| In the last
lesson we saw how tragic it is to be lost in eternity. It is
important to learn what God has done to save us from this state.
God's actions in our behalf are called "grace". Our
response to what God has done for us will determine whether we
benefit from His grace or not. The proper response to grace is
"faith". We are saved by grace through faith
(Ephesians 2:8)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
No question has
generated more confusion than "What must I do to be
saved?". The problem does not come from the Bible being
difficult to grasp on this point! It is quite plain. The problem
comes from the systems that men have devised which, while
containing some truth, distort or ignore Bible passages which
deal with salvation when they do not support their system. Any
system which does not accept all the Bible says about salvation
should be discarded.
YOU
MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
Being "born
again" is not just another way of being a Christian; it is
necessary. If I am not a "born again" Christian, then
Jesus says that I am outside His Kingdom! What does it mean to
be "born again"?
(John 3:1-8)
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of
the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he
is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and
be born? 5 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel
not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.
The same idea is
expressed by different figures of speech throughout the New
Testament. Paul refers to the same thing by using figure of
death (to sins), burial with Christ into His death (baptism) and
resurrection (rising from baptism to walk in newness of life).
Paul was simply using a different figure to show the same thing
which Jesus had referred to as being "born again".
(Romans 6:2-4)
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer
therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life.
Jesus explained
to Nicodemus that He was not talking about a literal birth, but
a spiritual rebirth. Jesus also explained that this new birth
consisted of being born of water and the Spirit.
(John 3:5) 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.
The Spirit works
on the heart through the gospel to bring about the new birth.
The gospel is God's power to save
(Romans 1:16)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Jesus taught
that the Spirit gives life and that His words are spirit and
life
(John 6:63) It
is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Jesus also
taught that the word is the seed of the kingdom.
(Luke 8:11) Now
the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
The Bible says
that we are "brought forth" by the word of truth...
(James 1:18) Of
His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we
might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
. . . and that
we are "born again" through the word of God.
(1 Peter
1:23-25) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as
the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof
falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And
this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The gospel is
the agent through which the Spirit works on the heart to bring
about the new birth. Jesus said that this birth is like the wind
because neither can be seen, but you can see the effects of
both.
(John 3:8) The
wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
FAITH
The Biblical
definition of "faith" is "the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen"
(Hebrews 11:1)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
The faith by
which we are saved consists of trust and obedience and leads us
to live godly lives
(Hebrews 11:8)
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he
went out, not knowing whither he went.
Faith that lacks
these qualities is "vain" or "dead". The
Bible teaches that we are "justified by faith"
(Romans 5:1)
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
but also plainly
shows that we are not justified by faith alone.
(James 2:24) Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only.
Both of these
statements are true; we are justified by faith but not by faith
alone
(James 2:14-24)
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother
or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of
you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful
to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou
hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy
works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the
altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled
which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him
for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only.
We must be
careful that what we believe is what God, and not man, has said.
(Matthew 15:9)
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.
Faith is a part
of the new birth process.
REPENTANCE
What does
"repentance" mean? Many people would be surprised to
learn what it does not mean! For example, "repentance"
does not mean sorrow for one's sins. However, Godly sorrow leads
to repentance and one cannot repent apart from being sorry for
his sins
(2 Corinthians
7:9-10) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye
sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly
manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Neither is
changing one's life repentance, although repentance does produce
changed lives
(Acts 3:19)
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;
Repentance is
simply a change of heart. It is the victory won within the heart
as one brings his own will into line with God's will. Repentance
is a part of the new birth process.
CONFESSION
The Bible states
that one must confess faith in Christ as Lord. This means to
tell others what he has come to believe in his heart. A good
example of this confession is found when Philip taught the
Ethiopian Treasurer about Jesus
(Acts 8:27-39)
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch
of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who
had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem
for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot
read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go
near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran
thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I,
except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he
would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture
which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and
who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the
earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee,
of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other
man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on
their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said,
See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And
Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they
went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and
he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw
him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
The confession
which is made "unto salvation" is a confession of
faith in Christ, not a confession of sins. Though there is a
deep awareness of guilt, confessing our sins to others is not a
requirement made of one initially coming to Christ
(Romans 10:9-10)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Confession of
Christ is a part of the new birth process.
BAPTISM
You will recall
that water was mentioned by Jesus as He discussed being born
again. Jesus was referring to baptism in water. Baptism is a
response of faith in God's power and willingness to save. It is
the consummation of the new birth process. Jesus taught that one
must believe and be baptized to be saved
(Mark 16:15-16)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Those in sin
were told that they needed to "call upon the name of the
Lord" to be saved
(Acts 2:21) And
it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
When they came
to believe in Jesus they asked exactly what they must do. How
does one "call upon His name"? They were told to
repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus "for the
remission of sins."
(Acts 2:36-38)
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and
Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men
and brethren, what shall we do? 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 Ghost. God sent Ananias to Saul to tell him that he,
too, must call upon the name of the Lord by being baptized and
thus have his sins washed away
(Acts 22:16) And
now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Many other
passages show the importance of baptism. We have already seen
Paul's parallel of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection with
repentance, baptism and walking in newness of life. Later in the
chapter, Paul points to this act of "obedience from the
heart" as the time when one is freed from his sins
(Romans 6:16-18)
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death,
or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that
ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then
made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
It is at baptism
that we are placed by God into His Son and salvation can only
occur in Christ
(Galatians
3:27-28) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye
are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Colossians
2:12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with
him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead.
Does baptism
have anything to do with being saved? YES!
(1 Peter 3:21)
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,) by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ:
Baptism is a
part of the new birth process.
CONCLUSION
Forget about
trying to determine which of these steps in being born again are
the most important. "Is belief more important than
confessing?" "Is baptism more important than
repentance?" Rather than this, we must determine that if
God has said a thing is necessary, then it is. Each of these
parts must play its God-given role in salvation. LESSON #7 is
entitled "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE". We will see what it
takes to be a disciple of Jesus.
CAN YOU
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Using this lesson and your
Bible, please look up the passages cited, then answer the following
questions.
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Last revised:
February 22, 2007 . |
