Obey Acts 2:38
The only way to be counted as part of The Jesus People, which is the residue of men who seek after the Lord in these last days, is to OBEY ACTS 2:38, the keys of the kingdom, the Gospel plan of salvation Jesus gave to Peter, which was preached by the same and obeyed by the early church. Like the multitudes on the Day of Pentecost who asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”, which is tantamount to the question on how to be saved (according to the apostolic way), we offer the same response as given by Peter and the rest of the apostles: “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” (Acts 2:38).
REPENTANCE
Repentance is asking the Lord to forgive our sins, to amend our sinful ways and come back to the message of righteousness, to restore our relationship with God. It is dying from sin and from love of worldly things, and to be reconciled back to the Creator (Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9)
WATER BAPTISM
Water Baptism is for fulfillment of all righteousness, Christ Himself as a man, though sinless, was baptized by John the Baptist. Water baptism is God’s way where the Blood of Jesus washes away our sins, where the record of past sinful nature is remitted. It is only through full immersion in the watery grave of baptism, administered in Jesus’ name, where the burial of old-self happens (Acts 8:16, 10:48, 19:5, 22:16; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21).
HOLY GHOST
The Holy Ghost, who is God manifesting Himself in man’s life, is the gift of sanctification is given to a repentant sinner, where he is enabled to live a new life, validated by Christ’s resurrection power. When a man is submerged in the Spirit of God, he will miraculously speak in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:1–4, 10:44–46, 19:6; Romans 6:5; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14).
The Apostles and the 120 believers in the upper room, and the crowd of Jews and Jewish proselytes gathered in Jerusalem during the Day of Pentecost, where all baptized in Jesus’ name and they received the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues (Acts chapter 2). The Samaritans also were baptized in Jesus’ name and received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 8). The household of Cornelius, the first Gentiles who received the Gospel message received the Holy Ghost and were baptized in Jesus’ name. The early followers of the Messiah, the converts of John the Baptist, also were baptized in Jesus’ name and received the Holy Ghost (Acts chapter 19). In these earliest biblical records of early Christianity, all obeyed the same message found of Acts 2:38. That’s how they were added to God’s church which is His people.
Apostle Peter in Acts 2:39 confirmed that the promise of salvation is for us, for our children, for all people in different nations, for all those who are living in farthest countries, whosoever God will call. Jesus Himself declares that “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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Jesus People nowadays will reiterate the same Acts 2:38 message. Those who have repented of their sins, been baptized in Jesus’ name, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost becomes part of the “people of the Name” in these last days.
