Life Instruction Manual - What must I do to be SAVED?

 Here are the verses:

"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

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" - Colossians 2:12-13 KJV

"The like figure whereunto 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:" - 1 Peter 3:21 KJV

"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." - Romans 6:3-6 KJV

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." - Galatians 3:26-27 KJV

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV

"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." - John 3:3-5 KJV

Out of the Darkness of Condemnation into His Marvelous Light of Mercy

Our Heavenly Father put on a human body in His saving name “JESUS” to bring humanity His loving mercy. Satan’s desire is that all remain in the darkness of condemnation. Jesus came to bring the world the light of His new covenant of mercy through the gospel.

"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.

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

The gospel brings the light of God’s mercy. The apostles preached the gospel of Jesus beginning on the day of Pentecost.

"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

Those that believed and obeyed came into salvation.

"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

Then the Gentiles [non-Jews] were added in, beginning with Cornelius and his household.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision [Jews] which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

“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. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:44-48

Both Jews and Gentiles came out of the darkness of condemnation to walk in the light of the mercy of the gospel. 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10

Our Worship

 When God tested Abraham, he obeyed.

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." - Genesis 22:2

 When Abraham went to offer his son as a sacrifice, he called it worship.

"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." - Genesis 22:5

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." - Genesis 22:8

Abraham proved his obedience and his faith in God. (Hebrews 11:17-19). Just as Abraham stretched forth his hand with the knife to slay his son, God called to Abraham, telling him to not harm the lad. (Genesis 22:11-12).

Isaac, a young man, willingly laid down his life on the altar to be a sacrifice to God. God indeed provided a sacrifice to take Isaac’s place. He provided a ram, a male sheep, caught in a thicket by his horns, which Abraham offered instead of his son. (Genesis 22:13).

Years later, God literally provided Himself a lamb for an offering. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). God laid down His own flesh as a sacrifice in our place. (1John 3:16).

Our worship is to offer ourselves (as Isaac became) a living sacrifice to God.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

We offer our heart, soul, mind and strength to God. We turn away from the world with its sinful lusts and turn to God in holiness, allowing Him to transform our minds. This sacrifice is truly our worship to Him.

One translation of Romans 12:1 reads, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (NLT)

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Paul had a powerful encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From this experience, Paul had full confidence in the resurrection. Paul knew that by his obedience to the gospel, he too will rise again when Jesus returns for His church. (Acts 9:1-22,27; 1Corinthians 15:8; Acts 22:3-16; Acts 26:8-18, 1Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Because of His faith in the resurrection, and because he had been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost, Apostle Paul was willing to face death on a daily basis. (“I die daily”- 1Corinthians 15:30-32).

"And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket." - Acts 9:23-25 KJV

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus." - Acts 9:29-30 KJV

"For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me." - Acts 26:21 KJV

"And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city..." - Acts 14:19-20 KJV

"In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." - 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 KJV

Church! God gives us pastors

 

Church!

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." - Jeremiah 3:15 KJV

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" - Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV

The Presence of God

 God said to Moses,

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." - Exodus 33:14 KJV

Moses would not settle for less than God’s very presence.

"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." - Exodus 33:15 KJV

"For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." - Exodus 33:16 KJV

When God was made flesh and dwelt among His creation, Jesus spoke again of His rest. In His new covenant, His presence would not just be with us, but be in us. (John 1:14, John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9, Colossians 1:27).

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." - Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

We find this rest to be the Holy Ghost.

Isaiah prophesied,

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..." - Isaiah 28:11-12 KJV (Acts 2:4, Isaiah 11:10, Romans 15:12).

Jesus promises to fill us with His presence, the Holy Ghost, when we yoke ourselves together with Him. His yoke is His covenant of baptism 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. 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

 By His presence, we become separated unto God, “out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1Peter 2:9).

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV

With a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet call] of God

After Jesus commanded His disciples to not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost, Jesus was taken up into heaven.

"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 stedfastly 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." - Acts 1:9-11 KJV

When we have repented of our sins, been baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can look forward to being resurrected from the grave as Jesus was, and going to heaven with Him when He returns for His church. (Acts 2:38, 1Thessalonians 4:14-17).

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [give life to] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11 KJV

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [who have died], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.]

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [believers who have died] will God bring with him.

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [have died]. [We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.]

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet call] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [First, believers who have died will rise from their graves]:

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.]

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [So encourage each other with these words.]" - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV