Part 3 of 6 – Kingdom of God

Equipping God's Saints (Followers of Christ) through the Prophecies of the End Times …

We are going to look now at four major accounts of conversion in the Bible.

We have actually already looked at the first account in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first sermon. He preached that they must be born again.

For our next account ~ There was a huge revival that broke out. In Acts 8:12, Philip had been the main preacher:

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

As Philip had preached to them about the Kingdom of God, he had preached about the death, burial and resurrection, so the response was “I want to repent; I want to be baptized.”

Then Simon, who was a sorcerer, had deceived the people. When this big crowd developed, he fell in line and said, “I want to be a part of this, this is where the crowd is.” Acts 8:13 tells us:

“Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

So Philip preached the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Simon, the sorcerer, believed and was baptized. Continuing, Acts 8:14-16 says:

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”

This is interesting. They believed. They had obviously repented. They had been baptized, but they had not received the Holy Ghost. We need to really look at that because a lot of false concepts are floating around.

Some people say, “Oh, you receive the Holy Ghost when you believe on Jesus Christ.” But these people had believed, but they didn't have the Holy Ghost yet.

Other people say, “When you're baptized, that's when you receive the Holy Ghost. You just accept it by faith.” But these people had believed and been baptized, but it explicitly states here, “For as yet the Holy Ghost was fallen upon none of them.” However, when Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

It's very interesting as we can see what's going on here. They don't have the Holy Ghost here and then they laid hands on them. Then it states, “And then they received the Holy Ghost.”

As the account goes on, Acts 8:18-19 says:

“And when Simon saw that throught laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

What did Simon see that caused him to want to give money? What happened was the apostles laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost just like they did on the day of Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost when they received the Holy Ghost, they began to speak with other languages as the spirit gave the utterance. Simon said, “Whoa, I can make a lot of money doig this. Give me this power. I'll give you money if you will give me this power.”

Acts 8:20-21 says:

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou has neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Simon had believed and he was baptized, but he apparently hadn't repented because Peter said, “Your heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Let's go to another account. Here is the first conversion of the Gentiles. Acts 10:43 says:

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Peter went down to preach to Cornelius. An angel had appeared to Cornelius and said, “You should send for one by the name of Simon Peter and he will give you words whereby you can be saved.” Cornelius had prayed an angel down, but he still wasn't saved. He still needed to be born again.

Peter is here, when he got to the household of Cornelius, Cornelius had gathered in many of his relatives and they were all there to hear what God would say to them. Peter preaches to them that through the name of Jesus, all that believe on Him should receive remission of sins. Acts 10:44-45 says:

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision [the Jews] 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.”

Gentiles weren't supposed to be recipients of salvation. That was for the Jews. But now, God is doing a new thing. But these Jewish people said, “Wait a minute. The Gentiles are receiving the Holy Ghost. How do they know? Acts 10:46 says:

“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God...”

So we see all these elements here in all of the conversions in Acts chapter 2, repent, be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts chapter 8: They believed. They were baptized. Then they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now here in Acts chapter 10: As Peter was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on them. They received the Holy Ghost for they heard them speaking with tongues.

Well now what do we do? In Acts 10:47-48, Peter answered:

“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord...”

He didn't say to them, “Look, now you have the Holy Ghost so there is no reason for you to be baptized. Apparently, it's not important.”

No. No. “There are three that bear witness in the earth. The blood, the water and the spirit, and these three agree in one.” These agree in being born again. The Apostle Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The last account that we are going to look at is Acts 19:1-2:

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, 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.”

They were believers, but they hadn't received the Holy Ghost. They didn't even know there was such a thing.

The Apostle Paul thought, “If you don't know if there's such a thing as the Holy Ghost, you probably don't even know about the correct baptism.” Acts 19:3 says:

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.”

Notice what they are preaching in every one of these accounts:

• Believing and Repentance
• Baptism
• Holy Ghost

Acts 19:4-6 continues:

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

There it is again ~ Preaching the Kingdom of God ~ Preaching that people must be born again.

Resources: The anointing of the Holy Spirit and God Almighty, of whom I am accountable to. I have prayed diligently and am led to follow and support the teachings of Pastor Irvin Baxter from Endtime Ministries and his teachings of Understanding the End Times. I encourage you to visit his website at endtime.com.