Pattern Of Conversion 1 Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. Hear of the faith.

2. Believe in the gospel.

3. Repent of sins.

4. Confess faith in Christ.

5. Be Baptized into Christ

Introductory Remarks.

1. The "gift" of salvation is given to all by God's grace, not by our faith or works of merit. Salvation is not given merely upon our faith in Christ; but, in our obedience through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a precious gift. It is not deserved or earned; but divinely given to all who accept Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:16-18. The gospel of Christ is not obeyed "in the heart." But, "from the heart," Romans 6:17-18. It is more than a confession of faith, Romans 10:9-10. It is our obedience to the faith, Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 15:18-19.

2. Salvation by grace must be accepted on God's terms of pardon, through our belief and obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, Romans 10:16-18. Most Baptists and Evangelicals argue: that salvation is by grace alone. They leave no room for obedience in their view of God’s salvation by grace. However, we will demonstrate faith and obedience are both necessary for one to be saved by grace. God’s grace is offered, but believers must accept it on His terms. And here is the problem: these denominational preachers want to accept and preach God's offer of grace on their terms. However, Paul’s preaching of “God’s grace” included faith and obedience to the gospel: as taught in Isaiah’s report, Romans 10:16-18.

3. This pattern was not imparted unto the world until after Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, Acts 1:8. The God of heaven then uncovered His pattern of conversion, through which all believers could be called into His grace.

4. The calling of grace is through the hearing of the faith, belief in the gospel, repenting of all past sins, confessing Christ to be the Son of God, and by being baptized: in the name of the Lord Jesus: “for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:36-41; Acts 22:16. Let’s consider Peter’s preaching of this pattern on the Day of Pentecost to these: repentant believers, who had asked him: “Men and brethren what shall we do?”

BODY OF LESSON

I HEAR OF THE FAITH

A. Peter’s introduction: “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted his voice and said unto them. Ye men of Judaea…and ye who dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and listen to my words: For these are not drunken… But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughter shall prophesy, and your young men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit. They shall prophesy," Acts 2:14-18.

B. Peter preaches Christ’s work: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it,” Acts 2:22-24.

C. Peter preaches David’s prophecy: “For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance,” Acts 2:25-28.

D. Peter preaches David’s throne: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise Christ to sit on His throne…This Jesus hath God raised, of which we all are witnesses,” Acts 2:29-32.

E. Christ is now exalted: “Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool,” Acts 2:33-35. This is the hearing of the faith. Let’s consider now belief!