Good morning.
We're going to do this slightly more, maybe less coordinated way this morning, ah as they're going to advance the slides for me due to the fact that uh Justin's done what I've
done before, and that is accidentally carry the clicker home in his pocket and then forget to bring it back.
But I can only take joy in it because I'm now not the only one who's done it.
All right, so.
It's good to have all of you here.
are continuing our study in the Back to the Bible series.
If you don't have a copy of the booklets, there are some booklets on the back table.
And if that stacks empty, there's some booklets out into in the foyer on the evangelism table.
So if you're in need of getting one of those.
Now, I will tell you we're not going to cover every single question that's in this.
And I'll explain more about why as we get
to them, ah but we may come back and do some additional study on some of those points.
But go ahead and advance to the next slide.
As you look at this booklet, you need to realize as you sit down and study with someone when you've.
studied with them through book one, you've studied with them through book two, they've learned a lot for especially most who have grown up in the denominational world or those
who have grown up outside of a religious environment at all.
They've learned a lot about what the church is.
They've learned a lot about what God does in giving His revelation and His authority in Scripture from Christ through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and prophets of the first
century.
into the Scriptures and that the Scriptures are authoritative for us today.
But you need to realize, as you get into this booklet, they still think they're saved.
All the things that they've learned haven't changed their mind about what their state is.
They may have been able to look at the things that they learned and say, yeah, that is not what my church does.
But that's not going to necessarily draw them to a conclusion that they're wrong.
Next slide.
So as we go through this particular book, the sections involved in this booklet are your spiritual condition, what is sin, how many have sinned, the consequences of sin, what must
I do to be saved, God's justice, and God's condition for salvation.
Next slide.
So what is sin?
We noticed this last week, just going to cover a few highlights from last week before we get into the remainder of the booklet.
James chapter 1 verses 14 through 15 says,
The reality is an individual sins.
In 1 John chapter 3 tells us that sin is the transgression of the law.
Individuals sin when they're drawn away by their own desires and they do that which is wrong.
They sin.
Next slide.
James chapter 4 verse 17, we're also told, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not,
To him it is sin.
People also sin when they see that they should do that which is right and they don't do it.
You know, the two different terms that we would use in the English language for this idea is when you violate the law, you have committed a sin.
is a sin of commission.
When you fail to do what the law tells you to do, you have omitted, you have failed to keep, and so a sin of omission.
both of those scenarios are ways in which someone sins.
Next slide.
So then what are the wages of sin?
What's the result of having sin?
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
Romans chapter 6 verse 23.
So as you examine this and as we looked at this last week, when an individual sins, whether because they committed a violation of the law or they failed to keep the law, the
wages of sin
is death.
Next slide.
So Matthew chapter 13 verses 40 through 42 says, oh
It is necessary for people to realize there is a consequence to sin.
And it's not just a missing eternity with God.
It is eternal punishment.
One passage that I want to add into this, if you'll just open your Bibles there to Matthew chapter 25.
Ahem.
Matthew chapter 25 verse 45 and 46.
As Jesus gives this visual of the judgment day, He says, "...then He, the Judge, will answer them, saying, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the
least of these, you did not do it to Me," speaking concerning the things that they had failed to do.
These were primarily sins of omission that they're being judged for.
He says, these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.
So the consequence of sin is great.
Next slide.
Revelation chapter 15 verse 3, this is where we're picking up for our study today.
In Revelation chapter 15,
Verse 3, we read, they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God.
This is in the vision that ah John is seeing.
He's seeing the multitudes up in heaven and of those who are saved in the song of the Lamb.
And they're singing this and they're saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
As you look at this text, is God just or righteous is the discussion here.
Because we've seen the consequences of sin, but we need to understand the justice of God.
If we were to assume that God is an unjust judge, why would we desire to do what He says?
Why would we desire to be obedient to someone who's just an arbitrary judge?
We don't believe that God is an arbitrary or an unjust judge.
Rather, that He is a just, a righteous judge.
So the individuals there in heaven are crying out before God and they're declaring God is just.
He is righteous.
uh
If a judge refuses to sentence convicted criminals, would he be just?
