English: 12 Lessons

SALVATION

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 A new creation. A fresh start. For all of us who have ever wished we could start over, this is good news. However, before we can really appreciate this good news, we need to understand exactly why we need to start over. Why do we need to become a “new creation”? Why do we need salvation? SEPARATION There is an immeasurable gap separating God and man. Have you ever felt like God was a million miles away? Ever felt like your prayers didn’t get past the ceiling? Have you ever felt distant from God? We all have. Feeling far from God is very common. Many who sense this vast separation suppose that if they meditate harder, learn more about their religion, or just step into a religious sanctuary, they would be closer to God. But since our separation from God is not physical or intellectual, neither meditation nor knowledge can bring us any closer to God. What causes the separation between God and man? “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” ISAIAH 59:1, 2 SIN The cause of this eternal separation between God and man is sin. The separation between God and man is a moral separation. God is holy; man is not. God is good; man is not. God is just; man is not. All men have sinned; therefore, all are eternally separated from God. All will suffer the consequences of sin, which is eternal death. “. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .” ROMANS 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ROMANS 6:23 SACRIFICE The justice of God demands a sacrifice for man’s sin. Since God is holy, righteous, and just, he could not allow sin to go unpunished. Since he is loving and compassionate, he did not want all of mankind to be eternally separated from him. The divine solution to this problem was for Jesus, God’s only Son, to become the sacrifice for sin. “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished . . .” ROMANS 3:25 “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” HEBREWS 9:26–28 SUBSTITUTION Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. What happened on the cross? Jesus took our place and our punishment. He exchanged his righteousness for our sin. He took our curse and gave us his blessing. Because of his sinless life, he was the only one qualified to pay the penalty for man’s sin and to bridge the gap between God and man. Therefore, our salvation is based on what Jesus did for us on the cross. It has nothing to do with what we do for him. Jesus alone can and did pay the penalty for sin. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 SALVATION We are saved by God’s grace when we turn from sin and put our trust in Christ alone for salvation. We have all sinned against a holy and righteous God. The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God in hell. God is just and must punish sin. He is also loving and does not want us to go to hell forever. Therefore, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin by dying on the cross in our place. Because of his sinless life, death could not hold him. He was raised from the dead on the third day. We receive salvation when we stop trusting in ourselves and put our trust in what Christ did for us. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” ROMANS 10:9, 10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” EPHESIANS 2:8, 9 PERSONAL APPLICATION Have you stopped trusting in yourself and started trusting in Christ alone for salvation? Have you turned away from all known sin? Have you confessed Jesus as the Lord of your life? Are you willing to follow and obey him for the rest of your life? Prayer for Salvation Heavenly Father . . . I acknowledge that the separation between us . . . is because of my sin . . . I confess that I have sinned . . . and have fallen far short of your glory . . . I thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus . . . to pay the penalty for my sin . . . I believe that he died on the cross for me . . . I believe that you raised him from the dead . . . I am sorry for my sins . . . and I ask you to forgive and cleanse me . . . I want to turn away from everything the Bible calls sin . . . and receive you as my Lord and Savior . . . help me to love, serve, and obey you . . . for the rest of my life . . . in Jesus’ name . . . Amen! A New Life If you have sincerely prayed that prayer, the Bible promises that the old has gone and the new has come! The next five lessons will introduce you to some of the new things that have come.

LORDSHIP

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ACTS 2:36 Lordship is one of the central messages of the Bible. Jesus is referred to as “Lord” 100 times in the book of Acts and 622 times in the whole New Testament, while being referred to as “Savior” only twice in Acts and twenty-four times in the New Testament. The biblical emphasis is overwhelmingly on the concept of Lordship. Lord means master, the one who calls the shots, the one who makes the decisions. LORDSHIP & SALVATION The starting point of salvation is the acknowledgment of the Lordship of Christ. Confessing Jesus is Lord implies a submission to his Lordship in every area of life. If Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. We do not have the option of receiving him as Savior and not as Lord. Salvation is an all-or-nothing proposal. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ROMANS 10:9 LORDSHIP DEMANDS OBEDIENCE Anyone who claims Christ as their Lord is expected to do what he says. Intellectual faith and empty confession is not enough. If we say Christ is our Lord, our lifestyle should back up our claim. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” LUKE 6:46 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” MATTHEW 7:21 LORDSHIP BEGINS IN THE HEART Submitting to Christ as Lord is not about following a set of religious rules and traditions. Rather, Lordship is a matter of the heart. Lordship begins as an internal submission of the heart. If it is genuine, it will eventually manifest itself in outward obedience. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” 1 PETER 3:15 LORDSHIP IS A CONTINUOUS WALK We begin our Christian life by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. We must continue to walk under his Lordship for the rest of our lives. Lordship is not having a one-time experience with God but developing a lifetime walk with God. The more we know him, the more we submit to him. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.” COLOSSIANS 2:6 Personal Application Are there areas in your life that you have not yet submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Are your relationships under his Lordship? Are your finances under his Lordship? Is your time submitted to his Lordship?

