ACTS 16:28 (Deathbed Salvation)

From a message of 27Jun1994 from a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subj: DEATHBED SALVATION

>CQ> Paul prophesied in Acts (16?) to the Philippian jailer that the testimony of his own salvation would have such an effect upon his entire family that they all would accept the Lord.

Not true. Paul did not say anything in Acts 16 about "testimony." Paul was not alone, but Silas was also present with him in the prison from 16:23 until the last verse of Acts 16. Paul alone was the speaker in 16:28; But both Paul and Silas ("they") were speaking in verses 31 and 32 that night. Being saved was clearly conditioned on whether or not an INDIVIDUAL would: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ". The jailer needed to believe, and the members of his "house" needed to believe, that they might be saved. (And "all his house" later HEARD the word of salvation and believed God.)

>CQ> He did so after his miraculous escape from jail, being set free by the Lord.

Not true. Neither Paul, nor anyone else present escaped, although the jailer at first supposed that to be the case and was about to kill himself for guilt of failure of duty in keeping them safe: "But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." (Acts 16:28)

Not only did he not escape, but when the magistrates sent word for him and Silas to be set free, Paul very strongly refused to leave unless the magistrates came in person to "fetch" them out!

And the magistrates came in Acts 16:39p and humbly "besought them, and brought them out"! (Hast thou not read? :)

>CQ> I don't really operate at quite that level of an apostle.

It is the level of a devil to say things that are not true. The Lord Jesus Christ identified them that are not true when he said: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (Jn.8:44)

Remember that Jesus is the Lord and receive the love of the truth. Grace be to them that love the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. --Richard