Salvation the Pentecostal way

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I believe in the way of Salvation as recorded in Acts 2:38. There has
been some discussion about other places in Acts where various aspects are
not mentioned such as speaking in tongues,etc. However 
*repentance* is not always mentioned either , does that mean
repentance is not always necessary? 

matt 3:16,17
16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the
water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.

John 3:8 (Youngs Literal Translation)
8  the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his* voice* thou dost hear,
but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; *thus is
every one who hath been born of the Spirit.*'

I believe that Matthew 3:16,17 is revealing something to spiritual
Israel, that it is an example to us concerning salvation. Notice that 
Jesus was baptized and coming out of the water theSpirit comes
upon him (Symbolically) and a *voice* is heard from Heaven that
says "this my Son in whom I am well pleased".

Jesus is our example, although he had no need to repent, he
was baptized, and the Spirit came upon Him (again in a symbolic form)
and a *voice* was heard. Following this example I believe we should
be baptized, and I believe we should expect the Spirit to come upon
us and we should hear a *voice* -- the voice of the Spirit -- tongues.
And I believe if those tongues were interpreted they would say,
"This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased"

Acts 2:37-42
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.

Lets look at v.41. First of all I believe that 2 different events are
spoken of here. Remove the *colon*  after the word *baptize* as
it is inserted by the translators and I believe alters the meaning
of the verse. It says those who received the word were baptized
although it *doesn't really say* how many were baptized , however
IT DOES SAY how many were added to the church --  3000.
My point is this: many more than 3000 may have recieved the
word and been baptized but *only* 3000 of these were added to the
church -- only 3000 of these were filled with the Holy Ghost and
thereby added to the church.

There will be a specific point in time ( before the church is taken
out) and from this specific point forward only 3000 more people will
be added to the church(saved). I believe that the last 3000 people to
get saved will be saved just like the first 3000. 
Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights,** with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning**.
 
42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

They "continued STEDFASLY in the APOSTLES' DOCTRINE".
What is the *apostles doctrine*? Its not too hard to figure out.
Only one sermon has been preached at this point. Its Acts 2:38.
Also notice the phrase "apostles' doctrine". "Apostles" is plural
while "doctrine" is singular.  All *twelve* apostles had *one*
doctrine.

I believe 1 Corinthians 15:11 confirms a single message.
  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

There has been much talk about "christians". What is a "christian"?
A "christian"is a follower or disciple of Christ but as we read the
NT, were all followers or disciples of Christ saved? No.

Mt 7:21¶  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is
in heaven.
Mt 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?

As I read the above verses it says to me there will be "christians",
even "spirit filled" christians who aren't saved. 
Mt 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us. 
12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Lu 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I
say?

No doubt these are people who "believe in Jesus". Refer back to the
parable of the tares and the wheat. The tares look like the wheat
to the very end, but in ther end they will be gathered and burned.

Also note this, Jesus is returning for THE CHURCH not "believers".

25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for IT;
26  That he might sanctify and cleanse IT with the washing of water by
the word,
27  That he might present IT to himself a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.

In closing, I'll stand with the apostle Paul and the Apostles Doctrine.

1 ¶ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you,
which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I
preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.


*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *
    *     *
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
+++++++Rev22:21+++++++
Michael Cates.........Shreveport,LA.........mlcates@juno.com

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