ACTS: THE FULFILLMENT OF JOHN 1:11-12!

FAITH AND REPENTANCE RESULT FROM HEARING THE GOSPEL!

Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile).  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1 Corinthians 15:1-6 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:  and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep (have died).

THE GOSPEL SAVES ALL WHO RESPOND TO IT BY FAITH IN CHRIST!

Acts 11:13-18 - (An angel told Saul of Tarsus to)...Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words (the Gospel), whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.  Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like Gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 15:7-11 - And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel, and believe.  And God, Who knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 16:30-34 - (The Philippian jailor)...brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spoke unto him the Word of the Lord (the Gospel), and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Acts 20:17-21 - And from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:  and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks (Gentiles), repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 28:28-31 - (Paul speaking, said,) Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

BEFORE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME, THERE WERE

TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON EARTH:  JEWS AND GENTILES. 

AT HIS SECOND COMING, THERE WILL STILL ONLY BE

TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON EARTH:  JEWS, GENTILES.

CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND GENTILES WHO ACCEPTED THE LORD JESUS,

WILL HAVE JOINED HIM IN HEAVEN IN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH,

AND WILL RETURN WITH HIM TO REIGN IN HIS KINGDOM.

PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHILE YOU STILL CAN! 

A DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST DAYS

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IS HAPPENING AGAIN!

Ecclesiastes 5:9-11 - The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.  Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new?  It has been already of old time, which was before us.  There is no remembrance of former things.... 

[Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.]

Luke 17:26-29 - And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man....Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 

[Gen. 6:5 - And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 13:12-13 - Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.]

THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES OUR WORLD TODAY!

Isaiah 5:20-21 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Romans 1:18-32 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.

WAKE UP!  REPENT AND TRUST JESUS WHILE YOU CAN!

JESUS: REJECTED! RESURRECTED! ACCEPTED?

JESUS, ISRAEL'S MESSIAH, WAS REJECTED AND CRUCIFIED!

Luke 9:20-22 - (Jesus) said unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  Peter answering said, The Christ of God.  And He (immediately) charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

John 1:11-13 - (Jesus) came unto His own (people:  Israel), and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the (children) of God, even to them that believe on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

PROPHECY FORETOLD OF THE GENTILES TRUSTING IN JESUS!

Matthew 4:12-16 - Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Matthew 12:15-21 -  But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence:  and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; and charged them that they should not make Him known:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Behold My servant, Whom I have chosen; My beloved, in Whom my soul is well pleased:  I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles.  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.  A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory.  And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.

Luke 2:26-32 - And it was revealed unto (Simeon) by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  And he came by the Spirit into the temple:  and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the Law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now let Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:  for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

JESUS, RISEN FROM THE DEAD, OFFERS SALVATION TO ALL !

Acts 9:15 - But the Lord said unto (Ananias), Go thy way:  for (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

Acts 11:12-15 - And as I (Peter) began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.  Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 13:44-47 - And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God.  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you:  but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Acts 14:27-28 - And when (Paul and Barnabas) were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Acts 15:12-20 - Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:  (Peter) hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:  that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, Who does all these things.  Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:  but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

TODAY, WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN JESUS, SHALL BE SAVED!

Romans 10:9-13 - 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.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the (Gentiles):  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.