Matthew
7:21-23 -- Many people, who believe in the Lord, will expect Jesus to accept
them at the judgment. Instead He will reject them because they have not done
the will of the Father.
Acts
23:1; 26:9 -- Saul was a Jew who opposed Jesus in all good conscience, doing
what he sincerely believed he should do. Yet he was the chief of sinners (1
Timothy 1:12-15). Clearly he had been misled.
What
about you and me? Is it possible we have been misled like these people? Surely
this matter deserves your careful investigation.
The Bible teaches that we can be sure Jesus has forgiven us if we have obeyed the gospel conditions of forgiveness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hebrews
5:9 -- Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.
(See also Acts 10:35; Luke 6:46; 1 John 2:3-6.)
1 Peter 1:22 -- We purify our souls in obeying the truth.
Romans 6:17,18 -- We are made free from sin when we obey from the
heart the doctrine delivered.
If we
recognize Jesus as our Lord, then we must obey the conditions of forgiveness
just as the gospel reveals them, without any human changes (Acts 17:11;
Galatians 1:8,9; 2 John 9).
This study is designed to help each be sure about salvation.
As you
consider this topic, please look up the >>>CAPITALIZED
Scriptures<<< in your Bible. Then answer each question that has a
number enclosed in asterisks (*1*, *2*, etc.). NOTE: Correct answers for the
questions are listed at the end. If you wish to study this course online and submit the
lessons to us for grading, please go to www.BibleStudyLessons.com. Thank you.
=======================================
Please
begin with a brief self-examination to show us where we are now (2 Cor. 13:5).
Then we will study what the Bible says about salvation and we can each compare
our own case to Jesus' teaching.
1. Have
you made a personal commitment to serve Jesus? (a) yes, (b) no.
2. Have
you been baptized? (a) yes, (b) no. If so, how old were you? ____
Were you baptized by (a) sprinkling, (b) pouring, or (c)
immersion?
Why
were you baptized? (a) to please loved ones, (b) as a sign I had been saved,
(c) to receive forgiveness of sins, (d) because others were doing it, (e) to
join a denomination, (f) other:
When
you repented of sin and determined to live for God, how long was it till you
were baptized? ________________
3.
Suppose a person sincerely does the following things. At what point do you
believe his sins would be washed away? When he (a) hears the gospel, (b)
believes, (c) repents, (d) confesses Jesus, (e) prays for forgiveness, (f) is
baptized, (g) other:
======================================
I. LET US CONSIDER SOME NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION.
=====================================
The
book of Acts contains many examples of people who received forgiveness of sins
by Jesus' blood. Since God is no respecter of persons, we can surely be saved
if we do as these people did (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
A. The Jews on Pentecost
*********************
On a
Jewish feast day called Pentecost, Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the
Roman empire. The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to preach to the people
(Acts 2:14-36).
>>>
Read ACTS 2:36-41. <<<
*1*
What did Peter tell the people to believe (v36)? (a) Jesus is Lord and Christ,
(b) people can save themselves without Jesus, (c) it does not matter what we
believe, (d) all the preceding.
*2*
What did Peter command them to do (v38)? (a) just be sincere, (b) repent and be
baptized, (c) follow their church tradition.
*3* For
what purpose were they to do this (v38)? (a) as a sign they were already saved,
(b) to join a particular denomination, (c) for remission of sins.
*4* Who
else may receive these blessings (v39)? (a) only Jews, (b) only people in the
first century, (c) all people everywhere.
Three
thousand people heard, believed, repented, and were baptized. As a result, they
were forgiven of sins.
B. The Ethiopian Treasurer
**********************
A
certain eunuch was riding in his chariot, reading from Isaiah. Then a preacher
named Philip approached (Acts 8:26-34).
>>>
Read ACTS 8:35-39. <<<
*5*
Philip spoke about whom (v35)? (a) Buddha, (b) himself, (c) Jesus.
*6* As
a result, what did the eunuch want (v36)? (a) baptism, (b) money, (c) a direct
revelation from the Holy Spirit.
