36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are
afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.
I Pray that God bless you with love and grace in Christ Jesus. And “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” Ephesians 1:17 – 19.
Repentance: To repent means to turn to God with all your heart, giving up all sins, and living your life according to His word. Call on the name of Jesus, believing and confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior, confessing that He died for you and was raised from the dead to give you life. Confess that you're a sinner, confessing your sins to Him, and asking Him to forgive you and save you. Then give Him thanks and praise. Confess your sins to Jesus, not to any priest, because there is only "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Ezekiel 18:20-32, Isaiah 1:18-20. Romans 10:8-13, 1 John 1:9&10 and 2:1-6. Deuteronomy 6:1-7, Joshua 1:6-9 and 22:5. John 15:1-10 and 14:15.
Baptism: The word "baptize" means "immerse". It means to be totally immersed and covered in water for the washing away of sins. Sprinkling is not baptism, it's not immersion. Baptism must also be done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:5 says that there is only "One Lord, one faith, one baptism".
The baptism in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost", and in Acts 2:38, "in the name of Jesus Christ", are not contrary to each other. Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When baptism is done in the name of Jesus Christ, then both scriptures are fulfilled. So the biblical way to baptize, is by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:43, Acts 4:12, Zechariah 14:9. Colossians 3:17.
Receiving The Holy Ghost: The Holy Ghost is another word for the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Jesus. In reference to the Godhead, Ephesians 4:4 says that there is only "one Spirit". The Holy Ghost, Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, and Spirit of the Lord are all the same person. Also, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, and receiving Jesus, are two different things. Remember, the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus, and when you receive the Holy Ghost, you receive Jesus. And as you receive Him, that is, when you are filled with His Spirit, you will begin speaking with other tongues.
In Matthew 11;28, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". And in Isaiah 28;11&12, it says, "For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest, And, This is the refreshing”. So this stammering lips and speaking with other tongues, this is the rest, this is you being filled with the Holy Ghost and receiving the rest that Jesus promised to give to them that come to Him. So, yes, speaking with other tongues still exists, and is the evidence or sign of you receiving the Holy Ghost, of you receiving Jesus.
What Shall We Do?
Believe in the Lord Jesus, repent of all your sins, be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives you the utterance.
The New Covenant of God - Acts 2:38
Jeremiah 31:31 – 33.
"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Matthew 26:28.
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Acts 2:38.
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The message of Acts 2:38 is the New Testament plan of salvation. It is the new covenant, or agreement, that God has made with man by the blood and death of Christ, that if we, through faith in Jesus, turn to God in repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, then He will forgive us and cleanse us of all sin, and will fill us with His Spirit, as He had promised, saying, "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And He will be our God, and we will be His people.
Baptism is the New Testament Circumcision - Colossians 2:11 & 12
"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
This shows how important baptism is. Because our sins are cut away (Colossians 2:11) and washed away (Acts 22:16). And not only that, but in the Old Testament, every male child had to be circumcised or they would be rejected by God.
"And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant" (Genesis 17:14).
The Old Testament law was done away with, but the things of the Old Testament are a physical example of the spiritual things under the New Testament. And even though the physical circumcision of the Old Testament was replaced by the spiritual circumcision of baptism under the New Testament, the principle is still the same. And baptism is for everyone, male and female. So anyone not baptized will be cut off and rejected by God, just like with Old Testament circumcision.
This is evident because, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark:16:6), and, “whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20:23).
Remission of sins are given in baptism, where our sins are done away with. So what that means in John 20:23, is that whoever is baptized will have their sins remitted; but whoever isn't baptized, their sins will be retained, they will remain.
So the teaching that we don't have to be baptized to be saved is false. We MUST be baptized to have our sins washed away. If not, then we will be cut off and rejected by God.
Believing
John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 5:24.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
Scriptures, like the ones above, tell us that we must believe in the Lord Jesus to be saved. And we must believe, for "he who does not believe is condemned already" (John 3:18). But it doesn't stop there. The scriptures also tell us that there is more to God's plan of salvation than just that.
Jesus also says:
1) "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe
in the gospel", Mark 1:15.
2) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved", Mark:16:6.
3) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those
believing in Him would receive", John 7:38&39.
So repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost are all three tied-in together with believing and must be applied to our life to be saved. We must go through the steps of salvation that God has ordained and laid out for us to follow, and going from believing to receiving eternal life.
Repentance and baptism work together for both forgiveness and washing away of sins. In Luke 24:47, Jesus says, "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name". And in Mark 1:4, baptism is referred to as the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". Acts 22:16, says, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord".
The Gospel
1) Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ
1 Corinthians 15:1 -4.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures..."
2) Death, Burial, and Resurrection of The Believer With Christ
Romans 6:3 - 6.
“Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him...”
Romans 8:11.
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
According to 1 Corinthians 15:3 & 4, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. And in Romans 6:3 - 6 and 8:11, it also talks about the believer being crucified, buried, and resurrected with Christ. This is done through repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. We are crucified and die with Christ through repentance. We are buried with Him by baptism. And we are resurrected and raised from the dead with Him by being filled with the Holy Ghost.
Repentance = Death
Baptism = Burial
Holy Ghost = Resurrection
So the gospel is actually a two-fold message. It's the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. And it's the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer with Christ, through repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is how we apply the gospel to our life.
We Must Be Born Again
John 3:3.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:5.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
In John 3:3, Jesus says that we must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Then a few verses down, in verse 5, He says how we are born again. He says we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God.
We are born of water by baptism in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and we are born of the Spirit by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We must believe in Jesus and repent before we can be baptized or receive the Holy Ghost. But notice here that Jesus didn't mention believing or repentance. So even if we believe and repent, we're still not born again, and we must still be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost to be born again and enter into the kingdom of God. Applying the message of Acts 2:38 to your life fulfills these scriptures. That's how we are born again.
Blood, Water, and Spirit: 3 Witnesses on Earth - 1 John 5:8 & 10 & 11
In 1 John 5:8, it says that there are three that bear witness on earth, "the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one." The blood, water, and Spirit are applied to our life through repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Baptism = water
Holy Ghost = Spirit
And a few verses down, in 1 John 5:10 & 11, it says, "He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
So when we repent, are baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost, then the blood, water, and Spirit are applied to our life, and these three bear witness together that we have believed in the Son, Jesus, and because we believed, God has given us eternal life.
Washed, Sanctified, Justified
1 Corinthians 6:11,
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
We are Justified by the blood and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is applied to our life by turning to God in repentance by faith in Jesus. We are washed by water in baptism. And we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Repentance = Justified
Baptism = Washed
Holy Spirit = Sanctified
Washed, Sanctified, Justified
1 Corinthians 6:11,
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
We are Justified by the blood and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is applied to our life by turning to God in repentance by faith in Jesus. We are washed by water in baptism. And we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Repentance = Justified
Baptism = Washed
Holy Spirit = Sanctified
All through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, God shows His plan of salvation in blood, water, and Spirit. These are shown in scripture in both words and in types, symbols, and shadows that give a picture and example.
Blood, Water, and Spirit In Exodus
In the account of Exodus, the people of God put blood on the top and sides of the door posts of their house. The blood was applied in the pattern of the cross, signifying the blood of the cross. The cross that Jesus was crucified on spiritually represents repentance for us, where we are crucified with Christ. So that's where the blood is applied at, in repentance. Then after that, Moses led the people of God through the Red Sea, which represents baptism for us, where our sins are wahed away in the water of baptism, just like Pharoah and his army were swept away by the waters of the Red Sea.
And God's Spirit was with them in the form of a cloud by day and a pilar of fire by night, which represented the Holy Ghost. So in the account of Exodus, we see a picture of blood, water, and Spirit in God's plan of salvation.
Also, the blood was applied to the houses of the people of Israel before they went through the Red Sea. So these are two separate events where the blood and water are applied at. The blood is applied in repentance. And the water is applied in baptism.
In Romans 4:7, it says, "... Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered". So our sins can be forgiven and covered, but not be washed away. So again, these are two separate events.
Many believe that the blood is applied in baptism, because that's where remission of sins are given. But it's a two-step process. Blood, water, and Spirit are three witnesses in the earth. The reason why is because by law, "at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established", Deuteronomy 19:15.
So when we repent then the blood of Jesus covers our sins. But that's only one witness. But when we're baptized, then there's two witnesses, the minimun by law, and the blood and the water bear witness together, and our sins are washed away. And when we have all three witnesses in our life, blood, water, and Spirit, then that meets the maximum rquirement.
