Picture in your mind what’s taking place. Luke wrote the book of Acts. He was one of the 70 disciples of Jesus. He went with Paul on his missionary journeys. When he uses the words “we” and “us” he is writing from his first-hand account. If you have doubts in your mind about how a person is saved, the answer is here. The validity of the gospel is shown. Listen to what he said.
Acts 16:16 “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 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.”
The woman was a soothsayer. This means she read the future by various means, all induced by demonic spirits. In my lifetime I’ve seen the revolts of the 60s. In the 70s it was proclaimed that God was dead and there was no reason to believe in Christianity anymore. Over time I’ve seen the carnal, humanistic lifestyles and behaviors increase. Technological and intellectual belief in God has become somewhat of a myth. In recent years, however, I’ve seen the resurgence of spirituality, a searching for answers. The unbelief isn’t working. It’s called finding your own spirituality. In essence it’s an old occult term, called Spiritism, where one tries to know his spiritual being apart from the truth of God. Society is integrated and bombarded with meditation and mysticism, originating from the many eastern religions. It tries to draw people and convince them that whatever it takes and whatever works for you individually is right. It leaves people confused. In fact, the Bible says that many Christians will fall for it. We’ve seen just that in the growing popularity of such religions and the decrease in the popularity of the truth of Christianity. Jesus told us to take heed not to be deceived.
In the newspaper the other day an article suggested that the Bible is no different than the Koran. A theater in CA won’t allow a play about the Easter story to be performed because the name of Jesus is mentioned in the advertisements. Are there many ways to heaven? Is there any way? The push now is that everyone is right. What is the truth? Do you want to know the real way? Right here in this scripture is the truth. It was authenticated by an unlikely source—demons. Why would they do that? Are they not enemies of God? Of course they are. The devil can exist alongside lies, but in the presence of truth, he is compelled to tell the truth.
We only see what’s physically visible. We can’t see God, but we can see his working all around us. Satan’s main thrust is to keep people from the way of salvation. We can’t see the devil and his demons, but we know and see signs of the devil everywhere around us. The devil sees what we don’t. He is a spiritual being just like the other angels we can’t see. When the devil is close to religion he feels comfortable and can get along. The closer he is to the truth, the more he has to attest to it. When Jesus called the demons out, they came out telling the truth in his presence. They obeyed him. The woman here in Acts made good money for her master until she got close to Paul and Silas. The demon was forced to speak these words. “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” This is all the evidence we need. Near the real thing, the demon attested to the fact that Paul and Silas were of God and were teaching the ways of God. They didn’t believe to the point of salvation. They can only attest to the truth. James writes that “the devils believe, and tremble.” Because of this, we know we can believe what Luke wrote. We can believe what Paul wrote concerning salvation in his New Testament books.
Religion today says we can free our own mind. Paul tells us that the salvation that prospers is the one that frees the soul. The only position to find peace is on our knees before the Lord. Paul said “whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Salvation is saving the soul from the power of sin. No other belief can do that. The gospel Paul preached is the way to be saved from sin. There is only one God. There is only one Savior. There is only one Son of God. There is a heaven. There is a hell. There is a God. There is a devil. In this scripture, the devil admitted it himself.
When the earthquake shook the prison, the jailer didn’t go elsewhere for help. He went to Paul and Silas and fell down asking “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” What did they tell him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Believe unto repentance and reception of Jesus as Savior. Believe unto confession. Romans 10:8-10 says “but what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He knew it is the power of God unto salvation. I want to ask you a question. Which do you want—a lie that suits your fancies, or the truth that saves you?
Christian, ask the Lord to strengthen you. If you’re not saved, you’ve been shown the authority of God’s word. The way of salvation is infallibly proven through Jesus Christ. What will you believe?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 