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All posts in category Section 1

This is lesson 1 through 4

Lesson 4 – The Word of God – Assignments

Lesson 4

Growing in Grace – Lesson 4 Print out here

Assignments

1. Memorize Psalm 119:11. Also, we suggest you memorize Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 119:103, 105.

2. Read John, chapters 1 -7. Note the miracles you find in this section. Please enter your findings under the “NOTES” at the end of this page.

3. Answer the following questions in your own words:

1. What are two things the Bible claims for itself? (II Timothy 3:16)

______________________________________________________________

2. For it to become profitable to us, what must we do? (II Timothy 2:15)

______________________________________________________________

3. What is one of the purposes for which God gave us His Word? (John 20:31)

______________________________________________________________

4. Who wrote the Bible, according to II Peter 1:21?

______________________________________________________________

5. What part does the Bible have in the life of the blessed man, according to Psalm 1:2?

______________________________________________________________

6. What is the food of the newborn child of God? (I Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4)

______________________________________________________________

7. What is the Word of God able to do? (Acts 20:32)

______________________________________________________________

8. What will memorizing the Word of God do for us? (Psalm 119:11)

______________________________________________________________

9. Who is a wise man? (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22)

______________________________________________________________

10. As we come to the Word of God, Psalm 119:18 would be a good prayer for us. Write that prayer out as it is given in this verse.

______________________________________________________________

11. What will God’s Word do for us, according to John 15:3?

______________________________________________________________

12. When tempted of Satan to overcome the attack, three times Jesus said, “As it is __________________.”

13. From Joshua 1:8 list at least four things that God says concerning the Word of God in the life of the Christian.

1. ____________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________

NOTES

1. A blessing I have received each day from reading my Bible:

Day 1 ________________________________________________________

Day 2 ________________________________________________________

Day 3 ________________________________________________________

Day 4 ________________________________________________________

Day 5 ________________________________________________________

Day 6 _________________________________________________________

Day 7 _________________________________________________________

2. Miracles I found in my reading of John 1 – 7:

John 1 ________________________________________________________

John 2 ________________________________________________________

John 3 ________________________________________________________

John 4 ________________________________________________________

John 5 ________________________________________________________

John 6 ________________________________________________________

John 7 ________________________________________________________

3. Truths I learned about the Bible, the Word of God, from the reading for this week:

John 1 ________________________________________________________

John 2 ________________________________________________________

John 3 ________________________________________________________

John 4 ________________________________________________________

John 5 ________________________________________________________

John 6 ________________________________________________________

John 7 ________________________________________________________

Growing in Grace – Lesson 4 Print out here

<< Lesson 4 – The Word of God – Lesson

Growing in Grace – Table of Contents

Lesson 5 – Prayer – Lesson >>

Continued Reading:

©2012 Mark Davis

Assurance of Salvation (christiansareus.wordpress.com)

2 Comments

by Christians Are Us on November 2, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 4

Posted by Christians Are Us on November 2, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/11/02/lesson-4-the-word-of-god-assignments/

Lesson 4 – The Word of God – Lesson

Lesson 4

The Holy Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Growing in Grace – Lesson 4 Print out here

THE WORD OF GOD

Second Peter 3:18 commands, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is the Word of God.

Our Lord wants us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ after we are saved. In Lesson 1 we saw that one of the most important things is our assurance. After assurance we need to grow in grace. To grow, we need food. The Bible is the food that we need.

We are babies in Christ when we are first born again.

I Peter 2:2, 3 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

A baby Christian – no matter how eager, no matter how willing – is still a babe in the Lord. You and I were born physically as little babies and needed to grow. Even so, when one receives Christ and is born again, he is a spiritual baby. He needs to grow, to develop, and to become mature. Babies grow physically without a great deal of effort on their part, and growth is very normal and natural. However, certain conditions are essential for physical growth. One of the essentials for physical growth is food – a proper diet. And the same is true with spiritual growth. There must be the right food – a proper diet. The food needed of spiritual growth is the Word of God.

