Salvation came when Jesus came to earth and shed His precious holy blood on the cross at Calvary. Period. Herein, the price for our salvation was paid for in full. No more sacrifices and ordinances needed to be made for our sins. No more priests were needed for atonement. Why? Because the Lord was ushering in a new testament; a new covenant so that He could have a family that would take on His name.
His name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
But Jesus did not stay in the tomb. The heavy stone placed in front of the tomb could not hold Him. Yes, indeed, Jesus rose from the dead, ascending into heaven. In the scriptures, we know that the gospels record the life of Jesus Christ - while on earth. Sadly, even still today there are so many people who don’t know Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
So who is Jesus?.
This is a question Jesus asked His disciples, " Who do men say that I am?" The answers varied from John the baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asked a more revealing question, "Who do you say I AM?" Peter quickly responded, "Thou art The Christ, the Son of the Living God." Because of Peter's response, he was promised that God would build His church and that he would give him the keys to the kingdom. (Matthew 16:13-19)
This is a question Jesus asked His disciples, " Who do men say that I am?" The answers varied from John the baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asked a more revealing question, "Who do you say I AM?" Peter quickly responded, "Thou art The Christ, the Son of the Living God." Because of Peter's response, he was promised that God would build His church and that he would give him the keys to the kingdom. (Matthew 16:13-19)
Therefore, Peter was given authority by God to open the door of salvation to all, which we see happening on the day of Pentecost, when Peter (standing with the eleven) told the people what they must do to be saved. (Acts 2:36-41) But I'm getting ahead of myself here.
Peter received the keys when he received the gift of the holy Ghost in Acts 2:1-4. Then Peter having the keys to the Kingdom used them for the first time when he unlocked and opened wide the door of salvation to the Jews." (Acts 2:16-47)
Peter received the keys when he received the gift of the holy Ghost in Acts 2:1-4. Then Peter having the keys to the Kingdom used them for the first time when he unlocked and opened wide the door of salvation to the Jews." (Acts 2:16-47)
What was His message herein?
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."(Acts 2:16-47)
In Acts 8, the Samaritans were water baptized in the Name of Lord Jesus but had not (yet) received the gift of the holy Ghost. Peter and John were then sent to lay hands on those baptized and pray for them that they might receive the holy Ghost. Note that only those water baptized received the gift of the holy Ghost! Note also that the door of salvation was unlocked and now wide open for the Samaritans too.
Peter then was sent to preach the good news Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ unto the Gentiles, and while He was preaching the Word of God, the holy Ghost fell upon them and they began to speak with other tongues and prophesy.
Peter then asked them, "Can any man forbid water that have received the holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47-48) Then he commanded that they were to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And the door was now unlocked and opened wide for the Gentiles to enter in.
So, where did this wonderful message begin? In John 3:1-7, when Jesus was speaking to a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, who was also a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him." Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Luke continues writing into the book of Acts, and more specifically, Acts 1:1-11:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Then Peter said unto them, "REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation."
Then they that gladly received His word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
In Acts 8, the Samaritans were water baptized in the Name of Lord Jesus but had not (yet) received the gift of the holy Ghost. Peter and John were then sent to lay hands on those baptized and pray for them that they might receive the holy Ghost. Note that only those water baptized received the gift of the holy Ghost! Note also that the door of salvation was unlocked and now wide open for the Samaritans too.
Peter then was sent to preach the good news Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ unto the Gentiles, and while He was preaching the Word of God, the holy Ghost fell upon them and they began to speak with other tongues and prophesy.
Peter then asked them, "Can any man forbid water that have received the holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47-48) Then he commanded that they were to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And the door was now unlocked and opened wide for the Gentiles to enter in.
So, where did this wonderful message begin? In John 3:1-7, when Jesus was speaking to a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, who was also a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him." Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Nicodemus then queries how someone can be born again - do I need to re-enter my mother's womb a second time? Jesus answered, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, "Ye must be born again!"
Jesus is clearly saying that being born again is not about a natural birth but rather a spiritual birth. Not being born of the flesh but being born again in the Spirit -- a spiritual birth. (John 3:5; Acts 2:36-38)
Note that there are three accounts of the same teachings by three separate authors on what has come to known as the Great Commission (although notably the words - great commission -- are man's addition to the Word)
The most cited (at least in religious circles - primarily from the daughter churches of Rome) is Matthew 28:19-20, which states, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I AM with you always, even unto the end of the world, amen!" (Matthew 28:19-20)
Mark states the same message this way, "And He said unto them, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: in My Name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)
In Luke, Jesus opens the understanding of the disciples, so that they might understand the scriptures.
