If you take the time to stop and think, you will surely perceive that there is a great deal wrong with the world, and that there is something missing in the heart of mankind.

There is an emptiness. You might also consider that life on earth, with all its variety and complexity of species, is utterly astonishing, obviously the work of a master creator or God, yet he seems elusive, hard to find.

Happily, there is an answer.

The Bible is the greatest book afforded to mankind. It is God’s word. Its message is simple and accessible to everybody, although you wouldn’t know it if you searched for it in some Christian churches today. This is because religion is predominantly organised to preach what people want to hear, rather than what the word of God actually says.

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down… (Mark 7:13)

Why did Jesus come?

So, what’s it all about? Why did Jesus come and how can we make contact with God?

Firstly, Jesus came to save the lost (Matthew 18:11). He came to fulfill, or bring to a close, the Old Testament law, exclusively given to the Old Testament nation of Israel, and make salvation available to everybody. Salvation is not something that accrues to someone in an indefinable way, at an uncertain time, after they have lived a good life. It is not earned. It is a gift. Salvation comes in a moment of time, specifically when a believer receives the Holy Spirit. Once that happens their life is completely transformed. They go from sinner to saint. Their sins are forgiven and they are given a brand new start in life. They have made peace with God. They are clean. They are free, and they know it.

Everything Jesus said and did was for the purpose that we might be saved.

At the very beginning of his ministry (John 3:1-7) we read of a conversation with a man called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus had recognised that Jesus could not possibly have performed his miracles unless God was with him. Jesus answered by saying that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, not understanding what Jesus meant, then asked “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus explained that “Truly, except a man be born of water (baptism) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” The rebirth was to be a spiritual new beginning. Note the word ‘except.’ Jesus also told Nicodemus not to be surprised that he had told him he must be born again.

It is not possible to overstate the importance of what Jesus said here.

This is because the essential problem for mankind is that we are born in sin (mortal) yet we desire a relationship with God, the immortal Creator. Jesus was telling Nicodemus what was necessary to bridge the gap between mankind and God.

In John 4 we read of a remarkable woman whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well. Despite the accidental meeting, Jesus proceeded to reveal that he knew her life’s story, notably that she’d had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. The woman is not offended (and nor is Jesus in her) but immediately perceives that Jesus is a prophet. Jesus informs her “that the hour has come when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (Verses 23-24).” Note the word ‘must.’

These two verses are of vital importance and fundamental to an understanding of the relationship between God and mankind. They are also synonymous with being born again.

Nicodemus and the woman at the well are also significant for another reason. They represent the extremes of society. Nicodemus, as a ruler of the Jews had status, authority, privilege and power. The woman had nothing. Not only was she a woman, and therefore of no standing in a male dominated society, but she was a Samaritan. Her forefathers were gentiles from northern Iraq. She was destitute and helpless, effectively an outcast. The fact that Jesus gave perhaps the two most important passages on salvation to these two entirely different individuals, who lived at the extreme distant ends of the social spectrum, is evidence that he meant what he said in John 3:16 “that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This is important. It doesn’t matter where we stand in society. The privileged still need salvation and the ‘down and out’ are as welcome in the kingdom as anyone.

The death of Jesus was necessary to fulfill a pattern, or type, from the Old Testament, where on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest offered sacrifices for the sins of the nation. The Bible teaches us that by one offering he (Jesus himself) has perfected forever them that are sanctified (set apart and made righteous by the Holy Spirit). Their sins and iniquities will God remember no more. Jesus went to the cross as a New Testament sacrificial spotless lamb of God. He bore the sins of the people upon himself.

At the crucifixion however, the disciples were devastated. After the most amazing 3 ½ years it all seemed over.

It was just the beginning.

What happened after Jesus died and rose again?

Jesus died on the Passover Friday (7 April 30 AD is the most likely date) and early on the following Sunday morning rose from the dead, to be seen alive again by over 500 people. He quickly gathered his disciples together and for forty days spoke to them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He told them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father, explaining to them that John (the Baptist) truly baptised with water, but they shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:3-5).

A week or so later was the Day of Pentecost. The word ‘Pentecost’ derives from the Greek for ‘the fiftieth day’. It was the Jewish Feast of Weeks, variously called the Feast of Harvest or the Day of First Fruits, which fell on the fiftieth day after the Feast of Passover.

