Text Box: IS BELIEVING ENOUGH?  Is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior enough to get me into Heaven?  Many believe so and base it on Acts 16:30, 31; and Romas 10:9  Believing:   Is an initial step but is not the final step to salvation Believing is the Foundation of salvation. Necessary for Salvation All in Heaven will be believers. True believing will save you because it will lead you to believing the truth, and believing and acting on the truth will save you.  But believing alone (or by itself) will not save you!!    The bible says…   Luke 13:3 – This tells me I must repent to be saved Mark 16:16 and 1 Peter 3:21 – This tells me I have to be baptized to be saved. John 3:5 and Romans 8:9 – This tells me I must have the Holy Ghost to be saved. Hebrews 12:14 – This tells me I must live holy to be saved.    ü  All of these are necessary to be saved!!! ü  Full obedience to the whole Word of God is necessary for salvation. ü  Must take the bible as a whole and not base salvation on an isolated scripture!    Many say they received the Holy Ghost when they believed on the Lord and Accepted Him as their personal savior.                Not necessarily so…    Three examples:  1.  The Apostles: Walked with Jesus for 3 1/2 years, were loved and used of Him, Saw miracles – if any believed, they did!! But they had not received the Holy Ghost yet. (See Luke 24:49; John 7:36 – 38;  Acts 1:8;  Acts 2:1-4)   2.      Acts 8:5 – 17 Philip at Samaria: Through the ministry of Philip, the  people of Samaria... §  Saw Miracles (vs 6&7) §  Were Healed (vs. 6&7) §  Had great joy (vs. 8) §  Believed on Jesus  (vs. 12) §  Were baptized  (vs. 12)  But had not received the Holy Ghost yet. (vs. 14,15 and 16) 14.    Now when the apostles which were a Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15.    Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16.    (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus   Received it in verse 17….   17.    Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost     3.   Acts 19:1-6:  (vs. 2) Paul asked: “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Which implies just because you believe or accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, does not mean you have received the Holy Ghost.         (vs. 5)   They believed and were baptized but hadn’t receive the Holy Ghost until Paul laid his hands upon them...       (vs. 6) They received the Holy Ghost!!!   They knew that they had received it because it was a miraculous experience evidenced by SPEAKING IN TONGUES.   How can you know if you have received "The Holy Ghost"?  The same way they knew!   Mark 16:17 "and these signs shall follow then that believe; in my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every on that is born of the Spirit." Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 10:45 "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 10:46  "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter…" Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, they Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied."               !!!THEY SPOKE WITH (IN) TONGUES!!!!   Two or Three witnesses:  Consistently throughout the scripture just because they believed on the Lord as their savior did not mean they had received the Holy Ghost yet, but they knew they had received it when they had the initial, miracle sign and evidence of speaking in tongues.   Some say that tongues were just a sign to the Jews:   Read Acts 2 – Speaking in tongues before multitude arrived (Acts 2:4, 6) Note – Sign to the Jew and to the believer that he had received the Holy Ghost. Acts 19:  No one to give a sign to but the believers who had received the Holy Ghost. The sign was for them to know that they had received it and for Paul to know that they had received the Holy Ghost the same way that he (Paul) had.   Some say the Holy Ghost only given by the laying on of Apostles Hands:   Read Acts 10:44 – Received it as they heard the Word of God preached.   On Hands -  Note               Many do not receive it in Denominal Churches because it is not preached.   -          Romans 10:14 “…and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” -          Acts 19:2  “…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.” -          Romans 10:17  “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”   People receive the Holy Ghost when they believe God’s Word. Laying on of Hands is a way to transmit faith, but Jesus is the one who gives the Holy Ghost.  (Matt 3:11)   Some say tongues are just on of the nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in ( 1 Cor 12:7-11) and that everyone does not receive the gift of tongues. (1Cor 12:30)   Tongues are used as one of the nine gifts of the Spirit, but tongues are not used only as one of the nine gifts. Tongues are used in the bible as an initial miracle sign and evidence that one has received the Holy Ghost.   