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Introduction: A. The
term "hear" has many different uses:
1. The audition of sounds - Acts 9:7; John 12:27-28.
2. To perceive by ear what is announced
in one's presence - Acts 22:9
3. To get by hearing, to learn from the mouth of a teacher - Matt
4. To find out, to learn by the hearing of others - Matt. 11:2
5. To listen to, hear attentively - Luke 19:47-48.
6. To comprehend, to understand - Mark
7. To yield to, to hear and obey, to heed
one - Acts 3:22-23. B. Hearing
that is attentive, understood, and obeyed.
1. Hearing with the intention to heed I. WHAT IS IT THAT ONE MUST HEAR? A. The
Word of the Lord
1. Isa. 49:1-3; Heb. 4:12; Eph 6:17
2. Rev. 1:16,
3. Some things bear listening to because of their content. The
word of
Christ will have profound impact on the listener,
removing shells of
pretense, hypocrisy
and self-deceit. II. WHY MUST ONE LISTEN? A. God
requires it - Matt. 17:5 B. Eternity
depends on it - John 12:48 C. Salvation
begins with it - Rom. 10:8-18 D. Security
comes from it - Heb. 3:5-13
1. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, whether one was not informed,
mis-informed, or
refused to be informed.
2. We live in the litigious world of warning labels because we
want no harm to come to ourselves. Why do some refuse
to hear the most
important warning of all? III. HOW MUST ONE LISTEN? A. "Listen
to me" means "do what I am telling
you." Hearing means heeding.
1. Scriptural listening requires action.
2. Matt. 7:21-28; James 1:21-25; Acts 10:22, 33
3. Luke 8:16-18 - How is the word of God coming to your mind? Through
your hearers or your heeders?
4. 1Tim.
destiny, but also
that of others. IV. WHAT ARE SOME HINDRANCES TO HEARING? A. Willful ignorance 1. The Jews failed to hear out of ignorance
- Rom 10:1-3; Acts 3:14-17
2. Their ignorance was not God's fault.
a. God had committed to them the oracles, the law and the
prophets - Rom 3:1-2.
b. God gave them the law to bring them to Christ -
Rom 10:4; Gal 3:24.
c. The prophets they bore witness of the Christ - Acts 10:43;
26:22-23.
d. Yet with all this, they ignorantly rejected Christ - Acts 13:27-30
3. Man's ignorance today is not God's fault.
a. God has seen to it that the Word has been preached to all the
world - Acts 8:26-29;
10:9-16, 28-29, 33; 16:9-10;
Rom
b. God has seen that all things that was necessary for man's
salvation were recorded
- 2Tim B. To prove or protect a theory
1. Some fail to hear God's Word because they have a theory to prove.
2. Unless one loves the truth, he can and will be deceived -
2Thes.
3. We must hunger and thirst after righteousness - Matt 5:6 C. Prejudice
1. Religious prejudice closes many ears to the Word of God. "My
mind is
made up! Don't confuse
me with the facts."
2. Naaman was prejudiced - 2Kings 5:9-11
3. The Jews to whom Stephen preached were prejudiced - Acts
4. Jews who heard Paul in D. Believing there is time to change later 1. The Bible warns us about waiting
till tomorrow -
Prov 27:1; James
4:13-14.
2. Would you hear God's word if you knew death was one hour away?
3. The question is how do you know it isn't? V. WHEN WE LISTEN, WHAT WILL WE HEAR? A. That
responsible beings who have sinned are under condemnation unless they hear and obey
God's Word - Rom. 8:1-4; 2Thes.
1:7-8. B. Christ's
invitation, His plea for man to be saved - Matt.
11:28-30. C. God's plan of salvation - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; D. God's approved manner of Life - Titus 2:11-12. E. The
call to duty - Matt F. The
promises to the faithful and the warnings to the disobedient - |
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BELIEVE: THE SECOND STEP IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION Introduction: A. Faith is often said to do many things which it does not. B. Faith
has some limitations which many have not considered. I. THE WAY ONE
ACQUIRES FAITH IS LIMITED A. Faith is said
to come to people in a variety of ways, times or occasions. 1. Perhaps in a corn field, dark alley, a frightening experience, a vision
of some sort 2. Faith is not to be confused
with an exciting sensation, or fear, or even a
rude awakening. 3. Faith is not
some unexplainable feeling that intrudes on ones consciousness B. Bible
faith comes from knowledge. 1. Rom. 2. Acts
3. Acts
4. Acts 8:35-38 - Philip preached Jesus and produced faith in the
eunuch
5. Acts 10:33; 11:1, 14 - Cornelius acquired faith when he heard
Peter preach "All
the things that are commanded thee of God."
6.
7. The Corinthians when they "Hearing, believed and were baptized"
- Acts
18:8
8. Faith does not mysteriously, inexplicably
appear in hearts and minds II.
