A BROTHERHOOD OF MAN (Part six)

HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

Dying in Baptism
It was then that Peter told them how they could be saved from the perverse generation of that day and enter into the brotherhood of man that Jesus was establishing on the earth. He told them that their sins had made them worthy of death, but that Jesus, out of His incomprehensible love for them, had willingly suffered death in their place. If they would willingly surrender their old, rotten, sinful life and let it die in the waters of baptism, joining Him in death, then they would reach Him and have their sins washed away by His blood. Into their clean new life, He would pour His own Holy Spirit that would seal them for eternal life and make them able to obey His commands and live a life of love in His holy brotherhood.

Three thousand people received Peter’s words that day as if they had come from Jesus himself. The disciples baptized and laid hands on them, passing on to them the very same Spirit they had received. The result is recorded in the book of Acts in the New Testament:

And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they were selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have a need … They were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart … There was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had a need. (Acts 2:44-47; 4:34-35)

This life waned over the next fifty years to the point where nothing remained of its essence. What continued was the form, the dead institution that many today have despised — Christianity.

The very church that we believe was the establishment of Jesus has gone back to the dark old days filled with hatred, jealousy and the sins of the Romans in the days when they crucified our Lord. Those conditions are very real and alive amongst us today. Ministers hating their fellow brethren and continue to live in sin and the pleasures of the world. Jesus came that we will have life and in abundance. It is time to get back to the words of Peter on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus. This is my peas that you come back to the Brotherhood.