EXPOSITION:

1. This evening I want to explain why some Christians are saved while other "Christians" are not saved, why some who are believers are converted and others who are believers are not converted.

2. In order for you to receive a blessing from this evening’s sermon you have to be humble enough in your thinking to recognize that you don’t know everything about the Gospel and about getting saved. You have to recognize that there are issues and truths in God’s Word that you’ve not yet comprehended. Are you willing to accept that possibility?

3. Then turn to the book of Acts, chapter 8. I want to start you off by revisiting this morning’s consideration of the experiences of Simon Magus, who came under the preaching of the Gospel when Philip was mightily used of God in the great revival in Samaria.

4. Simon’s story begins in Acts 8.4-13: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."

5. Simon Magus, according to verses 12 and 13, heard the Gospel preached and believed. Simon Magus had faith. And having believed, he was baptized and he continued with Philip. So far, so good.

6. But another Simon came to town. This Simon was Simon Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. He and John came to Samaria to exercise their apostolic authority, since it was by their hands that God was well pleased to give the Holy Spirit during that transitional period of time, verses 14-17: "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." Again, so far, so good.

7. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," Acts 8.18-23.

8. Though he had believed, and though he had been baptized, and though he had continued with Philip, the conduct of Simon Magus, in response to the astonishing supernatural ministry of Simon Peter, convinced the apostle that this man was not converted. And it was because he was not converted that Peter commanded him to "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

9. Folks, we have here a Biblical example that fully explains the experiences of a number of people you and I know, and perhaps explains your own experience. This man heard the Gospel and believed, having believed, his life was changed. But he wasn’t converted. Peter’s use of the phrase "if perhaps" in verse 22 establishes that Simon Magus’ forgiveness is not certain, but is utterly dependent upon his repentance, which shows that Simon Magus was a lost man despite the fact that he had believed! So, you can be a believer and be unsaved. Stay with me, now.

10. Lest you doubt what I am saying, consider again the Corinthian fornicator in First Corinthians chapter 5. Let’s give this young man the benefit of the doubt. Let’s not accuse him of lying and deceitfulness in professing Christ and getting baptized and becoming a member of the Corinthian Church, all the while knowing he was lost.

11. And you can be sure that a Church planted by the apostle Paul was not like most Churches today, but that they made a real effort to discern between the righteous and the wicked, to ascertain who was truly converted and who wasn’t, so they could know who they were authorized to baptize and who they were not authorized to baptize.

12. But the fact that he committed a sin more heinous than any sin committed by unsaved Gentiles, the fact that he committed sexual sin with his step mother, and the fact that Paul shows, by his use of the subjunctive mode in chapter 5 and verse 5, that this young man is not converted, conclusively establishes that we have yet another example of a so-called believer who is not converted. You can be a believer and still be lost!

13. But don’t think that the only examples of believers who were, in fact, not converted are those who committed sins that are so obviously extreme as trying to purchase the Holy Spirit or some form of incest that was foreign even to pagans. There is a much more, shall we say, benign example of believers who were not converted in the Bible.

14. Before we examine some other verses, please remember that the word "disciple" in the Gospels does not refer to the twelve apostles only. A disciple is a follower of the Master, and the Lord Jesus Christ had many more than the twelve disciples throughout His earthly ministry that we know as apostles. So, anyone who followed Jesus from place to place and who sided with Him would properly be labeled a disciple.

15. With that in mind, turn to John 2.11: "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." So, in response to His miracle of turning water into wine, His disciples believed on Him.

16. John 6.60-67. In John 2.11 we read that Jesus’ disciples believed on Him. But notice what these same disciples did many months later when Jesus taught some hard lessons: "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?"

17. So, there you have it. They believed, but they believed not. Virtually every one of Jesus’ disciples, men who had been with Him a long time, men who had believed on Him from the beginning, went back and walked no more with Him. And what is indicated by this lack of perseverance? Though they were believers in one sense, they were not believers in another sense. And all the while they were lost.

18. Folks, this is where the parable of the sower becomes so important to understand. In Matthew 13.18-22, listen to the Savior’s explanation of those believers who were not genuinely converted: "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." The seed, of course, is the Word of God.

19. But once again, in addition to the example of Simon Magus, in addition to the example of the Corinthian fornicator, and in addition to the very disciples of Jesus who had believed in one sense, yet who were not believers in another sense, we see in this parable that it is possible to be a "believer," to seemingly respond positively to the Gospel, and yet not be converted.

20. Pardon me for saying so, but this may be the type of experience of some of you here today are dealing with. And the fact that you have believed the Gospel, yet there is so much that is terribly wrong with your life, so much that simply defies any other explanation than the conclusion that you are not converted, suggests to me that your experience might parallel that of Simon Magus, might parallel that of the young man in Corinth, and might parallel that of those disciples of Jesus.

21. I don’t know you. And your pastor and I have had no discussions about any of you. But if your life is accurately described by this parable Jesus taught, perhaps you are yet another example of a believer who is not converted.

