Acts 27

Acts 27:1-44

76. FOR THE STORM Acts 27:1-44 After being a prisoner at Caesarea for more than two years, Paul was finally sent to Rome. There he would make his personal appeal to Caesar. While en route to Rome, travelling by sea, a terrible storm arose from the northeast which placed the whole company in great danger. Acts 27 is a detailed account of that storm. We need no more than an atlas and common sense to understand the literal, historical events recorded in this chapter. But the chapter is recorded to give us more than historical data. It is recorded in the Volume of Inspiration to give us practical, spiritual, gospel instruction (2 Timothy 3:16). In Paul’s day the sea could be a terrible thing. The sailor had no compass. So when the sun and the stars were blotted out, he had no idea where he was or where he was going. He had no engine to propel his ship through the mighty winds and raging waters. His sails and oars were helpless before the force of a hurricane. The imagery of the sea’s terror is used throughout the Word of God.

Jonah was thrown into the sea to appease its wrath (Jonah 2:12-15). The disciples were terribly frightened on the Sea of Galilee and cried out to the Master to save them (Mark 4:38). In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul tells us he was shipwrecked three times and spent a night and a day in the deep. Jude compares the influence of false religion to the “raging waves of the sea” (Jude 1:13). John saw the “beast rise up out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1). In Revelation 21:1 he says, in the new creation there shall be “no more sea”, as if to indicate that the sea is a symbol of terrible calamity and evil.

In literature, poetry, and Scripture, our life in this world is compared to a voyage across a vast sea (Job 9:29). As we sail across the vast sea of life in this world we all must pass through many storms. The Book of God shows us how to prepare for and survive those storms. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” the spiritual lessons of this chapter. First, we learn that THINGS SELDOM HAPPEN TO OUR DESIRES, PLANS, AND (Acts 27:1-8). “The best laid plans of mice and men are soon destroyed.” Paul had planned to go to Rome on his way to Spain. This band of soldiers took their prisoners on board the ship, and “launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia” (Acts 27:2). They mapped out their course, prepared for their voyage, and expected to have smooth sailing to Rome by the Asian coasts. But Divine providence interfered with their well-laid plans. A storm arose and “the winds were contrary” (Acts 27:4), contrary to their plans! When we are making our plans, we will be wise to consider the storms ahead and submit our will to God’s will, even in our plans (James 4:13-15).

Life is full of storms and contrary winds (Job 5:6; Job 14:1). They usually arise suddenly without warning. Without question, the greatest storm a person will ever face is the storm of his own sin. When a person comes face to face with his sin, the mighty wind of conviction and judgment is overwhelming. He feels the storm of God’s wrath in his soul (Nahum 1:2-3). But, blessed be God, in Christ Jesus there is a refuge for sinners and a hiding place for the guilty (Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 32:2). Secondly, we are here shown that OUR STORMS ARE OFTEN THE FRUIT OF TO THE WILL OF GOD (Acts 27:9-14). I do not suggest that all trials are the result of some particular sin. But many of our trials and sorrows could be avoided by simple obedience to our God. If these men had just given heed to the Word of God, they would not have suffered the terrible shipwreck recorded in this chapter. Read these verses carefully and learn their obvious lessons. The will of God is usually contrary to the opinion of the majority (Acts 27:11).

The will of God is always contrary to the pleasures and accommodations of the flesh (Acts 27:12). The path of least resistance is always most appealing to the flesh; but usually it is the path to destruction (Acts 27:13-14). That which God plainly reveals is his will; and disobedience to his revealed will is disastrous. No matter how unreasonable, unpleasant, or costly it seems to be to obey God, “whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). Obedience may be costly; but disobedience is always more costly. Faith in Christ evidences itself by obedience to Christ (Proverbs 3:5-6). Thirdly, WHEN THE STORM COMES, THE ONLY COURSE OF SAFETY IS (Acts 27:15-20). Luke says, “When the ship was caught, and could not bear up into (against) the wind, we let her drive.” That is all we can do. Just hold on and “let her drive.” This is not an act of fatalism. They had done all they could. They worked hard. They used all the help they could get.

