Pattern Of Conversion 4 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 of conversion 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 conversion pattern, 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 Paul’s preaching of Christ unto Lydia and her house in Philippi.

BODY OF LESSON

I HEAR OF THE FAITH

A. Preaching Christ in Europe. The faith is now being preached unto the Gentile nations in Europe. Paul and Silas are beginning their missionary journey into the city of Philippi, a Roman colony. The Jerusalem Council has just concluded after settling one of the church's biggest challenges regarding the faith of the Gentiles. Paul and Silas are now delivering the Letter to the Gentile's churches, exhorting them to contend for the faith in Christ Jesus. Paul had just received his vision of the "Macedonian Call" to preach Christ in Philippi, Acts 16:9-10.

B. On the Sabbath day. Paul and his company: “Went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was being made; and they sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither," Acts 16:13. There was no synagogue in Philippi, so they met by the riverside for prayer. On this Sabbath, God sent his messenger to Philippi to preach unto these incredible women who were worshippers of God. This day God’s grace is being offered to the first hearers of the gospel that will make up the church at Philippi.

C. A specific woman: “Named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us,” Acts 16:14. The word heard in the Gr., is akouo or ä-kü'-o, which means, to hear: —give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), hear (-er, -ken), or to understand. Lydia was a businesswoman. A seller of dye for the purple robes worn by the prominent men in Rome.

D. Lydia heard us. Luke, however, makes a distinction between Lydia and the other women. He wrote of Lydia, she: “heard us,” Acts 16:14. In other words, she listened intensely unto the things taught by Paul and Silas; she attended and received them by faith. This kind of sincerity is true of anyone that will come to the Lord. The call of grace is unto all: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9.

E. Believers must learn. Jesus said: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore: that hath heard; and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me,” John 6:44-45. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14:6. He is the only way unto the Father. We learn of His way through the gospel, Romans 1:16.