Posted
on January 29, 2015 by touchingheavenministries
Last
week I talked to a man from half way around the world that claims to have
repented and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of his
sins as according to Acts 2:38, but…..
This
man said, “I tried and tried to believe in the name of Jesus Christ but I could
not bring myself to actually get to that point, I DO NOT BELIEVE.” Herein lies
the problem with ‘The Acts 2:38 Only Doctrine’ for salvation, there is no
power in being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ if a person does not believe.
This man went on to say, “I tried to pray, I really did, but when you do not
know who you are to pray to it is hard to believe in what you are praying for.”
He
asked me, “Since I have been baptized in water, in the name of Jesus Christ….
am I saved? Do I have the gift of Eternal Salvation?”
All I
could do is shake my head while looking at the words this man just wrote to me.
I realized that no one had introduced this man to Jesus Christ, no one had ever
showed him Scripture in the Bible to confirm to this man who Jesus Christ is. I
found it quite amazing that someone, a man of GOD especially did not take the
time to show this man who Jesus Christ really is before baptizing him in the
name of Jesus Christ.
I
replied: “To answer your question as politely as I can, no matter what anyone
else tells you, YOU ARE NOT SAVED! Being baptized in accordance with Acts 2:38
and not believing on the name of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you only
took a very public bath with your clothes on. If you were to die today without
believing that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, died as the ultimate
sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins, was buried and arose again on the
third day you will be judged as a non-believer and cast out into outer darkness
for eternity.”
He
replied a short time later, “So, you are saying I waisted my time being
baptized and if I were to die today, I would go to hell. Thank you for your
honesty, that is all I asked from the others that enticed me to be baptized, I
will let you know what the others say that talked me into being baptized a few
days ago.”
Before
he logged off, I gave him a link to an online Bible Study site and gave a list
of scriptures to read and study. I told him that someone dropped the ball but
GOD led him to someone that would pick that ball up and not let it go until he
believed in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Just
about an hour ago, I got a message from this man, “Bishop Sparks, thank you for
introducing me to who Jesus Christ really is. Thank you for giving me that list
for Scriptures to study and meditate on. I just want to let you know that I
spoke with that group and their preacher that baptized me that day telling them
what you had said. They tried their best to prove you wrong but with the Word
of GOD that you gave me, you proved all of them wrong. Three men actually
became so angry that they were made to leave and I could hear them yelling all
the way out the door. The preacher looked at me and said, ‘I thought you
believed already, if I would have known you did not, I would have not baptized
you, please forgive me.’ He offered to pray with me and asked what he could
pray about, I said, I want to believe, I really do. The preacher prayed for me
and suggested I contact you when I start believing in the name of Jesus Christ.
Well, I want you to know, I do believe now, not because of anything that
preacher said or even what you said, but what the Bible says in John 3:15-21.
Thank you Bishop Sparks for your obedience unto GOD and your integrity to speak
the Truth. I now BELIEVE and now I know I AM SAVED!”
To all
those brothers and sisters in the Lord that believe in the Acts 2:38 Doctrine
as your plan of Salvation, I caution you to make sure you are leading people to
believe in Jesus Christ first. Without believing they can never be saved
because they are condemned unto judgement. Just to bring back into remembrance
what the Word of GOD teaches:
“15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life. 16 For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For GOD sent not His Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of GOD. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in GOD.” (John 3:15-21 KJV)
Please
remember not to get ahead of GOD, there are those He is still reaching out to,
just to believe in Him. It is easy for you and I to have faith in GOD and know
that Jesus Christ is our Savior but there are those that just do not believe.
It is not that they are bad people, most of the time it is the fact that we as
Christians have forgotten what it means to not believe. GOD loves you and I
even those that are afar off, the Word of GOD teaches:
“8 The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and
in thy heart: that is, the Word of Faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised Him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on Him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:8-15 KJV)
Be
steadfast in your faith and exercise your belief in the one that we call Lord
and Savior. Jesus Christ reached out to you even in your unbelief and through
His love and patience caused you to believe. Lead someone to believe in Jesus
Christ today, trust me, it is well worth it…..
