{"id":1163,"date":"2021-07-25T13:54:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T18:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2021-07-25T13:54:13","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T18:54:13","slug":"gods-call-through-the-gospel-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/25\/gods-call-through-the-gospel-message\/","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s Call through the Gospel Message"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cAnd it shall come to pass, that<\/em> whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.<\/strong>\u201d
Acts 2:21 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The book of Acts is about the\nfurtherance of the Gospel of Jesus. \u201c\u2026 and ye shall be witnesses unto me\nboth in <\/strong>Jerusalem<\/strong>, and in all <\/strong>Judaea<\/strong>, and in <\/strong>Samaria<\/strong>, and unto the uttermost part of the earth<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 1:8). After Jesus spoke final words of\ninstruction to his followers: \u201c9. And when he had spoken these things, while\nthey beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10.\nAnd while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men\nstood by them in white apparel; 11. Which also said, Ye men of <\/strong>Galilee<\/strong>, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,\nwhich is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have\nseen him go into heaven<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 1:9-11).\nThey were amazed to see Jesus just disappear from the earth into Heaven. Then,\nobeying Jesus\u2019 instructions, they returned to Jerusalem. The Gospel spread, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, into Samaria, and finally to the rest of the known world. Salvation\nis available to anyone who would believe. \u201cAnd it shall come to pass, that<\/em>\nwhosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 2:21).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the\nbook of Acts, Jesus\u2019 followers began to understand what it was Jesus did when\nHe came, and even why He did the things that He did. The understanding begins\nwith the importance of his death, burial, and resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Peter\npreached Jesus to the people, he initially directed his message to the Jews,\nfor they had rejected Jesus, crucifying Him. \u201c22. Ye men of Israel, hear\nthese words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and\nwonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves\nalso know: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and\nforeknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and\nslain: 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it\nwas not possible that he should be holden of it<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 2:22-24). Holden<\/strong>\nmeans \u201cto use strength to hold or retain<\/em>.\u201d\nWhen Jesus could not be held by death, He took<\/em><\/strong> that power of\ndeath that had previously been held by the devil, Satan, \u201c\u2026 that through\ndeath he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil<\/strong>\u201d\n(Hebrews 2:14b). Death could not hold Jesus for he conquered it. Jesus then gives\neternal life to any who will believe in Him. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter\ncontinued to explain to the people that because Jesus could not \u201cbe holden\nof it,<\/strong>\u201d Jesus rose from the dead \u2013 and this people he was speaking to were\nwitnesses. \u201c32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses\n… 36. Therefore let all the house of <\/strong>Israel<\/strong> know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,\nwhom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 2:32, 36). All of the\nhouse of Israel should have recognized that Jesus, whom they had\ncrucified, was both Lord and Christ. Christ<\/strong>\nmeans \u201cthe Savior of the world<\/em>.\u201d They\nwere to recognize that Jesus is the Savior of the world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did they\nrespond? \u201cNow when they heard this<\/em>, they were pricked in their heart,\nand said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and<\/em> brethren,\nwhat shall we do?<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 2:37).\nWhen they heard the gospel message preached, they were \u201cpricked in their\nheart.<\/strong>\u201d Pricked<\/strong> means \u201cgreatly pained or deeply moved<\/em>.\u201d It is\nimportant that the gospel message had a movement in their heart. Sometimes we\ncall this \u201cconviction\u201d (which means \u201cfound\nguilty of an offense<\/em>\u201d).\nHowever, it was more important what those people did with that movement. Peter\ntold them what they must do. \u201c38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be\nbaptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of\nsins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is\nunto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even<\/em> as\nmany as the Lord our God shall call<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 2:38-39). The people had to take action: repent. Repent<\/strong> means \u201cto imply pious sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning from them to\nGod and the gospel of Christ<\/em>.\u201d Repentance is a response between a sinful\nman and God. Baptism is an outward testimony of what happened to that\nindividual\u2019s heart. Notice that God \u201ccalled\u201d them. Call<\/strong> means \u201cGod\u2019s call through\nthe gospel message<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you heard or been pricked in your heart when you heard the Gospel Message of Jesus?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you responded to the call of God through the Gospel message?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>