Entrance Into God's Kingdom

 

 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.