REPENTANCE

“Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance . . . Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 CORINTHIANS 7:9, 10 Driving a car in the wrong direction on a one-way street is dangerous (not to mention foolish!). Some drive the wrong way on a one-way street out of ignorance. Others do it out of rebellion. There is a spiritual parallel. Whether out of ignorance or rebellion, we are all on a dangerous one-way street that will ultimately lead to eternal separation from God. Until we turn around (repent) and begin following Christ, every step we take is a step in the wrong direction—a step away from God. The parable of the prodigal son is a beautiful picture of true repentance. The wayward son came to his senses, turned his back on his folly, and returned to his father. He made a 180-degree turnaround. He walked away from his former life of sin and rebellion. From that point on, he lived differently. Of course, his father received him back. (See Luke 15:11–24.) GODLY SORROW Real repentance begins when we are truly sorry for our sins. This “godly sorrow” makes no excuses. It takes full responsibility. It never places blame on people, society, or circumstances. Godly sorrow acknowledges that our sin is primarily against God. This type of sorrow leads to life-changing repentance. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” PSALM 51:4 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 CORINTHIANS 7:10 WORLDLY SORROW Godly sorrow produces true repentance and a changed life. On the other hand, “worldly sorrow” only produces excuses. Godly sorrow is having a broken heart when we realize we have offended a holy God. Worldly sorrow is being sorry we got caught, or being sorry we have to suffer the consequences of sin. The ultimate difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow is the fruit. Worldly sorrow never produces the fruit of a changed life; it only produces spiritual death. “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” ACTS 26:20 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” MATTHEW 3:8 NO REGRET Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God. It means we stop trusting in our own good deeds and religious activity and start trusting in Christ alone. We were going in the wrong direction; now, we are going in the right direction. We were running from God; now we are walking with him. Repentance is the starting point of a new life. Repentance takes us off the treadmill of a self-centered life and puts us on the fast track of God’s glorious purpose for our lives. Turning to God means no looking back and no regrets. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” ACTS 3:19 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret . . .” 2 CORINTHIANS 7:10 Personal Application Is your life going in a new direction? Are there sinful areas in your life that are still a struggle? Are there areas of intense temptation or consistent weakness that you need prayer for? Are there sins that you have turned away from, yet you still feel condemned about?

FORGIVENESS

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 JOHN 1:9 Ever had a stain on your shirt that you couldn’t wash out? Imagine a stain remover that would not only remove the stain, but would make the shirt just like new again. That’s what happens when we repent and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He not only cleans the stain of sin from our hearts; he gives us a new heart. It all starts with confession. “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS . . .” Q: What does confession mean? A: To acknowledge personal guilt and admit specific sin “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” PSALM 32:5 Q: What happens if we fail to confess our sin? A: Continued conviction, guilt, condemnation, and bondage “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” PROVERBS 28:13 “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” PSALM 32:3, 4 Q: Who should we confess our sin to in order to receive forgiveness? A: God “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” PSALM 51:4 Q: When should we confess our sin to another person? A: When we need prayer for healing and victory in that area of our lives “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” JAMES 5:16 THE RESULTS OF CONFESSION Q: What does God do when we confess our sin? A: Forgives and purifies us from all unrighteousness “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 JOHN 1:9 Q: Is it possible to have a clean conscience? How? A: Yes, by the Blood of Jesus “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” HEBREWS 9:14 Q: How does God deal with our sin? A: Removes it as far as east from west “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” PSALM 103:12 THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVING OTHERS Q: How often should we forgive people who sin against us? A: As many times as they ask for forgiveness “If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” LUKE 17:4 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” MATTHEW 18:21, 22 Q: What happens if we refuse to forgive? A: We will be tormented and defiled by a root of bitterness. “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.’” MATTHEW 18:34, 35 (SEE ALSO VERSES 21–33.) “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” HEBREWS 12:15 Personal Application Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal all unconfessed sin. Are there sins that you’ve confessed and forsaken but still feel guilty and condemned about? Are there sins that you’ve confessed, but don’t seem to have the power to overcome? Perhaps you need to confess them to a more mature Christian and receive healing prayer. Is there anyone you need to forgive?