Blood, Water, and Spirit In The Tabernacle
In the Tabernacle, sacrifices were offered on the altar. This is where the blood is at. And this also represents the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins. And also represents repentance for us. Then there was the laver of washing, where the water is. And there was the Holy Place, where the Spirit of God was over in the form of cloud or fire, which again, is the Holy Ghost.
It's important to note that if the priest or high priest didn't make the sacrifice at the altar and had the blood, and if they didn't wash at the lavar, then God would have struck them dead when they entered into the Holy Place. That's why we must repent before we can receive the Holy Ghost. When we repent, then God forgives us and covers our sins by the blood of Jesus, and we are made acceptable unto God, and we are able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can receive the Spirit once we've repented before we are washed with water by the grace of God, but we must still be baptized. We can't change the plan or pattern that God has established and ordained for us to follow. There's a lot of things that a person can reason and come up with excuses to not be baptized, and say we don't have to be baptized to be saved. But we shouldn't temp God.
If the people of Israel didn't follow Moses through the Red Sea as God had commanded them, then they would have died.
So in the Tabernacle, again, we see a picture of blood, water, and Spirit in God's plan of salvation.
Blood, Water, and Fire (Spirit) In The Earth
God even uses the earth itself as an example of the new birth in blood, water, and Spirit. In the days of Noah, the earth was flooded. This was a double picture of baptism. Because not only did the flood represent baptism for Noah and the people on the ark, but the earth itself was baptized, being completely covered in water. This is where the water is applied to the earth.
And in Revelation Revelation 14:20, it says, "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs". This is where the blood is applied to the earth.
And in 2 Peter 3:10 - 13, it says that the heavens and the earth that exist now will be burned up and there will be new heavens and a new earth. Fire is also symbolic of the Holy Ghost. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire".
So the earth being burned up with fire is also the earth being used to represent us being baptized with the Holy Ghost. So in the earth, we see a picture of blood, water, and Spirit in God's plan of salvation.
But notice that the earth doesn't become a new earth until all three elements are fulfilled in it, blood, water, and fire. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".
Many people misunderstand this verse. Because just like the earth doesn't become a new earth until all three elements are fulfilled in it, blood, water, and fire, we also aren't born again yet and become a new creature in Christ until all three elements are fulfilled in us, blood, water, and Spirit. And these are applied in repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
So God shows us all through the Bible how His plan of salvation is made up of the three elements of blood, water, and Spirit. And these are applied to our life by repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Bringing It All Together
So according to the Bible, those who believe the gospel will turn to God in repentance, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit. And by doing so, they will be crucified, buried, and resurrected with Christ. And they will have the blood, water, and Spirit applied to their life and bear witness together that they have believed. They will be justified by Christ, and washed of their sins, and will be sanctified. They will be born again and made new in Christ.
“Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit”
- Acts 2:38 -
PS: We can receive the Holy Ghost at any time after we've repented from the heart. It could be the moment after you repent. It could be before you're baptized, while you're being baptized, or sometime after. The baptism of the Holy Ghost doesn't always happen in the exact order given in Acts 2;38. Repentance is required before you can be baptized in water or receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, but once you've repented, then either one can happen in any order. So if you receive the Holy Ghost first without being baptized, then you still must be baptized, it's still a part of God's plan of salvation.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:3 - 14.
"Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Ephesians 6:23 & 24.
Testimony To The Apostolic Message of The Gospel:
After I was introduced to the Apostolic teaching about salvation and the onenss of God, I wanted to know if these things were really true or not. So I started going to God about it and asking him to let me know if these things are true, and searching through the scriptures. And not only did God let me to know that they are true, but God kept continuing teaching me more about it, and using me to share this gospel with others, God bearing witness to them Himself by His Spirit. I testify by the name of Jesus, that this is the true gospel of Christ that the Bible speaks of. God is witness.
My Testimony
http://ronstestimony.blogspot.com
"The Truth About Salvation" Flyer.
Copy and Print to hand out. There's a space at the bottom for Church or Contact information.
Apostolic Church Directories:
http://www.upci.com/churchlocator
http://www.apostolicpentecostalchurches.org
http://www.apostolic-churches.com
