Preserving God's Word - Part 11 (PW96)

        Prelude to World War 3

Faith in the Apostolic Age
  After the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, His disciples were persecuted by the Jewish leaders and Priesthood.
  With the continuous Roman persecutions and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, the Council of Apostles and Elders was forced to go underground, leaving the churches to be run by bishops and leaders independently.
 During the Apostolic age in the First Century, the churches flourished with sound doctrine taught by Jesus's apostles and disciples.

Gospel Preached by Peter
Acts 2:31-32, 36    he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.... “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
  Peter preached the gospel of grace that Jesus was the Christ, who had resurrected from death after His crucifixion.

Acts 2:37    Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
  The Jews who believed the gospel were convicted and they asked the Apostles what they must do next.

Acts 2:38    Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  Then Peter told them to repent of their sins for the blood of Jesus would cleanse them, and they would receive the Holy Spirit of redemption with the spiritual gifts.
  They must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Name of Jesus
Phi 2:9-10    Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
  The name of Jesus is the greatest that everyone including all those in heaven must bow down to. 
  So Jesus is also the name of God the Father and also the triune Godhead.
John 17:6,12a    “I  manifested Your name (Jesus) to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word... While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name (Jesus). 
  When believers are baptized in the name of Jesus or Jesus Christ, it is similar to baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Apostles' Belief or Creed as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ

1. Salvation by Faith -
John 3:16    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2. Gospel of Grace
Luke 24:46-47     Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

3. Triune Godhead (Trinity)
Mat 28:19-20     Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

4. Triune Godhead Dwells within Devout Christians
John 14:23     Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

5. New Covenant Replaces Old Covenant 
Mat 26:27-28     Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
  The New Covenant of grace and truth has replaced the Old Covenant of the Law. Christians only need to observe the words of Jesus and the Apostles' Epistles (Acts 15:28-29).