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 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. God did not impart this conversion process 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 process, 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 in the city of Corinth.
BODY OF LESSON
I HEAR OF THE FAITH
A. Preaching Christ in Europe. The faith is continuing to be preached unto the Gentile nations in Europe. Paul is continuing his missionary journey into the city of Corinth after experiencing some perceived failures throughout Macedonia and Athens. Paul is now alone preaching Christ unto the Gentiles, having left Timothy and Silas in Macedonia. He enters the city of Corinth shaken in faith, discouraged and fearful in preaching unto a people given wholly unto idolatry and fornication. Paul testified of his weakness, fear, and much trembling. Observe,
B. Paul wrote to Corinth: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom. But, in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God,” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Paul preached unto the Corinthians the “gospel of Christ.” Notice,
C. The gospel of Christ. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Here is the message that Paul preached to Corinth and other cities where he delivered this message. Paul was beginning to experience success in his preaching again. His preaching unto the Corinthians was bearing significant fruit, 1 Corinthians 3:6-8. Some Jews were hearing, believing, and being baptized. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house.
D. Luke wrote: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthian's hearing believed, and were baptized," Acts 18:8. Crispus was one of those disciples Paul did baptize. He wrote: "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius. Lest any should say…And I also baptized Stephanas,” 1 Corinthians 1:14-16; 1 Corinthians 16:15-17. We will return to this again before we close this invitation.
E. Corinthian’s hearing. What did they hear? Unquestionably, it was the “gospel of Christ,” Paul was sent by the Lord: “To preach unto the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,” Ephesians 3:8; Acts 9:15-16. To proclaim Isaiah’s report: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, certainly, their sound went into all the earth. Their words unto the ends of the world,” Romans 10:16-18. Isaiah’s report is the message of the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens “to sit at the right hand of God exalted,” Acts 2:29-36; Hebrews 1:1-3.
II BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL
A. The Corinthians believed. Luke wrote: “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthian’s hearing believed, and were baptized,” Acts 18:8. Paul has returned to his preaching unto the Gentiles. He returned to the "mystery of godliness." To Timothy, he wrote: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory,” 1 Timothy 3:16.
B. The Lord’s visit. To give him words of encouragement and assurance. Luke wrote: “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision: Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have many people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them,” Acts 18:9-11. Indeed, these were words of comfort and support. The Lord is with his servants. We will preach on the mountain top and in the valley. Stay on task! Preach the word of the Lord!
C. What did they believe? They believed in the gospel of Christ. He wrote: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe,” 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:21. Before we can come to God, we must believe in Him. Paul again: "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," Hebrews 11:6.
D. The gospel saves. Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith,” Romans 1:16-17.
E. Except you believe. Jesus said: “I said therefore unto you…for if ye believed not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins,” John 8:24. Also, “He that believeth on me, as the scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water,” John 7:38-39. Hearing the gospel, believing it, and then obeying it will yield forth the "grace of God,” Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10. Recall, repentance is also necessary to obey the gospel.
III REPENT OF SINS
A. Repentance is the believer's response to the gospel, Acts 3:19. To some, it is immediately evident, yet, to others, it is not. In this case, the Corinthians were not commanded to repent, as in other conversion examples. However, repentance is necessary because all are under sin, Galatians 3:22. There is "none righteous, no not one," Romans 3:10.
B. Preaching Jesus. In Luke's account of the Great Commission, Jesus commanded the apostles to: "Preach repentance and the remission of sins in His name," Luke 24:46-47. The Lord: "Came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance," Luke 5:32; Although not mentioned in our text, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23. Therefore, all are required to repent to receive the remission of sins, which is granted through the grace of God.
C. Paul preached and testified: “To both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance, and remission of sins was a part of gospel preaching. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change in life. Repentance is turning from sin and idols unto God. After Peter's return from Caesarea, the brethren of Jerusalem acknowledged: "That God also has granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life," Acts 11:18. Paul reminded the elders at Miletus: "How he kept back nothing profitable unto them…Testifying both to the Jews and the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," Acts 20:20-21. Repentance and faith are essential components of gospel preaching, unto all desiring to be saved by grace.
D. Godly sorrow. Paul wrote: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death,” 2 Corinthians 7:10. I might add here, being sorry about your sin is not repentance. Repentance means you are willing to turn from your sins and submit your life unto God, Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20.
E. God commands repentance. Luke wrote: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom God hath ordained; of which He hath given assurance unto all men, in that, He hath raised him from the dead,” Acts 17:30-31. The question now for us all, are we willing to repent and be obedient to the will of God? Let's see if these Corinthians were willing to accept God’s grace on His terms.
