Acts 1-4
Lesson Four
The Apostolic Church

A. Definition Of The Apostolic Gospel:
a. Matthew 24:14 – ”And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”
b. Acts 2:42 – “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship…”
c. The gospel is “good news” of Salvation.
d. The word “Apostolic” simply refers to the apostles.
e. “Apostolic Gospel” means the good news of salvation which the Apostles preached.
f. We may conclude the “gospel of the kingdom” is the message of “repentance and remission of sin” which must be preached in the Name of Jesus.

B. The Keys To The Kingdom:
a. Matthew 16:19 – “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
b. The Apostle Peter had the Gospel Keys which would unlock the door of salvation to the Jews, Samaritans and Gentile, we should study closely the message that he preached.
c. Peter used the keys on three occasions
d. To the Jews – Acts 2:38
e. To the Samaritans – Acts 8:14-17
f. To the Gentiles – Acts 10:44

C. The Jews On The Day Of Pentecost:
a. Acts 2:38 – “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”
b. In Acts 2:38 the Apostle Peter turned the key and opened the door of salvation to the Jews and three thousand souls were saved
c. Death = Repentance
d. Burial = Water Baptism in Jesus Name
e. Resurrection = Baptism of the Holy Ghost
f. This is still the message that saves today

D. The Samaritans:
a. Acts 8:16-17 – ”For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost”
b. The Samaritans were clearly saved as you can see in studying chapter eight
c. Faith – verse 12, Baptism – verse 12, and Receiving the Holy Ghost – Verse 17

E. The Gentiles:
a. Acts 10:44 – ”While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word.”
b. Acts 10:18 – “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
c. In the salvation of Cornelius and his household there were the same three steps taken as the Jews (chapter two) and the Samaritans (chapter eight)
d. Believed On Jesus – verse 43, Received the Holy Ghost – verse 44, and Baptized in the name of the Lord – verse 48
e. Peter definitely states that remission of sins would be received by whosoever believeth in him THROUGH HIS NAME (Jesus).
f. When can a person receive this benefit THROUGH HIS NAME? Again there can be only one answer – when one is baptized in the name of JESUS

F. The Entrance Of The Kingdom
a. John 3:5 – “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”
b. Acts 2:36 – “…God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ”
c. It is evident that entrance to the Kingdom of God is through the new birth, the work of regeneration, the act of being completely changed, transferred from one kingdom to another.
d. We may understand the requirements of entrance when we study the gospel message preached by the Apostle Peter, to whom was given the keys to the Kingdom.
e. The Apostolic Gospel brings out clearly and emphatically that there is only one King who is Jesus our Lord.
f. The truth of the Deity of Jesus and the power of His Name are essentials in the message to be preached to a lost world.

G. The Entrance Of The Kingdom
a. Actually when Jesus sits upon the throne of a man’s heart, He reigns far more effectively than if He were reigning in a material kingdom.
b. As He reigns in a man’s heart, He has control over a man’s desires, ambitions and emotions.
c. Thus He is able to reign fully and His will is obeyed completely.

H. There Is Only One Church:
a. Ephesians 4:4-5 – “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism”
b. I Corinthians 12:13 – ”For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free”
c. There are hundreds of church organizations and denominations but there is only one church.
d. The church is ONE as far as place, race and nationality, and as far as time is concerned.
e. Members of the church living today are members of the same church as the apostles.
f. It is the APOSTOLIC GOSPEL which we find preached throughout the book of Acts and which still MUST BE PREACHED TODAY and it is the Apostolic church which must be waiting to be raptured when Jesus comes.

Lesson Four
The Apostolic Church

A. Write a definition of the “Apostolic Gospel.”

B. What were the keys that Jesus gave Peter?

C. State the THREE times that Peter used the key:
1.

2.

3.

D. Write a paragraph explaining clearly how a man may enter the Kingdom of God.