I said physical growth comes without a great deal of effort on the part of the child. This is not the case with spiritual growth. We become mature Christians only as we consciously endeavor to become mature Christians. We do not have to command our children to grow physically: but God does command Christians, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

A baby must eat to grow. He begins with milk, and bit by bit he takes stronger food from pabulum through baby food until finally he can chew and digest beefsteak. He must eat right to develop. Someone has said, “We are what we eat.” That being true, it is vitally important that we have a good diet.

The same is true with the spiritual baby. He begins with a desire for the milk of the Word. He should develop so that later he would be able to feed on the meat of the Word. The tragedy is that some people never develop to take stronger food than just the milk of the Word.

Hebrews 5:12-14 speaks of the sad condition of believers who have not grown to discern good and evil. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

The writer of Hebrews here states that more Christians stay on a milk diet when they should be eating meat. They ought to be teaching God’s Word, but they cannot do so because they are still babies and have need to be taught by others the first principles for scriptural truth. Paul was burdened that this condition existed among the Corinthian believers. “I have fed you with the milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (I Corinthians 3:2).

The Bible is the spiritual food for your spiritual development.

When you accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who is the Living Word, came into your life by faith. Now you must feed on the Bible, the Written Word, which is the spiritual food for your spiritual development. It was through the Word of God that you first learned of salvation; and it is the same Word of God that gives food, strength, comfort, inspiration, challenge, wisdom, encouragement, and all that is necessary for growth and a successful Christian life.

Therefore, the Bible must become your first priority. The blessed man in Psalm 1:2 is blessed because “his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The only way to avoid spiritual malnutrition is to read God’s Word and to meditate (think carefully) on the things God has said to you in His Word.

The Bible should be sweet to the Christian.

The Bible should be as sweet to the Christian as it was to David according to Psalm 119:103 – “How sweet are thy words unto my taste” yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

God tells us in Psalm 19:10, 11 how precious and sweet should be the truths of God’s Word to us – “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

The Bible is vital to us – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Also, Deuteronomy 8:3.

WHAT THE BIBLE DOES FOR US

We are saved through the instrumentality of the Word of God.

I Peter 1:23, 25 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever … And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

We are changed by the Word of God.

Psalm 119:7 – “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.”

We grow by the Word of God.

I Peter 2:2, 3 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

We are cleansed by the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9 – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Our faith develops by the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Everything we believe must be based on the Word of God. Second Peter 3:18 states that we are to “grow in … knowledge.” That knowledge comes from the Word of God. The Bible must become our authority so that everything we believe is checked by the Bible.

We are kept from sin by the Word of God.

Psalm 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

We defeat Satan through the Word of God.

Psalm 17:4 – “Concerning the works of men, by the word of the lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”

The Lord Jesus, when He was tempted of Satan, answered Satan by quoting passages from Deuteronomy. With each temptation Jesus answered, “It is written.” (Note Matthew 4:4, 7 and 10.)

HOW WE SHOULD LEARN GOD’S WORD

We have stated that the Word of God is our food for spiritual strength and nourishment. It is also our offensive weapon to use in the spiritual battles which we will face.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible is more than just a book with a cover and some pages. It is the written Word of God that needs to be internalized so that it can be effective in our lives. As we internalize God’s Word, we know its benefits as our spiritual food and as our spiritual weapon.

The NAVAGATORS have used the illustration of the hand¹ (image has been inserted into the book which I am not able at this time to reproduce to put into this article. It is a line drawing of a hand holding a book with each finger and thumb tagged with a verse reference and the word it stands for. Each of these labels are described below):

A. We hear the Word of God for faith.

Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

B. We read the Word of God for food and strength.

Job 23:12 – “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

C. We study the Word of God for Knowledge.

II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

D. We memorize the Word of God for an effective testimony.

Psalm 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

E. We meditate on the Word of God for spiritual profit.

I Timothy 4:15 – “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Note in Psalm 119:15, 16 how that meditating brings delight. “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.”

Note also Psalm 104:34 – “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.”

After we have heard, and read, and studied, and memorized, and meditated upon the Word of God, we have one thing more we must do: Obey the Word of God.