They lightened their load. They even threw all the tacklings overboard. But all hope of deliverance by their hands was gone. So they hoisted their sails and “let her drive.” The men in command of the ship, (If you can imagine that without laughing!), had no fear of God. But for Luke, Paul and Aristarchus, this was an act of faith. Luke says, “We let her drive.” They knew who was in command of the ship!

They realized who had sent the storm (Isaiah 45:7; Psalms 107:25; Nahum 1:3; Jonah 1:4; Amos 3:6). Like Eli of old, they humbled themselves under the hand of God, saying, “It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good” (1 Samuel 3:18; James 4:7; James 4:10). Turning to the Lord in submission and faith, they found peace (Isaiah 26:3-4; Psalms 42:11). Bow to the will of Christ. Slip your neck into his yoke, and you will find peace (Matthew 11:29). Trust the wisdom, grace, and promise of God.

Hoist the sails of your little ship into the wind of Divine providence, and “let her drive” (Romans 8:28). Fourthly, WHEN THE STORM COMES, SEEK A WORD FROM GOD TO COMFORT, , AND DIRECT YOU THROUGH IT (Acts 27:21-25). If you would find comfort in trouble, bury yourself in the Book of Consolation (Romans 15:4). Paul found a word from God, believed it, and faithfully delivered it, even in the midst of the storm. It was a word of stern reproof (Acts 27:21) and of cheering assurance (Acts 27:22-24). Fifthly, NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE STORM IS, STAY IN THE SHIP (Acts 27:26-38). Some of the shipmen were about to forsake the ship. They let down the lifeboat and were about to leave when Paul said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” Immediately, the soldiers cut the ropes and let the boat fall. They did not stand around arguing about Divine predestination and human responsibility. They cut the ropes! They cut off every other source of hope and cast themselves upon the Word of God.

They took only what they needed and threw everything else overboard (Acts 27:19; Acts 27:38). Storms have a way of changing values and making all the things of this world appear to be what they really are - vanity! They stayed in the ship and were saved (Acts 27:37). When storms arise, cling to Christ. Stay in the good ship grace. Only those who endure the trials and storms of life, only those who persevere in faith are saved (Matthew 10:20; John 8:31; John 15:9; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14; James 1:12; Acts 13:43; Acts 14:22). Sixthly, SET YOUR HEART UPON CHRIST ALONE (Acts 27:39-40). Seek him and nothing else. Throw everything else to the wind. Ask for nothing, care for nothing, and pursue nothing but Christ, and make “toward shore” (Colossians 3:1-3). If Christ is all your desire, you shall have all your desire; and the storms of life will do you no harm. Seventhly, we see in this chapter that OUR GOD WILL BRING US THROUGH THE STORM INTO OUR DESIRED HAVEN OF REST (Acts 27:41-44). Some swam to safety. Some floated on boards. Some rode on broken pieces of the ship. But when they came to that place where two seas met, they all came to shore safely. “And so it came to pass, they escaped all safe to land.” So it shall be with all God’s elect (1 Peter 5:10-11; Jude 1:24-25; Romans 8:35-39).

Acts 27:18-25

78. “I BELIEVE GOD” Acts 27:18-25 Here is a tried, tempest tossed believer full of comfort and comforting others. He describes the source and cause of his comfort in three words - “I believe God.” Because he believed God, Paul was confident that God would do what he said. He was full of comfort regarding his own life and destiny. And he had a word of comfort for those who were in the tempest tossed ship with him. What an example of faith the Holy Spirit here holds before us! It is astonishing that we should need examples of faith and encouragements to believe God, but we do. Faith in our God should be, to regenerate men and women, a matter of fact. But often our hearts blush with shame because of unbelief. One of the most glaring evidences of human depravity is the fact that even men and women who are born of God struggle with unbelief. We are so fallen, so depraved, even in our regenerate state, that we dare question and doubt the living God! Some little trial comes our way, some slight ruffle, and we are out of sorts.

We begin to worry, murmur, complain, and feel sorry for ourselves. How easily our hearts are troubled! We ought to trust our God completely. In all things he is true and faithful. His covenant is sure. His oath stands fast.

