Some time ago I looked at doing some cleaning work, professionally cleaning ovens, toilets, kitchens, bathrooms etc. To do this I used professional quality products. Manufactures make these products, janitorial supply warehouses sell them, I bought them, but until I put them to use they did no cleaning for me.
It is much like this with our sin. God has a plan for our salvation, Jesus died to make this forgiveness, this freedom from sin available to us, but until we take hold of it for ourselves and have the sin cleaned out of our souls, we are not one bit cleaner.
Salvation, Your Response
36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. 39. 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. 40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:36-41
We have seen that God made the world good, in fact “very good”, but that between Adam, Eve, and Satan, it was messed up and that to this very day the world is corrupted. We have looked at the effect that sin, (the transgressing or breaking of God’s rules), has on us, in separating us from God, and condemning us to eternal punishment. We have also seen that Jesus came to free us from sin. Having said this, why is not everybody now free from sin? The answer is that, although Jesus has paid sufficient for all sin to be forgiven…
15. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again
2 Corinthians 5:15
…not all have appropriated, or asked for it. You must respond to the free gift of God. He will not force it on you.
23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 6:23
So how do we get hold of this free salvation?
A decision must be made. God has already been working for your salvation. He planned the way of salvation; He came to earth as Jesus and died paying the price for your sin.
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
1 Corinthians 15:3
And now He has been working in your heart, prompting you to seek Him. The fact that you are doing this course shows that He has put the interest in your heart to seek the things of God. You have begun to respond by giving time to look into the message of salvation that God has given to us in the Bible. But there is a big decision that you have to make. We will look at it in three steps. 1st — Believe. You first need to come to the point where you say “Yes, I believe that Jesus is God, and that He died for my sins, and I need Him to forgive me”.
(As you read these next two verses it might be helpful for you to know that Baptism is a simple public sign or act that says you are a follower of Jesus)
36. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch sai, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Acts 8:36-37
This ‘believing’ is not just believing IN God, believing that HE exists. Even Satan and the devils believe that.
19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble
James 2:19
It is believing ON Him, a putting of your trust in Him to be your saviour.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
John 1:12
2nd — Repent. The people that we read about in Acts chapter two at the beginning of this study believed in Jesus and believed in their need to be forgiven, that is why they called out “what shall we do?” Peter took them on from just belief to repentance.
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
Acts 2:38
Repentance literally means to change direction. In the Bible it is used to mean to stop living for yourself by your own ideas and to start living for God and by His rules. This is a turning from what is wrong in your life. The verse that best describes repentance is:
14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14
You may find that there are some things that you will need to put right. You may have to confess wrong words or actions that you have had. You may even have to put right past sins: stealing, cheating etc. Take a look at the following verses.
8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham
Luke 19:8-9
(Zacchaeus was not saved by what he did, what he did was a sign that a change had happened in his life.)
28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth
Ephesians 4:28
3rd — Be Baptised. They already believed, then Peter told them to repent, then he told them to be baptised. Baptism as we have already said is a public and personal action showing that you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Why do we need to be Baptised? First it is as an act of obedience. The Bible says you should be baptised, therefore we should obey. Second, it will help you and others to remember that there is to be no turning back now. Third, it is a public confession of your faith in Jesus Christ.
8. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God
Luke 12:8-9
Now YOU must decide
There is nothing that I or anyone else can do to help you into the Kingdom of God. You know that God made the world good, but that our sin messed it up; that this sin has the punishment of eternal death, but that Jesus came and died to take away our sin. Now YOU need to decide! Will you turn away from Jesus, put it off or will you call on him today?
2. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
Call on Him to give you life and life more abundantly.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep
John 10:9-11
Home Task
Memorise
21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:21
Will you ask Jesus Christ to become your saviour?
If Yes:
Just tell Him!
Tell Him that you believe that:
He made the world and made it good
You are a sinner and need to be saved from sin and its consequences
He died to pay for your sin and to be able to forgive you
And ask to be forgiven
Now tell someone, the person who is leading you through this book, your pastor, your parents, even me, Andrew. Tell me from our contact me page .
Then ask to be baptised.
Ask for someone to lead you through a discipleship course.
If No:
Do you need more help?
Ask the person who is leading you through this book, if they can not answer your questions they may know someone who can or contact me through our contact me page
Just not interested?
That’s your choice!
But you’re on your own.
I would not want to stand in your shoes when God judges all people, and you can not say I did not know, not now.
