Preaching Peace By Jesus Christ -- He Is Lord of All - Part 1130

"His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they shepherds [that] cannot understand. They all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter. Come ye, [say they], I will fetch wine and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, [and] much more abundant." (Isaiah 56:10-12)

Interestingly, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. When these had gone down, they prayed that they might receive the Holy Ghost. Why? "For as yet He was fallen upon none of them -- only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 8:17)

A similar account is found in Acts 19. Therein, it came to pass that -- while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." (Acts 19:1-2)

And Paul said unto them, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John's baptism." (Note: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on Him which should come after him. that is on Christ Jesus."

When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

And when Paul laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied, and all the men were about twelve. (Acts 19:3-6)

Again, in another example, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word, while Peter still spoke. "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost ... for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts 10:44-46)

Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:47-48)

And just in case we still don't get the point that salvation includes being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, we read about the apostles and brethren in Judaea. Herein, the apostles and brethren had heard that the Gentiles had received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them." But Peter rehearsed [explained] [the matter] from the beginning and expounded by order unto them, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me. Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And I heard a voice saying unto me, "Arise, Peter; slay and eat." But I said, "Not so Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth." But the voice answered me again from heaven, "What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common." (Acts 11:1-9)

And this was done three times and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me and we entered into the man's house; and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house which stood and said unto him, "Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter -- who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us in the beginning." (Acts 11:15; Acts 2:37-42)

Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that He said, "John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 11:16)

For as much then as God gave them the like gift as [He did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could withstand God?" When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the Word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21)

"Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch, who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabus to Tarsus for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.

And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea -- which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 11:22-30)

A couple of points worth noting here. From the beginning. The beginning of the Church -- the body of Christ whereby after Jesus was taken up, He through the Holy Ghost commanded the apostles. From the beginning, when on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 people repented and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-42)

"Then remembered I the Word of the Lord -- how that He said ..." (Acts 11:16) The Word of the Lord -- Jesus Christ. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God .. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God -- to them that believe on His name." (John 1:1-18)

Finally, as we read here, salvation was not just about signing a card after asking Jesus into one's life. Neither was salvation about just going to church on Sundays. "And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves within the church and taught much people." (Acts 26) What were they being taught in that year?

The Word of the Lord.  Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. They learned how Jesus taught the apostles to pray and to withstand the trials and tribulations of this world. These learned the good news gospel of Jesus Christ which gives peace and joy beyond man's understanding.

"Now He which stablish us with you in Christ and hath anointed us -- God -- who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts ... not for that we have dominion over your faith; but are helpers of your joy .. for by faith ye stand." (II Corinthians 1:24)

Therefore, like the apostles who received this ministry fainted not -- "renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II Corinthians 4:1-2)

Handle not the Word of God deceitfully, and don't be misled by false teachers who would have you baptized in any other formula -- rather than the name of our Lord God and Saviour. Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ today, as Peter, standing with the eleven commanded. (Acts 2:37-42) And may His epistle be written in your hearts, known and read of all men -- "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone but in fleshy tables of the heart." (II Corinthians 3:2-4)

Stand in the offering plate.