What is God’s plan of salvation for you? Knowing and seeking what you must do to be saved is the first step. The plan of salvation as outlined by Christ in a conversation with Nicodemus when He commands each soul to be born of water and spirit to inherit the Kingdom of God. God has a plan of salvation for everyone. That plan is detailed in John 3:5.
Many people teach the theory that salvation is to “accept God as your personal savior” and you will be forgiven of sin. There is no scriptural support for this belief. The scripture says, “He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said…” (John 7:38). There is a requirement for every soul to repent for their sins and be baptized in water. You must receive the water baptism…not a sprinkle, but be buried in water in the name of Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus, to wash away your sins. Historically, baptize means to “immerse in water.”
There are three baptisms that are recorded in the Holy Scriptures:
1. Baptism of Moses: The people of God were baptized in the clouds and in the sea as they went from Egypt to the Promised Land (1 Corinthians 10:2).
2. Baptism of John: John’s baptism was the baptism in water unto repentance (Acts 19:4: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.)
3. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ/Peter: This baptism was instituted in the church on the Day of Pentecost and is the current method for the washing away of sins—to go from death to life. (Acts 2:38: 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.) As you notice, the current baptism merges the baptism of water and the baptism of repentance into one water baptism. To clarify this point even further, when Apostle Paul came across some disciples that had “only” the baptism of John, they were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (See Acts 19:1-5)
Scriptural Refrences
Acts 2:38 (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.)
John 3:5 (Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.),
Colossians 3:17(And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.)
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Mark 16:16 (He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.)
Many people teach the theory that salvation is to “accept God as your personal savior” and you will be forgiven of sin. There is no scriptural support for this belief. The scripture says, “He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said…” (John 7:38). There is a requirement for every soul to repent for their sins and be baptized in water. You must receive the water baptism…not a sprinkle, but be buried in water in the name of Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus, to wash away your sins. Historically, baptize means to “immerse in water.”
In the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost fell…there were tongues. In second chapter of Acts At Cornelius’s house, the Holy Ghost fell…there were tongues.
These tongues were the sign that all those believers were baptized with the Holy Ghost. Such utterances follow believers (Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues).
Scriptural Refrences
Mark 16:17(And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues)
Acts 2:4 (And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.)
Acts 10:46-47 (46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter
47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?)
After the water baptism and the filling of the Holy Ghost, the path to everlasting life continues. Now, there is a commandment to contend for the Faith that was once delivered to the saints—that faith is the apostles’ faith—the Apostolic Faith. What is contending—to remain steadfast in your belief in God, to earnestly continue to do and say what’s right, to live by God’s Word, and to stay on the path of righteousness.
The scripture commands us to perfect ourselves after leaving the principles of the doctrine. This continuation means to contend. (Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God)
Scriptural Refrences
Jude 1:3 (Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.)
Acts 2:41-42 (41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42: And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.)
Philippians 1:27 (Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;)