The Truth About Salvation

This is a fabulous video for learning and understanding God's Plan of Salvation according to Scripture.

Meanwhile, here is the transcript for your convenience and your further study.

"The time will come when they shall not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables." I mean what is truth? This question has been at the forefront of philosophical debate for many years yet there is only one answer: the Word of God. God's Word is the only real source of truth that we have anything we believe outside of his word is subject to error and anything we believe contrary to his word - it's a lie! How we think or feel is irrelevant to the truth. The truth stands all by itself. Paul writes in the book of Romans, “What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid! Yay, let God be true but every man a liar.” It doesn't matter if every person in the world believes in a lie.  God's Word will stand true. “All flesh is grass and all the glory of men as the flower of grass. The grass withers. The flower thereof fades away, but the word  of the Lord endures forever.”

Since there's only one source of truth, then why are there so many beliefs and denominations and doctrines? The Bible says there is only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. That means if there is a hundred different beliefs about what it takes to be saved, only one of them can be right. God has designed one way to inherit eternal life one plan of salvation uniformed for all believers.  There's no picking or choosing or customizing your own plan of salvation. So, how do we know which way is right? By looking to the source of truth: the Word of God.

Now, the Bible is composed of many mysteries. Some due to the fact that it  was translated from a different language, others references to a time and culture that differs from ours, and some are prophetic mysteries which are dark and difficult to understand and that's the way God intended them to be so that they would only be understood when the time came to pass. However, a large portion of Scripture does not need any interpretation or extra commentary. When Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” He simply meant stop sinning! We don't need the Greek word for “go” or the cultural views of the time on sin. Many study Bibles today are filling up with more commentary than actual Scripture and this is something we need to be careful of because we cannot replace the Word of God with the word of man. In fact, the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself.

God's Word is consistent from Genesis to revelations in that it does not contradict itself.

“All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine.”

It's  important that we don't support our  beliefs by pulling scriptures out of the Bible, but rather go to the Bible to find out what to believe because many times  in an effort to support our own beliefs we take scriptures out of context and end up in error.

So, what does the Bible say about salvation? What shall we do? This question was asked thousands of years ago to Peter on the day of Pentecost who had just finished preaching a message about Jesus Christ.  Peter didn't instruct them to have faith and believe in Jesus because we know they already believed his words about Christ. The Bible says that they ‘were pricked in their heart’ it was their faith that led them to ask the question, “What shall we do?” Therefore, Peter’s response was instructions for those who already believed in Jesus. It wasn't good enough for the people just to believe, but they had to act on their faith being obedient to the Word of God. James 2 “What does it profit my brother if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say to them ‘depart in peace, be warm and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for their body, what does it profit thus?” Also, faith by itself if it does not have works. Dead talk is cheap and just saying something with your mouth does not constitute faith. True faith is when we act upon what the Word of God instructs us to do.

So, what should we do? Peter gives us the answer in Acts chapter 2 verse 38 and contrary to popular Christian teachings, it wasn't to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. The Bible says that Peter said unto them, “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Here Peter gives us God's simple and clear plan of salvation, “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ  for the remission of your sins and you  will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Peter also lets us know that this promise was not just for the group of people he was talking to but these were instructions to all people from every nation as many as God will call. This  means repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit applies to everyone  just as Jesus boldly stated to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  

What does it mean to repent? Repentance isn’t just being sorrowful or having tears or feeling bad.  Repentance is taking direct action to turn away from sin. The Bible says that Godly sorrow leads us to repentance unto salvation. When we understand that we're sinful, it causes us to be sorrowful for our trespasses against God and turn from our evil ways. If you could summarize the message of John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, it was to repent. John instructed the believers to bring forth fruit, meat for repentance. Now he wasn’t talking about literal fruits, but actions. He told the tax collector to stop cheating, the soldiers to stop making false accusations. The act of repentance truly prepares us to receive Jesus Christ. We cannot continue the sin and please God.  Paul asks, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?”

Some doctrines teach that we will always continue this sin daily and God will continue to cover us with His grace forever, but the Bible says, “God forbid! Don't you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.” No sinner or person who actively sins will inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus stated, “Except you repent, you shall likewise perish.”  Repentance, however, is only the first step for a believer towards salvation.  You can't just stop there. You must be born again of the water and the spirit in order to be cleansed of your sins and receive power to live a life free from sin.  

Peter's second instruction was to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Christ Jesus shed his blood on the cross to remove our sins, but his blood is not automatically applied to our lives.  The work Jesus did on the cross is only applied to our lives by calling on the name of Jesus in Baptism. Jesus told his disciples, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”  Baptism does not cleanse us physically, but spiritually.  1 Peter 3:21 states that “The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us, not to putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The only way to have a good conscience towards God is to be cleansed of sin. After Paul received his sight in the book of Acts, Ananias asked him, “Why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.”  We can see here from the scriptures that the purpose of baptism is to spiritually wash away our sins. It is not an optional step toward salvation, it is a commandment and it is critical in order to receive the work of atonement that Jesus performed on the cross.  

The third instruction Peter gives is to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God dwelling inside of a person. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was prophesied by Joel that in the last days God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh and this prophecy was fulfilled in the book of Acts chapter2.  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a fire and it sat upon each of them and they  were all filled with the Holy Ghost and  began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Receiving the Holy Spirit is necessary for salvation. Jesus said in John 3 “Except the man be born of the water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. For that which is born of flesh is flesh. , and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say you must be born again. It is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God if you have not been born again of the Spirit. Paul writes in Romans 8:9, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. If you do not have the Spirit of God in you, you do not belong to him. The great news is the Holy Spirit is a gift. You don't have to earn it or work for it. God is more than willing to give it to those who ask in faith. “Marvel not that I say unto you you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes so it is as everyone who was born of the Spirit.”  These words Jesus spoke concerning those who are born of the Spirit. He compares the spirit to the wind. Like the wind, the Spirit of God is invisible. You can't see it. You can't tell where it comes or where it goes, but Jesus tells us that the evidence of the presence of the wind is that you will hear the sound. So, how will you know you have received the Holy Spirit? You will hear the sound.

Let's look at three different accounts of believers receiving the Holy Spirit in the Bible.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those that heard the word and those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had  been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”  

“When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

In every recorded account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says that they spoke with other tongues. When the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the day of Pentecost to the hundred and twenty disciples of Jesus, the Bible says that they spoke with other tongues. When Cornelius in his household, the first group of Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit were filled, the Bible says that they spoke with other tongues. When the disciples of John the Baptist who had to be baptized a second time because their first baptism was only unto repentance and not in the name of Jesus, when they received the Holy Spirit, they spoke with other tongues.

One uniformed plan of salvation with one uniformed experience for all believers! The evidence is speaking in other tongues. God didn't give us a vague, ambiguous sign to leave us in uncertainty or doubt, but he gave us a sure, supernatural sign of his presence. The only way Peter knew that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit was because they heard them speak with other tongues. “While Peter was still  speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those that heard the word and those of the circumcision who  believed were astonished, as many as came  with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

God is not an author of confusion. Everyone who receives the gift of the Holy Spirit has the same experience. God's Word has not changed. The same born-again experience that the Apostles witnessed is being experienced today. The same sign of speaking in tongues is still the evidence of the Holy Spirit today.

Maybe you're saying to yourself, “I haven't experienced these things,” or “I haven't taken these steps that Peter described in acts 2:38.” You may have made a confession at an altar or repeated the sinner's prayer, but haven't been baptized in the name of Jesus. Maybe you've been baptized but they only called on the titles ‘Father Son and Holy Spirit’ and left out the name of Jesus. Harden not your heart. Maybe you felt excited at a church service and cried tears of joy and someone told you that you had the Holy Spirit, but you've never spoken tongues. Harden not your heart.  There's only one way to inherit eternal life.  A man once asked Jesus, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” and Jesus told him, “Strive that you may enter in at the strait gate. For many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able. The way to eternal life is a narrow path the wide path which is full of doing your own thing, making verbal confessions without actions, and doing the best you can do will only lead to destruction, but the narrow way leads to eternal life.

