The Original New Testament Plan of Salvation

 

Church! Let us go into the house of the LORD!

 Church!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." - Psalm 122:1 KJV

"To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." - Psalm 63:2-4 KJV

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." - Psalm 100:1-2 KJV

"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." - Psalm 100:3 KJV

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:4-5 KJV

Jesus Baptized

 On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel to the people.

When he finished preaching, the Bible says:

"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 KJV

Because it says there were “ADDED unto them,” those gathered in the upper room must have already been water baptized in the name of Jesus.

When were they baptized?

After Jesus spoke with Nicodemus about being born again of water and of the Spirit, (John 3:1-21), the first thing the Bible records is:

"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." - John 3:22 KJV

From this, we see that Jesus baptized.

At this time, John the Baptist was also baptizing, "For John was not yet cast into prison." - John 3:24 KJV

"Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." - John 3:25-26 KJV

Here again, the Bible says that Jesus baptized. John the Baptist’s disciples were complaining to John that Jesus was baptizing more people than John the Baptist was.

John responded, "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30 KJV

Apparently, after Jesus baptized His disciples, His disciples also began baptizing.

"When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) he left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee." - John 4:1-3 KJV

Thus, on the day of Pentecost, all the disciples of Jesus gathered in the upper room that received the Holy Ghost were already baptized in the name of Jesus. There were probably about a hundred and twenty disciples there all together. (Acts 1:15).

Baptism is Faith in Action

 "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 KJV

Acts 2:38 Dissected

 

Jesus Commands His Disciples

 

Water Baptism in the Name of Jesus - History

 FROM: ACTS238.COM

JESUS NAME Water Baptism ;
BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA
11TH edition, Vol 3, Pg 365-366
The baptismal formula was changed from the name of JESUS CHRIST to the words Father, Son, & Holy Ghost by the Catholic Church in the second century.
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BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA
Vol 3, Pg 82
Everywhere in the oldest sources it states that baptism took place in the name of Jesus Christ.
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CANNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION
Pg 53
The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until development of Trinity doctrine in the 2nd century.
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CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
Vol 2, Pg 263
Here the Catholics acknowledged that baptism was changed by the Catholic Church.
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HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF RELIGION
Vol 2, Pg 377
Christian baptism was administered using the words “In the name of Jesus”.
Vol 2, Pg 378
The use of a Trinitarian formula of any sort was not suggested in early Church history.
Vol 2, Pg 389
Baptism was always in the name of Lord Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr when Triune formula was used.
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CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
Vol 8
Justin Martyr was one of the early Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church.
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HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION
Vol 2, Pg 377 on ACTS 2:38
NAME was an ancient synonym for “person”. Payment was always made in the name of some person referring ownership. Therefore one being baptized in Jesus Name became his personal property. “Ye are Christ’s.”
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NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Vol 22, Pg 477
The term “Trinity” was originated by Tertullian, a Roman Catholic Church Father.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS
(1951), II, 384, 389
The formula used was ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’ or some synonymous phrase; there is no evidence for the use of the trine name… The earliest form, represented in the Acts, was simple immersion….in water, the use of the name of the Lord, and the laying on of hands. To these were addedm at various times and places which cannot be safely identified, (a) the trine name (Justin)….
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INTERPRETERS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE
(1962) I, 351
The evidence … suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, not in the threefold name, nut ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’.
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A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (Otto Heick)
(1965), I, 53
At first baptism was administered in the name of Jesus, but gradually in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
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HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE
(1898), I, 241
[One explanation is that] the original form of words was ‘into the name of Jesus Christ’. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development.
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A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Williston Walker, (1947), Pg 58
The Trinitarian baptismal formula … was displacing the older baptism in the name of Christ.
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THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE
(1957), I, 435
The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus …, which still occurs even in the second and third centuries.
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CANNEY’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIONS
(1970), Pg 53
Persons were baptized at first ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ … or ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus.’… Afterwards, with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, they were baptized ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA BIBLICA
(1899), I, 473
It is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times ‘in the name of Jesus Christ,’ or in that ‘of the Lord Jesus.’ This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single – not triple, as was the later creed.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
11TH edition, (1910), Vol 2, Pg 365
The Trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning… Bapti[sm] into the name of the Lord [was] the normal formula of the new Testament. In the 3rd century baptism in the name of Christ was still so wide spread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Carthage, declared it to be valid.
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The evidence is overwhelming. This is obviously the way the apostles baptized in the first Church. Don't you think if you are going to be in Christ's Church, YOU should be baptized in the NAME of Jesus? "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22) 

Death, Burial, and Resurrection

 We are saved by the gospel – Jesus died for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day – unless we have believed in vain. (Unless we haven’t OBEYED the gospel). (Mark 16:15-16).

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV

We obey the gospel by becoming dead to sin by repentance, we bury our old nature by baptism in the name of Jesus, we are resurrected to new life by Holy Ghost infilling.

"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? 

