The Apostolic Voice

I was speaking with a young man in the Church last Sunday after service and this topic came up. Actually, I brought it up as an example or one of many topics that many Apostolic saints do not agree on and debate.

Concerning our salvation it really makes little difference in the end as to exactly when the blood is applied. As long as we obey the Gospel by repenting, are baptized in Jesus' name and are filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the spirit gives the utterance.

However I believe it is good if we can agree and all speak the same thing. In that endeavor I offer this short study and commentary on the subject.

The entire Bible was in a nutshell was to bring about, reveal and preach the Kingdom of God as mentioned no less than 69 times from the book of Mark to Thessalonians.

The keys to be able to enter the Kingdom of God were give to Peter (Matthew 16:19) which Peter shared with the world and to all that would hear and obey (Acts 2:38).

These keys are "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." This is the Gospel that must be obeyed to be able to enter the Kingdom of God (see John 3:3-5, 2Thessalonians 1:18, 1 Peter 4:14).

When we obey the gospel, we obey the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross. His blood was shed when he was crucified and died for our sins. To obey His death we don’t have to physically die, but we die to ourselves when we repent. It is in this repentance that the blood is applied which blots out our sin.

To obey His burial we don’t have to physically die, but we are buried by like figure in the waters of baptism in His name (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12).

We then obey His resurrection by being filled with the Holy Spirit (born again).

This is also shown as a type in the tabernacle plan in the old covenant. The bronze altar was the first item as you entered the temple. This is where the blood was shed. The next item was the bronze laver. This is where the priests washed and cleansed themselves before entering the Holy Place where the Spirit of God was manifested.

When Jesus was crucified He died on the cross and shed His blood which now blot's out our sin. His blood is applied when we obey His death and die to ourselves in repentance.

We obey his burial by being buried with Him in baptism (Romans 6:4) Then we are born again as He was raised from the dead when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

1 John 5:8 says: "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."

Can you see the pattern?

Altar, Laver, Holy Place
Death, Burial, Resurrection
Blood, Water, Spirit
Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost

This is why some are filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, before they are baptized in Jesus’ name just as they were in Acts 10:47. It’s Because their sins were blotted out and covered by the blood which was applied at repentance, even though they had not yet been remitted in the waters of Baptism in Jesus’ name.
If the blood was not applied upon repentance there could be no infilling of the Holy Ghost. Without the application of the blood we are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).