His word cannot be broken. His promises are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. God cannot lie. It is impossible for him to deny himself. We ought to trust him unreservedly. That which God has promised we have every reason to believe. UPON PAUL’S IN THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT IS FOUND. As you read Acts 27, you cannot avoid the fact that the primary theme of the narrative is not the journey, or even the storm at sea, but the faith of a man who believed God. That is the context in which we find these words - “I believe God.” Paul’s faith was based upon God’s revelation. He said, “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). God had told him something, and he believed it. His faith was based upon the Word of God. Granted, it was a special revelation. An angel of God told him what God would do. But we do not need to envy the source of Paul’s revelation. We have the written, complete Word of God, which is a more sure word of prophecy than anything else could be (2 Peter 1:16-21). It is far better to have God’s written Word than to have a vision, a mountaintop experience, or even an angelic visitation (Hebrews 1:1-3). Paul’s faith in God involved a conviction of the absolute certainty that God would do all that he said. “It shall be even as it was told me.” He did not say, “It may be,” or “I hope it shall be,” or “God wants it to be.” He said, “It shall be!” What God has spoken shall be. What God has caused to be written in his Word shall come to pass. When the book of history is complete and God stamps “The End” upon it, it will in all things tally with that which God has spoken in his Word (1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:8; Luke 16:17). Paul’s faith gave him hope when all hope was gone. He said, “I believe God,” when, to all outward appearance, “all hope that (they) should be saved was taken away” (Acts 27:20). It is one thing to believe God when everything is going in the direction of God’s promise; but it is something else to believe God in a sinking ship when everything appears to contradict God’s promise. That requires faith. Faith does not trust God because providence is smooth. And faith does not distrust God because providence is contrary.

Faith trust God’s Revelation, God’s Word, even when everything appears to contradict it. Paul had nothing upon which to hang his faith but the Word of God; and the same is true of us. God hung the world upon nothing but his word. Shall we not hang our faith upon that which God has hung the world! Because he believed God, Paul very plainly and boldly confessed his faith before men. He was in a ship full of convicted felons, guarded by Roman soldiers and rugged seamen. These were not nice, church going, religious people, but rugged men of notoriously vile character. Yet, Paul spoke out plainly for the glory of God and confessed his faith in him. Indeed, all who believe God confess their faith in him. They do so by believer’s baptism (Romans 6:4-6), by being his witnesses to the world around them (Acts 1:8), and in the teeth of opposition (Acts 4:10-12). We should make everyone around us conscious of our conviction that God is true and that he is to be trusted. Paul confessed his faith, but more importantly, he acted like a man who believed God. When others were hysterical, Paul was calm. Why? He believed God. His faith was real. For most people religion is nothing but pious fiction. They look upon the promises of God as pretty, sentimental things to talk about. They view divine providence as a nice, theological idea. Not Paul! He acted like a man who believed God. Trusting God, he rested himself upon the purpose, promise, and providence of his heavenly Father. THIS , “I BELIEVE GOD,” APPLIES TO ALL MATTERS OF , ALL AREAS OF A ‘S LIFE AND , AND TO ALL THAT OUR HOPE THE WORLD TO COME. It is qualified and limited only by the Word of God itself (2 Corinthians 1:20). Take down the Book of God from its place on your shelf and search out its promises. If you meet the character of the one described in the promise, believe it and apply it to yourself: TO SINNERS (Isaiah 55:6-7; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 16:16; John 3:14-18; 1 John 1:9), TO SINNING SAINTS (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalms 89:19-36; 2 Chronicles 7:14), TO HIS (Isaiah 41:10-11; Isaiah 43:1-5; Acts 18:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 13:5), TO HIS CHURCH (1 Corinthians 15:58; Isaiah 55:11; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Psalms 126:5-6), TO HIS NEEDY PEOPLE (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:25-34), TO THEM THAT HONOR HIM (1 Samuel 2:30; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38), TO THEM THAT LOOK FOR CHRIST’S COMING (James 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 1:12). THE TRIUNE GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, MADE CERTAIN TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE OF GRACE, WHICH MUST AND SHALL BE (2 Samuel 23:5; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 32:38-40). The Son of God promised to redeem, justify, and save all God’s elect (Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:16). God the Father promised his Son all his elect to be the reward of his soul’s travail (Isaiah 53:9-12; Psalms 2:8; Psalms 22:30). God the Holy Spirit promised to regenerate, call, seal, and preserve every chosen, redeemed sinner by almighty, irresistible grace (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). GOD HAS MADE CERTAIN IN HIS WORD THE FUTURE. With regard to the future, every believer ought to say with Paul, “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” He will yet hear and answer the prayers of his people (1 John 5:14-15). God will yet preserve every believer unto his heavenly kingdom (Philippians 1:6). God will yet send his Son to this earth in his glorious second advent to make all things new and bring his elect into everlasting glory (Revelation 21:1-5; John 14:1-3). Happy is that person who can speak with honesty and say, “I believe God.” Blessed are they who believe the doctrine of his Word, the rule of his providence, and the promises of his grace. Forever blessed are those sinners upon the earth who believe the record God has given concerning his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 5:10-13). Do you believe God?

