Entrance Into God's Kingdom

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 Entrance Into God's Kingdom, NOT the Kingdom of Darkness


God’s answer to the sinner’s question: Acts 2:38 -- Repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit


I. Repentance - Repentance is an inward decision and an act of the will that represents the sinner's initial response to God. It is a heartfelt recognition of one's need for forgiveness and a turning away from a life of sin. Repentance involves a deep conviction and sorrow for wrongdoing, accompanied by a genuine desire to change and seek reconciliation with God.


  1. Mark 1:3-4 Prepare ye the way of the Lord ... John did preach the baptism of repentance.

  2.  Mark 1:15- Jesus: Repent ye and believe the gospel..

  3.  Luke 13:3-5 Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish…

  4. Luke 24:47-Repentance, and remission of sins should be preached.

  5. Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized.

  6.  Acts 3;19 Repent and be converted.

  7.  Acts 17:30- God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent…

  8. Acts 20:21-Testifying repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

  9.  Heb. 6:1-2- The foundation of repentance. is faith, baptisms and the laying on of hands (also resurrection and judgment)

  10.  Rev. chs. 2, 3 To five Churches: Repent


II. Baptism - Baptism serves as the outward act that signifies an inward change in the life of a believer. It is a powerful demonstration of one's identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.


  1. Mark 16:15-16 -- The commission of Jesus.

  2. Rom. 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism ..

  3. Col. 2:12 Buried with him/risen with him


In Acts, every convert was baptized immediately:

  1.  Acts 8:12--The Samaritans when they believed, they were baptized

  2.  Acts 8:36-38 The eunuch: "See, here is water

  3.  Acts 9:18 Paul: "forthwith was baptized" (compare Acts 22:16- "Why tarriest thou?"")

4. Acts 16:22-32 The jailer decided the same hour of the night to be saved.


III. Receive The Holy Spirit - In the book of Acts, the third aspect of the Christian experience is receiving the Holy Spirit. This promise and purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit are emphasized in Acts 1:5,8. Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, enabling them to be witnesses for Him.


B. Acts 2:2-4 -The pattern:

  1. Immersion -from above

  2. Infilling/drinking

  3. Outflow (compare John 7:37-39, 1 Cor. 12:13)

  4.  Acts 8:14-18 The Samaritans

  5. Acts 9:17--Ananias to Saul.

  6. Acts 10:44-46 The household of Cornelius

  7.  Acts 19:6 The "disciples" at Ephesus


IV. Picture From The Old Testament - Salvation in three phases:


A. Jude 5--Israel's deliverance from Egypt a type of "salvation"

  1.  1 Cor. 5:7-Phase 1: The passover lamb and the sprinkled blood

  2.  1 Cor. 10:1-2, 6, 11-Followed by a double baptism:

  3.  Phase 2: "In the cloud" (= the Holy Spirit)

  4.  Phase 3: "In the sea" (= water)

B. The blood provided: righteousness

C. The cloud provided: protection -- comfort--direction

D. The sea provided separation for newness of leader-- laws -- destination

© 1985 - Derek Prince-Ministries International


Together, these aspects illustrate God's provision of salvation as a multi-faceted and life-changing experience for those who put their trust in Him. Thank you for reading, liking, sharing and commenting.


Dr. James P. Norman Jr.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 15, 2023 at 4:49 PM

    Thank you so much Dr. Norman for sharing the original plan of salvation to a last day generation that was preached and declared by Christ’s Holy Apostles. We do live in time when very few will research the original method of those who were given the “ministry of reconciliation” A large number of people have created their own history and method of biblical salvation.
    Thank you again for the clarity, declaration and celebration of truth. God bless.

    ReplyDelete

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