Into the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 1:3-5
As we enter the book of Acts, we discover almost immediately that the promise of the Father is the baptism of the _______________ ______________.
Acts 2:1-17
When the Apostles were at Jerusalem, they, along with many others, were
joyously filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other ___________
as the Spirit gave the utterance (ability to speak). The amazed onlookers
from many nations who heard them speaking with tongues asked, "What
meaneth this?" Then peter explained the promised coming of the
Spirit and went on to preach Christ and the original apostolic plan
of salvation.
Acts 2:36-39
When the people who heard Peter's words believed that Jesus Christ was
their Lord and Savior, they were sorry for their sins and asked Peter
and the Apostles what they should do. Peter replied by preaching the
message Jesus commanded to be preached in Luke 24:45-49 . In light of
this, consider the three elements of the Plan of Salvation Peter preached
in verse 38:
1. REPENTANCE
2. REMISSION OF SINS THROUGH BAPTISM IN JESUS'
NAME.
3. RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
NOTICE: Acts 2:38 is the fulfillment of the two "new birth"
requirements Jesus mentioned in John 3:5 that were necessary to enter
the Kingdom of God! Water birth=baptism in the name of Jesus Christ!
Spirit birth = infilling of the Holy Ghost!
Now, let's look at some more examples of people being born again of water and the Spirit as the word Jesus gave His apostles continued to be preached throughout the Book of Acts...
PHILIP PREACHING TO THE SAMARITANS IN ACTS 8...
NOTICE: Some people say when they experienced joy, or when they believed in Jesus, or when they were baptized, they were automatically filled with the Holy Ghost. But what does the Word say?
Acts 8:5-8 ... Did they have great joy?
yes____ no_____
verse 12 ...Did they believe in Jesus Christ
yes_____ no____
verse 14-17 ...Were they baptized in His
name? yes_____ no_____
Did they receive the Holy Ghost as a separate and distinct experience?
yes______ no_____
PETER PREACHING TO THE GENTILES IN ACTS 10
NOTICE: Some people say being religious is enough, or that the Spirit-baptism evidenced by tongues was only for the Day of Pentecost. If the Bible says this is true, then it is true. But if the Word shows through Cornelius' experience that this is not true....then it is not.
Acts 10:1-2 ...Was Cornelius a religious
man? Yes___ No___
verse 5-6 ...Did God have more for him
to do? Yes___ No___
verse 44-46 ...Did they receive the Holy
Ghost and speak in tongues after the Pentecost? Yes___ No__
verse 47-48 ...Did they still have to be
baptized in Jesus' name? Yes___ No___
PAUL PREACHING TO JOHN'S DISCIPLES IN ACTS 19...
NOTICE: Many people who are believers have not even heard about the Holy Ghost that is promised to them. Also, some people say it is not necessary to be baptized or re-baptized. (If you were baptized by John the Baptist, would you think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a different formula? If the Bible indicates it does not matter, then it does not matter. But...what is the Bible shows us it DOES matter?
Acts 19:1-2 They were believers, but had they heard of, or received the Holy Ghost? Yes___ No___
vs. 3-5 Did those baptized by John the Baptist have to be re-baptized in Jesus' Name? Yes___ No___
vs. 6 Was receiving the Holy Ghost accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues? Yes___ No___
We have found that the Apostles preached the following salvation message:
... The life of Christ and His death, burial and resurrection
...Repentance toward God and belief in Jesus Christ
...Baptism in water by immersion in Jesus' Name
...Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied by the
initial evidence of speaking with other tongues)
Now, let us read what the Apostles had to say about the message of salvation they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by reading the epistles (letters) they wrote to their converts.