Salvation
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua 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)
If there is one thing that you take away from this web site, I pray to God in Christ Yeshua, you will take away with you how to be saved.
There are a lot of doctrines floating around in the world. Yet, how many doctrines did the Church begin with? One. The Church began on the day of Pentecost. That was the opening day of the Church. The reason that the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 was the opening day of Church is because that is the day that the Holy Spirit of God was first poured out and actually "filled" people (Acts 2:2). Think about it -- God's Spirit actually came into men and women and filled them. Not half-way, not three-quarters, the Holy Spirit of God "filled" people with His glory. Thus, people became the temples of God. That's why no building is really "the Church." Because "the Church of Yeshua Christ" is made up of lively stones, in other words -- people -- not brick, stones or wood. Another term for the Church of Yeshua Christ is the "Body of Christ" on earth today -- God's Spirit dwelling inside a body.
Now on that opening day of Church, Peter got up and preached a message. When the people who were listening heard Peter's sermon, " [...] 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)
That's when Peter pulled out the keys (Matthew 16:18-19). He told them exactly what they needed to do to be saved. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua 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). God hasn't stopped calling, yet.
The simple plan of salvation has not changed. We all need to repent unto God of our sins. We all need to be baptized in the name of Yeshua Christ (which is the name of the Father, and the name of the Holy Ghost, and the name of the Son [Matthew 28:19]). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Yeshua] under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved" (Acts 4:12). We MUST be saved in the name of Yeshua Christ. Don't accept any other baptismal formula. The word "baptize" also means to be completely buried in water. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yeshua Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Romans 6:3-5).
The best part of the whole plan is receiving God's Spirit. If you do step one and two (1. Repent, 2. Be baptized in the name of Yeshua Christ), God has PROMISED that He will give you the baptism of His Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). It is the greatest experience on this earth! God has promised to fill you with His glorious Spirit. It is a mighty experience. Don't accept a counterfeit. Don't let someone tell you that you've received the Holy Spirit if you're not sure. If you've really received God's Spirit, you will have no doubts in your mind. No one will be able to convince you that it doesn't happen or that you didn't receive His beautiful presence. It's not some ho-hum experience. It's mighty. It's like nothing you ever felt before, I guarantee you that.
But, don't take my word for it; ask God in Christ Yeshua, yourself. I have all faith in God that if you sincerely seek Him and ask Him sincerely about the baptism of fire, He will answer you. It is the most important thing you need to take care of in this life.
Wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence ... But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:5 ... 8)
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14)
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:8-9)