Acts 27:20-25

79. “BE OF GOOD CHEER” Acts 27:20-25“When neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was taken away.” In those circumstances, Paul stood up and said, “I exhort you to be of good cheer.” When all hope was gone, Paul said, “Be of good cheer.” You can imagine the response. “Come on now, Paul. What do you mean, `Be of good cheer!’ Have you lost your mind? We are going to be wrecked, and there is nothing we can do!” “Nevertheless,” Paul says, “I exhort you to be of good cheer.” Remember, he had advised them not to set sail in the first place, warning them of imminent danger (Acts 27:10). And, though he reminded them that they should have listened to him and that their present trouble was their own fault, (Acts 27:21), yet, he says, “Be of good cheer.” Assuring them by the Word of God that not one of them would be lost, he repeated himself, saying, “Sirs, be of good cheer.” If Paul could speak those words to reprobate, unbelieving men regarding deliverance from a storm at sea, surely every believer is justified in saying to himself with regard to all the affairs of his life, “Be of good cheer.” It does not matter what your circumstances in this world are, if you belong to God, if you are born of his Spirit, you have every reason to “be of good cheer.” There is nothing holy or sanctifying about gloominess, despondency, and morbid pessimism. In fact, these things are the exact opposites of holiness and sanctification. God the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, not our tormentor! He comes to bring comfort and cheer, not despair and gloom. Our heavenly Father delights to see his children of good cheer. And those who honor God most are those saints who walk before him with cheerful, believing hearts. Search the Scriptures and see if the Lord God does not constantly say to his people in this world, “Be of good cheer” (Psalms 16:5-6; Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 15:15; Proverbs 15:30; Proverbs 17:22; Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 9:8-10; Philippians 4:4). Among the first things named as the fruit of the Spirit is “joy” (Galatians 5:22). Believers should be people of perpetual joy and cheer! When all hope was gone, in so far as outward evidence was concerned, in the midst of terrible darkness and a raging storm, Paul found five reasons to “be of good cheer.” First, PAUL WAS OF THE OF GOD. In Acts 27:23, he says, “There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.” God was there with him in the midst of the storm! The angel of God stood by him and spoke to him! We too may be sure that when trouble comes to us, “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:4). When all outward evidence of hope is gone, the Lord God will speak to you and say, “Be of good cheer.” No, he will not speak to you by an audible voice. But he will speak to you by his Spirit, through his Word, assuring you of his presence to protect you (Isaiah 43:1-7), provide for you (2 Corinthians 12:9), and preserve you (Jude 1:24-25).

Then, like Paul, you can say to others, “Be of good cheer, the Lord God is still on his throne. He is still in charge. He is still running things. The Lord knows what he is doing. He has not made a mistake. So, `be of good cheer.’” This episode on the sea was just one of many times when the Lord Jesus manifestly fulfilled his promise to Paul in which he said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). The same thing happened to him at Corinth (Acts 18:10), at Jerusalem (Acts 23:11), and at Rome (2 Timothy 4:16-17). Child of God, the Lord Jesus is with you too. In your times of great trouble and need, your God is with you. When the doctor says, “I’m very sorry, but I have to tell you, you have cancer,” - the Lord is with you. He will not forsake you.

