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There are many different teachings about the Bible and what it is trying to portray to mankind. You see a different church on every corner claiming to have the truth. We see billboards, signs, and even tracts that attempt to persuade us of their version of what is actually the truth. The sad part is, that even though all of these claim to know the truth, none of them agree with each other. So, the real question we face is, how do we know what to believe?
Jesus said in John 3:16 “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.” Notice how Jesus connected “believing” with having “everlasting life?” So, in order for us to have everlasting life, we must find out how Jesus wants us to believe in him.
While praying for the Apostles, Jesus said in John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The only way we can establish what Jesus meant by believing in him is to go to the Word (Bible), because the Word is true. Let’s go into the Word of God and do a short study on believing.
John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." We have to believe on Jesus the way the scriptures tell us to.
John 17:20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Jesus prayed for those who would believe on him through the word that the Apostles preached.
So what did the Apostles preach? Galatians 1:8-9 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Paul said he preached “the gospel” and if another Apostle, or man, or even an angel, preached anything different than what he had preached concerning the Gospel, they were accursed.
Let’s look to the scripture and see what the Apostles said about the gospel. Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." This lets us know two things:
1. The Gospel is the Word of Truth.
2. If you trust this Gospel by believing in it, you will be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The Gospel brings salvation to anyone who believes it.
Mark 1:15 "…. repent ye, and believe the gospel." The Greek meaning for believe, in these scriptural texts, is to give oneself wholly to; to commit or to obey. According to the scriptures, what Jesus meant by believing in Him is that we have to believe in Him by giving ourselves wholly to the Gospel message. Then we can inherit eternal life through the gospel.
What did Jesus command these Apostles to preach? Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Jesus told the disciples to baptize in the Name, singular, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He said to use one name, not three names.
Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Notice that Jesus said, “he that believeth.” Believeth what? Believeth the Gospel, and is baptized shall be saved.
Luke 24:46-49 "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
• Did the Apostles preach repentance?
• Did they baptize? • What name did they use?
• How did they preach you could have remission of sins?
• What was the promise of the Father?
Let’s look for the answers to these questions as we read what the Apostles preached concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the conclusion of Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:37, the Bible says, “they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles, men and brethren what shall we do?” Verse 38 continues, "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."
• Did they preach repentance? Yes.
• Did they baptize? Yes.
• What name was used in baptism? Jesus
• How did they preach that you received remissions of sins? You must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
• What was the promise of the Father? The Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:47 "… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." How were they being saved?
1. By repenting of their sin.
2. By being baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin.
3. By being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the spirit gave the utterance. See also: Acts 8:15-17; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-6
This is the death, burial, and resurrection that Paul spoke of in Romans 6:1-6.
• We die out to sin through repentance.
• We are buried with Him by baptism.
• We then walk in the newness of life by the Holy Ghost that now lives in our hearts.
Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" This is also the birth of water and Spirit that Jesus referred to at the beginning of his conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:5.
• Birth of water: Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
• Birth of Spirit: Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost
The United Pentecostal Church International is still preaching the same gospel message that has been preached from the beginning of the church today. Please come and join us. We want you to do more than adopt a belief. We want you to experience Pentecost for yourself. If you are interested in a more in-depth Home Bible Study, please give us a call, or email us and we will contact you. We are interested in helping you learn more about Him. | 
