By Whom We Have Received Grace and Apostleship For Obedience To the Faith -- For His Name - Part 1387

"Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, 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 be also [in the likeness] of [His] resurrection, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [Him] that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we should also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he lives, he lives unto God. Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:3-16)

When those who were pricked in their heart on the day of Pentecost -- pricked because Peter (standing with the eleven) told them that this same Jesus whom they had crucified is both Lord and Christ, and they asked what they should do to be saved, Peter told them to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-38)

Why did Peter say this? To inform those who were were pricked in their hearts that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6) And, as part of the apostolic doctrine (in which we are to remain steadfast), believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are to be water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47)

Herein, Peter points to three steps -- repentance, water baptism (the like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and receipt of the Holy Ghost in our hearts and minds. (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21)

These steps are repeated throughout the new testament, and especially the book of Acts, and are included also in the six principles of the doctrine of Christ that dictates believers know and understand -- 1. foundation of repentance from dead works 2. faith toward God 3. the doctrine of baptisms 4. laying on of hands 5. resurrection of the dead 6. eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1-2)

I have stated before that God is not the Author of confusion. Every line and every precept aligns perfectly, and when it appears not to, it is because we have not studied the scriptures enough. This is why we need to search the scriptures for truth. Jesus said, "Sanctify them through Thy truth -- Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)

The Word of the Lord which came unto Hosea prophesied of the new day which was to come. He asked, "Who is wise, and he shall understand these [things]? Prudent and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord [are] right and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." (Hosea 14:9)

Therefore, the Lord said, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from Mine eyes." (Hosea 13:14)

John the baptist was a forerunner for the coming Messiah -- Jesus the Christ. He was described as a voice crying in the wilderness, always pointing to Jesus. His water baptism was unto repentance that should bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. (Matthew 3:8) Indeed, John repeatedly said that he must decrease so that Jesus could increase. Why? Because as John said concerning Jesus, "Lo, behold, the Lamb of God." The new testament opens with John baptizing all of Israel in the Jordan, cleansing/purifying the outside according to custom.

John said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes 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." (Matthew 3:11) "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Mark 1:4) "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins ..." (Luke 3:3)

"When John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." (Acts 13:24)

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." (Acts 19:4)

To the scribes and Pharisees, John called them a generation of vipers. "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham to [our] father," for I say unto you, "That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Luke 3:8)

When Jesus came, note that He did not take repentance or sin away. In fact, Jesus said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32) "But go ye and learn what [that] means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17) There is "likewise joy [that] shall be in heaven," Jesus said, "over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47) This message of repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins is confirmed again in Acts 5:31: "Him hath God exalted with His right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31) And then later, we see repentance unto life granted to the Gentiles. (Acts 11:18) "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21)

"But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20) " ... knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance." (Romans 2:4)

What is repentance? Turning one's heart to the Lord and loving our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, desiring the milk of understanding. In the old testament -- For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength ..." (Isaiah 30:15)

In the new testament -- this current dispensation of grace in which we live, Jesus said to believe that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6) He is the Bread of Life. (John 6:41, 48) He is the Light that cometh into the world, that whosoever believes on Him -- Jesus -- should not abide in darkness. (John 12:44-46) "Abide in Me," Jesus said, "and I in you ..." (John 15:4) Jesus also said, "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son and believes on Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
(For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10)

In other words, seek the Lord while He may be found. Know that today is the day of salvation. Because at the times of people's ignorance, God winked; "but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; [whereof] He hath given assurance unto all [men], in that He hath raised Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

Apostle Paul considered repentance this way. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death." (II Corinthians 7:9)

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Romans 8:5-9)

And repentance is to the acknowledging of the truth. (II Timothy 2:25) The truth that all should come to repentance -- because the Lord that is not slack concerning His promise (as some men count slackness) but rather is long suffering to us-ward is not willing that any should perish. (II Peter 3:9)

There is more to come on this study in the days ahead. In the interim, "grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that be these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world ..." (II Peter 1:2-4)

Stand in the offering plate.