Would he be righteous?
The answer is no.
If, uh sorry, does righteousness demand
that a judge sentenced convicted criminals.
Now if we were to just apply this in our everyday environment, in our everyday court system, if you have a judge who the jury has decided this person is guilty, they're guilty
on all charges, they committed capital murder, the judge says, yeah, I'm not sentencing him.
We wouldn't consider that justice.
The family of the one who was murdered wouldn't consider that justice.
God is a judge who is just, which means for a sin worthy of death, for the wages of sin is death, and we discussed in that particular slide that one sin is when you commit that sin,
you have earned death.
If God is not a just God, in other words, he does not judge and sentence ah those who are worthy of death, then he's not just.
for those who would desire to have a God who just gives everybody a free ride because he's so loving.
What they've said is God is not just.
God is not righteous.
For what we know to be true about judges today in our own physical existence, we would be validating that God is not.
righteous judge.
Consider the next slide.
Romans chapter 2 verse 11, a very short passage but dealing with the Jews.
uh Paul says concerning God, for there is no respect of persons with God.
Paul is very clear.
that God does not show partiality.
God is not going to give a free pass to the rich and only judge the poor.
God is not going to give a free pass to the Jew and only judge the Gentile or the other way around.
God is a righteous God.
So is there respect persons with God?
No.
Romans chapter 2 and verse 6,
who will render to every man according to his deeds." As Paul discusses the judgment of God against the Jews, Paul is very clear to say God will render to every man, not some
men, not a few men, not just Gentiles, but every man according to his works.
All right, next slide.
So in Revelation chapter 20.
Revelation chapter 20 and verses 12 through 15 as this judgment scene is there in the vision of John.
We read, I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.
And the books were opened.
and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works.
And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The dead were judged according to their works." As you notice this, one of the things to point out
to individuals because they may come from a background where they were taught all their lives that they had original sin, that they had inherited sin from Adam, from Eve, from
the sin in the garden.
And yet all these passages tell us that an individual will be judged on the day of judgment by what they do and not by what Adam and Eve did.
Whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
There's consequence to sin and God is a just God.
Go to the next slide.
2nd Peter chapter 3.
If God is a just God, does that mean that God is a judge who is sitting on his judgment throne just anxiously waiting to cast as many people as he can into that lake of fire to
exact judgment as thoroughly as possible on all of humanity?
The answer is certainly not.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing.
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Is it God's will that you be lost eternally?
No.
It's God's will that you be saved, but He's still a just God.
In Romans chapter 5 and verse 8 we read, but God commendeth His love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
Did Jesus die for sinners?
Yes.
And we should all be very, very glad that He did.
For Romans 3 23 has already told us, for we have all sinned and come sure to the glory of God.
Was the death of Jesus on the cross an act of God's love for us?
Yes, it most certainly was.
Next slide.
So they're in Romans chapter 5.
Very next verse, verse 9, more than, excuse me, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
I'm gonna start coughing.
Excuse me.
Can we be justified by the blood of Jesus?
Yes, we absolutely can and we must be.
Turn to Hebrews chapter 5 and verse 9 if you don't...
I was about to say if you don't have it open in front of you, but it's open on the slides.
Hold on just minute.
I'm gonna try and get whatever's caught in my throat cleared out.
Alright, Hebrews chapter 5 verse 9, "...and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him." Is Jesus the author of eternal salvation to
those who obey Him?
Yes.
God desired that all men be saved.
God sent His Son to save sinners.
What group of sinners is Jesus the author, the originator of their salvation?
Those who obey Him.
Will you be saved if you do not obey Jesus?
So let them answer the question.
Most of the time they're going to get it right.
They're going say, no, absolutely not.
Not based upon everything I've just read.
Next slide.
Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 23.
Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out many, cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works, and
then I will profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Will Jesus save all those who call upon His name?
The answer is no.
And it's quite clear from the text.
Were these believers lost?
Yes, these were individuals who believed.
These were individuals who had called on the name of the Lord and said they had done many works in the name of the Lord and yet they were lost.