James 1:22-25 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso … being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

¹ Adapted from The Hand Illustration, Studies in Christian Living, “Walking with Christ.” ©1964 by The Navigators. Published by NavPress, P.O. Box 6000, Colorado, CO 80934. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Growing in Grace – Lesson 4 Print out here

<< Lesson 3 – Assignments

Growing in Grace – Table of Contents

Lesson 4 – Assignments >>

Continued Reading:

©2012 Mark Davis

Assurance of Salvation (christiansareus.wordpress.com)

5 Comments

by Christians Are Us on November 2, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 4

Posted by Christians Are Us on November 2, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/11/02/lesson-4-the-word-of-god-lesson/

Lesson 3 – The Church and Church Membership – Lesson

Lesson 3

My Church

Growing in Grace – Lesson 3 Print out here

THE CHURCH AND MEMBERSHIP

THE CHURCH

Our relation to the church is directly influenced by our understanding of the church.

Why go to church? Why do we have a church? What is its importance?

God makes much of the church in this age. It is God’s institution for worship, service, evangelism, missions, and for every other God-given spiritual ministry. Nothing can substitute for the local church. God has a goal, aim, purpose, and place for the church; we need to understand its ministry.

The meaning of the word Church

The word church comes from the Greek word ecclesia, which means to “call out.” The church is literally “called out ones,” or those who are saved and belong to the Lord. It means to “bring together’ and to “call out from among”.

Over one hundred times the usage of this word in Scripture had to do with the local church. This is where God puts the emphasis for this age.

The word does not mean (1) to be religious, (2) to distinguish denominations, (3) to refer to sects, or (4) to denote the building or meeting place.

It definitely is used to refer to saved people. Therefore, the people are the church. Thus in Scripture it is primarily dealing with a particular assembly of the saved (Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:15, 16; Ephesians 2:19; I Corinthians 1:2; II Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:2).

The purpose of the church

1. To bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21; 1:6,12)

2. To develop its members spiritually (Acts 20:28-32; 11:23-26)

3. To be God’s pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)

4. To evangelize the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20)

The blessing of the church

1. It will deepen your fellowship (Acts 2:41, 42; 12:5; I John 1:3, 4)

2. It will guard against your backsliding (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Proverbs 14:14; Jeremiah 2:19, 21)

3. It will enlarge your service (Acts 4:23-31; 6:1-8; 11:19-26; 13:1-4)

4. It will strengthen your testimony (Acts 15:41). Cf. John 20:24, 25 – the absence of Thomas in the upper room.

5. It will deepen your prayer life (Acts 1; 4:23-31; 12:5)

6. It is a place for souls to be saved.

The church, then, is a group of baptized believers in a community who are banded together for the purpose of preaching the Gospel, observing the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and building up the members to bring glory to God.

The other references to the word church in the New Testament refer to the “body of Christ” or the “bride of Christ,” who will be gathered together unto Him when He comes again (Colossians 1:18, 24; Revelation 19:7-9; Ephesians 5:25, 26).

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

In examining the New Testament, we find that membership in a local church is taught and practiced because:

1. Our participation in Christ necessitates it.

a. Christ founded the church (Matthew 16:18). He founded it for our benefit and blessing and for His glory.

b. Christ is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18). We are His body (Ephesians 5:30). As members of the body of which He is the Head, we must participate in the church.

c. Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).

2. The additions to the church require it.

Anyone who knows arithmetic knows that you cannot add a definite number to an indefinite number (Acts 2:41, 47).

3. The business of the church cannot operate without — Acts 6:1-5.

When a church is making a decision, who does the voting? Can you have an election without a definite list?

Even churches who boast in not having a membership still work up lists of elegible boters and must have a basis for doing so. This, them, is really their membership list.

4. The discipline of the church rests upon it.

Matthew 18:17 —

“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

In this verse God refers to a definite group of people is a definite place. If the member neglects to hear the church – a definite body – something happens. It would be impossible to put someone out of an organization of which he was not a member.

