Apostolic Salvation

 

According To The Book Of Acts

 

Introduction:

 

The first thing I would like to ask you is: (1) Are you honest hearted and sincere about wanting to know the truth about this subject...according to the Bible? (2) Are you willing to receive or accept what the Bible teaches about salvation? If not, let's not waste your time, my time and certainly not God's time. Having said that...if you're sincere about wanting to learn the genuine "Bible Truth", let us proceed.

 

The religious world today is steeped in pagan practices and traditions of their Elders. The question of “Water Baptism” is the dividing line for many bodies. If the Bible was accepted by all of us as the true word of God and all would let it be the final say, the controversy over this well worn subject would once and forever end. It is settled because the Bible says that God's word is forever settled and it will not change. It is the same yesterday, today and forever! Amen. It's just that people let the Devil slip in and change the true meaning of what God has ordained! But, I want to tell you something...that does not change the Bible Truth! Most differences are based upon certain practices handed down for generations, many which are contrary and taken out of context with Bible truth.

 

My appeal to you is not new evidence, thought or theory, but rather back to the Bible as the only source we can fully rely upon. I am fully aware that this is not a subject to study or take lightly or irreverently as Baptism was inaugurated for the Church by our Lord. I therefore give these scriptures in the fear of God, knowing that I must give an account to God not only for myself but for all that hear me. I Timothy 4:16.

 

Inspiration Of The Word Of God.

 

We must always remember that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (correct), thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21. The Bible was written under the inspiration of God. The question is asked by some, “If the Bible is the word of God, then why does it contradict itself?' They are trying to take one scripture or a part of a scripture to try to establish a doctrine or belief, but the Bible teaches “ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” II Peter 1:20. As we will notice later on that there are many scriptures that are worded differently but teach the same thing.

 

Acts 2:38 . This is the one book in the Bible that gives us a “blue-print” of what we must do if we desire to be saved or to enter into the kingdom of God. All the epistles that Paul wrote to the various other churches: Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, etc are mere letters to the various other churches that had already experienced the “Book of Acts” plan of salvation. That's why Paul saluted them as brethern/sisters in the lord. They had the same experience with God and he was merely coming along and shoring-up or helping them to strengthen their spiritual houses so they could stay saved! Acts 2:38 plainly says: (1) Repent, (2) Be Baptized in Jesus' name for the remission (forgiveness) of your sins and (3) and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If you don't complete these commandments...then you're not in the kingdom of God! In Acts 2:41 the scripture says that those that gladly received the word were baptized and were added to the kingdom. Gladly receiving the word means they accepted it spontaneously without question. They believed the word!

 

Is Water Baptism Required For Salvation?

 

It is a Bible Command-Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ACTS 2:38.

 

Without it we have no promise of being like him in the resurrection-For IF we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Romans 6:5.

 

Without it we have no promise of being saved-He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16.

 

Without it we can not enter the kingdom of God-Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born OF WATER and of the SPIRIT, he can not enter into the Kingdom of God. John 3:5. But the pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30.

 

Jesus, our great example, was baptized, saying unto John, “And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. “Matthew 3:15. How could we expect to be saved without following the example of the Lord and obeying his command ? WATER baptism alone will never save anyone, but it is an important part of the ONE AND ONLY PLAN OF SALVATION. ACTS 2:38.

 

Does Baptism Mean Immersion?

 

The first place mentioning water baptism in the New Testament is in Matthew 3:5-6, where it speaks of John's baptism “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him IN Jordan, confessing their sins.”

 

The simple narrative here is that John was baptizing in the river Jordan. If baptizing was done by any other means than immersion, why would John have used the river and why did all come unto him? The account that Mark 1:9-10 gives, says, “and it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descending upon him.”

 

Here we have Christ being baptized in Jordan and straightway coming up out of the water. “And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was MUCH WATER there. John 3:23. Seeing that much water was needed in order to baptize. In Acts 8:38, the account of baptism of the eunuch, it says, “and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Paul tells us in Romans 6:4. We are BURIED with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been PLANTED together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. “Here we have pictured BURIAL and PLANTING as an evidence to the manner of baptism. Paul also says in Colossians 2:12, “Buried with him in baptism.” No place does the Bible teach any other way than immersion. That which the Bible commands must be done as was originally inaugurated and intended if the Lord God recognizes it. That the rite of baptism may be of God or of men is implied when Jesus asked the Pharisees regarding John the Baptist. “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” Answer me! Mark 11:30. The Bible is all that God will recognize.

 

The Formula For Water Baptism:

 

The command to the one that is to do the baptizing is: BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF; and to the one that is to be baptized is, BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF. There are six places in the New Testament that tell us how to be baptized that I would like to study with you,and only two of the six are worded alike. Does the Bible contradict itself? Here are the scriptures: (1) Matthew 28:19,...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (2) Luke 24:47, And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (3) Acts 2:28,...be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (4) Acts 8:16,...they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (5) Acts 10:48,...he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (6) Acts 19:5,...they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Which one of these is the Bible formula for baptism, as the Bible only teaches one way? Let us study each one prayerfully and see if they contradict one another.