According to verse 21, what must one do to go to heaven?
They must do the will of the Father.
Next slide.
So then as you transition into the discussion about God's condition for salvation,
you're going to hopefully already have an idea of where they are, the background of where they've come from, the religious knowledge that they have or don't have.
And for those who are entirely ignorant of Scripture, this is actually a very quick process to go through these
discussions in these passages, because they don't have a lot of things that they've learned wrong for years that they have to unlearn.
They're just looking at what is it that I've been told to do.
For those who perhaps have spent years in denominational uh churches and have been taught things that are nowhere found in Scripture, and those things have been spoken to them and
reiterated to them and encouraged for them to believe for years.
You may have to take a little bit more time.
You may have to go a little slower through these things.
They may have some things that they need better explained in these passages, but we're just going to go through the text for the moment.
John chapter 3 verse 15, verse 16, sorry.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The condition stated here is believe.
In other words, the qualification to obtain salvation that is stated in this passage is believe.
John chapter 8 verse 24.
I said therefore, and this is Jesus speaking to the Jews, I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die
in your sins.
Will you be saved if you do not believe in Jesus?
There are some who I've studied with, and there was one individual back in North Carolina who I was studying with him and his wife, and in the course of that study
we pointed out and went to a passage that said that those who were saved were going to be saved through Christ.
And that if you do not believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.
And the individual said, well, I understand that, but the way I see it, God's just going to save everybody.
You mean God's going to save
everybody no matter what they...
yeah.
He said, I think they're all going to be saved through Christ, but God's just going to save everybody.
So I asked, so a Buddhist is going to be saved.
Yes, but he's going to be saved by Christ.
A Hindu is going to be saved.
Yeah, but he's going be saved.
A Muslim.
Yeah, he's going to be saved.
He's going to be saved through Christ.
His mindset was it didn't matter what you did.
It didn't matter what you believed.
And yet Jesus says, except you believe that I am He.
you shall die in your sins." His beliefs were a direct violation of Scripture.
Consider the next slide.
Acts chapter 17 verse 30, as Paul is standing there on Mars Hill, he says, and the times of this ignorance, God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
You might ask the question,
How many men have God commanded to repent?
All of them.
Where?
Just in Israel?
Just in the regions of Africa?
No, all men everywhere.
The condition stated here is repent.
So they need to understand that they need to believe.
They need to understand that they need to repent.
It's an interesting point that can be made right here.
Because most individuals who have been taught that they're saved by faith only will have no disagreement with you on this point.
But you might just ask them, you know what?
If faith is the only thing you need in order to be saved, then do you have to repent?
And they'll go, of course you do.
Wait a minute.
Are you saying that there's more that you have to do in order to be saved than just have faith?
Well, but, but, but...
The answer is yes.
There is more you have to do than just have faith.
Consider the next slide.
2 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 9 and 10, Paul writes,
to salvation, not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Is it merely being sorry for your sins the repentance God demands?
No, it's not.
And they need to understand that it's not enough to be sorry that they sinned.
They need to understand that repentance is a change of mind that brings about a change
in their lives.
Does repentance demand that the sinner turn from his sins?
Absolutely it does.
So you cannot have an individual who says, I know that I am living in sin.
I desire to be saved.
I'll do all the things.
The only thing I won't change is my life.
No.
Because one of the qualifications, one of the conditions for salvation is repentance.
Now question, does a person have to have fixed everything in their life before they can become a Christian?
No!
It is a learning process, but they must repent and change direction.
That is to say that they must stop living for the world, living for themselves, and begin to live for God.
And as they do that, they're going to find a number of things.
throughout their time as a Christian that they need to change.
We do not wait to baptize perfect people, rather those who are willing to repent.
Consider the next slide.
Luke chapter 3 verse 13.
Now this is one of those texts I encourage you to open to Luke 13.
It's one of those texts that it's useful to read the entire thing to just get a little bit of context of what's going on here.
because otherwise you leave someone perhaps with a bit of an incorrect impression here, but further you get the impact if you read verses one through five of Jesus saying the
same thing twice.
It's pretty hard to argue with Jesus when he says something once.
