SALVATION QUESTION # 5 (REVISED) What about “Accepting the Lord as my personal Savior?” There are many people who have “accepted the Lord”, perhaps even changed their life-style in a sincere desire to be saved. At the beginning of this Bible Study, I told you that we were going to throw denominational handbooks out the window; we were going to approach the study of Salvation as if there were no denominations at all. Our only guidebook was to be the Word of God. With that in mind, and with all due respect, if we were to search the Bible through and through, we would not find the “accept the Lord” Salvation plan in the Bible. While there is in itself nothing wrong with accepting Christ as your Savior, for that is in line with the first step of Salvation (Believing), I love you too much to have you fall short of what God has for you. It would be better stated, that we should accept the gospel of Christ, or accept the plan of Salvation. The original plan of Salvation can be found in Acts chapter 2. It includes the first sermon ever preached in the New Testament Church. Not coincidently, it was preached by Peter, the same apostle that Jesus had given the “keys” to the kingdom. (Matthew 16: 19) It included believing in Jesus, calling upon the name of the Lord, and separation from the wickedness of the world. It culminated with the first “altar call” ever given, when the crowd asked, “What shall we do?” Notice that Peter’s response included the pre-requisites that Jesus had given for one to be saved. (Repentance, baptism, birth of water and Spirit): 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. I would like to tell you of a man in your Bible named Apollos. He reminds me of someone who had accepted the Lord, and had a great zeal for God. He was a good person with a heart for God, but his whole life changed when somebody presented him with a Bible Study: Acts 18: 24 – 28 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. The Bible describes him as eloquent, and “mighty in the scriptures”. But it also makes it clear that he did not know Jesus in the fullness of truth. He knew only the baptism of John (the Baptist). John the Baptist had prepared people for the coming of Christ with a baptism of Repentance. (See Mark 1: 4). Apollos was only at the repentance level of his Salvation. He needed to precede further. He needed someone to come along and teach him a bible study. Thank God for the “Aquilas” and the “Priscillas” of our generation! Do not take offense that someone has been bold enough to bring the truth to you. God may have brought you here for such a time as this. Let’s not forget Paul (then still called Saul): If anyone had “accepted” the fact that Jesus was Lord – surely it was him. After all, Jesus spoke to him directly on the road to Damascus. Yet still, he was instructed by the Lord to “arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do”. (See Acts 9: 4 – 6) Did you get that? It is one thing to hear from God: yet it is God’s will that you hear from man. (1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 21; Romans 10: 14) The Lord sent Ananias to him to baptize him and that he might be “filled with the Holy Ghost”. (Acts 9: 10 – 18) We know from a later account that the name of Jesus was called over him at baptism. (Acts 22: 16) I too was once fervent and somewhat knowledgeable in the scriptures. I also had accepted the Lord, and was preaching that message. While at first I felt offended and somewhat resentful, today I am forever grateful that someone came along and showed me the way of God more accurately. They posed this question to me: If your Salvation Plan cannot be found in the Bible, are you not afraid to be using it? After a few months of further study, I accepted something different – the will of God for my life, and the plan of Salvation that was presented to the first church. That is why I now vigorously contend that Jesus is God and that Salvation is found in Acts 2:38. @Back On Track Bible Studies - Rick Flores 2013
Posted on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:46:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015