The Bible tells us that sin is a result of yielding to the weakness of the flesh. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
GOOD NEWS! Sin is a fatal disease that is 100% curable! Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
On the Day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter, having been given the "Keys to the Kingdom," (Matthew 16: 16-19), and having been promised the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (Luke 24:46-49, Acts 1:1-8), and having received the promised Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4), was empowered to preach the first message of the New Covenant Dispensation (Acts 2:14-40). Peter concluded this first message of salvation by exposing the weakness (sin) of the people. In verse 36 of Acts 2 Peter said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
These people responded as we must respond. They took responsibility for the weakness (sin) of their flesh: "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37)
The Apostle Peter responded by letting them know how to deal with their sin. "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. 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)
What must we do when the weakness of the flesh, sin, is revealed? The ever changing opinions of morality generated by the heart of society will not be the standard we will be judged against. The standard we must study to learn and apply to our lives is the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Apply the standard of the Word of God to your life. Accept the Plan of Salvation that the Apostle Peter preached to the Jews first in Jerusalem, and also to the Gentiles beginning with the household of Cornelius as recorded in the 10th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles.
Repent of your sins. That is, acknowledge your weakness (sin) and confess to it to God, asking for forgiveness; purpose in your heart by the grace and help of Jesus Christ, the LORD and Savior, to change your lifestyle.
Having repented, in obedience to God's holy Word, acknowledge the death of the old nature by burying it by faith with Christ. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Is being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ a necessity? Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." By taking on the name of Jesus Christ in baptism, you will be fulfilling and not just repeating the Great Commission that the LORD Jesus Christ gave to His disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.
As a result of your repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, the Word of God declares that God will fill you with the Holy Ghost. The evidence of this in-filling will be confirmed by the sign of each believer speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. (Acts 1:5,8; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 11:15-18; Acts 19:1-6)
The Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ is an International Apostolic Pentecostal ministerial organization that stands ready to help you locate an Apostolic Pentecostal church in your local area. Bible studies that will help you understand God's plan for you and your family are available through Apostolic Pentecostal churches of this organization and many other great organizations who preach and teach the Bible's Plan of Salvation. These Bible studies are taught by the dedicated, knowledgeable laity and ministers of these fine churches.
Author: Rev. Roger Gray
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Salvation is the
Plan of Salvation. The Bible says we all must repent our sins, be Baptized in the name of Jesus and that God will fill us with the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Above that, Salvation to me is an opportunity for everlasting life. To receive Salvation is to be saved. Saved by Jesus is to live with him in Heaven. Saved from an eternity of torment in a devils hell. To me following the Plan of Salvation and living a life for God is a small price to pay for an eternity in Heaven with Jesus.
Brother Isaiah Butcher
November 2011
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Bloomington, IN 47403
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I was asked what Salvation means to me.
4 years ago I had turned my life to God because of an issue I couldn’t face and was afraid of. God forgave me and cleansed me of all my issues with pills, drinking, and language it totally changed my life for the better. The problem was I was running from my past but it didn’t take long before it caught up to me. I was about to be a father and I was so scared I didn’t know how to be a dad or what to do. I had a really hard decision to make, because to be in my daughter’s life meant that I was gonna have to give up God. So I picked up the situation that I had turned to God to help me with and turned my back on God. I was gonna do whatever it took to be in my daughter’s life and I did, I pushed out my family and God.
I received a text message on July 22, 2012 that read “your daughter was born last night”. At the instant that I read that text the most painful feeling came over me it started at my toes and went inch by inch through my whole body, finally leaving me through my fingers. It was the worst pain I have ever felt. I spent 3 ½ years trying to figure out what happened to me that day, what did I lose, because I felt dead inside. I fell back into all my old habits with pills and drinking, only this time it was all a lot worse. I drank almost every day and did any painkiller that was set before me to drown out the pain I was going through. Everything about me seems to be a lot worse than before.
I began going to Souls Harbor in January of this year and told myself I would take it slow this time but God didn’t see it the way I did. On January 16, 2012 I went to a bible study I had been invited to. I was asked if I had the Holy Ghost and I didn’t know if I did or not. So with the help of many wonderful people they helped me to give everything to God and receive the Holy Ghost that night and I was baptized in the name of Jesus right after. I learned that night that the pain I went through the day I was told of my daughter’s birth was me giving up the Holy Ghost. So Salvation to me is Gods willingness to forgive me for turning my back on Him and releasing me from all my addictions that had control over me.
Bradley Brock
