Posts

Apr 20 2018

New Life Begins

AFTER BEING RAISED WITH CHRIST-

Saved – Sins Washed Away (Acts 2:38, 22:16)

Saved Eternally (I Tim. 4:16, Rev. 2:10)

THINGS TO REMEMBER…

NEW CREATURE (II Cor. 5:17, Ro 6:4)

BABES IN CHRIST (I Peter 2:2, I Cor. 3:1-2)

CRITICAL PERIOD OF TEMPTATION (Matt 4:1-11, I Cor. 10:11-13)

POSSIBILITY OF FALLING (Acts 8:17-24, Heb. 3:12-14, Gal. 5:4)

REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST (II Cor. 3:2, I Tim. 4:12)

CHRIST YOUR EXAMPLE (Hebrews 12:1-2, I Peter 2:21)

GOD WANTS YOU TO…

LOVE HIM FIRST (Matt 10:37 & 22:37; Mark 12: 29-30)

LOVE OTHERS (Mark 12:31)

STUDY (Acts 17:11, II Tim. 2:15)

PRAY (Phil. 4:6-7, I Tim. 2:8)

BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER (Col. 3:16-17, Hebrews 10:23-25)

GIVE (I Cor. 16:1-2, II Cor. 8:3-5, 9:6-7)

HELP SAVE OTHERS (Mark 16:15-16, James 5:19-20)

CAN WE BE SURE OF SALVATION?

I. MISTAKEN WAYS THE WORLD FEELS THEY ARE SAVED

A. By feelings or conscience (Acts 23:1, I Tim. 4:2)

B. By assumptions (Prov. 16:25)

C. By the assurance of a preacher or priest (Ro. 16:18, Matt. 7:15, II Cor. 11:13, Eph. 4:14)

D. By doing what the majority wants (Matt. 7:13-14)

E. By approval of our fellow man (John 5:44, Eph. 6:6-7)

II. HOW DO DISCIPLES KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN?

A. The Holy Spirit bears witness (Romans 8:1, 16) and reveals we have be forgiven because:

1. Jesus promised it (Mark 16:16, Matt. 28:18-20)

2. We are sons of God through baptism (Gal. 3:26-27)

3. Jesus shed His blood in death (John 19:34) and we are baptized into His death (Romans 6:3-4) to contact the forgiveness His blood brings.

4. The blood of Jesus washes away our sins (Rev. 1:5, Acts 22:16, 2:38)

5. When we are converted we are added to His Kingdom (i.e., Body, Church) (Acts 2:47)

* WE CAN KNOW WE ARE SAVED! WHAT A GREAT BLESSING (Heb. 13:5, Phil. 4:10-13)!

III. HOW CAN WE BE ASSURED OF SALVATION EVERYDAY?

A. By obeying (I John 1:6-7, 2:3-6, 3:24, 5:18-19)

B. Love the Truth (II Thes. 2:9-12, I John 4:1, II John 9, John 14:16)

C. Love our brother (I John 3:16-33)

D. Give diligence to make our call and election sure (II Peter 1:5-11)

E. Rely on God (Jude 24, I Peter 5:10-11, Heb. 13:20-21)

F. Believe His promises (Ro. 8:35-39, I Cor. 10:13, Heb. 4:16, Phil. 4:6-7, I John 5:11-15)

D. Because Paul was sure of his salvation (II Tim. 1:8-12, 4:7-8)

Apr 20 2018

Why Not Be Baptized?

I. WHAT IS BAPTISM?

A. Immersion in water (Acts 8:38)

B. Spiritual and conscience cleansing (I Peter 3:18-22, Heb. 9:14)

C. Symbolic – Burial and death to sin and resurrection to Life (Romans 6:1-6)

D. Baptism puts us in contact with the cleansing blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28, Acts 20:28, Eph. 1:7)

II. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE IS BAPTIZED?

A. Baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20)

B. Sins are removed (Acts 22:16, Col. 2:11-12, Rev. 1:5)

C. One puts on Christ (Gal. 3:26-27)

D. One is given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

E. The obedient are added to the Lord’s Church or Body (Acts 2:47, 2 Corinthians 12:12-13)

F. Fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15)

G. Have a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21)

H. Commit to a life of discipleship (Matthew 28:19)

I. Saved (Mark 16:16)

III. POWER OF GOD’S BAPTISM

Scripture – Action – Baptism – Results

Mark 16:16 – Believe – Baptism – Saved

Acts 2:38 – Repent – Baptism – Saved

I Peter 3:21- Baptism – —— – Saved

Acts 22:16 – Arise – Baptism – Wash Away Sins

Col. 2:11-12 – Dead – Baptism – Raised

Romans 6:3-4 – Dead – Baptism – Walk In Newness of Life

Galatians 3:26-28 – Faith – Baptism – Put On Christ

IV. OTHER EXAMPLES OF BAPTISM

Acts 8:13 – Simon

Acts 8:38 – Ethiopian

Acts 10:48 – Household of Cornelius

Acts 16:15 – Household of Lydia

Acts 16:33 – Philippian Jailer

Acts 18:8 – Corinthians

Apr 20 2018

Beginning Your Journey

A. Study (Acts 17:11) and listen (Romans 10:14-17)

B. Believe and confess

1. Believe Jesus to be Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36, 8:37)

2. Confess and believe (Romans 10:8-10)

3. Acknowledge the Son; then we have the Son and the Father (I John 2:23, 4:15)

4. Begin a life of Confession (Matthew 10:32-33)

C. Repent (change of mind; involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God)

1. Turning away from iniquities (Acts 3:13-21, 26, Revelation 2:4-5, 14-16, 22)

2. Turning to God (Acts 26:20)

3. Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation (II Corinthians 7:10)

4. All are commanded to repent (Acts 17:30-31, II Peter 3:9)

D. Obey in baptism [immersion (Acts 8:36-38)]

1. Believe and be baptized and be saved (Mark 16:16)

2. Baptism washes away our sins (Acts 22:16)

a. This was first taught by John (Mark 1:4)

b. Then by Peter (Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21)

3. Faith + baptism = we have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27)

4. In baptism we access the blood and grace of Christ (Romans 5:1-2, 6:1-14)

E. THE LORD ADDS US TO HIS KINGDOM (BODY, CHURCH) (JOHN 3:3-5, ACTS 2:41, 47)).

Apr 20 2018

What the Bible Says About God’s Plan…

God’s Plan (John 3:14-21, romans 5:12-21, Ephesians 1:1-14, 2:1-10)

A. Genesis 3 – Verse 15 gives a prophecy of Christ. Verse 22 indicates that Christ is present and part of God.

B. Jesus is God (John 1:1-5) and Creator (Col. 1:16-18).

C. Jesus gave up His glory for us (John 17:5, Phil. 2:5-8).

D. Jesus became as a man (Luke 2:25-32, John 1:14)

E. Now Jesus is exalted as our King (Phil. 2:9-11, I Tim. 6:14-15, Col. 1:13-14).

F. Jesus is our salvation (Acts 4:12)

1. Propitiation (Romans 3:25)

2. Redeemer (Is. 59:20)

3. Brought us grace (Eph. 2:5-8)

4. Forgiveness (Acts 5:31)

5. Has sanctified (I Cor. 1:2, 6:11)

6. Glorified, justified (Romans 8:30) us once for all (Heb. 10:10)

G. Jesus died on the cross, the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-15) to make these things so (I Cor. 1:18-25, Eph 2:14-18, Col 2:11-15)

H. Now we have access to the grace (Romans 5:1-2)

1. Know what sin is and does (Romans 3:23, 6:23)

2. Through obedience [we must confess and believe (Romans 10:9-10)]

3. Repent (Acts 2:38)

4. Be baptized (Acts 22:16)

5. Grow to maturity (Hebrews 5:12-6:2)

6. Live faithfully (John 14:15, I Cor. 15:58, Col. 1:23, Rev. 2:10).

I. We can be in His kingdom (Acts 2:47, Col. 1:13-23).

Apr 20 2018

Think Jesus…

“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
-Jesus (Matthew 5:18)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
-Jesus (Mathew 7:21)

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”
-Jesus (Matthew 10:32)

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
-Jesus (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
-Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20)

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
-Jesus (Mark 1:15)

“Those who are healthy don’t need a doctor. Sick people do. I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.”
-Jesus (Mark 2:17)

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
-Jesus (Mark 16:15-16)

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
-Jesus (Luke 24:45-47)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
-Jesus (John 3:5)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
-Jesus (John 3:16-18)

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”…“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
-Jesus (John 4:10 and 13-14)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
-Jesus (John 5:24)

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
-Jesus (John 6:35)

“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
-Jesus (john 12:47-48)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”…“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”
-Jesus (John 14:15 and 23-24)

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay downhill life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.”
-Jesus (John 15:13-14)

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
-Jesus (John 17:20-21)