THE BIBLE

“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” JOB 23:12 Proper diet and regular exercise are essential for physical health. A man who does not eat every day will be weak. A man who never eats will soon be dead. Proper diet and regular exercise are also the keys to spiritual growth and health. A man who does not read God’s Word every day will be weak. A man who never reads it will soon be dead. In order to be spiritually healthy, we must follow the example of Job who valued God’s Word more than food. Our spiritual food is the Word of God. Our spiritual exercise is obedience. We need both, every day. WHAT IS THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH? As newborn babies crave milk, so genuine new Christians crave God’s Word. As milk helps the baby to grow, so God’s Word helps the believer to grow strong in faith. A baby deprived of milk will be weak and sick. Likewise, a Christian who ignores God’s Word will be weak and sick. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 PETER 2:2, 3 HOW CAN I RESIST TEMPTATION? Jesus resisted temptation, not by willpower, but by knowing and quoting God’s Word. We can win the temptation war the same way, by knowing and speaking God’s Word. “The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” MATTHEW 4:3, 4 HOW CAN I LIVE A PURE AND HOLY LIFE? Is it possible to live morally upright in an age of immorality? Absolutely! How? By hiding God’s Word in our hearts. Head knowledge and religious facts don’t produce purity and holiness. The Word planted deep in our hearts will keep us from sin. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word . . . I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” PSALM 119:9, 11 HOW CAN MY FAITH GROW? If we exercise and lift weights, our muscles will grow larger and stronger. The same is true with faith. The more we hear or read the Bible, the more our faith will grow. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” ROMANS 10:17 HOW CAN I BE SUCCESSFUL? Meditate on God’s Word and carefully obey then success is inevitable. Obedience brings success. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” JOSHUA 1:8 HOW CAN I KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE? As we renew our minds by studying God’s Word, we will be transformed and we will understand God’s will. The more we renew our minds, the more we will be able to discern God’s will for our lives. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ROMANS 12:2 WHAT HAPPENS IF I KNOW GOD’S WORD BUT DON’T DO WHAT IT SAYS? Knowledge without action is deception. Knowing God’s Word is just the start. The measure of our spiritual progress is not how much of the Bible we know, but how much we obey. Those who constantly learn but fail to obey end up deceiving themselves. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” JAMES 1:22 CONCLUSION Before turning to Christ, we lived by the world’s standards. Now we accept the Bible as the final authority for what we believe and how we live. God’s Word is the ultimate and absolute standard for every area of life. Personal Application Buy a Bible (NIV) and notebook. Set a time and place for daily Bible reading. Start reading Proverbs and the Gospel of Mark. Record insights, observations, prayers, and questions in your notebook. Get involved in a Bible study or discipleship group.

PRAYER

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” PHILIPPIANS 4:6, 7 Christianity is more than a religion. It is first and foremost a relationship with God. Communication is foundational to good and growing relationships. The primary way God communicates with us is through his written Word, the Bible. The primary way we communicate with God is through prayer. HOW NOT TO PRAY Do not pray like the hypocrites. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” MATTHEW 6:5 Do not pray like the pagans. “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” MATTHEW 6:7, 8 HOW TO PRAY Pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints, or angels. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” MATTHEW 6:6 Pray through Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” JOHN 14:6 WHAT TO PRAY FOR God’s will to be done . . . in your life, in your family, in your church, in your city, in your nation, in the whole earth. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” MATTHEW 6:10 Provision . . . personal and family needs to be met. “Give us today our daily bread.” MATTHEW 6:11 Forgiveness . . . receive forgiveness from God and forgive those who have offended you. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” MATTHEW 6:12 Victory over temptation . . . and protection from the devil’s schemes. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” MATTHEW 6:13 DOES GOD REALLY ANSWER PRAYER? Absolutely! The more specific the prayers, the more specific the answers will be. The secret is to pray according to his will. We know his will by knowing his Word. Therefore, as we pray according to his Word, we know he will answer. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 JOHN 5:14, 15 Personal Application Do you have a time and place for daily prayer? Have you forgiven all who have sinned against you? Begin praying for your “daily bread.”