I Corinthians 5:4 —

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, …”

In this verse Paul tells the church at Corinth how to deal with one of its own members.

5. The organism of the church demands it.

In I Corinthians 12:12-17 Paul is speaking of the “one body.” He refers to various parts of the body. He was not speaking of something future, for it existed right then and there.

Of what was Paul speaking? Obviously he was referring to the local church.

a. This letter was written to a local church.

First Corinthians 1:2 states that the letter was addressed “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.”

b. All the way through the letter, Paul has been dealing with specific problems. This letter had to be written to a local church with definite problems. Paul could not have written any part of this letter to the future church because these believers will neither necessarily work together nor against each other.

THEREFORE

When Paul described the church in I Corinthians 12, we realize he was writing to people who make up a local church. An individual is either a member or he is not a member. We are not all fingers, nor are we all ears. But we are either attached or unattached. Not to be a member of a local a Bible -preaching church is contrary to Christ’s plan for our lives. What are you doing in this regard?

Growing in Grace – Lesson 3 Print out here

<< Lesson 2 – Baptism – Assignments

Growing in Grace – Table of Contents

Lesson 3 – The Church and Church Membership – Assignments >>

Continued Reading:

©2012 Mark Davis

4 Comments

by Christians Are Us on October 27, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 3

Posted by Christians Are Us on October 27, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/10/27/lesson-3-church-membership-lesson/

Lesson 3 – The Church and Church Membership – Assignments

My Church

Growing in Grace – Lesson 3 Print out here

Lesson 3

The Church and Church Membership

Assignments

1. Memorize Hebrews 10:25. Also, we suggest you memorize I Corinthians 15:58.

2. Read John, chapters 15-21. Note the number of times you find a form of the word believe. Record this information under “NOTES”.

3. Answer the following questions in your own words:

1. What must true believers not neglect? (Hebrews 10:25)

___________________________________________________________________

2. What is the right attitude in worship services? (Psalm 122:1)

___________________________________________________________________

3. List somethings the early believers did as they met together.

Matthew 18:19-20

___________________________________________________________________

I Corinthians 16:1-2

___________________________________________________________________

I Corinthians 11:23-25

___________________________________________________________________

4. Why should we be concerned for one another? (Romans 12:5)

___________________________________________________________________

5. What attitude should the Christian have toward his pastor and other spiritual leaders? (I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7)

___________________________________________________________________

6. In addition to the apostles and prophets, list those responsible to build up the church. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

___________________________________________________________________

7. What two truths do we learn about the church in I Timothy 3:15?

___________________________________________________________________

NOTES

1. Promises I have found in John 15-21 that were a real blessing to me (List at least three):

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. A truth I received from my daily reading of John 15-21 that I applied to my life that day:

Day 1 – John 15 _______________________________________________________

Day 2 – John 16 _______________________________________________________

Day 3 – John 17 _______________________________________________________

Day 4 – John 18 _______________________________________________________

Day 5 – John 19 _______________________________________________________

Day 6 – John 20 _______________________________________________________

Day 7 – John 21 _______________________________________________________

3. The verses in which I found a form of the word believe:

___________________________________________________________________

Growing in Grace – Lesson 3 Print out here

<<Lesson 3 – The Church and Church Membership – Lesson

Growing in Grace – Table of Contents

Lesson 4 – The Word of God – Lesson >>

Continued Reading:

©2012 Mark Davis

2 Comments

by Christians Are Us on October 27, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 3

Posted by Christians Are Us on October 27, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/10/27/lesson-3-the-church-and-church-membership-assignments/

Lesson 2 – Baptism – Lesson

Lesson 2

BaptismSmall

Growing In Grace – Lesson 2 Print out here

Baptism

“Then they that gladly received His word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” -Acts 2:41

This verse tells us that those who believed on the day of Pentecost were baptized following their salvation. Every believer should be baptized following his salvation. We have several Biblical reasons that make baptism important.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM

Christ is our example – Matthew 3:13-17.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was baptized. He said to John the Baptist, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Baptism was important to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is to be our example so that we can follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21). Under The Meaning of Baptism we will consider the meaning of Christ’s baptism a little more in detail.