*7*
What did he have to do first (v37)? (a) pray for forgiveness, (b) believe in
Jesus and confess Him, (c) pay a fee.
The treasurer heard about Jesus, believed in him, confessed his
faith, and was baptized.
C. Saul of Tarsus
**************
Saul
was an unbelieving Jew who was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians
(Acts 8:3; 9:1-3).
>>>
Read ACTS 9:3-6,18; 22:16 <<<
*8* Who
appeared to Saul as he traveled (v3-5)? (a) Jesus (b) Mary, the mother of
Jesus, (c) John the Baptist.
*9*
What did the Lord tell Saul to do (v6)? (a) wait in the city to be told what he
must do, (b) pray through at the mourner's bench, (c) send a financial
contribution.
*10*
What did Ananias tell him he must do (22:16)? (a) pray to the saints, (b) give
his testimony before the church, (c) be baptized.
Saul
heard about Jesus and was baptized to wash away his sins. Have you done what
these people did?
II. LET US SUMMARIZE THE STEPS TO FORGIVENESS.
=================================
By
taking all that Jesus said from the examples of conversion (Acts 3:22,23), we
see that the following steps were involved. Notice each of them more closely.
A. Hearing
*********
>>>
Read JOHN 6:44,45. <<<
*11*
What must one do to come to Jesus? (a) see a vision, (b) learn the word of God,
(c) pray for a direct message from the Spirit.
*12*
Can one be saved without hearing the gospel? (a) yes, (b) no.
"You
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" -- John 8:32.
(See John 6:63,68; 12:48; Acts 11:14; Romans 10:14-17.)
B. Faith
*******
>>>
Read ROMANS 1:16. <<<
*13*
What is the power of God to salvation? (a) human wisdom, (b) the gospel, (c)
man-made creeds.
*14*
What condition must we meet to be saved? (a) believe, (b) just have a good
conscience, (c) read the whole Bible 5 times.
"Without
faith it is impossible to please Him" -- Hebrews 11:6. Note that believing
alone does not make one a child of God, but only gives him the right to become
a child of God -- John 1:12. (See also John 8:24; 20:30,31; Romans 5:1,2.)
C. Repentance
************
>>>
Read ACTS 17:30,31. <<<
*15*
What does God command men to do? (a) just live better than most people, (b)
hear a voice from God, (c) repent.
*16*
How many people must do this? (a) some, (b) all, (c) none.
*17*
What event should lead us to repent? (a) the judgment, (b) the sin of Adam, (c)
the giving of the Law of Moses.
*18*
What is repentance (note Matthew 21:28,29)? (a) not sinning, (b) not getting
caught, (c) changing our mind about sinning.
God
"is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance" -- 2 Peter 3:9. All people are guilty of
sin (Romans 3:23) and must repent to be forgiven. We must change our mind about
sin and decide to do God's will always. (See also Acts 2:38; 3:19; 2
Corinthians 7:10.)
D. Confession
***********
>>>
Read ROMANS 10:9,10. <<<
*19*
What must we believe to be saved? (a) Joseph Smith is a prophet, (b) Jesus rose
from the dead, (c) miracles still occur, (d) all the preceding.
*20*
What else must we do to be saved? (a) confess Jesus, (b) believe as our parents
did, (c) obey the 10 commands.
"And
Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God'" -- Matthew 16:16. (See also Acts 8:37; Matthew 10:32; John 12:42.)
E. Baptism
*********
>>>
Read EPHESIANS 4:3-6. <<<
*21*
How many true Heavenly Fathers are there? (a) thousands, (b) one, (c) it
doesn't matter.
*22*
Can a person be a true Christian if he believes there are several different
gods? (a) yes, (b) no.
*23*
How many true baptisms are there? (a) three, (b) one, (c) it doesn't matter.
Just as
there is only one true God, so there is only one true baptism today. Yet
denominations practice many different kinds of baptism. What is the true
baptism, and why is it important? In order to be sure what Jesus wants
regarding baptism, let us study it further.
III. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT BAPTISM.
=============================
A. The Proper Purpose of Baptism
****************************
Why
should a person be baptized? Are sins forgiven before baptism or as a result of
it? Some groups say baptism is essential to receive forgiveness. Others say
sins are forgiven before baptism, but one should be baptized to join a
denomination or as an outward sign he has already been saved. What does the
gospel of Christ say?
>>>
Read ACTS 22:16. <<<
*24*
When were Saul's sins washed away? (a) on the road to Damascus, (b) before he
was baptized, (c) as a result of his baptism?
*25*
Note that Saul had already believed in Jesus and had been praying (9:1-6,11).
Most churches would say he was already saved before baptism. But was he? (a)
yes, (b) no.
One who believes in Jesus must be baptized to wash away sins.
>>>
Read ROMANS 6:3,4. <<<
*26*
Into what are we baptized? (a) Jesus and His death, (b) a particular
denomination, (c) a social club.
*27*
According to what we have earlier learned, can a person be saved outside Jesus
and without His blood? (a) yes, (b) no.
*28*
For each person there must be a point at which he first receives forgiveness.
He is in sin before that point, but afterwards, he is forgiven. At what point
does this occur? (a) the moment we believe, (b) when we pray for forgiveness,
(c) when we are baptized.
In
Jesus are forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7), freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1),
salvation (2 Timothy 2:10), and eternal life (1 John 5:11,12). But to come into
Jesus, we must be baptized. (See also Galatians 3:27.)
Illustration:
Before the ceremony, a couple takes several steps toward marriage, but they
enter the blessings and privileges of matrimony at the point of the wedding
ceremony, not before. So faith, repentance, etc., are essential steps toward
salvation; but only at the point of baptism does one contact Jesus' blood.
Note
also that, as a result of baptism, we "walk in newness of life" (we
are "born again"). We cannot be born again without baptism (see also
1 Peter 1:22,23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3,5). This new birth obligates us
to serve God faithfully (see the rest of Romans 6).
>>>
Read ACTS 2:38. <<<
*29*
When does remission of sins come? (a) before one repents and is baptized, (b)
after one has repented and been baptized?
*30*
Can one be saved without repentance? (a) yes, (b) no.
*31*
Can one be saved without baptism? (a) yes, (b) no.
*32* As
in the Lord's Supper, baptism involves both an outer action and an inner
meaning (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). If a person did the outer act but did not
understand the inner meaning or did it for the wrong reason, would his baptism
be valid? (a) yes, (b) no.
(See
also Romans 6:17,18; 2:28,29).
>>>
Read MARK 16:15,16. <<<
*33*
What must one do to be saved? (a) believe and be baptized, (b) just believe,
(c) just be a zealous religious person.
*34*
When is one saved? (a) before baptism, (b) after baptism.
Just as
1 + 1 = 2, so faith + baptism = salvation. Take away faith or baptism, and you
no longer have salvation.
"...Baptism
doth also now save us..." -- 1 Peter 3:21. The power to forgive is in
Jesus' death and resurrection, not in the water. But we receive that power when
our faith leads us to be baptized, not before. (Compare the story of Naaman in
2 Kings 5:10ff.)
B. The Proper Action of Baptism
**************************
Does baptism involve sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?
>>>
Read ROMANS 6:4. <<< (cf. Colossians 2:12)
*35*
How is baptism described? (a) sprinkling, (b) pouring, (c) burial and
resurrection, (d) all the preceding.
*36*
How was Jesus buried? (a) a little dirt was sprinkled or poured on Him, (b) he
was completely surrounded in the earth, then came out from it (compare Matthew
12:40; 27:60).
>>>
Read ACTS 8:38,39. <<<
*37*
How is the eunuch's baptism described? (a) he was sprinkled, (b) water was
poured on him, (c) he went down into the water and came up out of it.
*38*
When denominations sprinkle or pour, does the person "go down into"
the water and "come up out of it"? (a) yes, (b) no.