Three types of tongues are mentioned in the Bible (or three ways that tongues are used).   1.      The "Gift of Tongues" (Usually followed by the gift of interpretation) a.       one of the nine gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-11) b.      Not everyone receives gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:30) c.       Used in church (1 Cor. 14:26-28) d.      No more than three are to speak (1 Cor. 14:27) e.       They are to speak on at a time – by course (1 Cor. 14:27) f.       Ine is supposed to interpret the tongues (1 Cor. 14:27) g.      The gift of tongues is to keep silent in church of no interpreter in present. (1 Cor. 14:28).   2.      The "Gift of the Holy Ghost" initial evidence of tongues: a.       Not one of the nine gifts of (1 Cor. 12:17 – 11) b.      Everyone who receives the Holy Ghost speaks in these tongues. 1.      John 3:8 2.      Acts 2:4 3.      Acts 10:45, 46 4.      Acts 19:6   c.       More than three can speak at the same time (Acts 1:15; 2:4; 10:24, 33, 44-46; Acts 19:6, 7.)             d.   No interpretation in given (Mark 16:17) Acts 2:4: – 120 speaking at the same time, no interpretation is given. Why? Not the gift, but the evidence tongues. (Acts 2) Acts 10:46:  Whole household of Cornelius. (Acts 10) Acts 19:6:  Twelve spoke in tongues as they received the Holy Ghost.    3.      "Praying in tongues" (or Praying in the Holy Ghost):   Jude 1:20        "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,"   1 Corinthians 14:14-15 "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."   Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"    Conclusion:  You may never receive the "gift of tongues", but everyone who receives the "Gift of the  Holy Ghost" will speak with the initial miracle sign and evidence of tongues.   Jesus said a sound would accompany everyone born of the Spirit. Not Just Some!! (John 3:8 *read)   Yes, as we have plainly seen through the scripture, believing is good, but God has more for you than just "Believing on the Lord as your personal Savior".    We must also:             Repent Be baptized in Jesus name Received the Holy Ghost with the initial miracle sign and evidence of speaking in tongues. And live a holy life.   GOD HAS MORE FOR YOU!!! YOU CAN HAVE A KNOW SO SALVATION !!!!    Peter said in Acts 2:38, 39  “…Repent, and ne baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."   SO, LET ME ASK YOU... as Paul asked the Ephesians in Acts 19:2..."Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: DO I have to go to Church to be Saved? One of the prevailing feelings about spirituality in our day is that you don’t have to go to church, or participate in organized religion, to be “Saved”.  What does the Bible say about it? Does God’s word contradict this idea?  Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:15 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...”  Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them..”   Considering these scriptures, in light of the question of Church attendance, let’s consider these following thoughts: 1. God commands us to not forsake “assembling together”. So, we can plainly see from the word of God that we are to come together in a group format with exhortation given. (Hebrews 10:24-25) 2. God chose the “foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It takes preaching from a God called preacher to save your soul! (1Corinthians 1:21; Romans 10:17; Romans 10:15) 3. Faith comes by hearing a God called preacher preach the word of God to us on a regular weekly basis. God knew that we needed this preaching diet to offset the influence of sin, and stay saved. (Acts 20:7)   It is plain to see that regular weekly church attendance is a God given gathering to strengthen and save us with direction from heaven.   So, what about house meetings as a substitute for church meetings…?  There are examples of house meetings in the bible. For example:   Colossians 4:15 “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.”   Observe that the house was being used as a church, and not, the house was an escape from attending church. Also, the church that was in Nymphas’ house was pastured by a God called man-of-God. Having as pastor is necessary for a facility to be called a church and for our salvation. Finally, it would be safe to say, we have the privilege of going to church to have a God called Pastor preach the truth to us so that our souls will make it to Heaven! What a privilege.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Apostolic Life Tabernacle is an Apostolic church located in the Humble - Kingwood - Atascocita area believing the Apostolic doctrine and receiving the Pentecostal experience. We are located at 7154 Atascocita Road, Humble, Texas 77346