My friend, if you believe the Word of God which has been spoken unto you, you have found the entrance to the narrow way. You have found the keys to eternal life. What do you have to do? Just as Peter said 2,000 years ago, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For, this promise is unto you and to your children and to all those that are far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

This is the way, now walk therein. 

Reading Scripture Reading Plan 

The Bible Project Resources

Lesson 1 

Intro Video

Lesson 1 Genesis 1-11

TBP Video: Gen. 1-11 from the Read Scripture Series:
Gen. 1-3
Hear Scripture Read Aloud:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+1-3&version=KJV

Gen. 4-7
TBP Video: The Image of God
Hear the Scripture Read Aloud:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+4-7&version=KJV

Gen. 8-11
TBP Video: Genesis 1-11 from the Torah Series
Hear the Scripture Read Aloud:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.+8-11&version=KJV

See Discussion Questions and Study Guide

Meditation: Psalm 1

Can anyone with the Holy Spirit Speak in Tongues?

Recently, I shared with someone that everyone who has the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues.  The person, a long-time minister, replied 'Well, you may be right, but you may also be wrong.'  

I was shocked.  Some of you reading this may be saying to yourselves - well, isn't he correct?  

The answers to questions like these may only be found in Scripture.  This is our authority in all things.  So, let me share with you what the Word itself has to say.  [see John 1:1-14 to understand the scope, source, and authority of the Word]

Let's consider the following two passages:  

Firstly, Acts 10:

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

We learn much from this small section of Scriptures!  First, they indicate that the Holy Spirit was poured out.  How did they know?  v. 46 FOR they HEARD them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Next, this was part of the baptism experience - one baptism which includes the washing and remission of sins, as we are buried with Christ, followed or preceded by fire from Heaven which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and sign to them that they had indeed received the Holy Spirit, the baptism promised by John the Baptist when he said 'there is one coming after who will baptize with fire...' Note, too, that it was done 'in the name of Jesus Christ.'

In fact, it is no secret that the Catholic church changed the rite of baptism from full emersion as well as using Jesus' name.  A quick Google will provide the answer.  It's in their encyclopedia.  It is no secret because they believe that the church has the authority (meaning what they say goes even when it contradicts or changes the Word of God) because as Peter was told when given the keys to Heaven that whatever he said would loose and bind things, roughly speaking, ignoring the fact that not one word of Scripture will go away.  Later we'll address what Peter actually said.  

If that's not enough evidence, let's look at another passage in Acts 19.

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[b] and prophesied.7 There were about twelve men in all.

Clearly, these passages support the earlier observations of the events which took place in Cornelius' house, both the practice of baptizing in Jesus' name as well as the baptism of fire whose characteristics include speaking in tongues (vs. a tongue) and prophesying.  Were they disobedient to Matthew 28:19?  No!  God is a spirit.  The Holy Spirit is a spirit. Jesus is the name above all names. If we want to be technical, consider 'in the name of' as being singular - and so we ask 'What's the name?'  Of course, it is Jesus and we are instructed to do all things in His name (Col. 3:17) and we have this record of how the Apostles carry out those instructions properly and fully.

Certainly, there are many, many more.  If truly we are going to be a fellowship which follows the teachings of Scripture, are not the acts of the Apostles, taught by Jesus on how to birth new believers into the church, our starting point and model?  We also observe that there is an urgency to these events.  When the characteristics of belief (and Heaven's rebirth/approval) appear, the rites are performed.  No exception.  Nowhere in Scripture do we see people mulling over their decision to perform these rites once someone believes.  Nor do they argue or vary in how they minister the rites.  It's all done the same way according to Acts 2:38 - by Peter, who held the keys to the kingdom of Heaven! [See, I told you I'd get to this!]  His was the first message of the church age!  And the fruit of his preaching was that 3000 were added to the church that day.  Yes, as we sing, we need another Pentecost!  Fire from Heaven!  