"And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things, And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endured with power from on high."
Mark states the same message this way, "And He said unto them, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: in My Name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)
In Luke, Jesus opens the understanding of the disciples, so that they might understand the scriptures.
"And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things, And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endured with power from on high."
And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:47-53)
John writes, "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you." And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be unto you! As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:19-23)
Luke continues writing into the book of Acts, and more specifically, Acts 1:1-11:
"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER THAT HE THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN: TO WHOM ALSO HE SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, BUT WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, WHICH, SAITH HE, "YE HAVE HEARD OF ME"
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" And He said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, BUT WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, WHICH, SAITH HE, "YE HAVE HEARD OF ME"
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" And He said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
Jumping back to Isaiah the prophet wherein we hear His Word (who would later become flesh and dwell among us) ... He Himself speaking by His holy prophet Isaiah who prophesied His spoken WORD of Truth in Isaiah 1:12-20 connects the dots.
"When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts, bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting; your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together", saith the LORD, "though your SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL. If ye be willing and OBEDIENT, ye shall eat the GOOD of the land: But if YE REFUSE and REBEL, ye shall BE DEVOURED with the SWORD: for the MOUTH of THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT." (Isaiah 1:12-20)
"When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts, bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting; your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together", saith the LORD, "though your SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL. If ye be willing and OBEDIENT, ye shall eat the GOOD of the land: But if YE REFUSE and REBEL, ye shall BE DEVOURED with the SWORD: for the MOUTH of THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT." (Isaiah 1:12-20)
Notice the choice -- somewhat similar to when the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Choose life or choose death, but I the Lord encourage you to choose life!" We can accept the Lord Jesus wherein our sins shall be as white as snow, OR , we can refuse and rebel and be devoured by the very inventions we seek solace in.
Moving forward to Acts, wherein the apostles gave us clear examples of how to walk with the Lord, being led by His Spirit, we see Saul, after learning and accepting who Jesus is asked the question, "What shall I do?" He was not alone. Those dwelling at the house of Israel, after hearing Peter preach and then accepting Jesus as both their Lord and Christ also asked, "What shall we do?"
Did they receive different answers? Of course not, because God is not the Author of confusion. We see the responses in both Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38. From these scriptures:
"And I said, "What shall I do, Lord?" And the Lord said unto me, "ARISE, and gp into Damascus; and there IT SHALL BE TOLD THEE OF ALL THINGS WHICH ARE APPOINTED FOR THEE TO DO." And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, "Brother Saul, receive thy sight." And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto ALL men of what thou hast SEEN and HEARD. And now why tarriest thou? ARISE, AND BE BAPTIZED, AND WASH AWAY THY SINS, CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD."
Note that Saul was told to do two things: be filled with the holy Ghost [Spirit baptism].and be water baptized in answer of a good conscience toward God, washing your sins away, calling on His precious, holy name - the name of the Lord Jesus [Water baptism].
Again where was the first born again message of salvation taught? Yes, to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5:
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus saith unto Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
And again, later on the day of Pentecost, according to the scriptural reference of Acts 2:36-41:
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, "Brother Saul, receive thy sight." And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto ALL men of what thou hast SEEN and HEARD. And now why tarriest thou? ARISE, AND BE BAPTIZED, AND WASH AWAY THY SINS, CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD."
Note that Saul was told to do two things: be filled with the holy Ghost [Spirit baptism].and be water baptized in answer of a good conscience toward God, washing your sins away, calling on His precious, holy name - the name of the Lord Jesus [Water baptism].
Again where was the first born again message of salvation taught? Yes, to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5:
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus saith unto Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
And again, later on the day of Pentecost, according to the scriptural reference of Acts 2:36-41:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Then Peter said unto them, "REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation."
Then they that gladly received His word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
What does this mean? The keys to the Kingdom are found in connecting the dots between John 3:3-5 and Acts 2:36-41.
Indeed, these are the keys to the Kingdom.
Stand in the offering plate.
Stand in the offering plate.
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