It's a whole lot harder when in two verses he says something twice.
So we read in verse one,
There were present at that season some who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
So here are some Galileans.
Pilate came in, he killed them, and then he took their blood and he mingled it with the sacrifices that they were offering.
Something that would clearly have been an abomination.
And Jesus answered and said to them, do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such things?
I tell you, But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Or, those eighteen on whom the tower of Silom fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners
than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you, no.
But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Jesus is emphasizing
that the consequence of not repenting is death.
And that when someone refuses to repent, they're guilty of the consequence of death.
It doesn't matter how harsh a life they live or how harsh a death they die.
The reality is unless they're willing to repent, their condemnation is death.
Romans chapter 10.
Verse 10, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Now it's worthwhile to point out as they answer the condition stated here is confession.
uh Now why is it confession?
Because beliefs already been listed.
We've already listed that one so we're not in beginning of verse, we're in the last half of the verse.
oh
it's worth pointing out here in this text that both of these things are things that lead to salvation.
They are precursors to salvation.
They are a part of what you do leading up to that point.
But further, it's helpful to ask the individual, because quite often they'll assume the wrong thing unless you get to the next verse, but ask them what kind of confession is
this?
most individuals are going to be thinking, I've got to confess my sins.
That's not what's discussed here.
The discussion with the mouth of confession isn't a confession of sin, it is rather the confession of Christ.
Turn to the next slide.
Matthew chapter 10 verses 32 and 33, whosoever therefore shall confess me before men.
Him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." So the question is, will you be saved if you do not confess Jesus?
The answer is no.
The confession of Jesus is a pronouncement of Him as Lord and Savior and King.
in your life, but it has to be done with the mouth.
It's not enough for somebody to just go, mm-hmm, yeah, interested.
No.
You see this, by the way, exhibited in the example of Philip when he baptizes the eunuch.
And Philip asks him, do you believe?
And the eunuch responds, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
That is the confession.
Interestingly, when you think back Matthew chapter 16, when Jesus said, do men say that I am?
What is it that Peter said, which Jesus said of his statement that this rock is the foundation upon which he would build his church?
Peter said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
That is the confession that must be made.
So consider 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21.
the like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ." Now, here in this text, it's not written that way up here, but there's a parenthetical statement that exists here.
And it's the part that begins with not, not the putting away.
Sometimes it's helpful if someone's struggling with what's being stated here to just have them read it without the parenthetical statement.
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
By the power of the resurrection, individuals who are buried with Christ, are baptized with Christ, are resurrected with Him.
and are saved by Him.
John chapter 3 verse 35, Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Will you be saved if you are not baptized?
And you will find more arguments on that discussion.
than on all of the other ones before it.
But here's the challenge.
You just ask them to answer the question.
What does the passage say?
What does the text tell us?
That baptism doth also now save us.
If they won't be honest with the questions, if they won't be honest with the answers,
then you're looking for there may be a point at which you need to just end the study.
Okay?
It is not your responsibility or your job to beat someone down into submission with the word of God.
It is not your job to cajole them by constant pestering until they do what you're telling them to do.
We are to teach those with willing and open, earnest hearts what to do, and those who refuse to hear the Word of God, if they hear you but they won't hear the Word of God, you
haven't helped them.
They're doing it to please you, not God.
If they are baptized, all you will have done is manage to confuse them from that point forward because now they'll think, well, I checked it off the list, so I must be good now.
Someone in the future is going to have to study with them and help them actually understand that no, baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
as you're studying with people, and I'm not saying it'll happen often, by the time you've gotten to the third book, you probably have an idea as to whether or not they're going to
be honest with the text.
But if they won't be honest with the text, now they may still take some convincing, but you're going to be understanding whether or not they're open to understanding the word.
And they may still have questions.
They may still have arguments.
That's okay.
But if they won't even be honest with what it says, just end the study.
Thank them for their willingness to study with you and move on because what you may provide yourself is an open door for them to come back and say, know what, I wasn't really
being honest, but now I'm ready to sit down and study for real.
Okay?
Don't close doors by insisting on pushing forward when they won't be honest.