FAITH

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 JOHN 5:3–5 The key to living a victorious Christian life is having complete trust in Jesus Christ. The more we know him, the more we will trust him. Our faith will grow as we read and obey his Word. FAITH IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION Faith, complete trust in Christ alone, is essential for salvation. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” EPHESIANS 2:8, 9 FAITH PLEASES GOD For the genuine Christian, the major motivating factor for all of life is the desire to please God, not man. The key to pleasing God is faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” HEBREWS 11:6 FAITH OBEYS GOD Abraham is called the father of faith. His faith in God always manifested itself in obedience to God’s commands. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” HEBREWS 11:8 FAITH OVERCOMES THE WORLD The foundation of all spiritual victory is absolute trust and faith in God. “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 JOHN 5:4, 5 Personal Application Have you trusted in Christ alone for salvation? Are you living to please God? Or to please yourself? Or to please man? Are you obeying God’s commands?

THE HOLY SPIRIT

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." MATTHEW 3:11 Jesus is Lord, Messiah, and Savior, yet it is interesting that John the Baptist did not mention any of these titles when introducing Jesus. John simply introduced Jesus as the one who would baptize his disciples with the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is the baptism in the Holy Spirit so important? How can I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit? This lesson will attempt to answer these and other questions about the Holy Spirit. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit empowers us to be effective witnesses. A witness is one who not only tells the truth, but also lives the truth. It is impossible to be an effective witness for Christ apart from the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:8 HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT James tells us that we do not have because we do not ask. In order to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must ask—and we must ask in faith. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” LUKE 11:13 THE LAYING ON OF HANDS Many disciples in the New Testament received the baptism in the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. “Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” ACTS 8:17 “Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’” ACTS 9:17 “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” ACTS 19:6 SPIRITUAL GIFTS The baptism in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the manifestation of spiritual gifts. In the biblical accounts of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the most common spiritual gift manifested is the gift of tongues. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” ACTS 2:4 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” ACTS 10:44–46 “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” ACTS 19:6 THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY Tongues and prophecy are both designed for edification or for strengthening. Tongues strengthens the individual, and prophecy strengthens the church. “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy . . . everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1, 3 “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy.” 1 CORINTHIANS 14:4, 5 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” 1 CORINTHIANS 14:14, 15 “Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” 1 CORINTHIANS 14:39, 40 Personal Application Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Have spiritual gifts been activated in your life? Would you like to have someone pray with you to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

WATER BAPTISM

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . . .’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” ACTS 2:38, 41 When the crowd asked Peter what they should do in response to his sermon, he gave them a three-fold answer: repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thousands responded and were added to the fellowship of believers. The biblical pattern is that everyone who is baptized is also added. Every baptized disciple is expected to become an active member of the local fellowship. The Bible presents four illustrations to help us understand water baptism. BURIAL & RESURRECTION Paul compares Christian baptism to a burial. In order to be buried, a person must first die. In the same way, the prerequisite for baptism is death to sin. After we are buried in baptism, then we are raised to live a new life. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” ROMANS 6:1–4 CROSSING THE RED SEA In the same way the Israelites were in slavery to the Egyptians, we were all slaves of sin. The Israelites were freed from their bondage by passing through the Red Sea. Baptism pictures the freedom from sin that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1, 2 THE FLOOD Peter teaches that it is not the water or the “removal of dirt” that saved us, but the death and resurrection of Christ. “God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 PETER 3:20, 21 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST Each of these pictures of water baptism show the old life being put away and the new life emerging. In baptism, we publicly identify with what Christ did for us on the cross. In baptism, we put away the old life of sin and begin a new life of obedience to Christ. Personal Application Have you repented of your sins? Have you put your trust in Christ alone for salvation? Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Have you been baptized in water since you repented? If not, what are you waiting for? “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” ACTS 22:16