Christ commands us to be baptized.

In the Great Commission that Christ gave, we find that the Lord required the church to baptize those who believed. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This commission to the church commands that Christians go to witness to the world. The church is to baptize the converts, and those converts are to win others and see them baptized.

The disciples of Jesus practiced baptism.

“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus made and baptized not, but his disciples)…” (John 4:1-2)

The early church practiced baptism.

1. The Jewish converts in Jerusalem – Acts 2:41

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” Those who heard the Word and received Christ were baptized.

2. The converts in Samaria – Acts 2:12

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

3. The Ethiopian eunuch converted and baptized – Acts 8:38

“And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch/ and he baptized him.”

4. Saul converted and baptized – Acts 9:18

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith and arose, and was baptized.”

5. Cornelius and his house – Gentiles converted and baptized – Acts 10:48

“And he [Peter] commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

6. Philippian jailer and his family saved and baptized – Acts 16:33

“And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes: and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

7. Ephesian disciples saved and baptized – Acts 19:5

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

8. Corinthian believers baptized – Acts 18:8

“And many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” In I Corinthians 1:14-15 Paul said that he baptized a few converts in Corinth. He revealed that the Corinthian church did baptize converts but that they did not need to be divided over the personality of the preacher who baptized them.

9. Roman believers baptized – Romans 6:4

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death.”

10. Colossian believers baptized – Colossians 2:12

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him.”

THE MEANING OF BAPTISM

Baptism is an identification with Christ.

As the believer is put under the water, he pictures the death and burial of Christ. As he comes up out of the water, he pictures the resurrection of Christ. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism is a testimony to those witnessing by the baptizing that this believer is trusting Christ in His death on the cross for sin and in His resurrection from the tomb for a life of victory. Baptism pictures our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Baptism is similar to a wedding ring.

A Wedding ring does not make us married. It is simply a symbol to the world that we are married. It is a symbol that the person married belongs to someone. Baptism is a symbol to the world that we are married. It is a symbol that the person married belongs to Someone – that we belong to the Lord.

Baptism is a step of obedience to God’s direct command. It is a public testimony of salvation in the blood of Christ as we trust in His death, burial, and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

Then baptism is a public testimony that we want to live for Christ in the new life we have in Him (Romans 6:1-6). It is also a means of blessing, for it surely adds joy to our salvation decision.

Baptism does not save.

We are not saved by baptism. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are on your way to Heaven whether you get baptized or not. Only the blood of Christ can redeem – not the water of baptism. Baptism is the outward symbol of the inner work which has already taken place in the one who has trusted Christ.

Christ was baptized.

Though He gave us an example through His baptism, Christ was baptized for an identification different from ours. He went out to John and was baptized in the Jordan River. John was baptizing men who confessed they were sinners and who repented of their sins. When Jesus came to John, He identified Himself with sinners. It was a picture of what He would accomplish at Calvary when He was baptized with death for our sins. When Jesus told John, “Suffer it be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness,” He was announcing that the only way that there could be righteousness would be through His death, burial, and resurrection. He opened His earthly ministry with baptism, which pictured the fact that He would become identified with sinners, take their sins in His own body (I Peter 2:24), and pay the penalty of death for those sins on the cross. He closed His earthly ministry with His death on the cross. He came to die for us, and this is shown as He opened and as He closed His ministry.

THE MODE OF BAPTISM

The only scriptural baptism is that which uses immersion. The very Greek word for baptism, “baptizo,” means “to dip, to plunge under, or to submerge.” The scriptural expressions such as “much water” (John 3:23), “down…into the water” (Acts 8:38), and “coming up out of the water” (Mark 1:10) give proof that baptism is by immersion.

The only baptism that can picture death, burial, and resurrection is immersion. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

THE TIME OF BAPTISM

Baptism to be scriptural must follow salvation.

In Acts 8:36, 37 the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip answered, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” The eunuch had to believe before he could be baptized. The one requirement for baptism is that a person be saved before he is baptized.

