Skip to content

Gospel

The Important Question: What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Bible

Folks will ask many important questions in life, but none is more important than this: What must I do to be saved? It was the question on the hearts of the people in Jerusalem at Pentecost when they realized they had killed the Saviour (Acts 2:37). Saul of Tarsus, stopped on the road to Damascus asked this of the Lord Jesus (Acts 9:6). And the jailer in Philippi asked the same of Paul and Silas, who were prisoners in his jail (Acts 16:30). There is no more important question to ask, and we want to be sure the answer we get is biblical and complete.

Follow Me: Jesus’ Call To The World

Follow Me
via Karen .t | Pixabay.com

In the gospels we see Jesus inviting those who would become His apostles to “follow” Him. In John 1:40, John the Baptist pointed Andrew and another disciple to Jesus who bid them to “Come and See,” so they followed Him and stayed the entire day with Him. The next day, the Lord called Philip to “follow Me” (John 1:43), which he did, also bringing his friend Nathanael to the Lord. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus approached for fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) and called them to follow Him, that they should become fishers of men. And in Matthew 9:9, Matthew heard Jesus call out “Follow Me,” which he did, leaving his tax office behind.

Saul’s Radical Conversion: A Life Made New In Christ

conversion
via Conger Design | Pixabay.com

In the New Testament, we read about crowds of people being converted to Christ. Many of them are unnamed—we don’t know their stories—just that they heard the gospel and responded in obedience to the Lord. However, the Spirit of God gave us several details about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, and not just his conversion but what he did thereafter. Let’s spend a bit of time considering Paul, the convert to Christ.

Him We Preach, Warning And Teaching Every Man

Preach
via Alexas Fotos | Pixabay.com

As we read the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse, there are some interesting things to note about His work to preach the gospel to the lost.  In looking at just a few verses from the letter, we can learn a great deal about our responsibility to share our faith with others, and of the extent to which God’s people can affect the world, if we would do as God commands.

Every Creature Under Heaven

The extent of the work of the early church as recorded in Colossians 1:23 is simply wonderful! Paul wrote:

…if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:23)

Will You Obey the Gospel? An Important Life Decision

gospel, vineyard
via Jill Wellington | Pixabay.com

As the apostle John closes his gospel account, he states of the ministry of Christ,

 …there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.(John 21:25)

Quite simply, we do not have all the details of Jesus’ work and teaching while upon the earth. But what is given is sufficient

…that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.(John 20:31)

Never Lost: The True Gospel Survived Every Attempt at Apostasy

gospel
via Pexels | Pixabay.com

As I prepared to write an article this past week, I saw a quote which resulted in the original topic being put on the shelf, and this article about the true gospel being penned instead. The quote comes from an essay entitled “Ecclesial Deism,” written by Bryan Cross, a former Protestant who converted to Catholicism. In his essay, he wrote:

The Mormons believed that the true gospel was recovered in the early nineteenth century by Joseph Smith. I believed, as a Reformed Protestant, that the true gospel was recovered in the early sixteenth century by Martin Luther.

Holy Spirit or Water Baptism? The Truth about Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-4, and more…

baptism
via PxHere / CC0

Last week we considered the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and wehter Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38, 41 are speakign about the bapttism of the Holy Spirit or water baptism. Today, we will look at the texts listed below, which some have claimed to be Holy Spirit baptism rather than water baptism.

  • Acts 22:16
  • Romans 6:3-4
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13
  • Galatians 3:27

Holy Spirit or Water Baptism? The Truth about Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16

baptism
via PxHere / CC0

The necessity of baptism is evident to any honest Bible student, as dozens of New Testament texts require it. However, some will dispute whether it is water or Holy Spirit baptism required. We’ll address this question today.

Here are some texts that I’ve been told are Spirit, not water baptism:

  • Mark 16:16
  • Acts 2:38, 41
  • Acts 22:16
  • Romans 6:3-4
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13
  • Galatians 3:27

Before we look at these, consider a few important principles for Bible study.

God’s Word Cannot Be Bound – Even When God’s People Are

bound

Jesus warned His disciples that persecution would come because of the word. Being arrested and bound for preaching the truth was not a possibility, it would be a reality. Jesus said,

…when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 14:11)

Verified by MonsterInsights