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This lesson is 3 pages long, v3.0


     Will you go to heaven if you are saved but, have not been baptized in water, and have not received the baptism of the Holy Ghost? YES.
    Apple Sauce Kids went online on Jan. 1, 1997. Over the years we have helped 2+ million visitors (to Aug. 2008). From time to time I get questions from people who believe that salvation only comes from water baptism. I want to nail the story down. Salvation comes from a deep belief in Jesus Christ, and receiving Him, and confessing Him as your lord and savior, period. To prove this I give my witness and testimony for Jesus Christ.
    In early 1976 a friend, who had recently been saved, kept nagging me to go to church with him. His nagging finally got so bad that I told him that I would go to church with him one time if he would promise to never bring up the topic again. So in October 1976 I went with him to a little Pentecostal church (about the size of a three car garage) near Sand Town, Delaware. I don't even remember what Pastor Green spoke on that day. At the end of the service Pastor Green gave an alter call, there was only about 10 people in the entire building. As soon as he gave the call God talked to me and encouraged me to go forward. Immediately the Devil spoke to me in the other ear and told me not to go. The Devil said that I didn't need that religion stuff. God and the Devil went back and forth in my head. When God spoke I could feel my arm start to go up, and then the Devil would talk and I could feel my arm start to go down, and this back and forth went on for a while. It went on so long that Pastor Green announced that God just told him to wait a little while longer, and the back and forth continued. I finally went forward and gave my heart to Christ. What you need to know is that in my entire life I had only been in church maybe 12 times and that was for wedding and so on. I had never been baptized in my life to that point. How do I know that I was saved? I instantly changed. Before I got saved, I was a good sinner. I sinned everyday and was glad to sin. I was instantly a new creature in Christ. My old life had passed away and a new life had started, and everyone that knew me would tell I had changed. Over the years, I'm now 60, I have heard of many people getting saved listening to the Gospel message on radio and TV and many other ways. Salvation brings change because the Holy Spirit has just moved in. Some of the Apostles were fisherman and tax collectors and so on. They immediately stopped there old life and started new ones and it had nothing to do with baptism. It is the result of being filled with Christ. The Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father all enter you when you get saved. Salvation has nothing to do with what you are doing. It has everything to do with you receiving Christ.
The testimony and witness of:
Phil Ebert
Manager of Ask Ministries and our web site Apple Sauce Kids

Matthew 3:11

11.(John the Baptist speaking) I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I  am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (also Mark 1:7-8, Acts 1:5, John 1: 12-13)

Ephesians: 2 (Ampl.)

4.But God! So rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5.Even when we were dead [slain] by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ. - He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life which He quickened Him. [For] it is by grace - by His favor and mercy which you did not deserve - that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation ).
6.And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together - giving us joint seating with Him - in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
7.He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8.For it is by grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves - of your own doing, it came not through your own striving - but it is the gift of God;
9.Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demand], lest any man should boast. - It is not the result of what any one can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.
(By Grace are you saved through faith. If baptism is so important, you would have thought that it would have been listed. It says nothing about Water or Spirit baptism.)

Romans 8:

  9.But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the (Holy)Spirit of God (really) dwells within you - directs and controls you, But if any one does not possess the (Holy) Spirit of Christ, he is none of His - he does not belong to Christ (is not truly a child of God)
(It says nothing about water baptism it is talking about being lead by the Spirit of God that everyone gets at salvation.)

Romans 10:

8.But what does it say? The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word - the message- of faith, which we preach.
9.Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in and rely on the truth) that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10.For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses - declares openly and speaks out freely his faith - and confirms (his) salvation.

Once again, the Word says nothing about baptism. Salvation comes through following this simple set of guidelines.
1. Repentance of your sins.
2. The acknowledgment, confession and believe with your heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead
3. Receive Jesus as your savior.

But even in this there is a special situations, in Luke 7: 36-50 we see a sinful lady washing the feet of Jesus right in the middle of an important meal with Jesus and Pharisees. The Pharisees are the very people who would verbally cut her to pieces if she says anything. Jesus sees the repentance in her heart and forgives her even though she never says a word. I believe that this is also the way Jesus sees the hearts of people who can't speak and forgives them, sometimes all you need is a broken heart.

1 Samuel 16: 7

7. But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
There is no Bible prescribed salvation prayer, but any prayer that encompasses these corner stones will work.
   Example: Heavenly Father, I pray that you would forgive me of my sins and I forgive all those who have sinned against me. Father, I receive Jesus raise from the dead and Lord of my life. Father, I open my heart and invite Jesus into my life, and turn my life over to Him in Love. Fill me with your Spirit, lead and guide me in the path that your would have me to take in Jesus name I pray, amen.
     Jesus received the thief that was nailed on the cross and he say far less then this. Why, because Jesus knew that his heart was repentant. Your heart is even more important then the exact words you say.

