Identifying The New Testament Church #9
Gods pattern includes a Plan of Salvation. In this study
I need to ask you this question: What does your church teach
in terms of how to become a Christian? I can tell you this,
if it does not teach exactly what the Bible teaches, there is
no way it can be identified as a church of the New Testament.
(2) The apostles and other inspired teachers of the first century,
went forth proclaiming the basic facts of the gospel. The first
thing they did was to instilled within people the need to believe
the basic facts concerning Jesus Christ. While teaching at the
temple Jesus spoke these words, Jno. 8:21-24. Thats plain
and simple. The only way you can misunderstand that is to do it
on purpose.
a. Did you know there is a church in Lubbock called the Universalist
Unitarian Church. And it claims to be a Christian
Church. But, did you also know that you do not have to believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God to be a member? You do not
have to believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. You dont
have to believe that he performed the miracles attributed to him
in the New Testament record. You do not have to believe that He
was raised from the dead.
(1) How in the world could that be a New Testament church? It
could not be. And thats why Jesus said, in Matt. 7:21, "Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
(1) Thats what weve been talking about in this series
of lessons. Not everybody who
claims to be a Christian is a Christian. Not everyone who thinks
hes a Christian
is a Christian. Because not everybody who claims to be a Christian
has
become a Christian the way God, in this Bible, tells them to become
a
Christian. And they certainly are not worshiping God the way God
wants to be
worshiped. They worship God in every way, except in spirit and
in truth.
When Jesus was ready to establish His Church He called His apostles
together and gave them this command, Matt. 28:18-20. Then at Jerusalem
they preached that first Gospel message. The death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus to solve mans sin problem and restore
him to fellowship with God. You can read it in Acts 2:1-47. Vs.
37, It says, Those, who heard that message, believed it and wanted
to be right with God, asked a question, What must we do?
Peter responded, first of all, that they needed to repent. Repentance
is a change of your mind, a change of your attitude, caused by
sorrow for sin
which subsequently results in a change of your conduct . Paul
described it
this way in 2 Cor. 7:10. It demands that whatever you are doing
that is sinful,
you must stop that, turn around, and reform your life.
To become a New Testament Christian you acknowledged your faith
by confessing your belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
Rom. 10:9?10; 1 Tim. 6:13.
When they had heard the Gospel message, Believed that message,
had repented of their sin, they confessed their sin and proclaimed
their belief that Jesus could save them from their sin they were
told to be immersed to have those sins washed away.
Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Pet. 3:20-21. We are commanded to be
baptized
Baptism is not sprinkling with water, It is immersion in water
and well talk
about that starting next week. We will do a complete research
study that will
take a couple of weeks or more.
(3) Many denominations practice the sprinkling of water upon babies.
That practice falls short on two points. First, baptism means
immersion, both Rom. 6:3?4; Col. 2:12, describe baptism as a burial
in water, not a sprinkling with water.
(1) Second, babies do not need baptism for forgiveness of sins,
because they are pure, not having reached a level of personal
accountability, Matt. 18:1-4.
(1) Do you belong to a church that baptizes infants? Do you belong
to a body of people that sprinkles water on people and refers
to it as baptism? Do you belong to religious group that teaches
that you are saved at the point of faith and therefore, you need
only be baptized to become a member of that church? Nearly all
of my ancestors believed and taught those ideas. But they were
wrong about such matters.
(2) We need to understand that the Bible teaches that one is to
be immersed FOR the forgiveness of sins. If one does
not need to understand the purpose of baptism, why is the purpose
stated in the passage? The
apostle could simply have said, repent ye and be baptized.
And not have
said another word. That would have settled that issue. The purpose
of
baptism then would be irrelevant. But no, the apostle did not
do that.
Instead he commanded, in, Acts 2:38, Repent and be immersed
for the
forgiveness of your sins. The New Testament prophet Ananias
told Saul of
Tarsus, in Acts 22:16, Arise, and be immersed, and wash
away your sins,
calling on the Lords name. Why would you want to be
a member of a church that teaches something different?
(2) When you come to God you need to learn, from Gods Word,
the divine pattern He has given. Find, believe and obey the Bible
pattern, the Divine ideal God has left us in His Holy Word.
(1) If what you believe and practice is not in this Book honor
God by turning away from it. Hold up God and His Word as the only
truth that brings salvation to mens souls. Believe it, obey
it and youll become a saved New Testament Christian.
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 06/23/2002 am
|