The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)
Jesus is truly the Son of God (Matt. 27:54). Deity came to
earth in the form of lowly man (Matt. 1:21-23; Phil. 2:6-7). He dwelt
on this
earth in the flesh about 33 years (cf. Luke 3:23). He spent His
three year ministry reaching out to men. He reached out to rich men and
poor men; to old men and young men; to Jews and Gentiles (those who
become His followers are to imitate Him in all things - 1 Pet. 2:21; 1
Cor. 11:1).
As He completed the work the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4), He went
to the cross and died for the sins of the world (Rom. 5:8). He died to
cleanse your sins and mine by His blood (Matt. 26:28; Rev. 1:5). But as
you know, the Good News doesn’t stop there. Jesus was buried (like any
dead
man should be - cf. Rom. 6:1-7), but on the third day He rose from the
dead
(1 Cor. 15:1-4) never to die again (Acts 13:34).
The resurrected Lord appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:5-8). Before
His ascension, He told His followers to GO INTO THE WHOLE WORLD
preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16;
Luke 24:46-48).
He then ascended on high (Acts 1:9) to the right hand of the Father
(Rom. 8:34). There, He reigns over His kingdom (His church) as Lord of
lords
and King of kings (Rev. 11:15; 17:14; 19:16).
He's coming again! (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Acts 1:11). When He comes, He
will judge the world in righteousness (Rev. 19:11). When He comes, His
people will be taken home to glory (Rom. 8:18; cf. Matt. 25:34, 46).
When He comes, the lost souls will perish...they will be ushered into
eternal destruction (2 Thess. 1:7-9). God does not want anyone to
perish (2 Pet. 3:9). So, God uses His people to tell others the Good
News about Jesus. We are to tell the lost how to get INTO Jesus so
their sins can be forgiven (Matt. 26:28)...so they can be added to the
body, the church (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23;
4:4; Matt. 16:18)...so they can receive the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit
(Eph. 3:16-17).
To become a Christian a person must believe and obey Jesus
(cf. Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46). Our belief comes by hearing the
Word
of God - the Bible (Rom. 10:17). Our obedience comes as we submit to
and
learn to love God (John 14:15).
To become a Christian a person must hear and believe that Jesus
died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (Acts
18:8; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). A person must believe these facts about the Son
of God
(John 3:16; 8:24). This heart felt belief in Jesus will cause an honest
person (Luke 8:15) to confess Him (Rom. 10:9-10), repent of their sins
(change their mind about doing wrong - Luke 13:3, 5), and submit their
body to be immersed (buried in water - Col. 2:12) into Christ (Gal.
3:26-27).
Coming up out of that grave of water, the person is born again (John
3:3-5). He is forgiven of past sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). He is saved (1
Pet.
3:21; Mark 16:16). He is added to the church which Jesus built (Matt.
16:18;
Acts 2:41, 47). He receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as an
earnest
of his salvation (Acts 5:32; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:9-11).
SUMMARY:
What must one do to be saved?
Hear -- Romans 10:17; John 17:17
Believe -- John 3:16; Heb. 11:6 (Faith includes works of obedience --
James 2:14-26)
Repent -- Acts 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9
Confess Jesus as Lord -- Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33
Baptism -- Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16
Be faithful -- Rev. 2:10
Baptism is:
A Burial -- immersion in water
-- Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4; Acts 10:47-48
A Resurrection -- Col. 2:12; Rom
6:4
For salvation -- 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts
2:38
An unfaithful saved person may sin and be lost -- 1 John
1:6-10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22
Confession and prayer will bring forgiveness -- 1 John 1:6-10; James
5:16
Our hope is both sure and stedfast -- Heb. 6:19
May God bless you to obey from the heart the things you now understand (Rom. 6:17).
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