Next slide.
What does the Bible teach?
This is one of the examples that's there in the big booklet, he who believes is saved and then baptized.
Is that what the Bible teaches?
And they're gonna go, no, that's not what the Bible teaches.
He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Mark chapter 16 verse 16, go to the next slide, is the next text.
He that believeth and is baptized.
shall be saved.
But he that believeth not shall be damned." Jesus said we must believe and be baptized to be saved.
Something that as Sandy and I were studying Wednesday night I said, hold on, let me read this to you this way.
You tell me what you think it means.
And I read the verse, I said, he that believeth not shall be damned.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
He said, well, I'd assume that you have to believe and be baptized to be saved.
Quite often, because the denominational world will teach this passage and they'll immediately say, see, the only real qualification is the belief because it's the part
mentioned in the last half of the verse.
It's the one that says if you don't do it, you'll be lost.
That's not what the text says.
That's not how English grammar works.
That's not what the discussion was about.
Jesus gave the qualification for salvation, he that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved.
If the sentence had ended right there, everyone would have no choice but to understand the statement.
But one thing that can also be helpful is provide them an illustration if they're struggling with this.
One of my favorites is, you're hungry.
And I come to you, hand you a $20 bill and say, if you will go inside the store and order a sandwich, you'll be full.
And yet, the person says, I'm not going in the store.
If they don't ever go in the store, are they going to be full?
No!
Why?
Because they can't order the sandwich unless they go in the store.
They must do the first one before the second one can even come into consideration.
And if they refuse to do the first one, if they refuse to believe, what would happen if they would be baptized?
They'd just be getting wet.
It wouldn't matter
about the second one.
If the first one, the precursor to it is not fulfilled.
Next slide.
He that eats and digests shall live.
So if you don't want to try and remember some examples off the top of your brain as you're studying, have the booklet with you.
Have some examples that they can look at.
He that eats and digests shall live.
He that eats not shall die.
You say, well, that just means digestion is unimportant, right?
No.
If you can't digest food, have a much more severe problem.
You will die.
Alright, next slide.
Acts chapter 2 verse 38.
As you're doing this, what you're doing is you're tying in the things they've already agreed to.
The things they've already said, yep, you definitely have to believe.
yeah, you have to repent.
And you're tying them to the commands of baptism, showing that they both preceded and that salvation comes after it.
Acts chapter 2 verse 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 Spirit.
Now, you've already made it clear from Acts chapter 17 verse 30 that the command to repent was to all men everywhere.
When Peter gives the command
to repent and be baptized, he gives the command to every one of you.
Peter doesn't say this is just for a certain select group.
Peter doesn't say this is just for those who have already been saved.
Rather, Peter says every one of you.
The inspired preacher told those believers to blank and be blank, to repent and be baptized.
They never miss it.
They know what it says.
It's not a discussion of whether they know what it says.
It's discussion of whether they're willing to believe what it says.
Repentance and baptism are for the remission of sins.
It's right there in the text.
You will on some very rare occasions get someone who has been well studied in Baptist theology and Greek literature and they'll go, well the word ice, E-I-S in the Greek
doesn't mean for.
If they have that discussion, they'd be happy to deal with that question.
Let's write it down at the end of the booklet and we'll come back to it.
Don't die on the hill of Acts chapter 2 verse 38 and the discussion of the word ice.
Okay?
Move on.
Because guess what?
The word ice isn't in 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21.
Baptism doth also now save us.
Don't die on a discussion of a Greek term.
Rather, continue to study.
Next slide.
Acts chapter 2 verse 38, you have a coordinating conjunction, repent and be baptized.
And you can illustrate that with a train.
If that conjunction, you know, some might even say, hey, conjunction, function junction.
Remember the song from grade school, all right?
They know what that word does.
says you got to have this and this in order to accomplish the thing that you have at the end.
All right, next slide.
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3.
By the way, those slides in the booklet,
They're great illustrations.
Please don't try and use every one of them.
They are for using when someone's not understanding, so it's good for you to see them, to know what's there, but it's not for you need to use every, let me show you this visual,
oh, let me show you this visual, let me show you, no, don't do that.