FAITH IS LIMITED TO ONE PATH A. 2Cor.
5:7 - "For we walk by faith, not by sight"
1. Any walk claimed to be of faith which is other
than by the word of God is
not of faith - Matt 15:9
2. One cannot walk apart from God's teaching and claim he walks
by faith, for faith travels only God's path.
3. Peter proclaimed, "If any man speak let him speak as the
oracles of God" - 1Peter
4. Some say, "My faith led me to do this." Faith doesn't
lead one astray. B. Everyone
struggles with faith. 1. How much do we believe?
a. Do we even believe?
b. What do I believe?
c. Do we get upset when communicating
our faith to others?
d. Why do we struggle? 2.
Men often make faith equal to a feeling.
a. Faith isn't
a feeling, it is a decision based on evidence
b. Faith stands apart from feelings;
it does not depend on feelings.
1) Feelings are subjective
and transient
3. It is not wrong while growing in faith to struggle with faith.
a. Mark 2:1-12 - You don't inherit faith, buy it, or wait for it to hit you.
b. You must work on it. 4. Abraham worked on his faith - Gen.
13:14
a. A command to look in every direction
1) North - mountains, but could think
of beyond
2) South -
3) East -
4) West - the great Sea and a land
possessed by barbarians 5.
What he saw
a. A land belonging to others
b. But through
faith's eye did he see his land - Gen. 13:15-17
c. Only a sojourner in hostile territory;
however, its owner because
God ordained it, and Abraham believed God |
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REPENT: THE
THIRD STEP IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION Introduction: A. Third in our series of lessons on
Salvation 1. Hear - listening with
the intent to heed 2. Believe - conviction
that alters the life-view 3. Repent - a reversal
of moral purpose motivated by godly sorrow 4. Confess - the announcement
of faith and repentance by means of publicly acknowledging the name of Jesus Christ 5. Baptism - the washing
away of sins that confers adoption into the family of God B. Luke 24:45-47; Acts 1. When a person truly
repents, he will cease the practice of sin a. But what is repentance? b. What are
indications that repentance has occurred? c. What leads
one to true repentance? I. DEFINING
REPENTANCE A. Misconceptions about repentance 1. That repentance is merely
“sorrow” a. 2Cor. 7:9-10
- Repentance is the outcome of godly sorrow 2. That repentance is only
“a changed life” a. Acts b. Peter says
to ‘repent’ and be converted’; he is not being redundant; rather, the one leads to the other 3. The order is this: a. First, there
is sorrow b. Then, repentance c. And finally,
a changed life (conversion) B. Definition of repentance 1. The Greek word is metanoeo (meta = change, noeo = thought or mind) 2. W. E. Vine’s definition:
“A change of mind; signifies to change one’s mind or purpose this change of mind involves
both a turning from sin
and a turning to God” 3. Thayer
- “A reversal of moral purpose.” II. EXAMPLES
OF REPENTANCE A. Acts 2:36-38 - Pentecost multitude 1. The reaction of the
people is noteworthy: “cut to the heart’ a. This shows
the power of God’s word to convict - Rom. 1:16 b. Even though
convicted, not all people will respond in the same manner - Acts 7.54 - Stephen’s sermon. 2. The reply to their question
(“what shall we do?”) is also noteworthy a. Peter commanded
them to “repent”, which was what Jesus wanted Him to say - Luke 24:46-4 7 B. Acts 1. Peter acknowledges their
ignorance, but still calls upon them to repent - Acts
3:17-26 a. He recognizes
that they and their rulers acted in ignorance b. That what
happened was: 1)
Foretold through God’s prophets 2)
Fulfilling God’s predetermined plan - Acts 2:23 c. Yet ignorance
is no excuse, so they must “repent and be converted” - Acts
d. Several
reasons to so respond are given - Acts 3:19-26 1)
That “your sins may be blotted out,” alluding to the ancient
practice of erasing mistakes made on papyrus 2)
That “times of refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord” 3)
Here is a positive counterpart to the remission of sins. God provides more than just remission of sins,
but
refreshment for our spirits (Stott) III. SIGNS OF
REPENTANCE A. 2Cor. 1. Diligence (KJV, carefulness) a. This can be defined as “earnestness, zeal, with haste accompanying it” b. Being quick to do what is right c. The examples
of conversion in the book of Acts demonstrate this diligence by the fact every conversion described
in detail shows
people obeying the gospel after one lesson 2. Clearing of yourselves a. To clear
one’s self of blame b. To quickly
stop doing what is wrong, if such is the case; or to
quickly respond to the offer of forgiveness
if one realizes he is
guilty of sin 3. Indignation a. This involves
a sort of anger, hatred toward the sin that required the repentance in the first place 4. Fear a. Lest the
sin be repeated or lest the sin should not be quickly
removed b. How do you
