The Jailor And Shimei

     Pictured above we will learn how the jailor got saved after a great earthquake freed Paul and Silas from prison. Acts 16:25 says And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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. 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.

     But Paul truly loved his enemy the jailor and said to the jailor at Acts 16:28 Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he (the jailor) called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. Now notice the question the jailor asked Paul at Acts 16:30; Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Paul replied at Acts 16:31 to be saved Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Right now friend reading this anywhere obey the Word and Paul's instructions for salvation like the jailor. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.

 

     Notice that to be saved and go to heaven, Paul told the jailor that he must repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. Paul didn't tell the jailor to go to a Latin speaking, bead counting, robe wearing priest who calls himself a father, and the bird ain't even married, and to top it off he dresses like momma. No, Paul told the jailor to go to the Lord Jesus for salvation and not a sinful priest or pope.

     Friend reading this anywhere, salvation is through a person named the Lord Jesus Christ. A priest or pope can not save you. Only the Lord Jesus can save anyone. Focus daily on the Lord Jesus and do not be distracted by looking to a priest or any person on this earth for salvation. Jesus is God and saves; not a priest or pope. John 17:3 proves this and says And this is life eternal (salvation forevermore), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. In other words know Jesus who is the only true God and receive life eternal and salvation.

     1 Timothy 2:5 says For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (not a priest or a pope). The pope needs to take off his bonnet and robe and get under the feet of our Lord Jesus like every sinner and repent to go to heaven. Matthew 23:9 warns us And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven (the Lord Jesus Christ).

     Now, notice in the picture above that our Lord Jesus was blessed to be baptized by John the Baptist. Baptism is a blessing but is not a requirement to be saved. Paul did not tell the jailor that he had to be baptized in water to be saved. No, Paul just told the jailor to Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved. The thief who was on a cross by our Lord Jesus got saved and went to paradise with Jesus without being baptized (that thief got drycleaned and made it to heaven and eternal salvation without water baptism).

     The blood of Jesus shed at the cross (the same yesterday, to day, and for ever according to Hebrews 13:8) and not water baptism will wash us from our sins. Revelation 1:5 says And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him (Jesus) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood (not water). If water could save us we would sing What can wash away my sins; nothing but the water. What can make me whole again; nothing but the water. O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know; nothing but the water. No, the truth is what can wash away my sins nothing but the blood of Jesus. I'm not saved by water; I'm saved by the blood of the crucified one; my Lord Jesus Christ.

     If water saved us, instead of singing At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, we'd all be singing At the millpond, at the millpond, where I first got dunked. If water saved us, instead of singing Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, we'd all be singing Amazing baptism how sweet the splash. Learn a lesson today friends everywhere, Jesus and not water saves us. If a person got baptized with all the catfish and shook hands with all the tadpoles, without Jesus he would die and go to hell. I just had to add this; How do catholics make holy water? They boil the hell out of it. And when the devils tried to get the pigs baptized by running them down a steep cliff into the water, the pigs died and did not receive salvation; but the devils came out of the pigs saying water regeneration (now we can enjoy some deviled ham). Again, baptism doesn't save; Only Jesus saves.

     Alright, one other note about how Paul told the jailor to be saved. Paul said that if the jailor got saved, everyone in his house also would be saved. Note that only the jailor's family members that stayed with him in his house got saved. If one of the jailor's relatives did not believe that Jesus is God, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, and left the jailor's house, that relative would not be saved and go to hell. Philippians 2:12 says we all must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

     Pictured above we see that a man named Korah and his followers who rebelled against Moses went down alive into the pit of hell when the earth opened up and swallowed them. Numbers 16:33 speaks about what happened to Korah and his followers: They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit (hell), and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

     But, Korah's sons went to heaven and got saved. I'll prove this to you. If you look at Psalm 45 notice that it is written by King David to the sons of Korah. The sons of Korah got saved and went to heaven instead of hell. Psalm 45:15 proves that the sons of Korah are in heaven: With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

     So we learn that a father can go to hell while a son goes to heaven. Also a wife can go to hell, while a husband goes to heaven. This occurred when Lot's wife didn't make it out of the surrounding cities around Sodom, turning into a pillar of salt, and going to hell. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt because salt makes a person thirsty and in hell everyone's thirsty like the rich man Dives who couldn't get one drop of water to quench his thirst in hell.

      Lot's wife was warned not to look back at Sodom and Gomorrah and she disobeyed and as a result went to hell. Jude 7 proves this by saying Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire (note that fire is eternal in hell where Lot's wife is who died in a city surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah).

     But Lot, unlike his wife, made it to heaven by obeying God and not looking back at sinful Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot made it to a safe city named Zoar, got saved, and lived. Friends, this is why it is so important to witness to your loved ones and enemies and save lost sinners because each person on this earth has to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. A father can't save a son, a son can't save a father, a mother can't save a daughter, a daughter can't save a mother, a husband can't save a wife, and a wife can't save a husband. Only the Lord Jesus can save anyone. Right now, tell all your relatives and enemies to get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.  It's a command by Jesus that we all should obey at Mark 16:15 saying Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ) to every creature.

     OK, to end up today's bible study let's learn about a man named Shimei pictured above. Shimei is mentioned in the first picture at 2 Samuel 16:13 and says And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei (called renowned and famous) went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. David told his soldiers to ignore Shimei saying at 2 Samuel 16:12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

     But, after David was restored to be the king over Israel by defeating his son Absalom, Shimei in the second picture asked for David's forgiveness by a ferry boat. This is recorded at 2 Samuel 19:18 and says And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan. And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

     Shimei went on to say at 2 Samuel 19:20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

     Alright notice that Shimei's father was Gera. Notice also that Shemei had a left handed brother who was a judge named Ehud with the same father named Gera. Judges 3:15 states that Ehud's father was Gera. Ehud was a left handed man that fought against a very fat king named Eglon of Moab. Left handed Ehud delivered the children of Israel from fat Eglon by killing Eglon with a sword. This was day that lefty let fatty have it or we could call it the day that lefty gave fatty the shaft in a contest titled lefty vs. hefty.

     OK, let's return to our discussion about what happened to Shimei. After King David died, King Solomon allowed Shimei to build the house pictured above in Jerusalem by the brook Kidron. But Solomon warned Shimei that if he ever passed over the brook Kidron that he would die. This is recorded at 1 Kings 2:36 saying And the king (Solomon) sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither. For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head. And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

     But, if you read from 1 Kings 2:39-46 you will learn that after three years Shimei disobeyed King Solomon's command when he crossed the brook Kidron to recover his lost servants from Gath. As a result, King Solomon had Shimei put to death by Benaiah. It's interesting to note that the Hebrew definition for Kidron is a dark place. Shimei thought he could hide from Solomon in the darkness of Kidron and disobey the king's command to not cross the brook Kidron. But Solomon learned about Shimei's disobedience and had Shimei put to death.

     Proverbs 28:13 says He that covereth his sins (like Shimei) shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Friends, unlike Shimei, let's obey the instructions in the Word of God and avoid the sinful dark places called Kidron. Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Titus 2:12 says Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

     Neighbor, God sees everything we do and sees all our sins in the darkness of Kidron. This should make us all obey Luke 9:23 where Jesus said If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Unlike Shimei, avoid dark sinful Kidron and daily live for the Lord Jesus because Proverbs 15:3 says The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Also Hebrews 4:13 says Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.