You'll distract from the study, and it will be a four hour study.
Alright, Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Now in the new version of the booklet you'll find a circle down there that says Christ and all spiritual blessings.
Eternal life, salvation, heaven, all of those things are part of what's going to be described in this text as being in Christ.
But I encourage you
as you're studying with them, get out a sheet of paper, draw a circle, and write in Christ in the middle of the circle.
Let them look at it.
Let them visualize it.
Let them see you drawing it.
It will make more of an impact than a circle on here because they don't know if that was just a designer putting a circle around it so you knew that that text was separated from
something else.
Okay?
There are times where visuals are in here.
but it's useful to just get a piece of paper out and draw it in front of them.
You're keeping their attention on what you're saying.
All all spiritual blessings are in Christ.
The answer is yes, or are all.
If all spiritual blessings are in Christ, are there any spiritual blessings outside of Christ?
So you got the piece of paper there.
It's got a circle on it, in Christ.
You say, where are all spiritual blessings found?
Nobody's gonna miss it.
They're in Christ.
So, you point to outside the circle.
How many are found outside?
None!
They never miss it.
Next slide.
2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 10, Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Is salvation in Christ?
Absolutely!
Alright, so you've got the circle.
It says, Christ.
So you've got all spiritual blessings are in Christ.
Salvation is in Christ.
Is it your understanding that one must be in Christ to be saved?
Absolutely.
Now, this whole argument is why you should never die on the hill of the word eis in Acts chapter 2 verse 38.
You're going to bypass that argument with no problem because watch.
Next slide.
Those who are in Christ, now again, you've got this visual, if you don't want to draw it, you don't have to.
There's so much more detail here, but you don't need that to make the point.
Draw a circle just write in Christ and show them you're in Christ, you have salvation.
You're in Christ, you have all spiritual blessings.
You're outside of Christ, by the way, there's nothing out there.
Okay, next slide.
Galatians chapter 3 verse 27.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
How does one get into Christ?
Well, the passage just says it right there.
And as you're looking at it with that piece of paper, you draw a line, create an arrow from outside to inside, and on the arrow you write baptism.
is it that someone gets from outside to inside?
The text tells you quite clearly it's baptism.
Next slide.
Ephesians chapter 4 verse 5.
Now I usually I'll go back read verse 3 verse 4 down through verse 6 so they have some context, but the passage says there's one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Is there more than one valid baptism in God's will?
The answer is no.
So if they've got discussion, questions about is it Holy Spirit baptism that we're baptized with or is it water baptism or is it some other kind of baptism?
You'll be able to answer that.
It's right here in the question.
Since God accepts only one baptism, we be careful to be sure we are baptized the way God says?
The answer is yes.
Next slide.
In Acts chapter 8 verse 36 through 38, that passage which we already mentioned,
Philip, as he's teaching the eunuch, he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.
Did Philip baptize the eunuch in water?
Yes.
Did he baptize him in the Holy Spirit?
It's not in the text anywhere.
It's because he didn't.
Also, did both Philip and the eunuch go down into the water?
Yes, if you want to read the whole section here in this passage to where they realize that here's the eunuch, he's traveling along, he's in a chariot, he says, what hinders me from
being baptized?
Philip says, if you believe, you may.
He says, here's water, what hinders me?
He's observing a body of water as he's traveling.
So what do they have to do to bury him, to baptize him in a body water?
You gotta get out and you gotta go down in the water.
Next slide.
Would it have been necessary for both Philip and the unit to go down into the water if sprinkling or pouring were the one baptism God commands?
No!
If sprinkling and pouring is all you got to do, then somebody could just stand on the shore, dip their fingers in, or dip a cup in and be done.
They don't need to go down into the water.
You uh often see in some of the illustrations of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, there's both of them, hip-deep in water and John's dumping water on Jesus' head.
What nonsense!
Why do have to get all your clothes wet just to have water dumped on your head?
You can do that on the shore.
Would it have been necessary for both Philip and the Unico down into the water if immersion were the one baptism God commands?
Yes.
Yes, it would.