IV CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST
A. Confession of faith. When one believes in Jesus as believers did in the first century, they are told to confess their faith in Him, as the Son of God. John wrote: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest these leaders should put them out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God," John 12:42-43; John 9:22. Yet, unlike the Jewish leaders, who would not confess Jesus as the Son of God. This is the confession of faith; the repentant believer must make before completing their obedience to the faith of Christ.
B. Jesus taught: “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, he will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men; he will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33. Brother Warren would say: "This is a fifty; fifty proposition: you confess me, and I will confess you. That's fair in anybody's business."
C. Confess Jesus as the Christ. Paul wrote: “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. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation,” Romans 10:9-10.
D. Jesus is the Son of God. The confession the repentant believer makes before being baptized is that they believe: "That Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. When asked about being baptized, the man on the road was told: “If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest,” Acts 8:37. The man on the road responded: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37.
E. Confession of faith. The believer must confess: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. The first confession of faith is with their mouth: that Jesus is the Son of God. The confessions after that will be a "profession of their faith." Paul wrote Timothy: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and humility. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses,” 1 Timothy 6:11-12. You will tell the world now; you believe Christ is the Son of God. But, for the rest of your life’s walk with Him, you will profess your faith and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. Now, let's notice how Paul’s preaching to the Corinthians will conclude. Before we proceed, let's consider the claim of some denominational preachers and ministers about baptism. When they are asked about baptizing their subjects, they say,
V BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
A. Christ sent me not to baptize. Baptists and Evangelicals argue against baptism. They cite Paul’s words: "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel," 1 Corinthians 1:17. This position is a clear misinterpretation of Paul's message to the Corinthians. Mr. Billy Graham quotes this verse to deny the necessity of baptism. Paul was not teaching against baptism but saying he was not sent to be the administrator of baptism but to preach Christ. The Lord commanded Faith and baptism in the "Great Commission," Matthew 28:19-20.
B. John wrote of Jesus’ baptizing: “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that He made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus Himself baptized not, His disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee,” John 4:1-3. John was not saying: Jesus did not require baptism of His disciples. But the Lord did not perform any baptizing, but His disciples did, under John’s “baptism of repentance,” Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 19:1-7.
C. Baptism and conversion. Baptism, then, is the final part of the conversion experience. In every act of conversion in the Book of Acts, baptism was commanded, requested, or directed. This part of the "pattern of conversion" is the most ignored or eliminated in denominational preaching and practice. This disregard of truth and disobedience to Christ is because these evangelists and ministers do not believe that: "Baptism is essential to salvation." Even though Christ has commanded it! Thus, making it necessary for salvation, Mark 16:15-16.
D. Their preaching of Christ. Paul's preaching of Christ included baptism. Isn't it surprising that when one preaches Jesus, he also preaches baptism? Recall, the treasurer asked the preacher about baptism. He said: "See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Paul and Silas taught baptism is "that act of obedience that makes one free from their sins," John 8:31-32. Most Baptists and Evangelical ministers, preachers, and teachers neglect this command and example of Jesus' teaching. Will you be saved and your household today by: “obeying from your heart that form of doctrine, which is being delivered unto you, that will make you free from your sins?” Romans 6:17-18. Baptism is the act of faith that puts a believer: "in Christ," Galatians 3:26-27. Salvation by grace still resides in Christ, 2 Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 2:8-10. My question at this time: Are you in Christ?
E. Lord added to the church. We learned from Peter's preaching that the saved are added to the church after baptism. Luke wrote: “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,” Acts 2:41. They were: “Praising God, and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47. I extend to you and your household an invitation to accept God’s grace, as these Corinthians had done. They heard the gospel, believed it, repented of their sins, confessed Christ to be the Son of God, and was baptized "for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," Acts 2:38. Let me summarize what I have discussed….
CONCLUSION
A. 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.
B. Summarize main points
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 have demonstrated faith and obedience were 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. God's conversion process 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 process, 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.
C. Invitation. Jesus is still calling all to come unto Him, Matthew 11:28-30.
D. Motivation. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save thyself from this untoward generation,” Acts 2:40.
E. Persuasion. "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
NOTE: If you want to obey the gospel right now, reach out to any minister, preacher, or teacher of the church of Christ in your community, and tell them you want to confess Christ and be baptized. They will assist you in being baptized into Christ. Remember, today is the day of salvation! May God bless you with this decision! Let me hear from you if this lesson helped you make this decision.
NOTE: Download these lessons from SermonCentral.com by Ron Freeman.
1. Baptism For The Remission Of Sins; and
2. Baptism "for" or "because" of remission.
Ron Freeman, Evangelist
Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org
https://wwmchurchofchrist.org
Contact me at: wwmcoc@earthlink.net
ronald.e.freeman@wwmchurchofchrist.org
