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We’re not just another website. Here you have found TRUTH! But, of course, that
claim doesn’t make us unique, does it? Every branch and splinter of
religion claims to have a corner on truth. So much so that most folks have
become convinced that either nobody has it or everybody has it. It
might surprise you to find that truth is not all that elusive. I can prove that
in the next few paragraphs if you care to read on! (more)
The most logical place to begin
a search for truth is to locate the true church. The most logical place
to begin a search for the true church is to go to the place in Scripture where
is first mentioned, and follow the trail from there! That would be Matthew the
16th chapter. Let’s listen in as Jesus speaks to His disciples, verse
13. “When Jesus was come into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi He asked His
disciples saying, Whom do men say that I, the son of man am? 14. And they
said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others Jeremais
or one of the prophets. 15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I
am? 16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art
thou, Simon Barjonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. 18. And I say unto thee, that thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys to
the kingdom of heaven: whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
There are two key
statements found in Jesus’ declaration here. First of all, he said,
“I will build my church…” Jesus has a church! Ephesians 4:5,
“One Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism.” Fine, so how do we
recognize that church? That brings us to the second key statement, found
in verse 19: Jesus told PETER, “I will give unto thee the keys to
the kingdom of heaven (the church) and whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.” By these words Jesus was designating Peter as the
spokesman for the true church! Now, all you need to do is follow Peter’s
words in relation to the church that Jesus said He would build!
As Jesus prepared to leave this
earth and ascend into heaven, He met with about 500 of His followers on a hill
outside of Jerusalem. This was the ‘seed’ for the true church. He plainly told
them, Luke 24: 49, “And, behold I send the promise of my Father upon
you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endues with power from on high.”
Verse 52. And they worshipped Him and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy.”
If you go to Acts the first chapter, you’ll find these very same followers
entering Jerusalem, just as Jesus instructed them to do, verse 12: “Then
returned they unto Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey.
13. And when they were come in they went up
into an upper room, where abode both Peter and James, and John, and Andrew,
Philip, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of
James. 14. Theses continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.” Notice
verse 15, “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples, and said, (the number of them being about one hundred and
twenty,)” This is the first instance of the man with the
keys fulfilling his role of spokesman for the church.
Moving to chapter two, we find
the birth of the church, at the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost from
heaven. Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound
from heave as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house wherein they
were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them
utterance.” As you might imagine, this caused quite a stir in the city of
Jerusalem, which was filled with Jews from many nations who had come to observe
the feast of Pentecost. As the crowds gathered around, who but Peter (the man
with the keys), stood to speak to them the wonderful words of God? As Peter
spoke, the realization of what they had done in crucifying the Lord of Glory was
made clear to them and verse 37 says, “Now when they heard this they were
pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” What a
question! And ‘the man with the keys’ had the answer! Verse 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.”
Was this supernatural experience
only for those there that day, or is it for you today? The ‘man with the keys’
went on to say, verse 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.”
We’re all in there somewhere! Peter LOOSED
Repentance, Baptism in Jesus’ name and Receiving the Holy Ghost, and
he BOUND it to, ‘as many as the Lord our God shall call’!
Now, this instance of the birth
of the true church was directed at the Jews. However, some nine years later we
meet a man in Acts the 10th chapter by the name of Cornelius.
Cornelius was a non Jew, or a Gentile. He was, according to verse 2 of chapter
10, “A devout man, one that feared God with all his house, which gave much
alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” Most folks would assume he was
already saved, but apparently Cornelius knew better. Through his much praying
and seeking God, and angel was dispatched to him, directing him to, verse 5,
“…send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea, he shall
tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”
Peter preached to Cornelius and
those who had gathered with him. Notice verse 44, “While Peter yet spake
these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45.
And they of the circumcision (the Jews) which believed were astonished,
as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles was also poured out the
gift of the Holy Ghost.” How did they know this? Verse 46. “For they
heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. 47. Can any man forbid
water that these should not be baptized , which have received the holy ghost as
well as we? 48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the
name of the Lord…”
A quick analysis of this
Scripture setting will show us: Just as ‘the man with the keys’ commanded those
in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost to repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name and
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, to these Gentiles (who were obviously
already repented), he also preached, baptism in Jesus’ name and the
infilling of the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost came upon them, they spoke
in other tongues, just as the Jews had (Acts 2:4).
Are you looking for truth? 2
Corinthians 13: 1 says in part, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall
every word be established.” We have shown you that Peter was the
spokesman for the true church, and that his words carry the backing of heaven,
(“Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”). Would it help if
Peter’s words were independently confirmed by another spokesman? Paul was
a mighty preacher of God’s word. He personally penned over half of the New
Testament epistles. We read his words in Galatians 1: 11, “But I certify you,
brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12.
For I neither received if of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation
of Jesus Christ.” Verse 15. But when it pleased God, who separated me
from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, 16.To reveal His Son
in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not
with flesh and blood: 17. Neither went I up to
Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me; but I
went to Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18. Then after three years I went up to
Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him
fifteen days.” Paul is saying, that he
received his revelation of the true gospel directly from God, independent of
any other man. Does Paul’s version of the gospel agree with Peter’s? For the
answer to that vital question, let us go to Acts the 19th chapter.
“And it came to pass, that,
while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast came to
Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2.
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they
said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3. And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said unto
him, unto John’s baptism. 4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with
the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on
Him that should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5. When they
heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6. When
Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they
spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
Here in Paul’s words we find the very same elements of salvation that Peter preached on the day of
Pentecost to the Jews, and at Cornelius’ house to the Gentiles. These, to whom
Paul was speaking at Ephesus, were obviously a repented people, and believers in
God, and they had even been baptized. What more could anyone ask of them? But
Paul instructed them to be re-baptized in order to take on the name of Jesus in
baptism. (Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is
none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.”)
When they were baptized correctly, Paul prayed for them and God sent
His Spirit into their hearts just as he had in Acts 2 and Acts 10, once again
accompanied by speaking in other tongues! Do you have this experience? If
not, what Scriptural proof can you offer to show that you are in the TRUE
CHURCH? You can have this glorious, life-changing experience! Acts 5:32
promises, “And ye are His witnesses of these thing; and so also is the Holy
Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”! Simply
repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and you, too will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. You’ll know when it
happens, just as they did on the day of Pentecost, and at Cornelius’ house and
at Ephesus, for you will speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives the
utterance!
And that’s the
TRUTH!
Senior Pastor Robert
E. Akers
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