Prelude to World War 3
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.
Our risen Jesus having taught the Gospel of grace told us to preach it. New converts must believe Jesus and accept the Gospel of grace that :-
1. Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God and the Word made flesh
2. He suffered and was killed (crucified). At the cross He poured out His blood for the remission of our sins
3. He died and having overcame death, He set us free from the fear of death.
4. On the third day, He rose from the dead
5. He gave the Holy Spirit of redemption to dwell within all those who believe the Gospel thereby making them to become born again Christians.
Note our risen Lord told us to preach the gospel of grace but Jesus in the flesh preached repentance.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Before Jesus' death, He preached 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand'. At His death, Jesus became the Messiah of the deceased devout Jews (Samuel, Moses, etc.), who rose from their graves to enter into the kingdom of heaven, thereby ending the Old Covenant (Judaism). Jews must now believe Jesus and the Gospel to obtain salvation.
Gospel Preached by Paul
After Paul's salvation, he went to Arabia where our Lord Jesus by revelation taught him the gospel and His words. His gospel was the same as those preached by the Apostles.
I Cor 15:3-5 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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 by Cephas, then by the twelve.
Water Baptism
Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.
During the Apostolic Age, before anyone is baptized, he must have believed and understood the gospel of grace. God is One, but reveals Himself to mankind as a Triune Godhead, so that man can learn how to be
1. a father - God the Father the Creator of heavens and earth, protects, provides, guides and chastises His children.
2. a son - God the Son was the Word made flesh, who had submitted completely to the Father. As sons we must trust and obey our fathers and most of all our heavenly Father.
Jesus died on the cross for the propitiation of our sin. On the third day He rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Just like Jesus, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:16. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
3. a comforter - God the Holy Spirit dwells in every born again Christian. He teaches us to love and also empowers us with His anointing, gifts, truth and guidance.
We must love one another as Jesus had loved us and help our brethren as the Holy Spirit had helped and empowered us.
There was a type of Christian Creed in the Apostolic Age, which is similar to today's Apostles' Creed.
Apostles' Creed
So before anyone is baptized, every Christian must believe the gospel and accept the Apostles' Creed. New converts are taught to observe all the commands and words of Jesus from the 4 Gospels and the words taught by our risen Lord.
Every born again Christian equipped with the Apostles' Creed, Jesus words and truth and the indwelling of Holy Spirit can grow in Christ.