Next slide.
1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21, the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward
God.
In the one baptism must there be the answering of a good conscience towards God?
The answer is yes.
Can a baby conscientiously accept baptism as the command of God?
The answer is no.
You know, some people you study with, they're going to say, yeah, I've been baptized before, but it was when I was a baby.
I only know about it because somebody told me about it.
Well, that's not the baptism that God commands.
Next slide.
Romans chapter 6, verses 3 through 5.
I'm going to turn over and read the text since we've got that uh block over it.
Romans chapter 6 verses 3 through 5.
certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
Does the Bible describe the one baptism as a burial in water?
Yes.
Where do we get the benefits of the death of Jesus?
In baptism.
If you are baptized the way the Bible says, could you be wrong?
No.
If you are not baptized in the way the Bible says, could you be wrong?
Yes.
Do you want to take a chance on missing heaven?
They're going say no.
Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
They're going say yes.
As we have seen, Jesus commands repentance.
Are you willing to start making the changes in your life that Jesus commands and to live for God?
They may say yes.
It says, if you were taught you had remission of sins before
baptism, could you have been baptized for the remission of sins?
They may hem and haw on that one, but it's important to ask the question.
If you were taught you were saved before baptism, could you have been baptized to be saved?
Usually with that one they're going, no, no, I was taught all along
that I was saved already, we scheduled that baptism or even were baptized the same day, but I was told I was already saved.
I didn't do it to be saved.
I did it because I already said I was already taught I was saved.
Since God describes the one baptism as a burial in water, could you have been scripturally baptized if water was sprinkled or poured on you?
The answer is no.
John 14 verse 15, next slide.
Skip through this one for the sake of time.
Next slide.
I read through it without getting going through the slides.
Sorry about that.
All right, one more.
Sorry, two more.
There we go, John chapter 14 verse 15.
We now caught up.
If you love me, keep my commandments.
As you go through this, now you may have already reached a point where they're saying, you know what?
I'm wrong.
I need to change.
But continue through this.
You'll notice in the booklet as you're studying it that there are some stars next to different points.
Those stars are to give you points at which they may be ready.
Don't study for another 30 minutes if they're ready.
Don't say, well, I've to finish the booklet.
No.
If they're ready, go do what needs to be done.
But they may not be ready yet.
If we really love Jesus, will we want to obey Him?
They'll answer yes.
Do you love Him?
Now when you're studying with someone, you get to those questions.
Do you?
Are you willing?
Pause and look at the person.
Don't just read the question.
Answer it for yourself.
No, no.
Pause and look at the person.
Do you love him?
Do you want to obey him?
make them and let them answer it.
Okay?
Since Jesus wants you to be baptized, because He commanded it, and now that you understand the importance of being baptized right now, wouldn't it please Jesus for you to be
baptized right now?
Now, if they just say yes and they're just very casual about it, keep studying.
All right?
They're not ready yet.
Just keep going.
You can tell from the body language, you can tell by the tone of voice, if they're saying, yes, and I need to do this right now.
But if they're still very casual about it, they're not quite there yet.
Do you wear the name of Christ only?
You're now pulling in things from previous books.
You're now helping them identify and connect the bridges between book one and book two.
Do you only wear the name of Christ?
Does the church you attend worship according to the Bible?
Is the church you attend organized according to the Bible?
Does the church you attend teach God's plan of salvation?
And you want to know what they might say?
Well, not according to what we've just read.
Ephesians chapter 5 verse 23, for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the Savior of the body.
Jesus is the Savior of the body.
That passage has to be kept with Ephesians 1, 22, and 23 where Paul has already said,
and hath put all things under His feet, Christ, and gave Him, Christ, to be head over all things to the church, which is Christ's body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in
all." The church is also called the body.
These are just bringing back a view from the prior ones.
There is one body, Ephesians 4 verse 4.
How many bodies are there?
One.
Do you want to be in the church, the body Jesus has promised to save?
say yes.
Next slide.
1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13, for by one spirit we are all baptized into one body.
Whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free and have all been made to drink into one spirit.
How does one get into the Lord's church?
