IF YOU WANT to be saved from your sins, just believing in Jesus is not enough…
The first time the Gospel is ever preached is in Acts chapter 2. Peter preaches Jesus as a miracle-working teacher whom the Jews had crucified. But, Peter says, God has raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24).
Peter offers three forms of proof:
. King David prophesied the resurrection in the Psalms (Acts 2:22-31).
. The apostles have seen Jesus alive (Acts 2:32).
. Peter says Jesus is responsible for the miracles the Jews see and hear (Acts 2:33).
Then he reaches the climax of his sermon in Acts 2:36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Many of the people in the audience believe this message and cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
These Jews believe the Gospel message of a crucified and resurrected Savior and want to make things right, but they’re still lost. Now note that Peter did not say in reponse, “Do?! Why my friends, you cannot do anything! If you do something you negate the grace of God.” Instead, he tells them in Acts 2:38 to “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” They believe (John 6:29) the Gospel, but they need to obey (e.g., “do something”) the Gospel to have their sins forgiven.
Acts 2:41 says those who received Peter’s message were baptized. That day, about 3,000 souls were “added.” To what? Verse 47 says the Lord added daily to the church those who were being saved. When believing, penitent sinners are baptized into Christ, the Lord simultaneously saves them and adds them to His church.
Many New Testament passages teach the necessity of faith in order to be saved, of that there is no doubt. But saving faith leads a sinner to comply with the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8) commands to repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30), confess Christ (Acts 8:35-38; Rom. 10:9-10; Luke 12:8; 1 John 4:15), and be baptized (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27).
Until we are willing to submit to Christ in Gospel obedience (Acts 10:35), we still bear the guilt of our sins. According to the Bible, even if we believe in Jesus as Savior, and even if we want to make things right, until we contact His blood in baptism (Romans 6:3-4; Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 1:7) we’re still lost.
Faith is essential, but faith alone is not enough (James 2:24). What Peter commands in Acts 2 still stands today, and will stand until the Lord comes again. “Repent, and and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
If you are willing to do this, Christ will save you and add you to His church. (Nathan Brewer)
KneEmail: 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Acts 16:30-33
Bible reading for 01.05.10: Matthew 5:1-26; Genesis 13-15
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