“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." - Romans 6:1-4 KJV

"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." - Romans 6:5-6 KJV

Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost how we 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 KJV

"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 they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:39, 42 KJV

You Pray, Preach, Worship in Jesus' name - Why wouldn't you be baptized in Jesus' name?

 "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

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

Acts 2:38 The Original Plan of Salvation is JESUS Acts 4:12

"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

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

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

 There were twelve men in Ephesus that had been disciples of John the Baptist. They were met by Paul the Apostle. They had heard of the baptism of the Holy Ghost from John the Baptist, but had not heard that the Holy Ghost was already being poured out. (Mark 1:7-8).

When they heard Paul preach Christ, they were RE-BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME. They then received the gift of the Holy Ghost, SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. This is another place in the Bible where it is recorded that when people receive the Holy Ghost they speak with tongues. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:45-46, Acts 19:6).

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He 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.

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

“And they said, Unto John's baptism.

“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 had 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 19:1-7

The World

What does the Bible say about the “world”?

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:15-16 KJV

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." - James 4:4

By the gospel, we turn our back on the world by repentance, we make a covenant to live for God by baptism in His name Jesus, and we overcome the world through His Spirit within us, the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38).

The devil is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" - Ephesians 2:2

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" - Philippians 2:15

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." - Galatians 6:14

With the power of His name Jesus upon us, and the power of His Spirit within us, we are victorious.

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:17 KJV

 

Before Abraham was, I am.

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [Abraham lived approximately 2000 years earlier.] 

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." - John 8:56-59 KJV

Why did the Jews take up stones to cast at Jesus?

Because they understood that Jesus was letting them know He is God, the “I AM.”

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

There is only one God. He is our Father. He is the Creator of the Universe. His name is Jesus.

 There is only one God. He is our Father. He is the Creator of the Universe.

"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" - Malachi 2:10 KJV

When Jesus was talking with His disciples, Philip said to Jesus,

"Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us [it will satisfy us].

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." - John 14:8-11 KJV

The Pharisees said to him,

"Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." - John 8:19 KJV

"He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." - John 15:23-24 KJV

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24 KJV [*Note for NLT: “8:24 Greek 'unless you believe that I am.' See Exod 3:14.”]

The Greek says, "I am" rather than "I am he." The italicized "he" shows that the "he" was added to the translation.

Exodus 3:14:

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

There is only one God. He is our Father. He is the Creator of the Universe. His name is Jesus.

The Spirit of Truth

 The Spirit of Truth

God is Spirit. He created the universe. He is the Father. His name is Jesus.

The Father put on humanity and dwelt among us as the Son of God, the flesh and blood of God. (Acts 20:28).

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:9-10 KJV

Jesus shed His blood, dying on a cross, and on the third day rose again. The blood that He shed washes away our sins when we are baptized in His name Jesus. (Acts 2:38).

With repentance and baptism in His name Jesus, He gave us a promise. Jesus promises us the gift of the Holy Ghost, His Spirit within us. (Acts 2:4). If we will receive His Spirit.

"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." - Acts 2:38-39

After His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was with His disciples for forty days. (Acts 1:3).

Jesus told His disciples that after He departed from them, He would come to them. He would come to them as the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth is the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus in us. Jesus also spoke of His Spirit as the Comforter. (John 14:15-18).

After Jesus ascended in bodily form into heaven, He poured out His Spirit beginning on the day of Pentecost. His Spirit is now within all those that have received the Holy Ghost. We are now His body – the body of Christ – here on earth. (1Corinthians 12:27).

One of these days, we too, those dead in Christ or those alive, will ascend into heaven, in what we call the rapture, to be with Jesus. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Daily - They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" - Matthew 28:19 KJV

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:42 KJV

Jesus commanded His disciples to teach all nations. His disciples were faithful to follow His command. Even when they suffered persecution, they were determined to teach and preach Jesus.

When Jesus first poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel. He then told the people what they should 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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"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 KJV

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42 KJV

They were called, chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14).

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

The disciples continued to preach Jesus and through Him the resurrection from the dead. (Acts 4:2, Acts 4:10-12, 4:33, Acts 5:28). They were threatened and repeatedly put in jail. (Acts 4:3, 4:21, Acts 5:18-20, 5:33). They were commanded to not speak nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:17,18, Acts 5:40).

Peter and the other apostles preached Jesus anyway.

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

“When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them." - Acts 5:32-33 KJV

Gamaliel spoke to the council.

"And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." - Acts 5:40 KJV

"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:41-42 KJV

One name - One God - JESUS

"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." - John 5:43 KJV

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21 KJV

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26 KJV

Read Me (The Bible)

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:" - Hosea 4:6 KJV

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [correctly explains] the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God [the basic things about God’s word]; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat [solid food].

“For every one that useth [lives on] milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat [solid food] belongeth to them that are of full age [mature], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised [have the skill] to discern both good and evil [recognize right and wrong]." - Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV

Jesus - The image of the invisible God

 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." - John 12:44-45 KJV

"If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." - John 15:24 KJV

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:10 KJV

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24 KJV

A holy sacrifice for our sins, that only God could provide.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

"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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV