- We are simply Christians. We believe that a person can know God’s will by just reading the Bible.
- We are not a social organization. We are a spiritual organization. (Eph 3:10; Tit 2:11-12; Mk 16:15)
- Our headquarters is in Heaven where our Head, Jesus Christ, is (Acts 1:9-11; 2:30-33; Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18).
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (KJV)
What path are you walking today?
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (KJV)
The Plan of Salvation
Have you obeyed the gospel call?
Ro 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (NKJV)
Those on the day of Pentecost that heard Peter and the other apostles convict them of their sins asked the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
Saul, who would later became known as the apostle Paul, asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6; 22:10).
Cornelius, of Acts 10, had prayed to God, the response was to call for Peter, because “he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” (Acts 10:6).
The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas “what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
Apparently there was something in the preaching of the gospel that prompted the hearers to know that there was something they needed to do in order to have their sins forgiven. What were those of the New Testament told?
| Hear | Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (KJV) |
| Believe | Heb 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. (KJV) |
| Repent | Ac 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (KJV) Ac 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; (KJV) |
| Confess | Mt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (KJV) Mt 10:32-33 Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (KJV) Ro 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. (KJV) |
| Baptized | Ac 2:38 … Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins … (KJV) Mr 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 … (KJV) Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
| Live Faithfully | Ro 6:4 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. (KJV) Re 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (KJV) |
Is baptism essential to salvation?
Ro 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (NKJV)
So what had the Roman Christians “obeyed from the heart” that had set them “free from sin”?
Ro 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; … (KJV)
So what was it about the gospel that served as a pattern for the obedience of the Romans? Paul tells us what it was that he delivered to the churches in –
1Co 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (KJV)
So what is it that the sinner must do if they are to obey that form of doctrine which Paul delivered? In one’s obedience we must follow the pattern of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So is that what the Romans did?
Ro 6:2-11 … 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
What about the Colossians?
Col 2:12-13 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. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (KJV)
Why not have your crimson sins be made as white as snow? Obey that form of doctrine as the first century Christians did that free them from their sins.