THE CHURCH

“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’” MATTHEW 16:16–18 Through a revelation of the Holy Spirit, Peter confessed the true identity of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus said this truth would be the foundation stone that his church would be built on. He also described the type of church he would build, a victorious church that would overcome the kingdom of darkness. Jesus and Paul used the word “church” in reference to the people of God. Church never referred to a religious building. Following are four benefits of being part of a local church. FRIENDSHIP Real friends. Everyone needs them. Few find them. The best place to look for a real friend is in the church, the people of God. True friends are those who have our best interest in mind. They stick with us through thick and thin. Real friends never lead us away from God. Instead, they provoke us to godliness. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” PROVERBS 17:17 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” PROVERBS 18:24 FELLOWSHIP If a piece of burning coal is removed from the fire, it will cool off. If it is put back in the middle of a pile of red-hot coals, it will burn again. The same is true of Christians. If a Christian is removed from fellowship with other red-hot Christians, he will cool off spiritually. If a Christian stays in fellowship, he will stay on fire for God. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer . . . All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts . . .” ACTS 2:42, 44–46 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 WORSHIP God is looking for sincere worshipers. Worship is simply the expression of our love, devotion, and commitment to God. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” JOHN 4:23, 24 DISCIPLESHIP The last command Jesus gave his followers before he ascended to heaven was to go and make disciples, to baptize these disciples, and to teach them how to obey God’s Word. Therefore, we should first be disciples or followers of Jesus, then we should teach others to follow him. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” MATTHEW 28:19, 20 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 Personal Application Are you being discipled, either one-to-one or in a small group setting? Are you making disciples? Who are you teaching to obey God’s Word? Are you an active member of a local church? Name three Christians you can call for help in case of a spiritual emergency.

EVANGELISM

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 PETER 3:15 “As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’” MARK 5: 18, 19 Suppose you were the doctor who discovered the miracle cure for cancer; wouldn’t you want everyone to know about your discovery? You now have a miracle cure for something more deadly than cancer. You have the solution for sin. Evangelism is simply telling others about God’s solution for sin. In order to be prepared to tell others about the hope of salvation, we must learn how to be a witness, how to make disciples, and how to give our testimony. HOW TO BE A WITNESS In a court of law, a witness tells “the truth and nothing but the truth” about what he has seen, heard, and experienced. We are called to be God’s witnesses. We are to tell the truth about what he has done for, in, and through us. Being a witness also demands that we live a life that testifies to the grace of our Lord Jesus. A witness is something we are, not something we do. We are to “be” witnesses. The only way we can be a witness is through the power of the Holy Spirit. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:8 HOW TO MAKE DISCIPLES' We make disciples as we introduce people to Jesus and teach them how to obey God’s commands. Paul told Timothy to transfer everything he had learned to others who would be able to teach it to others. This is discipleship. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” MATTHEW 28:19, 20 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 HOW TO GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY The word of our testimony is powerful. There are three parts to a Christian testimony: 1. Briefly describe your life before Christ. 2. Carefully explain how you came to the point of submitting your life to Christ. 3. Joyfully describe your life since Jesus became Lord. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” REVELATION 12:11 Personal Application Is your life a witness for God? Are you ready to give an answer for the hope of your salvation? Give your testimony to whoever is going through this course with you. Go and make a disciple!

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 PETER 5:8, 9 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” JAMES 4:7 The devil, or Satan, is a spiritual being totally committed to keeping us from living for the glory and pleasure of God. His goal is to divert glory from God to himself or to others. The devil, our enemy, has three main weapons he uses against God’s people. TEMPTATION Satan’s favorite method of attack is temptation. But God has promised that we can have victory over temptation. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 DECEPTION If temptation doesn’t work, Satan does not give up. He goes to “plan B”—deception. The way to keep free from deception is to stay in God’s Word and stay in fellowship with God’s people. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3 ACCUSATION The most subtle weapon in Satan’s arsenal is accusation. He is the master accuser. He accuses God, producing doubt. He accuses our fellow Christians, resulting in division. He accuses our spiritual leaders, creating gossip. He even accuses us to ourselves, causing condemnation. “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” REVELATION 12:10 STAND UP AND FIGHT God has not left us defenseless. He has equipped us with spiritual weapons and spiritual armor so we can stand up and fight the devil. Through faith in Christ, we can walk in victory over every attack of our enemy. “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” EPHESIANS 6:11–17 Personal Application Are there temptations that you are not able to resist? Are you consistently reading and obeying God’s Word? Have you received accusations against God? Against other Christians? Against spiritual leaders? Against yourself?