Now, that's where you take that piece of paper back out and it says in Christ.
They already know that that's where all spiritual blessings are found.
They already know that's where salvation is found.
They already know that there's baptism that puts them in Christ.
Now they're finding out, wait a minute, it's baptism that puts me into the church.
So if they haven't been baptized in order to be saved, are they in the church?
No.
No, they're not.
Do you want to be added to his church?
Yes.
When?
And again, the little mark there.
Next slide.
James chapter 4, verses 13 through 14.
Do you know for certain that you...
Sorry, let me read it.
Go to now ye that say, today and tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue their year and buy and sell and get grain.
Therefore ye know not what shall be on the morrow.
For what is your life?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Do you know for certain that you will be alive tomorrow?
They'll be honest.
say no.
If you were to die right now, would you go to heaven?
That question makes them think about all the things they've just learned.
It makes them evaluate, wait a minute, I thought I was, I thought I knew, I'm not so certain now.
Do you want to go to heaven when you die?
Yes.
Next slide.
2 Corinthians 6 verse 2.
For he saith, have heard thee in time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have suckered thee.
Behold, now is the accepted time.
Behold, now is the day of salvation." When is the accepted time?
Now.
When is the day of salvation?
Now.
Has God promised you another day to make things right with him?
They may say, you know what, sounds like I probably need to be at church services on Sunday so I can be baptized.
You say, a minute, hold on.
Let's just keep answering questions.
All right?
Don't argue with them.
Just keep answering questions.
Just keep going.
When should you be baptized into Christ?
Now.
Not a year from now, not a week from now, not on Sunday, not when everybody's assembled together.
Now.
Are you ready to be baptized right now?
If they say yes, say great.
Let's go.
Now a couple of points.
And I'm gonna do away with the slides right here for the sake of time.
We'll come back and we'll do some advanced discussions about closing a study at another point.
But where can you baptize someone?
Anywhere there's enough water to immerse them.
You can baptize someone, as my father did in Colorado in the winter, by breaking the ice off the horse trough and baptizing them in a horse trough.
And they'll be saved.
They'll be cold, and they may die of hypothermia, but they'll be saved.
You can baptize someone in a river.
You know, there are some who have the uh mistaken concept, especially in a lot of foreign mission fields, that they have to be baptized in moving water so their sins wash away from
them as they are buried in water.
Text, there's nothing in Scripture that indicates that.
Moving water, still water, doesn't matter.
Can you be baptized in a lake?
Yep.
In a pool?
Yep.
In an inflatable?
uh kiddie pool at a nursing home?
Some of you know that story.
All of those things, the discussion of what the container of the water is doesn't matter.
The discussion of the location of the water doesn't matter.
You know, if you were in a scenario where you were studying someone and there was no church building anywhere near you that was a Church of Christ,
And yet there was a Baptist church with a baptistry nearby.
Could you go baptize a Christian in a Baptist baptistry?
Yeah, because it's just a pool of water.
The place doesn't matter.
The object the water's in doesn't matter.
I would further point out to you that the person who is putting them down into the water doesn't matter.
Ask somebody once if two people who were non-Christians found a Bible and they were both stranded on an island and they were the only two people there.
And they opened up the Bible, they learned about who Jesus was, they studied about what to do in order to be saved.
Could one of them baptize the other one, and would the person be saved even though the person baptizing them was lost?
Absolutely they could.
Why?
Because there's no passage anywhere that tells you any qualification for the person doing the baptizing.
As a matter of fact, Paul specifically discounts the physical act of being the one baptizing.
He says, I wasn't sent to baptize.
Acts chapter, or First Corinthians chapter 1.
As you're studying with people, they may have all sorts of questions about things like that.
Well, wait a minute, I thought we had to, I thought this, I, just answer them.
But if they're ready, just baptize them and then begin that walk.
If you're here this morning and you're going, well, I don't think that what I've done to be saved matches what I just read.
then I encourage you and I hope you'll study with us.
I hope you'll ask for help to sit down with the Word of God.
If you're here this morning and you're outside the body of Christ, why not come forward now as we stand?