Acts 19: 3 - 7

(KJV)
  3.So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
  4.Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
  5.On hearing this they were baptized into the name of Jesus.
  6.When Paul placed his hand on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
  7.There were about twelve men in all.

    Please notice in Acts 19: 3-7 that John did lead them to salvation in Christ, then he baptized them with water, then Paul came along and baptized them in the Spirit. Your faith was not to be in the work of baptism but in your faith in Christ. In doing so they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. John pointed people to Christ but only Christ can save.

Acts 19: 18

(Ampl.)
15.But the Lord said to him (Ananias), Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;
16.For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name's sake.
17.So Ananias left and went into the house. And laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18.And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized.

    In Acts 19: 15, God tells Ananias that Saul is a chosen instrument. In other words, Saul is saved, and in fact Saul was save on the road to Damascus. In verse 17 Ananias calls Saul "Brother" in recognition of that salvation. Ananias was also to fill Saul with the Holy Spirit. Saul will soon change his name to Paul. It is very clear that Salvation, Water Baptism, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are three different things. Salvation is always first and is the most important, the other two can happen in any order or may not happen at all.

    It is easy to read a verses out of context especially if you do not read the entire passage. These verses are commonly miss read.

John 3: 3 - 7, (Ampl.)

  3.Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see - know , be acquainted with [and experience] - the kingdom of God.
  4.Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again, and be born?
  5.Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, except a man be born of water (as in physical birth) and (even) the Spirit (born again), he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.
  6.What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh - of the physical is physical; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
  7.Marvel not - do not be surprised, astonished - at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).

    Many people believe that John 3: 5 is referring to water baptism but once you read the entire thought it is easy to see that it is referring to the water that represents the fleshly - physical - birth.
    The entire book of Acts is one demonstration of the out pouring of the power of the Holy Spirit after another through the apostles.
Acts 2:38 is referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is often done at the same time a person gives their heart to Christ. The person is first saved and then empowered with the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, ref: 1 Corinthians 12: all. This is not referring to water baptism which is an outward sign of the inward salvation. You only have to read the book of Acts to see that this book is all about the children of God operating with the full anointing of God and His power working through them.

Acts 2: 37 - 43, (Peter speaking) (Ampl.)

37. Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?
38. And Peter answered them, Repent - change your view, and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it - and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39. For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to as many as the Lord our God invites and bids come to Himself.
40. And [Peter] solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and warned them, saying, Be saved from this crooked generation.
41. Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42. And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper]and prayers.
43. And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles - the special messengers.

     When Jesus told the man in Matthew 19: 16 - 21 to keep the commandments, Jesus gave him the basic rules of salvation by telling him not to sin. Then in Matthew 19: 21, Jesus told the rich man what it would take to be perfect. Notice that there is no mention of water baptism in either of these cases. Perfection is based on your total selling out to live and do the work and love of God in your life. A life without sin. That is why all infants and children that are younger then the age of the knowledge of good and evil go to heaven. They have no knowledge of sin. Sin comes from knowing that you have done wrong.

Matthew 19: 16 - 21

16. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
21. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven: and come and follow me.

1 John 3: 14 - 24

23. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and (agapao) love one another, as he gave us commandment.
     Notice that in the story of the crucifixion, Jesus is crucified between two thieves. One of the thieves despised Jesus, and the other asks for forgiveness. There was no attempt to baptize the repentant thief in either water or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and yet Jesus told him that he would be in paradise yet that day. Even though this event happened under Old Testament Law there is no evidence that this part of the law changed in the New Testament.

Luke 23:

39. And one of the Malefactors (thieves) which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man (Jesus) hath done nothing amiss.
42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be in paradise.
     Baptism in water is an outward public sign of what God has done in your life. It is your first chance to witness. It is a public statement of Gods victory in your life.br />
     The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is an opportunity to unleash the power of God that lives within you. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is not only meant to help you, but others also. It gives you power to witness and overcome all enemies, but neither of the Baptisms are a prerequisite for getting into heaven.

     Agapao love says " I will operate in the fullness of my heart, kind of love toward you, but there are limits. You are not completely sold out to operate in love all the time". This is a more social, less committed kind of love. This is the Love of a new born Christian. It still needs to mature in Christ, and get stronger. Sin is still sin and love is still the opposite of sin.

     Agape love says "I will operate in love no matter what you do, my God always wins, and you can't stop him. And I will operate in agape love even if I have to give myself to be burned".

     Both of these loves are the opposites of sin. You see, God is Love. He is the opposite of sin, and that is the only prerequisite for getting into heaven. That God has washed you clean of sin, and that you stay clean.

Apple Sauce Kids

(English Only)

Notes from the author: This lesson was written and distributed by: Apple Sauce Kids on the Internet at https://applesaucekids.com. or we can be E-mailed at aplsauce@applesaucekids.com
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