What happened on the Day of Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2, the most important chapter in the New Testament, for it clearly records how the New Testament church began, and how it should remain, until Jesus comes back again on the day of judgement.

How did the Church begin?

On the Day of Pentecost there were 120 faithful people, including Mary the mother of Jesus, who had come to an upper room of the temple every day since Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1) to pray for the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, one by one, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues (languages they had not learned) as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). The infilling went through the room like a fire through a forest. The excitement and noise was palpable.

Down in the forecourt of the temple were thousands of devout Jews who had come early (it was 9AM) in celebration of the feast day. There was tremendous amazement as they saw and heard the 120 disciples, whom they termed Galileans, speaking in languages from distant lands. The question was asked “What does this mean?”

Peter then stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14-17) and lifting up his voice, boldly and bravely declared that what they were seeing and hearing was spoken by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32) centuries before, how it shall come to pass in the last days that God will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh (make available to everyone).

Peter, inspired as he was, also proclaimed that King David (a revered name in Israel) had foreseen this day, referring back to Psalms 16 and 110. That Peter might have had the immediate recall of Joel’s prophecy and David’s psalms was simply incredible in itself and greatly moving to the audience. He then fearlessly declared that God had made that same Jesus, whom they had crucified (only fifty days previously), both Lord and Christ.

The result of all this was an overwhelming desire for repentance. The question was asked to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

It was the right question.

What shall we do?

Peter’s response (Acts 2:38) is the single most important verse in the New Testament.

Peter said to them “Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Importantly, Peter went on to say (Acts 2:39-40) that the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit was not only for them but for their children and to all that are afar off (both in time and place), and that they should save themselves from this untoward (unruly, disobedient) generation.

Verse 40 reveals that 3,000 souls who had gladly received his word were baptised that day. The initial outpouring of the Spirit was clearly not a secretive event for a select few. By choosing the Day of Pentecost to pour out his Spirit, God was ensuring that the beginning of his New Testament church was a major event, seen by as many people as possible.

To repent is to have a wholehearted change of direction. A change of mind. It is to want the Lord in your life and to have his forgiveness. It is the desire to be right in the sight of God. To want a fresh start.

The word baptism means ‘immersion’, as one who would immerse a garment in a dye. It is the act of a good conscience toward God. Jesus died for our sin and was buried in a tomb. We symbolically bury our old lives in the waters of baptism (Romans 6:4-6).

Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist saying “it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3). Baptism is necessary. It is also a simple act of obedience on our part that no one should refuse.

Jesus also said that “he that believes and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). To believe is to trust and obey. Baptism is a fundamental part of salvation. It is not infant sprinkling, which is neither immersion nor the act of a believer; infants being too young to make the decision for themselves.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is the result of repentance as we have seen above. It is the Spirit who sets us free.

The question is often asked “How important is speaking in tongues?” The simple answer is that it is indivisible with receiving the Holy Spirit. It is not just one of the gifts of the Spirit as some allege.

To the believer it is the outward sign or evidence, the assurance, the confirmation, that God has accepted their repentance and seen it to be genuine. God wants His people to be sure of what they’ve got. The believer also wants, and needs, to be sure.

In John 14:20 Jesus said “At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” and in verse 21 “he that loves (honours and obeys) me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” Note the word ‘manifest’.

Believers are encouraged, through the rest of their lives, to pray in the Spirit (pray in tongues). It is simply no use telling a Spirit-filled person that they don’t need to pray in tongues. They know better.

How did the Church spread?

Following the extraordinary events on the Day of Pentecost, the New Testament Spirit-filled Church began to grow with great fervour. There were many miraculous healings, such signs and wonders as Jesus had foretold. However, this was alarming to the established Old Testament religion, notably of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Persecution soon began. Stephen was stoned to death at the hands of the Council or Sanhedrin, the governing body of the established Old Testament religion (Acts 7). Leading the assault was a brilliant young man named Saul, later to be renamed Paul, a Roman citizen steeped in Greek culture but of the purest Jewish blood. The Bible records him entering into houses and removing men and women to prison.

At this time Philip ventured north to Samaria. His ministry was well received. Many were baptised and there were many miraculous healings (Acts 8). It is recorded that when the apostles in Jerusalem heard what had happened in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to them because it was evident that the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them. How did they know this? Quite simply, none of them had spoken in tongues. After Peter and John laid hands on them, (this giving them encouragement) and prayed, they received the Holy Spirit. The evidence of this was so apparent, and its effect so dramatic, that a local sorcerer named Simon offered Peter and John money, saying “give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter responded bluntly by saying that his money would perish with him and that he needed to repent.