We ought not to be surprised at these things.  Jesus foretold of them when he spoke to Nicodemus indicating that, as you pointed out, the Holy Spirit comes like the wind.  The part you've left off, however, is crucial to our understanding:  'you hear its sound and so it is with everyone born of the spirit.'  [John 3: 3-5] There is some kind of 'sound' evidence when the Holy Spirit comes into a new believer.  We find no exceptions indicated in Scripture where they specifically describe that neither tongues or prophesy were needed or spoken as a result of the believer's awakening.  

How can we ignore the foundation of church doctrine - the very instructions and acts of the Apostles in birthing new believers into the church?  The name of Jesus is the authority.  The Spirit gives life and all its benefits.  Are we equipped to work in ministry and leading other believers if we ourselves have not been obedient to Scripture? 

You may be saying to yourselves - but I've witnessed changed lives and heart healings!  We know from Scripture that Jesus is compassionate.  Did he not heal many?  Were they all saved?  Is God not good and merciful?  Why, yes he is.  Scripture tells us that God may be with us, but it's important that he be in us. [See Romans 8:9 for the warning there.]

I am well aware of the arguments against these teachings.  I've heard from seminary graduates, pastors and their kids raised in the church, preachers/teachers and more... What I always ask, myself first, is have I been obedient to the verses they show me?  And how do they line up, or agree, with the ones I've offered?  Oftentimes, the one arguing has obeyed the ones they've selected, but not, for example, these ones above.  

The fact of the matter is that we are still living in the church age and the Book of Acts is where the church, as an institution and as believers, begins.  

Furthermore, the picture of the church is that each of us has different gifts within the body.  Not everyone can be a hand or an eye, right?  So, isn't it amazing that entire congregations, around the globe and for ages and ages, have been given this same gift, speaking in tongues?  How can this be if it is a gift to some and not others?  Doesn't it make much more sense, however, to understand that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is part of the baptism experience - one baptism - of water (repentance) and fire (promised by John the Baptist, and described by Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 as the heavenly rebirth of water and spirit, prophesied in Joel) as we call on the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? And that adopted into his family, recalling the picture of marriage where the bride takes her husband's name, we do this in Jesus' name?  This explanation aligns perfectly with all Scripture.  The reverse, not so much.  This is my testimony as a witness to the salvation of Christ through faith.  We cannot forfeit the glory God has shown us.

So, what is the use in arguing?  It does not change Scripture, does it?  I am at peace because, thankfully, these are not my teachings nor my sayings.  I have shown you the Word of God to which we are committed in our home.  We will follow these teachings and we will share these teachings wherever they are welcome.  If they are not welcome, we understand and are not offended.  

This is Just a Season... in a Safe Place

Sometimes, God has you in a safe place.

Several years ago, I experienced a layoff at work from my position as a marketing manager.  I was unemployed for 15 months.  I thought I was washed up and my career was over.  That said, I was finally able to get hired as an administrative assistant at a local university.  Just after my layoff, my former supervisor suggested that I read a book called 'Reinvention' which was a career advice book about changing careers.  It had some interesting advice, but in my heart, I just didn't think that was the right choice for me.  Change industries, perhaps, but no longer work in marketing or communications?  It was not what I wanted.

As a Christian, I can tell you that I could not see the way forward.  I knew there was a way forward, but I had no clue what the outcome would be or when the season would be over.  I just kept doing what I knew to do to move forward.

So, I did get a job as an administrative assistant.  It was a good job.  I enjoyed both my job and my co-workers.  I embraced new ways of using my skills to help the efforts of the professors and their students:  flyers, department brochure, video/video editing, facebook page, etc.  I had fun!

Then recruiters began to contact me.  What was this?  So, I felt - OK, God is telling me 'Now!  Now I have a position for you - the right team, the right salary.'  Within two weeks I had a new job, great salary and most everyone in the department - particularly the supervisor, were all new hires.

You see, sometimes, God tucks you away in a safe place and closes doors or creates 'weird' obstacles because you aren't meant to stay where he has you.  It is a temporary place.  A short season.

