All have sinned and fall short of God's glorious ideal (Romans 3:23). The result of this sin is death - both physical and spiritual (Romans 6:23). The Bible plainly teaches that the man who has sin in his life cannot possibly enter into heaven (Hebrews 12:14).
Note: Those who are habitually practicing sin will not enter into heaven.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Word of God tells us that without the shedding of blood man is hopelessly lost (Hebrews 9:19-26). God, in looking down upon earth, found there was no one good enough to die for the sins of the world that we might have eternal life. So, God came to earth Himself - in the fleshly form of a man called Jesus - to die for the sins of the world. The Scriptures refer to Jesus as "Emmanuel" or "God with us" (Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 3:16).
Note: The Son should not be confused as the Father.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
Note: Together, the Son and the Father are the one true God.
John 10:28-30 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."
As a man Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted, yet He remained free from sin (Hebrews 4:15). He came that we might have eternal life, preaching and commanding men to repent. His message declared that unless a man was born of water (water baptism) and the Spirit (infilling of the Holy Spirit) he could not enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).
Correction: To be born again, a person must first be literally born.
John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Note: Fallen angels cannot be redeemed since they have never been born.
Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:'"
As a ransom for all, Jesus died on the Cross. Although He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, He did remain without sin, and was thus a worthy sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because of the shedding of Jesus' blood, there is remission of sin for everyone who follows the plan of salvation.
Note: The plan of salvation is that everyone sincerely place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
After His death on the Cross, Jesus was laid in a tomb. On the third day, however, He rose just as it had been prophesied. (Luke 24:46). After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples, instructing them in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Shortly before ascending back into heaven, Jesus assured His followers that He would soon send them the promise of the Father, which was the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).
Note: The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to empower Christians to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
On the Day of Pentecost the baptism of the Holy Spirit was given to a group of approximately 120 disciples who were waiting in the Upper Room. As they waited, tongues like as of fire appeared and rested upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues (languages they had never learned) as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
Note: The disciples were not babbling but speaking in known languages.
Acts 2:8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?"
The sound coming from the Upper Room drew quite a crowd of curious onlookers who began to ask each other, "What does this mean?" The Apostle Peter, after preaching to the crowd for a few moments, unfolded unto them the plan of salvation: "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." He went on to tell them: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38, 39).
Note: The disciples received the Holy Spirit by the breath of Jesus Christ.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Note: Peter changed his message for his second sermon.
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,"
The message Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost was heeded by about 3,000 believers, and is still in effect today. There is still saving power in the message of repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Correction: There is saving power in the message of the death of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In repentance one turns from his sins, with a faith that Jesus paid the price on Calvary for all sins. In so doing, he crucifies the "old self" with Christ (Romans 6:6). When one is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, he is buried with Christ (Romans 6:3).
Correction: Water baptism is the result of a good conscience toward God.
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),
Then, as the Spirit of God enters, the believer begins to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Every account of New Testament salvation follows this exact procedure. (Acts 2:4; 8:14-20; 10:44-48; 19:1-6).
Correction: Tongues was a gift not given not given to all.
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
Correction: Not every account of New Testament salvation resulted in tongues.
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Note: A person should first sincerely believe and then be baptized.
Acts 8:36-37 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Note: Salvation comes before baptism.
Acts 10:44-47 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
Acts 16:30-33 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
The Bible tells us that if the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling in us, we have the promise of eternal life with Him (Romans 8:9-11). We are told: "The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). Yes, the promise is yours. T.B.
Note: Yes, the promise of eternal life is yours through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Tract No. 6154 was produced the Pentecostal Publishing House located at 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042-2299.