So you've accepted the Lord as your personal savior, but what must you do for him to accept you?

Jude tells us to "earnestly contend for the faith that was once given to the saints." (Jude 1:3) But, what does he mean?

We love to sing the old hymns that talk about, "give me that old-time religion." Most of us like to think of that as back when our parents or grandparents were in church, or what they taught 50-100 years ago. But, Jude wasn't talking about that. The book of Jude was written close to 2 thousand years ago! He knew nothing of our modern religious practices. But, there was one thing he did know.

Jude and James were Jesus' half brothers. You can find them listed in Matthew 13:55 as being part of his human family (Jude is listed as Judas here). They didn't believe in Jesus's ministry at first. In fact, they taunted him because they thought he was just another self-serving and self-proclaiming Messiah trying to deceive the masses (John 7:3-6). But, somewhere along the way, both he and James became disciples and later Apostles of Jesus. If I had a seemingly (from a human standpoint) perfect brother who suddenly started doing miracles, I'd be skeptical at first, too. But, after a bit, I'd probably start believing. 

But, I digress a bit. 

Since Jude was there at the beginnings of the church, saw Jesus first hand (miracles, signs, wonders, and teachings, and the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord), and he was there at the birth of the church (in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, heard and participated in the teachings and preachings of the early church), to what was he referring to when he said: "the faith once delivered unto the saints?"

Many today are taught that all we have to do is "accept the Lord as (our) personal savior."

Spoiler alert!!! That phrase is not in the scriptures!

Many point to Romans 10:9 and John 3:16 as "the plan of salvation" that was taught by the early church, as well as by Jesus. 

Well, lets research that teaching a bit by looking into what scripture actually says:

John 3: "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

They swoop into the middle of John 3, hit verses 15-17, and swoop out again. They might hit verses 1-3, but they rarely hit verse 5. 

Yes, Jesus says we must believe in order to be saved, but there are folks in chapter 2:23-25 that believed in him in the same way (it's the same Greek word for "believe" there as we find in John 3:16), yet Jesus didn't commit himself to them. 

They accepted him, we assume, but he didn't accept them! 

Verse 5 explains how to be born again by saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

So, evidently, it's not just a matter of belief. It's a matter of also being born of water and born of the spirit. So, how do we do that? 

Well, let's look at how the early church obeyed what Jesus said to do.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost was poured out in an upper room filled with 120 people. They began to speak in tongues and worship God. This prayer meeting poured out into the street and caused people to marvel at what was happening. Some were in awe and some mocked. But, their mockery caused the first sermon in church history. (Acts 1:12-15, Acts 2)

The Apostle Peter stood up and began to preach the gospel (death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus) to the gathering crowd. He tells them that God had indeed sent their long-awaited Savior and they had crucified him! The listening crowd was very convicted by this revelation and asked, "what shall we do?" In other words, "how do we remove this sin and guilt from our lives?" 

Peter responded, "38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Now, think about this for a second. There were the other Apostles, along with many who had followed Jesus and had heard the teaching and preaching of their Master for close to 3 1/2 years there that day. 

NOT ONE OF THEM STOOD UP AND CORRECTED PETER!!

Not one of them said, "Hey bro, you're out of line here. All they have to do is believe." 

Not one of them said, "All they have to do is accept Jesus as their personal savior."

None of them said, "If they believe in their heart and confess with their mouth, they shall be saved."

Why? Because Peter had spoken the absolute truth!

Jesus said we must Repent (Mark 1:15 & Luke 24:47).

Jesus said we must be born of water and of spirit (John 3:5).

Jesus said we must be baptized (Mark 16:16).

Jesus said we must receive the spirit (John 16:13, John 3:8, John 7:38-39).

But, is that the only place we're told the same thing that Peter said for what we must do to be born again and accepted of God? 

Nope. 

Acts 8:5-8 (believe and baptize in Jesus name), 14-17 (baptism of the Holy Ghost).

Acts 10: 1-6 (a devout Centurian that needed to do more to be accepted of God), 40-46 (Baptism of the Holy Ghost), 47-48 (Water baptism in Jesus name).

Acts 19: 1-7. 

Let's dig into this one a little deeper: 

"19 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."

Now, some people teach that you receive the Holy Ghost as soon as you believe. There's no outward sign of your deep experience. You just receive it by faith. 

If that belief is true, then Paul's question to these "believers" makes absolutely no sense. He should have just said, "So good to meet you, brethren. I'm Paul." But, by his questioning, apparently, you actually receive the Holy Ghost at some point AFTER you believe. 

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they said no they hadn't even heard of, much less experienced, the Holy Ghost, Paul checks their baptism. If, as some folks teach, water baptism is not a necessity ("it's an outward sign of an inward act," they say), then Paul's question here makes no sense again! Why ask about it, if it's not necessary? 

When he heard their reply he explained Jesus to them. What was the result? 

"5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve."

So, Paul taught water and spirit baptism, as well. He didn't tell them that they just have to accept the Lord as their personal savior. He didn't tell them to repeat a sinner's prayer (another thing that's not in the scriptures). He taught the exact same things taught by the rest of the Apostles and his hearers obeyed it! (This, my friends, was the birth of the Ephesian church!)

"Repent, and be baptized every one of in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)

So, when Jude speaks of contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, as far as the new birth is concerned, this is what he is referring to! 

Paul puts it this way:

"8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

Those who would pervert the Biblical Gospel message should take heed to this scriptural warning. 

I'm glad you accepted the Lord, my friend, but please do what is necessary for the Lord to accept you: 

"Repent, and be baptized every one of in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)