You may find that God has promised to open up a door to work somewhere or even worship somewhere, to marry someone - though you don't know their name - but in each case, you have a clear description of what that situation or relationship will be like.  You've prayed about it and you know God is faithful.  So as you pursue these various options to see which of these is the 'right' one, you may end up in a job where advancement is not an option, ministry opportunity or vision is misaligned, or communications and courting are just more difficult than they ought to be.

I want to tell you, friend, you are in a temporary place for just a season.  It is easy not to recognize your situation as temporary!  But be careful, in this place, you can become frustrated and give up (on your dreams).  I've been there! 

Jer. 28:19 tells us that God knows the plans he has for us - plans to prosper us and not harm us!

So, what do you do?  In that place, be calm.  Look up.  Nod and say to yourself  'I get it.  This is just temporary and what we've discussed is still in the works, but Your timing is perfect!'

Ps 91:2 says 'I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.'

Ps 27:14 says this: 'Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Wait upon the Lord.  Do what is right and all you know to do allowing God to show you things, learn from those experiences and when the time is right, he will open that door - blessing you BEYOND what you've asked!

God has done this in my life time and time again.  I hope this testimony encourages someone.  If you are in a place which seems 'not quite right,' maybe you are in a temporary season or place while God is working out with the right resources, the right team, the right environment - for your benefit, according to your prayers.  So, be calm.  Look up.  Nod and say 'I get it.'

Realize, too, that when you depart one situation (and do this without malice and with all grace), people may not wish you well.  They may even curse you, shun you, or disparage your name.  Don't worry about it.  God's got your back - keep doing all you know to do as He is directing and guiding you to do!

Blessings to you!  If this encouraged you, will you please like and share this message?

Keys to the Kingdom for Believers

Keys to the Kingdom for BELIEVERS

When learning how a car operates, we learn that a key turns the ignition, oil must be at an adequate level in the motor and gas is required to turn over the engine so that it may run, then one must release the break and/or put it in drive and press on the gas pedal.  These instructions may not necessarily be together or presented in that precise order within your car's manual, yet we know these things must come together for the car to work properly and get you from point A to B.

Likewise, the Bible has instructions for the whole of human history divided into 'dispensations' where there were varying requirements for salvation.
 

So many well-meaning Christians stop too soon in the message of salvation - stopping at a prayer or a simple verbal confession.  Ever hear that your profession of faith was all you need to be saved?  The justification of this statement is that no one can profess Jesus as Lord unless he is born from above - meaning that you have already had your spiritual rebirth.  

 

But this was not how the early Christians birthed believers into the church.  No, this was changed later on - centuries later and has progressed down this road ever since and pervades all modern 'Christian' churches today, and not just evangelical ones.  This teaching comes from, among other places, Romans 10, an epistle to the church at Rome.  It is important to know that this is a letter and that it was to a church because the church are the born-again believers in Christ.  This portion of the letter discusses the belief of Israel who would not accept Christ as the Messiah.  If they would but confess, they would receive salvation because it would indicate that the hardness of their hearts had changed and turned toward God.  That is true repentance!  And 'be saved' or 'unto salvation' is a future event that would then follow their belief and repentance.  No one is saved prior to repentance, but there is the possibility to believe, repent and then receive the Holy Spirit followed lastly by water baptism where we take on the name of Jesus and die in Christ (Romans 6:6-9 - which comes before Romans 10...).  Romans 10 also continues regarding the need for belief first, but in order to believe, one must hear the gospel and in order to hear the gospel, one must have a preacher... this is the teaching.  It always works in this order:  instruction, then correction - all in gentleness and in love.