In the
gospel, baptism is always a complete immersion. In fact, the original word
meant to dip, immerse, etc. (See the Greek derivation of the word according to
English dictionaries.) (See also Mark 1:9,10; Hebrews 10:22; John 3:23.)
C. The Proper Subject of Baptism
***************************
Should
babies be baptized, or should people wait until they can understand and decide
for themselves?
*39*
Before one can be baptized, he must understand the gospel (John 6:44,45),
believe (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12), repent (Acts 2:38), and confess (Romans
10:9,10). Can babies do this? (a) yes, (b) no.
*40*
Baptized people are members of the church and must participate in its work and
worship (1 Corinthians 12:13,25,26; 10:16,17; 11:23-29; Ephesians 4:16). Can
babies do these things? (a) yes, (b) no.
>>>
Read MATTHEW 18:3. <<<
*41* To
enter the kingdom, what must we do? (a) become totally depraved, (b) inherit
the sin of Adam, (c) be converted and become like little children.
*42*
When we are converted, what is our condition? (a) forgiven of sin, (b)
innocent, (c) like little children, (d) all the preceding.
*43*
Since baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), then do babies need to
be baptized? (a) yes, (b) no.
The
command to be baptized is addressed to people old enough to make their own
choice with understanding. Little children do not need baptism because they are
innocent before God and are not accountable for sin (Psalm 106:38; Matthew
19:14; Ezekiel 18:20; 2 Corinthians 5:10). To baptize babies would be to obey
the teachings of men, not Jesus (Matthew 15:9; Galatians 1:8,9; etc.).
In the
Bible, when people understood, believed, and repented, they were baptized
without delay (Acts 2:41; 8:35-39; 22:16; 16:23-34). Many churches today
postpone baptism until a "baptismal service" days or weeks later.
This shows they misunderstand the purpose of it. If you understand, you should
not delay, but obey today.
CONCLUSION
**********
To be
sure your sins are forgiven, you must obey the teachings of Jesus the Lord
(Hebrews 5:9). You must not follow human doctrines, but obey the gospel exactly
as Jesus revealed it.
You
began this study by summarizing your own conversion. Please go back and compare
what you have done in the past to what you now know the Bible teaches.
* Have
you understood the true teachings of the gospel about forgiveness of sins?
* Have
you believed in God, in the Bible, and in Jesus as your Lord and Savior who
died for your sins and rose again?
* Have
you repented of your sins and determined to dedicate your whole life to serving
God?
* Have
you confessed Jesus as your Lord?
* Have
you been Scripturally baptized -- did you first understand and make up your own
mind to be baptized, were you completely immersed, and did you do it for the
purpose of receiving forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus?
Perhaps
you are one of the many people who thought you were forgiven, but now you
realize you were misled. What should you do? You should realize that you simply
have never completed your obedience to the gospel and you should now determine
to complete it.
In
particular, if a person realizes that his "baptism" was not
Scriptural, what should he do? Acts 19:1-7 shows that people with this problem
were baptized properly. Remember, there are many false baptisms, but only one
true baptism (Ephesians 4:3-6).
"Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" -- James
1:22.
"If
you love Me, keep my commandments" -- John 14:15. Do you love Jesus enough
to obey his commandments?
Correct
answers to the questions are as follows:
*1* =
a, *2* = b, *3* = c, *4* = c, *5* = c, *6* = a, *7* = b, *8* = a, *9* = a, *10*
= c, *11* = b, *12* = b, *13* = b, *14* = a, *15* = c, *16* = b, *17* = a, *18*
= c, *19* = b, *20* = a, *21* = b, *22* = b, *23* = b, *24* = c, *25* = b, *26*
= a, *27* = b, *28* = c, *29* = b, *30* = b, *31* = b, *32* = b, *33* = a, *34*
= b, *35* = c, *36* = b, *37* = c, *38* = b, *39* = b, *40* = b, *41* = c, *42*
= d, *43* = b
(C)
Copyright David E. Pratte, 1990 & 1998
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