react when a bee flies into your hair? 5. Vehement desire a. A fervent
wish to be right in God’s eyes 6. Zeal a. “Eagerness
and ardent interest in pursuit of something” b. In this case, to turn from sin and turn to God 7. Vindication (KJV, revenge) a. As the NIV
puts it “what readiness to see justice done” b. To do the
right thing B. These are the signs of true repentance 1. Not apathy or half-hearted
service 2. Not spin control or
with reservations 3. But a desire to do “works
befitting repentance” - Acts 26:20 IV. RESULTS
OF REPENTANCE A. Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance 1. Note carefully Paul’s
words in 2Cor. 7:9-10 a. Not simply
“sorrow”, but one that is “godly 2. The difference between
“godly” sorrow and “worldly” sorrow a. “Worldly”
sorrow is a selfish kind of sorrow 1)
When one is sorry because he got caught 2)
When one is sorry because what one did made himself
look bad; pride based suicide 3)
In worldly Sorrow”, one is concerned about one’s self b. “Godly”
sorrow is sorrow directed toward GOD (“godly” is literally “according to God”) 1)
One is sorry because their actions are sins against God - the attitude of David in Psalm 51:4 2) Also, one is sorry because of the price God must pay to
have our sins removed c. Differences: 1)
“worldly” sorrow produces regret 2)
“godly” sorrow suffers loss in nothing 3)
“worldly” produces death 4)
“godly” sorrow produces repentance leading to
salvation V. GENERATING
REPENTANCE A. Nathan’s rebuke
to David - 2Sam. 12:7-12 1. Make an appeal to God’s
love - 12:7-8 2. Reveal the sin - 12.9 3. Warn of the consequences
- B. The gospel of Christ, when properly
taught, is designed to produce “godly
sorrow” in the same way, and in turn, repentance 1. It appeals to God’s
love as a basis for repentance - Rom. 2:4 2. It reveals our sin -
Rom. 3:23 3. It warns of the consequences
- Rom. 2:5-11 Conclusion: A. Acts |
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CONFESS: THE FOURTH STEP IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION Introduction: A. An
acknowledgement (speaking the same thing); a declaration B. 1Tim. 6:12-13 C. So many times we speak of God's Plan of Salvation and give the essential requirements: H+B+R+C+B=Salvation
1. However, many times we stress the importance of Hearing, Believing,
Repenting and Being Baptized without stressing
the importance of
Confessing. D. What
is "Confession"? 1. "Confession"
comes from (HOMOLOGEO) --- Lit., to speak the same thing (homos --same;
lego -- to speak), to assent, accord, agree
with, denotes, either (a) To confess, declare, admit or (b) to confess
by way of admitting oneself guilty of what one is accused of, the result
of inward conviction or (c) to declare openly by way of speaking out freely,
such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts. (Vine's Dictionary of Old & New Testament
Words, p. 224) I. WHAT IT IS... A. 1Tim. 6:12-13 - A specific profession; note "THE" not "a". B.
A statement of belief in a fact about Jesus 1. Jesus is THE Christ - Matt. 16:13-16 2. An inspired declaration - Matt.
16:17 II. ...IS FOUNDATIONAL TO FAITH A. To the mission of Christ - Matt. 16:18 1. Stated prophetically - Isa. 28:16 a.
Applied to Christ - 1Peter 2:5-6 2. There is no other - 1Cor. B. To the position of Christ 1. Witnessed by Christ
- 1Tim. a.
That He is a (spiritual) King - John 18:36
b.
That He is a witness of the truth - John 17:17
c.
For all who will to hear - John 7:17 2. Confirmed by God - Matt. 17:5
a. By the resurrection - Rom. 1:4
b. Serves as God's
final spokesman - Heb. 1:1
c. Therefore,
give heed... Heb. 2:1 III. ...IS CONDITIONAL TO SALVATION A. Unto salvation - Rom. 10:9-10 1. The example of Eunuch - Acts 8:37 2. Stipulated by Jesus - Matt. 10:32-33 B. The basis of Jesus condemnation - Matt.
26:63-64 1. We live by the words that condemned
Jesus IV. AND IS THE BASIS OF SOUNDNESS AND SPIRITUAL UNITY A. God hates division - 1Cor. B. God
demands that all confess the name of His Son - 1John 4:1-3
1. And has made the confession representative of the faith. V. THE OLD LAW REQUIRED CONFESSION A. Prov. 28:13 -
confession of sins 1. Admitting one’s sins was not
enough. Turning from the sin
(repentance) was
also required of the one confessing. B. Psa. 32:1-5 - steps of confession. 1. David first acknowledged his
sin. 2. David confessed His sin. 3. David then received forgiveness
of his sin. C. Mosaical Law, confession was demanded - Lev. 5:5-7. 1. When one touched an unclean thing,
or sinned in making an oath, he
was to confess that he had sinned. 2. The sinner had to bring a trespass
offering for his sins. 3. The priest would then make atonement
for them, after the confession. D. Nehemiah is a great example of confession
of sins in the O.T. 1. Nehemiah admitted his own sins
and the sins of his people - Neh. 1:6. 2. Nehemiah had the people confess
their sins before God - Neh. 9:1-2.
