Paul Believed And Taught
ACTS 2:38
ACTS 19:1-7

1. These were John's Disciples, they only knew the Baptism of John.
2. Paul's first question was, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
   This was very important to Paul.  These were good people that knew only the Baptism of John the Baptist.  They said, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 
3. Paul's second question was, how then were you Baptized, and they said, unto John's Baptism.
1. 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, Christ Jesus.
2. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
4. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 

Repentance is a wonderful thing, but it is not enough.  John's Baptism was not enough.You must be born again of the water and the spirit John 3:5.

Paul believed Acts 2:38 as much as Peter did Acts 19:1-7.  This was very important to Paul.  He asked the question, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?  Then he asked, how were you baptized? 

Paul never intended the book of Romans to be used for a plan of salvation.  The tenth chapter of Romans, Paul is talking about the difference between the righteousness of the law and of faith between law and grace, the Jew and the Gentile.  He is saying that salvation is open to all that believe in Christ Jesus, both Jew and Gentile.  Whosoever will may come and drink of the waters of life freely, both Jew and Gentile Revelation 22:17.  John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.  Any man means both Jew and Gentile.  Verse 38 and 39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  But this spake he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given: because that Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Paul had no need to explain the plan of salvation to this Roman church.  This was a well established church.  The Roman church was established in the 28th chapter of the book of Acts. 

Paul would not tell the church at Ephesis one thing and then tell the church at Rome something else.  The early church while the Apostles were alive all spoke the same thing, but they warned that after their death that there would be false prophets and false teachers, not sparing the flock.  Acts 20:29; II Corin. 11:13-15; II Peter 11:14-21;  II Peter 2:1-3; I John 4:1; Romans 16:17,18; Ephesians 4:14.

The book of Romans was written many years after the Holy Ghost fell at Pentecost. 

The book of Romans was an Epistle written to a church, Brethren, saints.  The Epistles were written to saints, telling them how to live the Christian life.  Paul in Romans spent a lot of space teaching the difference between law and grace, the Jew and the Gentile.  We can't go to the gospels or the epistles for the plan of salvation.  We must go to the book of Acts to find where people were actually saved.

Jesus said, ye must be born again, of the water and of the spirit, or we couldn't even see the kingdom of God.  This was fulfilled in Acts the second chapter - see Acts 8:16; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-5.  II Corinthians 13:1 in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.  More than one scripture  to establish a doctrine Isaiah 28:9-13.  Whom shall he teach knowledge?  And whom shall he make understand doctrine?  Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little: for with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.  But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared and taken. 

Jesus spoke in parables, so that only those that were searching for truth would understand him.  Only the honest hearted.  Jesus told his disciples, it's not for them to understand but you it is to understand.  Not for those that are without. Only those that want to understand. Luke 8:10, Isaiah 6:8-10.  Some will be destroyed because they lack knowledge, they never had the opportunity to understand.  Then some will be destroyed because they refused knowledge Hosea 4:6.  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forsaken the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.  If we reject truth, the true plan of salvation, God will reject us at the judgment.  The Pharisees were left in darkness because they thought they were right, and even God could not reach them.  We can be like the Pharisees, and close our mind to the truth of God's word, or we can come into the light of more revelation than what we now have.  He came to his own, and his own, received him not.  Men love darkness rather than light John 3:19-21.  The Pharisees refused the light because they were so smug, and secure in their present darkness.  Jesus said, they had eyes to see but they see not, ears to hear, but they hear not.  Jesus, which was God with us  shinned the light right in their face, but they refused the light.  They hated the light so much, that they crucified him.  They hated him without a cause.  The gospel light was to the Jew first.  Jesus wept over Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, but you would not.  They refused the light of the gospel.  They refused the mercy of God.  Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.  Notice the parable of the King going to a far country and sent to the keepers of the vineyard Matt. 21:33;  John 15:1; Matt. 1:33-46.

Jesus said, ye shall be hated of all men, for my names sake.  We are not hated because we speak in tongues, work miracles etc., we are hated of all men for his name sake.  We are commanded to do all in the Name of Jesus, Col. 3:17.  There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, Acts 4:12.  We are hated of all men because we obey Acts 2:38 in baptism, the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. This is what separates the church.  But the only way that the Apostles ever baptized was in the Name of Jesus Christ Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5,6.  We pray for the sick in his name, our food, everything in his name but we refuse to take his name in baptism when it is so plain in the scriptures, the only way that the apostles and the early church baptized.  The mode of baptism was changed at the council of Nicea 325 A.D. under Constantine.  Satan doesn't care how much we use the name of Jesus just as long as we refuse to take his name in baptism.  If my wife had refused to take my name we wouldn't be married.  If she had said, I'll clean your house, I'll cook your food, I'll have your children but I refuse to take your name.  If she wouldn't honor my name she wouldn't honor me.  Jesus said, ye will be hated of all men for my names sake.  This should be the last thing that would separate the church.