God so loved the world that He gave

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Behold what manner The Salvation Puzzle of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! John 3: 16 1 John 3: 1

Ephesians 2: 1 -9; Titus 3: 4 -7 You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to (4) the. But prince the is power of mercy, the air, because the spirit of who God, ofwho rich in His (3) among now works in the sons. He of disobedience, great love with which loved us, (5) even whom also we in alltrespasses, once conducted we were dead madeourselves us alive in the (7) that in the ages to come He might show the lusts of our fulfilling the desires the flesh together withflesh, Christ (by grace you haveofbeen exceeding riches of His in His children kindness (6) mind, and of the and were nature of us saved), and raised usgrace upbytogether, and made (8) For by grace you toward us in Christ Jesus. wrath, just as the heavenly others. places in Christ Jesus, sit together in the have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. (1)

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (9). . . Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (8) Romans 5: 8 -10

I declare to you the gospel. . . (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast. . . —unless you believed in vain. . (1) 1 Cor. 15: 1 -5; 1 Cor. 1: 18 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. . Romans 1: 16

. . . According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (5) Titus 3: 3 -7

Matthew The beatitudes: Humility, meekness, 5: 3 -6; sorrow for sin, the desire for pure things, James etc. 4: 6 -10 2 Thess. … They did not receive the 2: 10 love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (6) . . . If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. Hebrews 11: 1 -6 John 8: 24

Repentance (that is, a change Acts 17: 30 of mind toward sin) Romans Confession of your faith Truly, these times of 10: 9 -10 ignorance God overlooked, but now commands allthe men If you confess with your mouth Lord Jesus everywhere to repent and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart. He onewho believes untoand righteousness, with Mark believes is baptized, and the mouth confession will is made unto salvation. 16: 16 be saved…

The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle Nothing/No One Else

Acts 4: 12 – Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away! (Acts 9: 11 -12; 22: 16)

Remember anger? Rememberhis Naaman? Naaman became Hefurious, was toldand to went away and said, and “Indeed, to Jordan myself, seven ‘He willtimes. . . ” surely “. . . Go wash. I said in the come out to me, and stand call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy. ’ “Are not. . . the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean? ” So he turned and went away in a rage.

Remember the wise counsel? “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’? ” Remember his humility and obedience? So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle Nothing/No One Else Nothing Less

The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle Nothing/No One Else Nothing Less Nothing “Only”

Faith only? : James 2: 22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Confession “Notwas everyone who says towith Me, Do you see only? : that faith working together ‘Lord, ’ and shallby enter thefaith kingdom of heaven, but his works, works was made perfect? he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ” And, 2: 24 You see then that a man is justified by (Matthew 7: 21) works, and not by faith only. Faith without works IS DEAD (3 X in James). Repentance without baptism. . . is a DEAD MAN WALKING. Baptism without faith. . . is simply not Biblical.

The Plan of Salvation God • Love, Kindness, Grace, Mercy Jesus Christ • Life and Death (i. e. , the Gospel) The Holy Spirit • Renewing The Person • Attitude, Faith, Obedience Nothing/No One Else Nothing Less Nothing “Only”

Learn the pattern. . . From the Gospel Accounts: Hearing Matt. 7: 24 Believing Repenting John 3: 16 Luke 3: 7 -8 John 20: 30 -31 Luke 13: 3 Being Baptized Matthew 10: 32 -33 Matt. 28: 18 -20 Matthew 16: 16 Mark 16: 16 John 18: 36 -37 John 3: 5 Confessing

Baptism now Baptized into His death; Learn the pattern. . . saves you rise to. . . newness of life (NASB; RSV) From the Letters to Churches and Christians: Hear Believe Repent Baptized into Christ Confess Be Baptized Romans 6: 3 -4 2 Cor. 7: 10 Rom. 10: 9 Galatians 3: 27 One baptism; Washing Eph. 2: 8 Gal. 2: 20; -10 Rom. 10: 14 Heb. by 11: 6 the Gal. 5: 24 of water word 1 Tim. 2 Peter 3: 9 6: 13 Ephesians 4: 5; 5: 26 Col. 2: 11 -13 1 Peter 3: 21 Titus 3: 5 The circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism Washing of regeneration

Learn the pattern. . . From 10 examples in Acts. Notice that the thief on the cross lived TOO EARLY to be an example for us. He lived BEFORE. . . • Jesus even died, • Jesus was raised, • Jesus told His apostles to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. . . ” • Jesus ascended, and • The apostles preached the first gospel sermon after the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Heard the gospel Believed Repented Confessed 3000 Jews, 2: 1 -47 : 37 Samaritans, 8: 5 -12 : 12 Simon, 8: 13 Ethiopian, 8: 26 -40 : 37 Saul, 9 & 22 9: 6 : 38 Were Baptized : 38 : 12 (: 14) : 13 : 37 9: 9 (: 20) : 38 9: 18; 22: 16 10: 43 10: 47 -48 Lydia, 16: 14 -15 : 14 : 15 Jailer, 16: 25 -34 : 31 Corinthians, 18: 8 : 8 Ephesians, 19: 1 -7 : 4 : 5 YOU, Today ? Cornelius, 10 & 11 : 33 ? ?

What comes AFTER salvation? • Joy (Ethiopian; jailer) • Fellowship and association (Pentecost; Simon; Cornelius; Lydia; jailer) • Work (Ongoing repentance of the Corinthians; preaching of Paul)

“I don’t think I need to be baptized. ” • That IS true. . . if you’ve never done anything to separate yourself from God. 1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. ” (Isaiah 59: 1 -2)

What Condemns a Person? We sin when we. . . Do evil. 1 John 3: 4 –. . . Sin is lawlessness. Genesis 4: 7 – If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. Do something doubting that it is right. Romans 14: 23 – He who doubts is condemned. . . , because he does not [act] from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Fail to do what is right. James 4: 17 – To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

“I don’t think I need to be baptized. ” • That IS true. . . if you’ve never done anything to separate yourself from God. • That would be true. . . IF baptism had nothing to do with salvation. “In the days of Noah. . . eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism. . ” (1 Peter 3: 20 -21)

“I don’t think I need to be baptized” • If the command were “light a candle to show you want God’s light so you can escape the darkness, ” would you do it? • Rather, it IS, be “buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ” (Romans 6: 4)

What does it take to obey? • • Know you’re lost; know the Way back Love the truth Gladly receive the truth Humble yourself and obey (Jesus did so “to the point of death” – Philippians 2: 8) • Commit to become Jesus’ disciple (follower; learner); “Take the plunge”