The story of Philip, then Peter and John, visiting Samaria, is important because it shows that sometimes believers need a little patience and perseverance until the Holy Spirit comes. Jesus in Mark 16:17 said that believers would speak in tongues. It’s a promise. If you don’t receive the Holy Spirit when first you pray, don’t give up. He will come.

Acts 9 starts by telling us that Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples. He sought authority from the High Priest to go to Damascus in Syria, for the purpose of bringing back to Jerusalem as many New Testament Spirit-filled Christians (the word Christian comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning the anointed ones) as he could find.
As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shone about him a light from heaven, whereupon he fell to the earth. Then the voice of Jesus was heard from heaven saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul, trembling and astonished asked “Lord, what will you have me to do?” An honest question from a man now humble enough to realise that things must change. Saul’s conversion, his baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, is well documented in Acts 9. It doesn’t specifically say that he spoke in tongues upon receiving the Holy Spirit, but later in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (14:18) he states that he spoke in tongues more than them all.

Paul went on to become arguably the most influential of all the apostles.

Acts 10 and 11 detail the salvation of a man called Cornelius, who lived in Caesarea, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of modern day Tel Aviv (Joppa). He was a centurion of the band called the Italian band. The significance of this man’s salvation is that he was devout, he feared God with all his house, he gave much alms (charity) to the people and prayed always. For all this however, he was not saved. Most importantly also, he was not Jewish.

We are told that Peter, living at the time in Joppa, was requested by Cornelius to visit him in Caesarea and tell him what was necessary for all his house to be saved (Acts 11:14).

The account of Peter’s visit is tremendously important because it clearly demonstrates that even being a very good person will not save you. Peter dutifully arrived at this gentile’s home and perceived immediately that God was no respecter of persons. The Old Testament might have been for Israel alone, but the New Testament was for Jew and Gentile alike.

He started speaking. He spoke of baptism and the Holy Spirit and of forgiveness of sins. He hadn’t really said that much before he was interrupted by his eager audience spontaneously bursting out in tongues. Here is what we read from Acts 10:44-48:

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed (Spirit filled Jews) who came with Peter were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles also.
For they heard them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord.

Following this, there was some concern that Peter had visited the home of a gentile and that the gentiles had received the word of God. Peter was summoned to Jerusalem to give account of what had happened.

Part of his explanation is recorded in Acts 11:13-18: Peter said,

And he (Cornelius) reported to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, which said Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell you words by which you and all your household shall be saved.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he used to say “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as he gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?
When they heard this, they held their peace and glorified God, saying “Then God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.

Later, Paul visited Ephesus (in modern day Turkey) and finding certain disciples, asked them whether they had received the Holy Spirit, since they believed. They responded by saying that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. Paul asked them unto what then were they baptised. They said John’s baptism. Paul replied that John (the Baptist) baptised with the baptism of repentance saying to the people that they should believe on Jesus who was to come.

The Ephesians were then baptised again in the name of the Lord Jesus (with the expectation of the Holy Spirit falling on them) and when Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit did come and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Perfect.

Conclusion

Finally, what is required of us for salvation is clear and consistent through the scriptures. It could scarcely be simpler or easier but it does require faith. Is it preached in churches today? Sadly, not often. Rarely indeed. Mankind, it seems, has an instinctive problem. We won’t be told. We simply don’t want to obey. We much prefer our own ideas and opinions which we value above all else. If someone is a preacher, he is more concerned about the number of people in his church, and to insist on following the scriptures is just too challenging for most people. Nothing has changed. Jude (V3) wrote to his brothers and sisters in the New Testament church, reminding them of the common salvation (common to all), saying that it was needful for him to exhort them to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2).

It is a great shame that many have accepted a watered-down gospel, because there is nothing so wonderful as knowing you are saved and living a life blessed and happy, waiting for the return of the Lord.

To have the peace of God in your life is priceless. To know you are saved, destined for eternal life, is joy unspeakable and full of glory. No wonder the Lord said “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

Pastor Bruce Judkins
Revival Centres Church – Shepparton
January 2026