22. In a moment we will stand and sing one verse of a hymn. After that verse is sung I will bring this evening’s sermon, a sermon that looks at the life of Abraham, and that I trust will explain so much about your life and the need you may still have to believe in Jesus to the saving of your soul.

23. So, don’t be discouraged. Rather, be encouraged by the fact that your life’s experiences are clearly reflected in God’s Word. Be encouraged, also, by the Savior’s words: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6.37.

24. Let’s stand as brother Jeryl comes to lead us.

INTRODUCTION:

1. After the Lord Jesus Christ, the most important person ever to walk the earth, insofar as God’s great plan of redemption is concerned, was father Abraham. Nine times in God’s Word we find the words "father Abraham."

2. Why is Abraham termed "father"? For two reasons: First, because Abraham was the original Jew, the man who was the first and primary patriarch of the nation of Israel. Second, and this is most important to us today, Abraham is the prototype of the child of God, the example for all to follow of how a relationship with God is established and maintained.

3. We are told in Habakkuk 2.4 that "the just shall live by his faith." And in Romans 1.17, Galatians 3.11 and Hebrews 10.38 we find Paul paraphrasing that verse when he writes "The just shall live by faith."

4. My friends, there are few statements in God’s Word that could be considered as important as "The just shall live by faith." And I hesitate to claim that there are any verses more important, for no other phrase so perfectly describes the basis of any and all relationships men have with God as that one.

5. After all, without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11.6. Without faith it is impossible to get saved from your sins, "For by grace are ye saved through faith," Ephesians 2.8. Without faith it’s impossible to be justified, "Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God," Romans 5.1. In short, apart from faith in Christ there is nothing for the sinner with which to acquire or possess what is eternal, what comes from God, what is made possible by the Lord Jesus Christ.

6. But we have already seen, already today, that it is possible to have faith and not be saved, to have faith and not be converted, to have faith and not have your sins forgiven. Never mind how that’s possible, for now. The fact that you need to concern yourself with is that it is possible, and that such a possibility may go a long way toward explaining your life or the lives of a considerable number of your loved ones.

7. This message is so important for you. I plead with you to give me your undivided attention. Please, do your best not to leave for any reason, except an emergency, until I conclude the service in prayer.

8. Now, find in your Bible two passages, Genesis 15 and Hebrews 11. I’ll make reference to other passages, but once we read four verses I’ll ask you to close your Bible and look up at me. Genesis 15 and Hebrews 11. Have you found them? Good. Let’s read God’s Word together.

9. I’m going to read four verses according to the sequence in which they actually occurred in Abraham’s life. Here on the platform I will start out to your extreme left, representing the beginning of Abraham’s life, moving across the platform as Abraham grows progressively older, reading the appropriate verses. When we’ve done that you can be seated and I will review for you the four faiths of Abraham, that will go so far in making the way of faith so much more plain for you to understand.

10. Are you ready? Way over here Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees. But here, when he was seventy five years old, God spoke to him and he responded with faith. Hebrews 11.8: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." That verse corresponds to Genesis chapter 12, which we will not turn to.

11. The next record of Abraham’s faith occurred when he was about 85 years old, and is mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 4 and Galatians chapter 3. We’ll read from the original reference to his faith in Genesis 15.6: "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

12. Some thirty or so years later, after Isaac was born, comes the third record of Abraham’s faith. Mentioned in Genesis 22 and James 2, we’ll read what the writer to the Hebrews says, in Hebrews 11.17: "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac."

13. Finally, we’ll read the fourth reference to Abraham’s faith, in Hebrews 11.8: "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." This, of course, closes out Abraham’s life. Please close your Bible and give me your undivided attention. If you would like to read the manuscript of this sermon, you can find it at www.CalvaryRoadBaptist.Org, on my Church’s web site, where this sermon will be posted tomorrow.

14. Four records of Abraham’s faith are referred to in God’s Word. These four faiths comprise the main considerations of my sermon, and should comprise the main considerations of your interest, since Abraham’s life, in part or in whole, reflects your life in so many ways.

CONCLUSION:

1. So you see, friend, the Word of God is not at all discredited by the experience of someone who "tried that and it didn’t work." Neither is Christianity falsified by that person you know who supposedly had faith, but nothing turned out right.

2. And perhaps you have become despondent over your experiences, thinking you got saved and then perhaps concluding that you were never saved. Perhaps you are thinking about giving up, or you’ve already given up.

3. What a terrible mistake that is. For as we have seen in God’s Word, there is nothing surprising or unusual about a sinner who has faith to come out of Ur of the Chaldees, but is, as yet, still unsaved.

4. You came to Church and perhaps even made a profession of faith, yet you are still unsaved. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. You’ve exhibited a certain amount of seeking faith, but you’ve not laid hold of Christ with saving faith yet.

5. So, what do you do? Continue to seek. Continue to strive. Continue to plead with God for mercy. Stay with the seeking faith until God graciously grants you saving faith in Christ.

6. Remember, you have the promise of Christ that if you will, indeed, actually, come to Him, He will not cast you out. He will receive you. That’s a promise. And that promise is all the reason reasonable men need to keep seeking the Lord while He may be found.