When the telephone rings and the somber voice on the line says, “I’m sorry to call, but there has been an accident. Your loved one has been killed,” - the Lord will be with you. So long as we live in this world, we must go through the deep waters of trouble and the fiery furnace of adversity. In the midst of problems, pains, and perplexities, let every believer be convinced of the presence of God, hear him say, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5), and “be of good cheer.” Second, PAUL WAS OF THE FACT THAT HE TO GOD. He said, “There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.” If we can in the midst of our trials realize this great fact, that we belong to God, we will find reason to “be of good cheer”, even in the midst of trouble. We sometimes sing, “Now I belong to Jesus.” Is that a fact? Then be of good cheer! We who believe belong to Christ by divine predestination (Ephesians 1:4-6), divine purchase (Ephesians 1:7-12), and divine power (Ephesians 1:13-14). We belong to Christ like a bride belongs to her husband. In the Old Testament and in the New, the relationship of Christ and his people is constantly compared to the intimate, loving union of a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25-30; Son 6:3). We belong to our God as a child belongs to his father. Donald Grey Barnhouse once suggested that as soon as the doctor cuts the umbilical cord that binds a baby to its mother, “God creates a sort of invisible cord that binds the baby to the father. It immediately transforms the man’s nature and he begins to understand, `That’s my boy!’” When that happens, there is a blessed picture of our relationship to God. He loves us infinitely more than any earthly father ever loved his boy (1 John 3:1).

Again, we belong to our Lord as sheep belong to the shepherd. The Lord calls us his sheep. David Said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” The life and welfare of sheep are the responsibility of the shepherd charged with watching over them. And the Lord Jesus has promised to protect and keep his sheep (Isaiah 40:11; John 10:27-30). Someone once asked an old believer, “What do you do when you are in trouble?” He replied, “I look to heaven and say, Lord, your property is in danger.” That is how Paul felt. He belonged to God.

He knew God would take care of him. Third, PAUL WAS OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS GOD’S SERVANT. He was on business for God. He spoke plainly of God as him “Whom I serve.” The law of the land is clear. If you are working for a company, that company is responsible for you. If you are injured while working for the company, the company must take care of you. The Lord God will do no less! If you are God’s servant, doing God’s business, he will take care of you. His honor is at stake. He promised, “Them that honor me, I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30). “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalms 91:11). Fourth, PAUL WAS OF GOD’S TOTAL . He knew that the Lord God, to whom he belonged, whom he served, his heavenly Father, was as much in control of the storm as he is the calm. Therefore, being confident that his God would and could do all that he had said, he was of good cheer. Nothing, child of God, will sustain your soul in peace and cheer like the conscious realization of his absolute sovereignty over all things (Romans 8:28-30; Romans 11:36). Fifth, PAUL WAS FULLY OF GOD’S . God had made an absolute promise of deliverance and safety to Paul. Because he knew God to be faithful, he said, “I believe God,” and exhorted all who were with him to “Be of good cheer.” Do not ever imagine that anything takes God by surprise, or is beyond his control. He upholds all things by the Word of his power; and he upholds you in his great faithfulness. Therefore, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise up against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17). “Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you.Beneath His wings of love abide. God will take care of you.God will take care of you, Through every day, o’er all the way.He will take care of you. God will take care of you!“I exhort you, therefore, “TO BE OF GOOD CHEER!”

Acts 27:21-44

77. DIVINE AND HUMAN Acts 27:21-44 God is totally sovereign and man is totally responsible. Both of these truths are plainly revealed in Holy Scripture and must be believed by all who acknowledge the authority of the Word of God. God’s sovereignty does not relieve man of responsibility. And man’s responsibility does not negate God’s sovereignty. Both of these blessed gospel truths are illustrated in the passage before us. In Acts 27:24, the angel of the Lord spoke to Paul, “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” Paul, believing God, said, “There shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship” (Acts 27:22). That is God’s sovereign decree, immutable, unalterable, and certain. God purposed it, and it must come to pass. Not all the power of hell could prevent it. God says, “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11). Did that sovereign decree relieve the men on board the ship of all responsibility? Did God’s decree mean that they would be saved no matter what they might do? Did God’s sure and certain purpose mean that these 276 men were no longer obliged to obey him? Not on your life! In Acts 27:31, Paul shows us the place of human responsibility. Some of the shipmen panicked in the storm and were about to abandon the ship.

