"Go teach all nations" was the command they had received from the Lord (Matt.28:19), and before his ascension he said, “You will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth…” (Acts 1:8). In Jerusalem they stayed and on the day of Pentecost they received the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2:1‑4), who was to guide them into “all truth" (John 16:13) and that day they began that seemingly impossible task of preaching the gospel of Christ to all nations.
Let's observe what they told people WHO WERE LOST IN THEIR SINS to believe and do.
In Jerusalem – These Jews made up the first audience of sinners who heard of the possibility of forgiveness thru God's Son. When the apostles preached that God had made “...this same Jesus whom you have crucified to be both Lord and Christ…” (Acts 2:36), they understood the apostles to be saying that the son of the carpenter, Joseph, was the very Son of God. They realized that they had killed their very Messiah, for whom they had been waiting! Thus the cry came from that multitude, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37) For the first time the apostles told men what to do for the remission of their sins. Listen to their words: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...." (Acts 2:38).
Later, in Jerusalem, Peter reminded them that they had "denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead", and even though they had done it in ignorance, they were guilty. Then he commanded": "Repent ye therefore, and be converted that your sins be blotted out" (Acts 3:19).
In Samaria – Persecution caused the disciples to be scattered abroad and they "went every where preaching the word" (Acts 8:1). Philip went to Samaria to preach, "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).
Notice, that the only information we are given as to the content of what was preached is, "THINGS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST". What did this involve, as it pertains to sinners and the remission of their sins? We can positively know was was mentioned from the response that is recorded by those who heard the preaching. What does Acts 8:12 say? "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Also, a sorcerer in that city, who had been deceiving the people, making them think that he was some great one, heard Philip and "...believed also: and when he was baptized... " (vs. 13).
A Nobleman Converted – The conversion of the treasurer of Ethiopia is one of the most simple. He was a religious man, evidenced by the statement that he had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his home when Philip was sent by the Lord to teach him. YET HE WAS LOST IN HIS SINS! When Philip first saw him the man was reading Isaiah the Prophet and invited Philip to explain what he was reading. The record says, "Philip began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." We are not told all the things he said about Jesus, but again, as we saw from the example of those in Samaria, we can tell what was mentioned by the preacher in his sermon, from the response of the sinner! In this case, we are given only ONE WORD! It says that Phillip preached unto the eunuch "JESUS"! What did Phillip tell the eunuch in terms of how to be saved? Look at what the eunuch did. As they rode along in that chariot they came to a certain water and the eunuch said, “Here is water; what hinders me from being baptized?” Now, notice what Philip said: "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both those men went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:36‑38). What prompted this eunuch to asked about baptism? (A side point, is, that this baptism of which he inquired was water baptism). What did that eunuch believe? What did he do?
An Enemy Converted – In Jerusalem young Saul of Tarsus was a leader of those who persecuted the disciples. He obtained permission to go to Damascus to bind disciples and return them to Jerusalem to be punished. Enroute, the Lord appeared to him in a light brighter than the noon day sun and told him, “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” Saul asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?” The Lord said, "Go into the city, and you will be told what you must do?" Observe that for three days Saul was fasting and praying, then the Lord sent a gospel preacher, Ananias, unto Saul to lay his hands upon him to tell him what he must do. Saul "...arose and was baptized" (Acts 9:18). Years later, Saul (now called Paul, the apostle) told of his conversion as he made his defense before the Jews in Jerusalem. He said, "Ananias came to me and stood and said to me, God has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). What did he believe? What was he told to do?
The first Gentiles Converted – Peter, was sent to preach to the house of Cornelius, the first Gentiles to receive the gospel. He told them of Jesus and the things he did in the land of the Jews, and how the Jews had killed him by hanging him on a tree, but that God had raised him on the third day, and had commanded us to preach to the people that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead; that through His name whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. And he commanded him to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:34-48). What were the Gentiles to believe? What were they commanded to do?
The Pattern – Surely you can see the pattern: wherever the gospel was preached, people were commanded to believe something AND to do something. There was a uniform message, a "form of doctrine" that was delivered (Romans 6:17-18). There was something in this uniform message to OBEY as well (Romans 6:17-18). Go back and re-read the examples above. What "form of doctrine" was both delivered, believed, and obeyed?
Were there murderers as well as religious people who were lost? Were there instances of people who prayed regularly and fervently, yet still lost?
Now, ask yourself in regard to your situation. When you "got saved", did the preacher preach the same response to you, that the apostles preached in the Bible?
What were YOU told to believe?
What were YOU told to do?
What were YOU told to believe?
What were YOU told to do?
Your soul's salvation depends upon it.
2011
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