How the Spirit helped me find the gospel Paul preached? (2)
A. As I said, at first I was preaching the gospel according to Romans 10:9!
Telling people in the world he that confess with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart God raised Jesus from the dead, they are saved!
B. I was using the saved thief on the cross as further proofà Lk.23:39-43
One of the thieves who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ?
Save yourself and us!"
But the other thief rebuked him…
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
As we can see Jesus took this thief to paradise, he had to be saved!
This thief was saved without baptism!
C. I was challenged with Mk.16:16, Ac.2:38, 22:16 plus Gal.1:8.
1. Mark 16:16 Jesus said, salvation is after one is baptized.
2. Acts 2:38 says believers were baptized for forgiveness of sins.
3. Acts 22:16 Paul himself said, his baptism was to wash away his sins!
4. Plus Gal.1:8 says, anyone preach a different gospel will be condemned!
I was preaching salvation before baptism!
As I said, I went back to my Seminary ask my teachers to help me explain!
Their final answer was: salvation before baptism is our conviction!
It was agonizing and much frustration for me!
D. Thank God one day I found:
1. Mark 2:10 says: Jesus is Lord, when he was on earth physically,
he has authority to forgive sins!
Jesus is Lord, he used his authority to forgive the thief on the cross.
Now we are told to go into the world tell all creation,
he that believe and is baptized will be saved!Mk16:16
We as servant of the Lord, we have to follow the Lord’s command!
2. Acts 2:38, Peter was carrying out Jesus’ command in Mk16:16.
He instructed 3000 believers to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for forgiveness of sins…
3. Acts 22:16!
At first I did not know this verse existed!
Yes, Paul said for himself, his baptism was to wash away his sins!
Why did I miss this verse?
Because I was concentrating on proving salvation by confession with mouth and believing with heart!
4. New Testament Greek experts taught me about Paul’s personal salvation experience was recorded in Acts 9:17-18.
Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--
Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--
has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 9:17
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized. 9:18
5. With salvation before baptism in our mind we see the above message as:
a. His eyes sight restored. b. He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
c. He got up and was baptized!
This looks Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was baptized!
Then he had to be saved before baptism!
E. Thank God one day I found these two verses should be understood this way:
Acts 9:17 was two things Jesus Ananias do for Saul. (Later call Paul)
1. Restore his eyes sight. 2. Help him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:18 was two things he actually done for Saul!
1. Restore his eyes sight.
2. Asked him to get up and be baptized.
When Paul testify about his own salvation experience he explain why he got up and was baptized!
He was baptized to wash away his sins. So he may be filled with Holy Spirit!
This coincide with Acts 2:36-38 what Peter did!
I found the gospel Paul preachedàHe who believes and is baptized will be saved!
May the Lord bless you always! March 26, 2010