Spiritual Nuggets For

01-18-2009

121. The Bible teaches we must repent of our sins to come to initial salvation. Sometimes that word repent is not found in salvation sermons (Acts 10:34-43; 16:30,31; etc.), but the concept is always there. This is show in more ways than one. Here is repentance described but referring back to initial salvation:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices (Col 3:9)

NOTE: Lying is part of the old self which must be repented of to get born again. Verses like Col. 3:9 help us know what kind of changes God requires in order to get spiritual life. In other words, you have to take off your “old self with its practices” that is, that life of clinging to idols and following the devil and the ways of this world and change to a life of following the Lord and serving God. Only then does one get forgiven and radically changed from within. That sort of radical change will occur at the point of a trusting and submitting faith in the Lord Jesus. Another example similar to Col. 3:9 is the following one:

For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thess 1:9)

Repentance is written all over that verse too. Here is another showing how vital repentance is to salvation:

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor 7:8-10)

122. One of the greatest victories the devil ever got with spreading deception about initial salvation was with confusing what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus, as found in Acts 16:31. In our day, many think Acts 16:31 denies repentance, while many others think it is merely agreeing to historical facts around Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Both are wrong.

The truth is: to believe on Jesus to have salvation means you will have to repent and place a faith in Jesus that will obey the Lord, that is, one that will turn from idols and serve the true and living God of the Bible (1 Thess. 1:9).

If we compare Acts 16:31 to 20:21 we can notice this important truth:

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)

These verses supplement each other. In other words, even though repentance isn’t found in Acts 16:31, Paul tells us in Acts 20:21 more information about that message and all his other gospel preaching, which shows repentance is certainly included. (See also Acts 10:43 to 11:18 for another comparison.)

123. Can one get soundly saved (to use Ray Comfort’s term) without Comfort’s understanding of law preaching? According to Ray Comfort, no! According to the Bible, yes. Comfort has many people wrongly thinking they must witness with his unique technique to get true converts. Unfortunately, many seemingly don’t know their Bibles well enough to realize there were many souls won to God without law preaching, as Ray Comfort would describe it. Examples are: the Philipian jailer (Acts 16:30,31); Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:34-43); the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29-38); etc.

The worst part of Comfort’s ministry is his spreading the heresy of eternal security around the world. Are you guilty of helping him do that by using his tracts, giving him financial support or promoting his ministry in other ways such as giving him a web site link? The same can be asked with any eternal security congregation, ministry or outreach. If so, you are part of the problem, not part of the needed cure!

124. The two most important church groups in the Book of Acts were the mother church at Jerusalem and the one in Antioch. The later one was founded by unnamed Christians, who witnessed to others as they fled Jerusalem due to the persecution connected with Stephen’s death (Acts 8:4 cf.11:19-21).

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21)

There were no recorded miracles done by them at Antioch, as in other locations, which resulted in that great number of people who got saved. It was from the church at Antioch, that Paul left and returned for his three missionary journeys.

125. The first major wave of persecution against all Christians in general is mentioned in Acts 8, which started with the death of Stephen. After Saul of Tarsus got saved, that persecution for the most part died down quickly.

Afterwards, another wave of persecution, but much smaller, started up in Acts 12 with the martyrdom of James through the hand of King Herod, which quickly ended with Peter’s miraculous deliverance from prison. At an earlier time the Christians were highly regarded by the people (Acts 5:13), but that changed. Should we expect better treatment in our day?

(After Peter escaped in Acts 12 the wicked King Herod died. All of his power and money couldn’t help him anymore. His reign came to an end. Now it was time to face God!)

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