Paul said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” God had ordained their safety and deliverance from the storm. So their safety and deliverance were matters of absolute certainty. Yet, they could only be saved if they remained in the ship; and they were responsible to do so. If they abandoned the ship, they would all have been lost. If they stayed in the ship, they would all be saved. The burden of responsibility lay squarely upon their shoulders.

If they were saved, it would be God’s work, and God’s work alone. If they were lost, it would be their work, and their work alone. In the end, God’s purpose was accomplished. The ship was lost and the cargo was lost, but every man on board the ship was saved, according to God’s unalterable purpose. When the ship was wrecked, “the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But (God graciously intervened and) the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass (Exactly as God had ordained!) that they escaped all safe to land” (Acts 27:42-44). THE EVENTS IN Acts 27:21-44 CLEARLY GOD’S AND MAN’S IN THE MATTER OF . Salvation is accomplished entirely by the sovereign, eternal purpose and work of the triune God (Ephesians 1:3-14). Yet, every sinner is responsible to repent and believe the gospel, to trust the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30; 1 John 3:23). All who do so shall be saved; and all who refuse to do so shall be justly damned forever (Mark 15:16). Here are eight, irrefutable facts, plainly revealed in the Word of God. Study them carefully. Ask God the Holy Spirit to give you an understanding of them.

1. God the Father has a people in this world whom he has sovereignly chosen and determined to save in eternal, electing love (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 9:11-18).
2. The Lord God eternally predestinated all things that come to pass in time to secure the salvation of his elect, for the gory of his own great name (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:11).
3. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for and effectually redeemed all whom God the Father chose and purposed to save in eternity (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 1:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12).
4. God the Holy Spirit regenerates all who were chosen in eternity and redeemed at Calvary, by the power of his irresistible grace, and causes them to trust Christ (Ephesians 2:1-6; John 3:3-8; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 110:3).
5. God sovereignly rules all things in providence with the absolute power of omnipotence and the total wisdom of omniscience, according to his eternal purpose of grace, for the salvation of his elect (Romans 8:28; John 17:2).
6. All God’s elect, all true believers, are eternally and infallibly secure in Christ, preserved and kept in him by the power and grace of God (John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24-25).
7. Every sinner who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved (John 3:14-16; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-13).
8. All who despise God’s free grace in Christ and refuse to trust him shall be justly damned forever (Proverbs 1:23-33). These are matters of divine revelation. They are things clearly stated in the Word of God. All who are saved are saved by God’s work alone. All who are damned are damned by their own work alone. Read Acts 27:21-44 again and see how it illustrates these truths of Holy Scripture. IT WAS THE PURPOSE OF GOD TO SAVE EVERY PERSON IN THE SHIP (Acts 27:21-25). God said he would save them. Therefore, he was honor bound to do so. If even one were to be lost, God’s word would be broken, his honor would be lost, and the Almighty would be found a liar! So it is with his elect! IN ORDER FOR THOSE WHOM GOD TO SAVE TO BE SAVED, THEY HAD TO OBEY HIS WORD (Acts 27:29-34).

God required them to stay in the ship. Had they not done so, they would have perished. But once they committed themselves to the Lord God, they were given the cheering assurance of his saving purpose (Acts 27:34-35). Even so, God requires us to trust Christ alone for salvation. All who trust him are assured of God’s grace (1 John 5:10-13). All who refuse to obey the gospel shall perish by their unbelief (John 3:18).

GOD ALL TO HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE TOWARD HIS ELECT (Acts 27:41-44). Carefully read Psalms 76:10 and Proverbs 16:1; Proverbs 16:4; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 16:33, and understand that nothing is a hindrance to God. All things are his servants, sovereignly used by him to accomplish his purpose of grace toward his elect. So it came to pass that ALL WHOM GOD TO SAVE WERE SAVED (Acts 27:44). God said, “There shall be no loss of any man’s life among you…So it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” Even so, in the end all God’s elect shall be saved (Romans 11:25; Romans 11:33-36). Believe God, and be of good cheer.

His purpose is sure (Romans 8:28-39).