Thi is the Day Which the Lord hath made

 

Thank You Jesus

 

Forgiveness of Sins

 

7th

 

Salvation

 "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 Gh

ost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Ruth's Gleanings: In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?

Ruth's Gleanings: In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?:   How in the Bible were people added to the church? On the Day of Pentecost when the church began, Peter preached the gospel - the death, bu...

In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?

 

How in the Bible were people added to the church?

On the Day of Pentecost when the church began, Peter preached the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." - Acts 2:22-24 

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36 

They responded with repentant hearts.

"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?" - Acts 2:37 

Peter told them how to obey the gospel.

"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." - Acts 2:38 

"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." - Acts 2:39 

Peter urged them to obey the gospel.

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:40 

They then received the gospel and obeyed it. (Mark 16:15-16).

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 

This is how they were added to the church.

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... praising God, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:42, 47

Baptism in the name of Jesus

 A lot of people think if they “keep the Ten Commandments” they are going to heaven. 

"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." - John 3:5 

Cornelius was a just man, a man of prayer, helping the poor. His righteousness, however, was not enough to save him. He needed to be born of the water and Spirit, as Jesus said.

The Lord loved Cornelius so much, that He sent an angel telling him to send for a man named Peter.  While men from Cornelius were on their way, the Lord gave Peter a heavenly vision to make sure Peter would accept the mission. (Read Acts 10)     

If you haven’t been born again, Jesus loves YOU and is calling you to be born of water and the Spirit.  

How is a person born of water and Spirit?

When Peter arrived, Cornelius had gathered family and friends to hear Peter’s message from God. Peter preached to them the Gospel, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day. 

Finally, Peter preached:

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." - Acts 10:43 

While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius, his family, and friends he had gathered in his house and they all began to speak in other tongues (languages they did not know) as the Spirit of God spoke through them. 

Peter and the men that came with him were astonished, for Jesus poured out the Holy Ghost on the Gentiles just like He had on them on the day of Pentecost! (Acts 2:4)

Cornelius and those at his house were all now born of the Spirit. Next, they were born of the water. 

Peter then COMMANDED that they be water baptized in Jesus name.

"…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 10:46-48 (See also Acts 2:38)