Salvation Message
 

Looking for some opinions...

How often should a pastor preach the Salvation message?
My thoughts are that no visitor should ever leave without understanding that they must:

1) Repent
2) Be baptized
3) Receive the Holy Ghost (with speaking in tongues as evidence).

What would you do if you felt your pastor did not preach the salvation message as often as you would like?

Re: Salvation Message
 

If we really believe the message of the way the Bible is divided into sections called Gospels, Acts, and Epistles, would we ever preach the salvation message unless everyone there was not saved? Would it be OK to preach the salvation message if the church was full of saved people?

Re: Salvation Message
 

1) My thoughts are that I'd hate to have to hear you preach!
2) The three things you listed isn't the message of salvation!

Re: Salvation Message
 

Isn't easier to get saved in this movement than to stay saved?

Re: Salvation Message
 

poor guy. he thinks this is an apostolic forum.

Re: Salvation Message
 

:lol

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Some believe that the religious sect of oneness Pentecostalism which began in 1913 is the true Apostolic church too.

Re: Salvation Message
 

At some point in every Sunday morning service, we give sinners a chance to repent. But we don't preach Acts 2:38 every week. The first step is getting them saved, and then we give them information about baptism and the Holy Ghost.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Very much an Apostolic forum, Berk.

You and I know that many at the merger, like Goss, Gurley, Stairs, et al believed those 3 "steps" were not done IN ORDER TO BE SAVED but rather a biblical standard of what a saved person follows... while firmly believing we are regenerated at the point of faith/belief/repentance.

Sherri believes in those 3 steps, for example, in the PCI APOSTOLIC fashion.

Re: Salvation Message
 

We are to preach Christ and him crucified ... the message of the Gospel, the good news of HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION, is evident in all of the paraphrased messages/sermons in the historical narrative of Acts ...

Folks need to come through our doors knowing Jesus Christ is the WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.

I would be disappointed if a message of HOPE and SALVATION in Christ was not preached.

That saved believers were initially and subsequently baptized and are given the gift of the Holy Ghost (eternal life) is believed by an overwhelming majority of Christians.

I am yet to meet a Christian who doesn't believe Acts 2:38.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Yes, Pastor Brett Jones hit on this in his message on Sunday ...

In the movement we were a part of ... you were saved on Sunday ... lost on Monday and Tuesday ... saved again on Wednesday ... lost until Sunday again.

It is a message of constant guilt and condemnation where God is looking to condemn rather than save ....

His text and message was centered around God always devising a means to save ... namely in His Son, Jesus Christ ...even when there's no hope and the water seems spilt on the ground ....

For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 2 Samuel 14:14

Jesus is the plan of SALVATION.

Re: Salvation Message
 

If it had not been for Calvary, we would all be lost! The blood of Jesus covers my sins. To be baptized is an act of obedience to a command. The Holy Ghost is a precious gift. It's really not up to me to decide at what point salvation is received. But it is up to me to be obedient and live in all the truth revealed to me.

I think some make it harder to be saved than it is.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Us likewise....................

Re: Salvation Message
 

Let the Pastor preach as led by the Holy Ghost. Most sermons (I believe) can lead to a call for sinners to repent and have saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul said in Acts 20:21 "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

You can always do baptism later. Remember that not all churches have baptismal tanks/baths. The church might have to schedule a day to use a nearby river to do baptism. In such case, the pastor might talk about baptism, but obviously not gonna be able to conduct baptisms that day.

Re: Salvation Message
 

my comment was tic. no need for the history lesson, lol. my pastor is 3 stepper. but you'd think he's a one stepper. he preaches Christ, and Him crucified every service. recently he has been going on about the 3 steps... in passing, it is never the focal point. the assistant pastor is a one stepper.

Re: Salvation Message
 

For the most part I agree with you. However, I see the Pastor as the "teacher" and "mentor" of the body. It's the body's job to present the Gospel to the Lost and bring them into the church for education regarding the things of God. I look at the spiritual landscape of America... could it be that the "church" is leaving the Salvation message in the hands of those who see as ministers instead of taking it to the ends of the earth on our jobs, when shopping, at the barber shop, beauty salon, pet store, etc???

It is my conviction that a visitor should already understand the salvation message BEFORE coming to church. Just my opinion though.

God bless!

Re: Salvation Message
 

How does that work out in the church having a three stepper and a one stepper as pastor and asst pastor?

Re: Salvation Message
 

Agreed except when the visitor was not actually invited by anyone, IOW just passing by the church and decided to stop by...

Re: Salvation Message
 

SAM: I stated that you wouldn't know that my pastor is a 3 stepper by the way he preaches. I have been here going on two years. He has gone through the 3 steps maybe 5 times. The impression that I get from the congregation is that there is a mix of PAJC and PCI. Everyone lives in harmony.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Well, you won't ever have to hear me preach, as I'm not a preacher. Just a person seeking the truth, as I would hope you are. Your arrogance is very annoying to me.

