them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whosesoever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."
The teaching and practice of the apostles in this matter are narrated in the Book of Acts. Here the question, "What must I do to be saved?" is asked by every conceivable class of sinners, and answered by inspired men. It is surprising, but consoling, to discover that the demands made of all are the same.
If there be classes of sinners, the New Testament is indifferent to the fact, and treats all with the same impartiality shown by God in sending His rain on the just and the unjust.
The terms of membership and fellowship in the New Testament church may be learned from the following passages:
Acts 16:30-34. In this Scripture a man, evidently ignorant of Jesus, asks, "What must I do to be saved?"
He is told to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul then preaches the Word to him, which he obeys, being baptized, with all his house, "having believed in God."
Acts 2:37, 38: Here is an audience convinced of the Messiahship of Jesus by Peter's Pentecostal sermon, and thereby convicted of sin, asking the same question. Starting with them at the point then reached in their conversion, Peter replies: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins." They obey, and are added to the saved.
In Acts 22:10, Paul asks the same question of the Lord.
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