Chelsea church of Christ . . .
undenominational Christianity
undenominational Christianity
Objection! That is not what I have been taught!
You may have been taught that one's salvation experience should be like that of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). This un-named thief simply asked Jesus to "remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42); and Jesus responded, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). It's true that this man was not required by Jesus to be baptized in order to be able to be with Him in Paradise. When Jesus was on the earth, He interacted with people and made decisions that affected them immediately and directly.
However, you and I live on this side of the cross; after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven to be with the Father. We are not in the same position as the thief on the cross, so do we find any examples of people like us asking the question, "What must we do to be saved?" The answer is yes!
One example is found in the second chapter of the New Testament book called Acts. The book of Acts, written by the Apostle Luke, records the beginning of the church of Christ with many examples of people coming to salvation in Christ due to the Gospel proclamation of the Apostles.
In this second chapter of the book of Acts, the Apostles were guided by God's Spirit to preach the first Gospel message, and the audience believed their words. They believed that Jesus was truly the Son of God, and the Messiah of prophecy. Many in the audience also realized that they had killed God's Son, thus realizing their guilt and the impending consequences of their actions against Jesus Christ.
They were so convinced, and moved by Peter's words, that they interupted Peter's preaching with a simple question, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter fully understood their question and God's divine direction provided the answer. Peter (directed by God's Holy Spirit) answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Notice that God did not direct Peter to say:
"Simply believe in Jesus to be saved."
"Just ask Jesus into your heart to be saved."
"Pray the sinner's prayer to be saved."
"Believe in Jesus and confess your sins to be saved."
"Since you believe in Jesus, you're already saved."
"Come forward and pray at the mourner's bench and be saved."
Notice what God did direct Peter to say: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
You may have been taught that one's salvation experience should be like that of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). This un-named thief simply asked Jesus to "remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42); and Jesus responded, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). It's true that this man was not required by Jesus to be baptized in order to be able to be with Him in Paradise. When Jesus was on the earth, He interacted with people and made decisions that affected them immediately and directly.
However, you and I live on this side of the cross; after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven to be with the Father. We are not in the same position as the thief on the cross, so do we find any examples of people like us asking the question, "What must we do to be saved?" The answer is yes!
One example is found in the second chapter of the New Testament book called Acts. The book of Acts, written by the Apostle Luke, records the beginning of the church of Christ with many examples of people coming to salvation in Christ due to the Gospel proclamation of the Apostles.
In this second chapter of the book of Acts, the Apostles were guided by God's Spirit to preach the first Gospel message, and the audience believed their words. They believed that Jesus was truly the Son of God, and the Messiah of prophecy. Many in the audience also realized that they had killed God's Son, thus realizing their guilt and the impending consequences of their actions against Jesus Christ.
They were so convinced, and moved by Peter's words, that they interupted Peter's preaching with a simple question, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter fully understood their question and God's divine direction provided the answer. Peter (directed by God's Holy Spirit) answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Notice that God did not direct Peter to say:
"Simply believe in Jesus to be saved."
"Just ask Jesus into your heart to be saved."
"Pray the sinner's prayer to be saved."
"Believe in Jesus and confess your sins to be saved."
"Since you believe in Jesus, you're already saved."
"Come forward and pray at the mourner's bench and be saved."
Notice what God did direct Peter to say: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
