First Steps for New Believers
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, KJV).
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Peter, gave three instructions for those coming to Christ. He told them to repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These directions are still relevant today and are necessary for establishing strong disciples for Christ!
Peter had preached a powerful sermon explaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He then boldly told the people that they had crucified the Lord of glory, and great conviction came upon them. As it says, “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?” (Acts 2:37, KJV).
This is a good question for all of us. What shall we do … when we recognize that we have sinned, dishonored the Lord, and caused the Savior to die for us? Peter’s response, as he laid a powerful apostolic foundation under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is of great significance to us today. He said, “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, KJV).
Here are three things that the Holy Spirit directed the men of Jerusalem (and us) to do—repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book of Acts, we see that the Apostles were diligent in seeing that those who were coming to Christ were established in these three things. We, too, should provide a pathway of discipleship in our churches for people to repent, be baptized in water, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repent
The first step to get right with God is to repent, that is to change, to turn away from sin, and turn to God. Repentance means to “change one’s mind or purpose.” It means to turn around and take a completely new direction for your life. God knows our hearts. When we turn to Him, He brings us into His family and gives us a new life.
The message of repentance was preached by the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, and all the apostles, including Paul. It is a requirement for salvation. As Jesus said, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3, KJV). If you are going in the wrong direction, you must turn around.
Salvation also involves believing in what Jesus did on the cross. At the cross, the penalty was paid for our sins. Faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ works with repentance to bring salvation. As the Apostle Paul tells us, “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.” (Romans 10:9, KJV).
Be Baptized
Peter then told them to “be baptized every one of you.” Not those of you who don’t have relatives who would object. No, “every one of you.”
When Jesus gave the great commission as recorded in both Matthew and Mark, He said that those who believed the Good News were to be baptized (immersed in water) in the name of the Lord. It is the divinely ordained way to signify that you are a follower of Christ, and it is the Lord’s command.
Not only that, but there is great power and a significant deliverance that comes through water baptism. In Colossians, it is called a circumcision from the old life to the new. In baptism, God sets you free from the past, and the enslavement of sin.
As we study the book of Acts, we see baptism was the way that people demonstrated their obedience to the Gospel after they believed in Christ. Here are the accounts from the Book of Acts:
- Those who heard Peter on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:47)
- The Samaritans who were converted under Phillip’s ministry. (Acts 8:12)
- The Ethiopian Eunuch. (Acts 8:38)
- Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 9:18)
- Cornelius and his friends. (Acts 10:48)
- Lydia of Phillipi and her family. (Acts 16:15)
- The Phillipian jailer and his family. (Acts 16:33)
- Chrispus and many Corinthians. (Act 18:8)
- Disciples at Ephesus. (Acts 19:5)
There is a great picture in the Old Testament of water baptism. The Scriptures tell us that the Israelites “… were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;” (1 Corinthians 10:2, KJV).
Israel received their deliverance from the death angel (a picture of our salvation) while they were still in Egypt, but when Israel went through the Red Sea they were delivered when Pharaoh and his army were drowned. Likewise, we are delivered from Satan’s hold through our water baptism.
Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit
It is God’s will that every believer in Christ should be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:5, KJV). Being baptized in water is to be immersed in water. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be immersed, saturated, and soaked in the Holy Spirit.
According to Romans 8:9, every person who has received Christ has the Holy Spirit living in them, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a deeper dimension of the power of God which comes as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, KJV). You are immersed with His power to be a witness for Him. Today, more than ever, we need this power.
When people came to Christ in the early church, the apostles always wanted to make sure that they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
For example, when the apostles heard about the great move of God through Phillip’s ministry where miracles happened and many were saved and water baptized, the scripture says, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:” (Acts 8:14-15, KJV).
When Paul encountered disciples in the city of Ephesus, he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. When they said that they had not heard about the Holy Spirit, he asked them about their water baptism. They said they had been baptized with John’s baptism (a baptism of repentance). Paul then baptized them in the name of Jesus and laid hands on them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They then spoke in tongues (other languages) and prophesied.
In another case, Cornelius and his family and friends received Christ and were baptized with the Holy Spirit while listening to Peter’s sermon. Peter then made sure that they had the other part of their foundation, water baptism. “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:47-48, KJV).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit will make all the difference in your life. I remember when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was sitting in my old Green Ford pickup praying after having been baptized in water. I was thinking about my habits, particularly drinking and smoking pot. I had the thought, “Things will be different now. I will only do that once in a while.” Then, I heard the Lord’s voice clearly, like someone had turned on a radio on the inside of me. “Turn from the things of the world!” He said.
Overwhelmed, I immediately lifted up my arms and said, “Yes, Lord!” Just then, a power came over me, like 10,000 volts of electricity. It has also been described as “waves of liquid love.” I would say that is accurate. The waves kept flowing over me and through me. Then, I began to speak in other tongues, just a few syllables. And then words of prophecy started coming to me, and I spoke them out. “Precious is the blood of the lamb which was shed for you.” “I give you a new life, free from the bonds of iniquity.” He also spoke for me about living a holy life.
I have never been the same.
So, I just want to encourage you. Follow God’s instructions! Repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. You will be established on the solid rock of Scripture, and you will never be the same!.