Here are some encyclopedic references for your consideration:

Britannica Encyclopedia, 11th Edition, Volume 3, page 365 – Baptism was changed from the name of Jesus to words Father, Son & Holy Ghost in 2nd Century. Canney Encyclopedia of Religion, page 53 – The early church baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the second century.
Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion, Volume 2 – Christian baptism was administered using the words, "in the name of Jesus." page 377. Baptism was always in the name of Jesus until time of Justin Martyr, page 389.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, page 263 – Here the authors acknowledged that the baptismal formula was changed by their church.
Schaff – Herzog Religious Encyclopedia, Volume 1, page 435 – The New Testament knows only the baptism in the name of Jesus.
Hastings Dictionary of Bible, page 88 – It must be acknowledged that the three fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church, but rather in the name of Jesus, Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus. 
http://www.upcbaypoint.com/Articles2/early_church_baptism.html (a GREAT link which includes Biblical references as well to Baptisms in the Bible - not a single one performed in titles, all in Jesus' name!)

Or how many stop at water baptism stating it's an outward sign of what's happened already inside?  If that were true then was the Ethiopian Eunuch sufficiently baptized?  The Scriptures do not indicate there were any witnesses - maybe there was an entourage with this Eunuch since he was in the Queen's service, but his presence was not of any official nature, he had come to worship when Philip found him.  Philip confirmed the man's belief first and then, thanks to his belief, agreed to baptize him.  Baptism is for believers - but belief alone is not sufficient for the Scriptures tell us that if we believe that's good, but even devils believe (James 2:19 - and this one goes so far as to say they believe in ONE God).  But what did you do with your belief?  Ready to put it into action? Remember, faith without works is dead.  (James 2:14-26)

Still not convinced?  How about the preaching and obedience of the Apostle Peter who had already had a revelation of Christ when Jesus asked the Disciples who do you say I am?  And yet his journey into salvation was not complete and he preached the first sermon of the Church age (after the 120 received the indwelling Holy Spirit in the upper room - that power and fire baptism promised to them):  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=NKJV

Or other Disciples who were not in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost?  They were specifically asked - have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?  They answered no and were both baptized and received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+19%3A1-10&version=NKJV

 

Notice, too, their urgency and immediacy with obedience to the fullness of the instructions they received - there was no time gap from their belief/acceptance of the gospel message and their obedience to the instructions being made into disciples - receiving the fullness of salvation receiving both authority and power through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Folks, this is the full message of the Gospel concerning salvation.  Less is simply less.  Now, who wants more of God?

#Salvation, #WholeGospel , #Acts2:38

Four Principles of Victory - 4/1/2014

Live in Victory!  Or your children will wander from the faith...

What a great message today from Adrian Rogers to encourage us that if we aren't living in the victory purchased for us, we are failing not only to live out a worthy testimony, but we are failing the next generation most assuredly!  It is a choice - turn to Him and live according to his design for your life by getting the Word in you and obeying it's teachings!

Four Principles of Victory - 4/1/2014

You
have an enemy, the biggest troublemaker in the church. In this message
Dr. Rogers describes him and even calls his name. Find out who your
enemy is (it's not who you think) and learn four ways you must use to
defeat him.



Find that recording on this link:



http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/player/four-principles-of-victory-399495.html

How Do You Recognize God's Voice?

His Word - Our Relationship

 I've been asked twice over the past week - how do you know it's God speaking to you?  Well, let's think about that from a practical experience to which everyone can relate.  Think about the people you know.  When you call them, do you recognize their voice?  When you were a child, did you recognize the voice of a parent or guardian?  Of course you did!  Why?  Because you knew them.  You had a relationship with them.

It's the same with Jesus.  When we spend time with him (reading his Word #1, prayer and worship), we, too, will recognize his voice.  The more we obey that voice, the more he will trust us and we him.

Folks, it's a relationship!

John 10:27-30
New King James Version (NKJV)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

Know the Word, Know God, Control your Thought Life

2 Cor 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

"At this point of maturity, those practiced at knowing God's voice need not pretend or merely hope. They can speak with authority, conviction, and results (Rom. 12:2). They need not be double-minded or resort to psychological gymnastics (James 1:5-8). They can pray in real faith (James 5:15). For "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17)." ~ Acts 17:11 Bible Study:  Hearing God

He will guide you and direct you, Trust in Him

Isa 30:20-21 (NIV) Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

John 10:2-5 (NIV) "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

The Works of the Lord are not necessarily earth-shaking

1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Spend time with Him and eventually you will know his voice for yourself!