Re: Salvation Message
 

You betcha.

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:ursofunny

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And your thin-skinned judgmentalism is annoying me so I guess we're even. Look, I just said I wouldn't wanna hear you preach if all you talked about was the three-steps. And I also said your version of the 3-steps isn't the "Plan of salvation." Do you disagree? Let's try dialoging rather than judging....if you're able.

Re: Salvation Message
 

I would prefer to see a more evangelistic approach centered on the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Instead of telling your "visitor" what he or she MUST do... tell them what has already been done on their behalf.

This is message that I see as being overlooked by most of our "UPCI" type preaching. Jesus saves. Tell people that.

Re: Salvation Message
 

I'm glad Paul didn't have the same view. He was asked "what must we do?" What if he would have replied "Nothing. Everything has already been taken care of."

Re: Salvation Message
 

Yes I do disagree. I believe the "three steps" are vital to salvation. They may not be the only part, but they are definitely vital.

Also, your quote was not that you wouldn't wanna hear me preach if all I talked about was the three-steps. You said you would "hate to have to hear me preach."

Re: Salvation Message
 

HOUSTONUPCI:
It was Peter who was asked "what must we do?" It was asked AFTER Peter preached the gospel.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Why are the 3-steps part of salvation? Isn't salvation found in Grace and Mercy through Jesus and the cross?

Re: Salvation Message
 

Understood, but that's what I was referring to...you seemed to be saying that the three steps should be preached every Sunday. My reaction was, "Man, then I'd hate to hear you preach."

But I did hear a pastor once state that he preached "The New Birth" (as understood by him) for 73 straight Sundays.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Did he have 73 straight altar calls? That is a lot.

Re: Salvation Message
 

A thousand Amens to this post!

Re: Salvation Message
 

Horrible brain fart on my part. Had JUST had a conversation about Paul.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Because Jesus died for our sins, we are all saved? Surely not.

We must believe, yes. Believing in Jesus and believing that he is our Savior means we must believe His Word and everything is says.

When Peter was asked "what must we do," he replied "Repent, be baptized...and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

I believe that he is saying they are MUSTS.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Now your preaching!! Nothing like it to bring folks to Christ, keep it simple, let the gospel do the work.

Re: Salvation Message
 

He was asked after he preached the Gospel. Also Acts 2:19, Peter speaking says, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." KJV The NLT says, "But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." This verse is pointing back to when Joel said in Joel 2:28-32 28

"Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.
30 And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible[b] day of the Lord arrives.
32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved,
for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape,
just as the Lord has said.
These will be among the survivors
whom the Lord has called.

Having said all that the people asked, after they called on Jesus, basically 'now what'. He said, 'Turn from your wicked lives and turn to Jesus, wash your shelf (be baptized) and be filled with His spirit.'

Re: Salvation Message
 

It is my opinion that each service should give people the opportunity to surrender to Jesus and when that opportunity is given there should be some brief explanation of how to be saved or how to get right with God.

Re: Salvation Message
 

Also wanted to add other evidence to my above post. Eph. 1 verse 6 says, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" 7. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Skipping to verse 10 "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" 11. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" 12. "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ" and finally verse 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 is solid proof that when you accept Jesus (salvation) that the spirit of God seals you and is in you.

Re: Salvation Message
 

I'm on your side but I disagree about that verse being the final and best proof for the spirit of God sealing you at belief. I think gramatically it could just as easily refer to someone receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost after belief.

Re: Salvation Message
 

I don't agree. Here is why..."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". After ye heard the word of truth which we know is the Gospel of Jesus then the verse said "in whom after that ye believed" this all means that after hearing the Message or Jesus and believing in Him you were (past tense talking about when your faith in Him and His Message) sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This is confirmed by Act 2:39. Ep 1:13 to me clearly shows that the HG, which is not tongues, is received at faith in Him and His Message.

Re: Salvation Message
 

There's not one three stepper who has a problem saying that after someone hears preaching and believes that they are then sealed with the Holy Ghost.

So to those who are already saved three steppers could tell them, "After you heard the message of Jesus and believed in Him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." They can say this because to them receiving the Holy Ghost comes after belief. You on the other hand are saying this verse means they had the Holy Ghost after belief but received it at belief. There is a problem with your view. The verse talks about being sealed with the Holy Spirit. Being sealed with it surely is a reference to receiving the Holy Ghost. But people in your view don't receive the Holy Ghost after belief.

In fact, upon further reflection, the verse would have said "when you believed you were sealed with the Holy Ghost" if it meant you received the Holy Ghost at belief.