Gospel Essentials Class Notes

August 12, 2001

Click Here to Listen to this class:  Part 1 of 1 (58 minutes)

Question:  Then, you don’t believe we become the children of God by belief in Christ? 

Answer:  Belief in Christ mean more than merely assenting to the fact that Jesus in the Christ.  Merely believing that will not bring salvation.  Jesus gave us to believe that even the Devils believed, but it di not bring them back into the presence of God (i.e. Salvation).  A true belief can not merely be assenting to, but applying the plan Christ instituted.

Belief.  For example, I did not vote for Algore because I don’t “believe” in him.  To ‘believe’ in a man means also to believe in his policy or plan.

‘After the manner which ye call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers.’

What must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31

Romans 5:1

That’s it, right?  What is the use of going any further?  Write everything off as a ‘work.’ ????

(Include Jesus first account of preaching—to repent—in Matthew, mark).

Recipe to make bread…

What is Christ’s recipe?

(First write ‘Believe/Have Faith’)

Acts 2:38 (read the first part)

Acts 17:30

(Second, write ‘Repent’)

Read the reset of Acts 2:38

(says repent and be baptized)

Then confirm with Mark 16:16

(He that believes and is baptized)

Some taught that Baptism wasn’t really necessary.

What does the bible say?  Revelation 22:19

(Take away from prophecy—Revelation specifically, but a principle to God’s Gospel).

Deut 12:32

These tell how the Lord feels about anyone who takes away from God’s commandments.

Those who teach that baptism is non-essential are tampering with taking away from God’s word.  No man has the right to change the plan of God.

Now, Acts 10:48

(command all to be baptized and repent).

(Third, write ‘Baptize’)

What is baptism?  Matthew 3:11

(two kinds of baptism)

John 3:5 (born of water and spirit)

How do we get this baptism?

(Give strong’s definition)

Matthew 3:16

(Jesus went out of the water)

Acts 8:38,39

(Point 1:  went down into the water)

From the two verses we learn that both the baptizer and one to be baptized must go into the water.

Now, Romans 6:4,5

(being buried with him)

Point 2:  burial

Point 3:  Planting

(anyone receive sprinkling as baptism?)

This is why we are immersed—because the Bible says we are to be buried with Christ.  Both candidates go in, burial occurs, (baptism also likened unto a birth).  Immersion is the only way in harmony with the Bible.

Even the churches practicing baptism are afraid to explain it.

Some churches teach that after you think your sins are forgiven, you could be baptized just to show you are willing to obey.

Does Christ do things just to get our blind obedience?

No. 

Why, then, do we get baptized?

Acts 2:38

(told them to be baptized for the remission of their sins)

Mark 1:4

(John preached baptism for the remission of sins).

Acts 22:16

(be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord).

Which washes sins?  Baptism, or Christ’s blood?  It happens because of the blood of Christ.  Remember, Jesus on the cross was able to say, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  (page 149)

Baptism then is burial, planting, birth.

For Remission of sins:  From one end of the bible to the other, there is no other object given for baptism.  Sins are remitted when you only believe, but through baptism.

The ideas of mourners benches, ‘sinners’ prayers, etc., never appear in the whole bible; rather, they are modern day results from a protestant movement that was forced to ignore much of the bible’s doctrine or be forced to accept ‘works’, etc.

Is baptism by the Spirit actually the ‘Pentecostal’s interpretation?  (Rolling on ground)

Commanded to try the spirits  (I John 4:1)

How is baptism of the Spirit received?

Acts 8:17, 18

(Laying on of hands)

Acts 19:6

How can this laying on of hands happen if there are no apostles now (from a protestant’s standpoint)?

1 Tim 4:14 (presbetery also laid on hands)

James 5 also records elders using it.  (Even Abraham was recorded in the dead sea scrolls laying on hands).

Need to distinguish between baptism of Spirit given to those who become the children of God, and the spirit of Christ which leads all men to God.

What is the object of the baptism by the Spirit

John 15:26, Acts 5:32

#1 (Bear witness of Christ)

John 16:13

#2 guide you in all truth

#3 showing of things to come

Prophecy now??  Bible never says it would be taken.

Romans 8:14, 16

#4 as a witness that we are the children of Christ.

How will we know if we have it?

Mark 16:17,18

(Signs given)—most churches say this was not for our day.

But to whom are the blessings promised

(them that believe)

and believe what?

(in Christ)

Therefore, belief in Christ means more than just a belief that Christ was the Son of God.  True belief must mean an adherance to the principles he advocated, a compliance with His plan of redemption.

(Hebrews 5:9)  Must obey

Hebrews 6:1

Principles.