Category: The Gospel

Water Baptism and the Baptism in the Spirit Are Distinct

Peter arrived at an obvious conclusion: God accepted the Gentile Cornelius in exactly the same way he had the Jewish apostles!

The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47  “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48  So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ... Acts 10:45-48 (NLT)

The Bible promises that Jesus will baptize his followers in the Spirit. (Luke 3:16) The evidence of this outpouring or baptism is speaking in tongues, as first experienced by the Jewish believers on Pentecost. In Acts 10 it happened again with Gentiles, which astounded the ethnocentric Jews, who imagined that they alone were eligible.

The giving of the Spirit is a proof of our acceptance into God’s heavenly family.

Only born-again children of God are given this amazing evidence of God’s love. (Luke 11:13)

When we share the gospel, we should inform our hearers that the Holy Spirit will be given to those who put their faith in Christ, both as the indwelling source of life and identity and as an outpoured source of power and boldness.

These two experiences with God’s Spirit are distinct: the first is a result of being born again, and the second from being baptized in the Spirit. Believers are to submit to water baptism as a public testimony of allegiance to our Savior and Lord and then receive the baptism in the Spirit.

Promise of the Father

To learn more about the baptism in the Spirit, click here. I have also written a book on this important subject, which is available on Amazon.

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Expect the Holy Spirit to Draw People to Christ

Suddenly something unanticipated and wonderful occurred while Peter was sharing the gospel with the Roman Centurion and Gentile named Cornelius and the people gathered in his home.

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. Acts 10:44 (NLT)

When we share the gospel with people, most of our listeners probably will not erupt in spontaneous tongues as did Cornelius, but we should expect to see some evidence of the Holy Spirit’s operation.

The preaching of the gospel relies upon the hidden work of God’s Spirit inside our listeners if we are to see results.

Jesus spoke about this.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! Matthew 11:25-26 (NLT)

Paul taught us that God uses the “foolishness of preaching” (1 Corinthians 1:21-24) to bring people to Christ. Preaching works because there is power in the words of the gospel and because of the hidden operation of God’s Spirit in those who hear. If we do our part, we can depend on God to do his by drawing people to Christ and opening their hearts to the message.

Jesus said:

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45  As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. John 6:44-45 (NLT)
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The Gospel Announces that God Will Forgive Those Who Believe

Peter concluded his gospel presentation to Cornelius by declaring that God offers to forgive our sins if we put our faith and allegiance in Jesus.

He [Jesus] is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Acts 10:43 (NLT)

Once we believe and confess that Jesus is the glorious Lord who is risen from the dead, God wants us to understand that he does not hold our past sins against us.

We may not have been the ones who actually drove the nails into his hands and feet, but we all have participated in the sin of turning our backs on God. He died for all of us because we all had an impossible debt to pay to God. Only he could settle accounts on our behalf, and he did!

After his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples:

...“Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48  You are witnesses of all these things. Luke 24:46-48 (NLT)

That is really good news!

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We Can Escape the Coming Judgment

Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by sharing that Jesus commanded his disciples, including us, to tell people he is coming back one day to judge every human being who has ever lived.

And he [Jesus] ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. Acts 10:42 (NLT)

It is not popular to tell people that Jesus will hold every human being who ever lived accountable to God for how we lived and whether we accepted him as the Lord, but it is the truth. Jesus is the only one through whom anyone can be saved and he is the Judge. Imagine standing before a powerful judge who has your back! That will be the case for all who declare allegiance to him!

The coming judgment at the end of time is not something invented by his followers years later to drum up converts. Jesus clearly taught this to his disciples and told them to preach it.

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. Matthew 16:27 (NLT)

Jesus is the divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel the prophet centuries before (Daniel 7:14) who is the coming king and judge. Our Lord confirmed his identity as this divine being before the Sanhedrin the night before his crucifixion. 

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Matthew 26:63–64 (NASB95)

Since we are all going to face him in judgment one day, isn’t it in our best interest to take advantage of his promise that we can escape condemnation by simply putting our faith and allegiance in him?

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)

I beg you to take advantage of God’s gracious offer. How heartbreaking it will be for anyone who refuses!

Prayer

Jesus, I ask you to forgive me for rebelliously living for myself. I surrender my life to you and declare that you are the risen Lord. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Thank you that I no longer need to fear the last judgment. Help me to live for you and tell others about this glorious good news. Amen.

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Jesus Rose Bodily from the Dead

Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by testifying to being with Jesus after he rose bodily from the dead.

...They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40  but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41  not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. Acts 10:39-41 (NLT)

The assertion that Jesus rose from the dead is the heart of the gospel because it confirmed that God accepted his sacrifice as the Lamb of God and made him Lord of lords.

who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:4 (NASB95)

But in Paul’s day, as now, people denied that the resurrection ever took place. He wrote:

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13  For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14  And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15  And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16  And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 (NLT)

Jesus “ate and drank” with the apostles after his resurrection. He talked with them. He allowed them to touch him.

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NLT)

Admittedly his resurrection body is different from ours. He could walk through walls and appear or disappear. Nevertheless, it was a body. His bodily resurrection proved his claim to be the Messiah and Lord. It proved that Father God accepted his sacrifice for our sins. It validated Jesus’ promise that one day he will raise us up as well.

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 (NASB95)

The gospel boldly declares that Jesus rose from the dead bodily, which was verified by eye witnesses. Those who believe this in their hearts and declare his lordship with their mouths will be saved.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)
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Jesus’ Ministry Revealed His Identity as Messiah

When the apostle Peter preached the gospel to the Roman centurion named Cornelius, it was the very first time the good news was shared with non-Jews. Peter’s message included the following statement.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  Acts 10:39 (NLT)

Many Old Covenant scriptures predicted the ministry that the Messiah would have, especially the book of the prophet Isaiah. Below are some examples.

On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:18–19 (NASB95)

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. Isaiah 35:5–6 (NASB95)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; Isaiah 61:1 (NASB95)

Jesus referenced snippets from the above verses to reassure John the Baptist that he was indeed the Messiah of Israel.

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3  “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4  Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5  the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 6  And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’” Matthew 11:2-6 (NLT)

Everything Jesus did confirmed his identity as Messiah. The problem was that people expected something different. They thought the Messiah would come to liberate them from Roman oppression and restore political prominence to Israel.

Most did not understand God’s larger purpose – to redeem all mankind and liberate creation from the bondage brought upon it by Adam’s sin.

Jesus, the Messianic King, revealed the nature of God’s kingdom by liberating people from the tyranny of darkness and bringing them into God’s marvelous kingdom.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13 (NASB95)

A proper gospel presentation will show people how Jesus’ earthly ministry fulfilled Old Covenant prophecies and revealed that he is the Jewish Messiah whom God sent to save the whole world.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB95)
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Have you received Jesus as both the Prince of Peace and the Lord?

When Peter was summoned to the home of the Roman Centurion named Cornelius to make the first gospel presentation to the Gentiles, he opened his remarks with this summation.

This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36 (NLT)

The gospel presents Jesus in the dual role of Savior and Lord.

We have peace with God because Jesus died for our sins as the Lamb of God, taking our guilt and punishment upon himself. His resurrection proved that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted. It also validated his claim to be the Lord of Lords, the Jewish messianic King. We can experience peace with God, having been justified or put back into a right relationship with him through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Lord.

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT) 

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (NLT)

If we have only received Jesus as the Prince of Peace, we have not understood the whole gospel. It is crucial that we also acknowledge him as the Lord – lord of our own lives and lord of all.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Romans 10:9 (NASB95)
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Can you prove that Jesus is the Messiah?

Saul was highly trained in the Old Testament scriptures. By revelation from the Spirit, he immediately connected the dots between Bible prophecies and Jesus. He showed how Jesus fulfilled messianic promises through his life, death, and resurrection. He was able to reasonably prove that Jesus was (and is) the Jewish Messiah.

Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Acts 9:22 (NLT)

Many, if not most, believers today feel woefully inadequate to this task, but the remedy is fairly easy. With some study and practice, we too can use Old Covenant scriptures to show how Jesus is the Savior and Lord promised to Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, to name a few key players.

We should not take the “easy way out” by only learning and sharing our testimonies or an overly simplified “plan of salvation.” The amazingly powerful gospel is not too hard for us to master. But we have to choose to do it.

It is important for us to remember that the gospel is powerful when it is rightly shared.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:16–17 (NASB95)
To learn more, click on this link.
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The Baptism in the Spirit Is Part of the Gospel

In Acts Chapter 8, Luke recounts how the gospel came through Philip to the Samaritans.

But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13  Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. 14  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15  As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16  The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17  Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:12-17 (NLT)

In the 1970s a group called the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International rightly argued that the baptism in the Spirit is an integral part of the gospel, helping countless people receive this amazing gift. In Acts 2, Peter included this baptism in his initial gospel message (Acts 2:38-39), and here in Acts 8, in the first gospel presentation to a people group other than the Jews, it was once again highlighted.

The baptism in the Spirit is connected to Christ’s ascension and glorification at God’s right hand in heaven as Lord of the Harvest. (Acts 2:32-33) Its purpose is to equip and empower God’s people to fulfill the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8)

A “full gospel” presentation should include the following.

  1. A clear presentation of Jesus the crucified Lamb of God who died to forgive our sins.
  2. A proclamation of his Lordship which was proven by his resurrection.
  3. An announcement of his ascension, exaltation in heaven, and the consequent outpouring of the Spirit.
  4. His Second Coming as the divine Son Man, prophesied in Daniel 7, who will judge the living and the dead.
  5. An invitation to receive forgiveness of sins, to declare publicly his lordship through being water baptized, and to receive the baptism of the Spirit and become part of his band of Great Commission disciple makers.

Did you receive the full gospel? If not, which part needs to be added? What remains for you to do?

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Is Jesus Merely a Personal Savior or the Risen and Glorious Lord?

In the two verses below, the Holy Spirit summarizes the gospel in four words spoken by the apostles: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42  And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:41-42 (NLT)

During that time in history when Jesus lived on earth, the Jews expected the Messiah to finally appear. They had certain ideas about what he would do for them that did not at all match Jesus’ words, character, and deeds. They expected a military leader who would deliver them from the iron grip of Roman tyranny. Instead they got a “Lamb” went about setting people free from sin, sickness, and demonic oppression, who was put to death on a cross for our sins, yet conquered death by rising again three days later as the glorious Lord of Lords. This risen Jesus, who promised to one day return as the Judge of all mankind, is indeed the Jewish Messiah. We now must bow our knees in worship or later we will do so in abject terror when he comes again to judge everyone who ever lived.

…For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10b–12 (NASB95)

Modern consumerists have converted the gospel message that Jesus is the glorious messianic King of Kings into his being merely a very tame personal savior.

This is no small thing. A personal savior has no real impact on the larger world or even on the individual. He only saves us from having to suffer judgment for our own sins, rescuing us from damnation and giving us eternal life. For the individual, this is great news, but not necessarily life changing, because we are not required to serve him, only receive blessings from him. 

The announcement that Jesus is Messiah and Lord over all creation is a game changer. One cannot believe that and continue to live as before.

A real encounter with the risen Lord quite naturally produces a desire in us to worship and serve him. Do you believe in a personal savior or serve the risen Lord?

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