|
|
Are You Ready To Give An Answer? Pt. 3 Introduction: Our purpose in these lessons is to prepare ourselves so as to be ready to give a Bible answer for Bible questions. How often have we wished after a conversation was over that we had said something or had known what to say. We are the World's Bible, "Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today, He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way; He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died, He has no help but our help to bring them to His side." (Verse 1). We have a grave responsibility that we cannot shirk. In this lesson we want to deal with things people say about their salvation. I) What Must I Do To Be Saved? A) What if a friend or co-worker, or fellow student, or relative called and asked this question? 1. There are a multitude of answers people will get from the world. 2. The only answer that matters is the one from the Bible. B) Hebrews 11.6 we must believe that He is .. and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him 1. What does it mean to believe that He is? God is real and not like the bogey man or the Easter bunny. 2. Cannot think that He may exist (I will do this just in case He really does exist) but to know that He does exist. C) Romans 10.17 faith comes by hearing the word of God (How do I come to have faith?) 1. One cannot have faith and then hear the Bible that is superstition. 2. There is a correlation between Bible knowledge and Bible faith. 3. We have to study our Bible to know who God is and what we are to believe. D) Romans 10.9-10 see these things come together in this one passage 1. Believe in your heart (without a doubt, to know for sure) 2. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ 3. Confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart E) Acts 2.38 be baptized for the remission of your sins 1. Have to explain what baptism is and what it is not. a. Baptism is immersion in water, a burial b. Baptism is not sprinkling or pouring water on a person, they are not immersed or covered or buried 2. Have to explain the purpose of baptism a. Many have been "baptized" into a local fellowship or to show they have been saved b. "For the remission of sins" is the purpose, in order to obtain. See Matthew 26.28 in Jesus being crucified and shedding His blood "for the remission of sins." II) Doesn't The Bible Teach The Only Thing I Need To Do Is Believe To Be Saved? A) We must believe to be saved but is that the "only thing" we must do? 1. Must buy a ticket to get on a plane. Purchase of a ticket is the first step but you also have to get on the plane. 2. We must have faith but it is only the first step. B) Understand what kind of faith is necessary, James 2.14-26 1. Dead faith is inactive, does nothing, demonic in nature 2. Alive faith is active, doing something a. Must render obedience to righteousness, Romans 6.17 b. Baptism is more than a ceremony, it is an act of faith in obedience to God's command, Acts 2.38. c. Conversion of the Philippian Jailer we see faith, v. 31 and baptism v. 33. III) But I Was Baptized After I Was Saved A) Some in the Restoration Movement accepted people into their fellowship who were baptized into a denomination 1. Some when they find out what you are saying will want to know if their baptism is still valid. They were baptized but now they know the right reason so why doesn't that count? 2. Some will want to apply the right reason to their earlier baptism. B) Before your study have them to answer the following questions 1. Have you been saved? 2. When were you saved? 3. When were you baptized? For what purpose? C) Conversion of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9 & 22 1. He was baptized in Acts 9.18 2. Not saved: a. When Jesus appeared to him b. Not saved when he prayed c. Not saved when he believed d. Not saved when Ananias came to him e. Not saved when he received his sight 3. Only saved when his sins were washed away, Acts 22.16 D) Those who want to argue the point 1. We have a choice between what Jesus says and what man says, Matthew 7.21-27 2. Baptism based on man's creeds and words will do nothing 3. Baptism based on God's word will wash away one's sins 4. Don't want to find out on the Day of Judgment that you learned the truth but were never baptized for the right reason. Conclusion: We cannot change God's word, His plan of salvation, or His conditions of salvation. They are what they are. We can change our lives by changing our hearts and doing what God says. |