 

1. Matthew 28:19,...BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. If everyone would do just what this verse teaches, “BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF”, for nowhere in the Bible does it teach us to use the words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; but said to do it in the NAME. As we are commanded to baptize in the name, then we must know what the name is. I know that this is the dividing line of many, saying that Jesus told us to use the words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and that anything else is of the Devil. Poor blind-deceived people. It is a proven fact that these words were never used in baptism for several hundred years after the New Testament Church started, and it was used first by the “OLD MOTHER OF HARLOTS,” and her daughters are following in her teaching today. Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Why will people hold to her teachings and reject the Bible? In the name of the father, father being a title and not a name, then what is his name? In John 5:43, the Son said, “I am come in my Father's name...” So, the Father and the Son had the same name. In the name of the Holy Ghost,this is not a name but in John 14:26, the Son said that the Holy Ghost would be sent in his name, so the Father and Holy Ghost had the same name as the Son. If we find the name of the son, then we know what name to baptize in, because the Bible said to baptize in the name, (name being singular). “Thou shalt call his name JESUS.” Matthew 1:21...his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke 2:21. The son's name is Jesus, he came in his Father's name, and the Holy Ghost was sent in his name, so when we baptize in the name of Jesus we do what the Bible teaches us to do, and we are not following the teaching of the “MOTHER OF HARLOTS.” I have had people to say that I do not believe in water baptism in the name of Jesus and I will not have it. May I ask one question here; if the rest of the Bible and the early church taught water baptism in the name of Jesus will you obey and teach it too?

 

2. Luke 24:47...AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. There is nothing hard to understand about this scripture, Jesus said that it should be done in his name beginning at Jerusalem. This is what we found: Matthew 28:19, to teach, there is no contradiction in these two scriptures. Luke 2:21, told us that his name is Jesus, and here he says to baptize in his name.
   
   
   
   

3. Acts 2:38,...BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Here the words Jesus Christ are used, “Jesus Christ.” Is Peter telling us to use these words, and that Christ is part of the name as some people try to make people believe? In verse 36 of this second chapter, Peter says, God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Jesus is Lord and Christ, but his name is Jesus. Matthew 1:16 tells us that he was born Jesus and called Christ. Acts 2:38,...is the fulfillment of Luke 24:47,...and when this is done it fulfills Matthew 28:19,...so there is no contradiction found yet, but each scripture teaches us to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

 

4. Acts 8:16.... THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. Here we find the words “LORD JESUS.” And the Bible says that they were baptized in this name. May I ask again, is his name Lord? “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...Colossians 3:17....”The Lord said I am Jesus.” Acts 9:5. In Acts 8:5, we find that Phillip...preached Christ unto them. In Acts 8:12,...they believed Phillip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and they were baptized. In Acts 8:16, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is “both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36.

 

5. Acts 10:48...AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. These people knew that Peter was not telling them that the name to be baptized in was Lord, for in verse 36 Peter had already told them that Jesus Christ (He) is Lord of all. May I use again Acts 9:5,...”And the Lord said, I am Jesus...” So we can see that in all these scriptures we are to baptize in the name of Jesus, who is Lord and Christ.

 

6. Acts 9:5...THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. This is the same as in Acts 8:16, so we can see that there is no contradiction in the Bible, for ALL scripture teaches the same thing. When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we have obeyed Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, and Acts 19:5 and all the other scriptures that teach us how to be baptized. Have you obeyed it or do you hold to the teachings of the MOTHER OF HARLOTS?

    

 

 

I have given you this with the Bible to back it up. Why will people who say they have the Holy Ghost hate the name of Jesus? We know that the Bible teaches in Mark 13:13,” and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:” Why do people say such hard things about the name of Jesus? “The name of the Lord (Jesus-Acts 9:5) is a strong tower: The righteous run into it , and are safe. “Proverbs 18:10, Wherefore God has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” Philipians 2:9. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” Acts 15:14. Will you be among that number that wears his name? I know, and have met many who say that we would be dishonoring the Father and the Holy Ghost if we were to be baptized in the name of Jesus. If we do what the Bible teaches, then why worry over something that it does not teach? Read Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12. These teach, “Therefore we are buried with him (not them) by baptism into death. “ If you will read Romans 6:3-5, you will see that the Romans were baptized into Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:27 , teaches that the Galatians were baptized into Christ. Every place in the New Testament on water baptism, teaches it in the name of Jesus. I have had people to say, “I just don't like the name of Jesus only.” Paul says in Acts 26:9, “ I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Don't many of the churches today? At no place in the New Testament can be found baptism ever administered to anyone except in the name of Jesus, who is Lord and Christ.

 

Consider Jesus The Christ:

 

The son of man, as mediator between man and God. I Timothy 2:5; Galatians 3:19-20. He is the Everlasting Father and Mighty God. Isaiah 9:6; Revelations 1:8. Jesus claimed to be the Father. John 14:7-9, see I John 2:23. Came in the Father's name. John 5:43, John 17:6 and 26. Claimed to be the I AM of the Old Testament. Exodus 3:14; John 8:19-28; John 8:55-58; John 10:33; John 18:8, the creator of the universe. Genesis 1:1; John 1:10; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2. Was before all things and holds all things together. Colossians 1:17.Was the spoken word that created. Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, etc., with John 1:1, 14. Is the baptizer of the Holy Ghost. John 1:33. Is the Comforter or Holy Ghost. John 14:16-18. Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27. He is the beginning and ending. Revelations 1:8. He is the first and the last (not second person). Revelations 1:17. He convicts the souls of men. Mark 16:20; Revelations 3:20. He came as our redeemer. He died as our Saviour. He's coming again as judge and ruler of the universe. “And with controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest (made known) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” I Timothy 3:16. Why should God's manifestation of Himself in Christ on earth, and yet remaining in the heavens not be received and believed in spite of our lack of understanding? “ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.