipe, carefully?

                   b.       Different people give differing directions when asked.

C.      CONSIDER WHAT PAUL SAID MORE CLOSELY.

          1.       He didn't say faith only, before he could do anything else.

          2.       He also spoke unto him the word of the Lord. Why?

III.    WHAT DID THE JAILOR DO WHEN HE HEARD THE

WORD OF THE LORD?

A.      HE OBVIOUSLY BELIEVED.

B.      HE REPENTED - SHOWN BY KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY.

C.      HE WAS BAPTIZED IMMEDIATELY.  WHY?

          1.       They had spoken the word of the Lord to him.

          2.       What is the word of the Lord( Mat. 28:19-20;  Mark 16:16 ).

IV.   WHO WAS BAPTIZED?  WERE ANY BABIES BAPTIZED?

A.      WHO SAID THERE WERE BABIES IN HIS HOUSE?

B.      BABIES DON'T NEED IT( Ez. 18 ).

C.      IF BABIES DID, IT WOULD DO THEM NO GOOD.

          1.       Can't repent( Acts 17:30 ).

          2.       Can't confess( Matt. 10:32-33 ).

          3.       Can't believe( Mark 16:15-16 ).

D.      THOSE WHO WERE BAPTIZED INCLUDED ALL WHO COULD

          RESPOND( Acts 2:38;  Mark 16:16 ).

CONCLUSION:  WHAT ABOUT YOU?