“THE
BOOK OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES”
Part 5 of 5
POINT
8. “PAUL GOT WATER BAPTISED
(Acts 9:18) SHOULDN’T I DO THAT AS WELL?”
No.
Paul was merely following the standard
procedure for that time. He knew very little of what God would show him
in the future.
He had to go into Arabia for three years (Gal 1:17); then he consulted
with
Peter and James (Gal 1:18), then he was taken up into the 3rd
heaven
(2Cor 12:2-4). Even then, he water baptised a couple of people (1Cor
1:16) till
God showed Paul that water baptism was getting in the way of people’s
salvation.
People
say “Well, I’ve been water baptised. I guess
that makes me saved?” “I got water baptised as a baby. I’m going to
heaven.” So
Paul says For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach
the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should
be made of
none effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17.
POINT
9.
“CAN I
LOSE MY SALVATION?”
No
you can’t. Peter preaches remission
of sins (Acts 2:38), that is, the forgiveness of past sins (Rom
3:25). 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.
See
point 3 above. Peter’s preaching was for
another dispensation, and has been superseded (replaced) and
made obsolete
(useless and out of date) by Paul’s gospel which is for the redemption
for sins.
Who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath (constantly
working) translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In
whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins:
Colossians 1:13-14.
We
can never be lost. Want more proof?
For
by one offering he hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14.
Christians
are sanctified (set apart).
If you are in Christ, you have been set apart.
Yes.
Being in Christ, we are set apart. Christ
is our sanctification.
But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption:
1 Corinthians 1:30.
Those
in Christ have been redeemed. They are
sanctified.
The
penalty for past, present and future sins has
been paid for – not just past sins (remission). “… Jesus Christ…
Unto him
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation
1:5
POINT
10. “WHAT IS THE CHURCH?”
The entry
criteria for getting into Peter’s church (Acts
2:38, 47) was not the same for getting into Paul’s church,
which is to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you know, that in the Bible, there are FOUR
churches.
1. When the
Jews were wandering in the desert
for 40 years, they were called the church (Acts 7:38). But
they had not
been put into Jesus Christ. They were not redeemed. This was not
Paul’s church.
2. Christ
tells of going before the church
(Matthew 18:17). They were not redeemed. This was not
Paul’s
church.
3. When Peter
preaches his gospel to the men of
Israel, many were added to the church (Acts 2:47). This
is not
today’s church. To be water baptised (Acts 2:38) is a work, and this
was only
for the remission of sins past (Rom 3:25). They were not
redeemed.
This was not Paul’s church.
4. Paul
writes to the church at various places.
They have been redeemed by simply believing on the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Furthermore,
there is a church after Pentecost
(Acts 4-8). Paul persecutes them (Acts 8:1). They
were IN Christ
before he was.
The
definition for a church is a group of worshippers set apart by God.
There is
only one church now, those IN Christ (Rom 8:1) … and
gave him
to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body … Ephesians
1:22-23
****
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Harley
Hitchcock
This
website’s front page is:
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