Acts 2:38 (KJV)
38 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.
Receive (cRoss: Acts 2:38)
There were two conditions to receive life or the Holy Ghost. The first was to repent and the second was be baptized. Repentance is like a man walking in one direction then changes his mind (repents) and walks in the opposite direction.
Let me explain. In this life, you and I are walking in our chosen direction without a thought of God. This path has so many facets because of the choices we make and that can range from different types of sin (Self Independent Nature), but all paths lead to destruction or eternal separation from God—death! And because of the life we live, we find that it is not working for us, so we determine to change directions toward God. However, it is at that point that the god of this world shows up as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Satan seems to have an answer for us in a program or a contract. We find relief in a 12 Step program or in 10 Principles in a church somewhere, only to find that the end is death.
When we repent, we must recognize the God we turn to for life. Is it something we have to do or is it someone we have to believe in to get us out of the mess we put ourselves into with the bad decisions we make in life?
Second, baptism of the Holy Ghost is so misconstrued by many churches, because they believe and teach you have to go through a ceremony of baptism. However, the baptism of the Holy Ghost happens at the moment one believes in Jesus and He moves into us. At that moment, we become one with him. There are several verses that teach this:
Revelation 3:19-20 – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
The first step is repentance, verse 19. Then comes salvation when we believe His works. See the steps:
1. Come: He calls, knocks on the door. We repent when we hear His voice and open the door.
2. Receive: He comes in and fellowships with us. He is the Bread of Life, the wellspring of Living Water.
I was a Catholic before I became a Baptist, and I found that Catholics get baptized three times. The first one is when we are sprinkled in the Catholic Church as an infant. The Second one is when we join a Baptist church because that’s how all Baptists do it: we get dunked. Third, we get saved and the Spirit of God (Jesus, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit moves in), and then we get dunked like the Scripture says. the first two are not being Saved, the third Baptism is just a picture or profession of faith to the church as to what Jesus already did, in Saving us.
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