3. After confessing their sins they would read the law of God
- Neh. 9:3.
E. OT confession is of sins; NT confession
is of Christ VI. NEW TESTAMENT REQUIRES CONFESSION BEFORE SALVATION A. Matt. 10:32-33; VII. THE PRICE OF CONFESSION OF FAITH IN JESUS IS OFTEN
HIGH A. A point often under emphasized by those
who teach the plan of salvation B. John 1. Jesus had healed a blind man...
John 9:11. 2. The man's parents were afraid
to confess Jesus for fear that they would be cast out of the synagogue - John
9:21-22. C. Peter and other apostles were beaten for confessing Jesus - Acts 5:28-40. D. Jesus died for His confession. VIII. AT JUDGMENT, ALL WILL WISH THEY HAD CONFESSED CHRIST A. Note
that hearing, believing, repenting, and confessing will all take place
on judgment day. The only thing the sinner will
not be able to do is be baptized.
And that will be
enough to keep him out of heaven B. On the Day of Judgment, all will bow and
confess Christ - Rom. 14:11-12. IX. TYPES OF CONFESSION A.
Peter confessed, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God"
- Matt. B. Thomas confessed after seeing the overwhelming
evidence, "My Lord and My God" - John 20:28. C. As Christians today,
we need to confess in these same ways. 1. We must confess that Jesus is
the Christ the Son of the Living God. 2. We must confess to others that
Christ is Our Lord and Our God. Conclusion: A. The O.T. commanded confession of sins. B. The N.T. commands
confession of Faith in Christ as the Son of God C. The price of confession is always high. D. The cost of not confessing is always higher. |
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BAPTISM: THE
LAST STEP IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION Introduction: A. Why
is this issue so hard?
1. Rather than complicating it with an in-depth study, just ask
the Bible.
2. Libraries have been written on the subject,
and with few exceptions,
have clouded rather than clarified the issue. B. Let's
just look at the word of God. I. BIBLE BAPTISM A. It
is for the remission of sins - Acts 2:38
1. It is for sinners. B. It is an act of faith - Col. 2:12 1. Faith is essential - Heb. 11:6 2. Baptism is essential - John 3:5 C. Washes away sins - Acts 22:16 1. It is in water - Acts 8:38 D. Saves
- Titus 3:5; 1Peter 1. Demands a right attitude - "good
conscience" - 2. Baptism is a change - Rom. 6:3-7 E. Baptism
puts one in Christ - Gal. 3:27
1. Making him a child of God - Gal. 3:26 2. For redemption - Eph. 1:7; 1Peter F. One is added to the church - Acts 2:41-47 1. The saved - Eph. G. There
is one Bible baptism - Eph. 4:5 II. BAPTISM REQUIRES A. Water
- Acts B. Much
Water - John 3:23 C. Coming
to the Water - Acts D. Going
into the Water - Acts E. Burial
in the Water - Rom 6:4 F. Resurrection
from the Water - III. BAPTISM IS PRECEDED BY: A. Hearing
- Acts 18:8 B. Believing
- Mark C. Repenting
- Acts D. Confessing
Christ - Acts IV. BAPTISM MUST BE TAUGHT A. Matt
28:18-20 - God delegated authority to us: teach, baptize, and teach. B. John
12:46-50 - The word will judge us.
1. Our attitude toward the unscripturally
baptized person or unsaved
people must be the same as that of Jesus.
2. Matt.
3. Peter C. Four
most common misunderstandings regarding baptism.
1. Don't understand what baptism is for, but does it ritually.
a. One who has not believed, repented, nor confessed with
conviction is not
saved when baptized.
2. Holy Spirit baptism, but not water.
a. There is one baptism for all believers - Eph. 4:5
3. Know the truth, but use the wrong mode of baptism (sprinkling,
affusion
or pouring)
a. But contextual use in scripture, by early historical precedent,
and by all scholarly definitions it is immersion.
4. Salvation is by faith and not works, and since baptism is a
work, it is
not necessary for
salvation.
a. Such a view does violence to the word of God. Conclusion: A. Baptism
is pivotal.
1. On Judgment day everyone will believe, everyone will repent,
everyone
will confess, but
only those who were baptized before Judgment day
will enter heaven.
2. On that day, mothers will be eternally separated from daughters,
fathers from sons,
husbands from wives, brothers from sisters,
grandparents from
grandchildren.
3. What will make the difference is baptism. |