Therefore, baptism of infants who are not old enough to believe is totally unscriptural. Baptism is for believers only. Please note again the verse at the head of this chapter – “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

Also, a person who was baptized before he was saved is not scripturally baptized. I was put under the water when I was twelve years old. Then I was saved when I was twenty-one years old. I realized that my being immersed before I was saved was not scriptural baptism, and I requested baptism after I was saved, you are not scripturally baptized, and you need to be identified with Christ in baptism followed salvation.

Baptism must precede church membership.

The three thousand saved and baptized on the day of Pentecost were added to the church. Baptism is the first test of obedience after salvation. A believer gives testimony by his baptism. If he refuses to testify for the Lord to baptism, does he deserve to be recognized as an obedient disciple? We dare not pick the ways we will testify but take the Scriptures as the rule for our testifying.

AFTER BAPTISM, WHAT THEN?

Romans 6:4 gives the answer: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Baptism should be followed with a new walk. We should have transformed lives so that the world can see the difference. This should involve our church fellowship, our stewardship, and our Christian growth.

I close this lesson with a quote by the late Dr. M. R. DeHaan in his booklet, Water Baptism:

“In the early days of the church… baptism was a declaration that the believer was definitely identifying himself with that group of people who were called Christians and were despised and hated. To be a Christian meant something. To identify yourself with those who were called Christians meant persecution, maybe death; it meant being ostracized from your family, shunned by friends. And the one act which was the final declaration of this identification was BAPTISM. As long as a man gathered with Christians, he was tolerated, but when once he submitted to baptism, he declared to all the world. I BELONG TO THIS DESPISED GROUP, and immediately he was persecuted, hated, and despised. In baptism, therefore, the believer entered into the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. A person might be a believer and keep it strictly a secret and thus avoid unpleasantness and suffering, but once he submitted to public baptism he had burned his bridges behind him.”

Growing In Grace – Lesson 2 Print out here

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Lesson 2 – Baptism – Assignments >>

Continued Reading:

Gif Credit to Source: Jimmie Tullis at ebibleteacher.com

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by Christians Are Us on October 19, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 2

Posted by Christians Are Us on October 19, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/10/19/lesson-2-baptism-lesson/

Lesson 2 – Baptism – Assignments

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Lesson 2

Assignments

Memorize Romans 6:4 and I Peter 2:2,3
List at least three promises that were a blessing to you from your reading of John 8 – 14. Record under #1 of your “NOTES” on a separate page.
List one truth received during your reading each day that was a blessing to you and could be applied to your life that day. Record this under #2 of your “NOTES” on a separate page.
Read John, chapters 8 – 14, noting the number of times you find the word believe. Please record your findings under #3 of your “NOTES” on a separate page.
Answer the following questions in your own words on a separate page.
1. What was the one requirement that Philip gave of the Ethiopian eunuch for him to qualify to be baptized? (Acts 8:36-37) ___________________________________________________________________________
2. How soon after salvation were people baptized in New Testament times? (Acts 8:36 – 38, 16:33) ___________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the significance of baptism? (Romans 6:4) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
4. Why did John baptize in a certain place? (John 3:23) ___________________________________________________________________________
5. What does the Greek word baptizo mean? ___________________________________________________________________________
6. What does baptism symbolize? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
7. What kind of life should follow baptism? (Romans 6:4) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

NOTES:

Promises I have found in John 8 – 14 that were a real blessing to me (List at least three.):
1. ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Truths I received from my daily reading of John 8 – 14 that I applied to my life each day:

Day 1 – John 8 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 2 – John 9 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 3 – John 10 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 4 – John 11 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 5 – John 12 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 6 – John 13 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Day 7 – John 14 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3. The verses I found in John 8 – 14 in which there is a form of the word believe: ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________

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by Christians Are Us on October 19, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 2

Posted by Christians Are Us on October 19, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/10/19/lesson-2-baptism-assignments/

Lesson 1 – Assurance of Salvation – Assignment

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LESSON 1 — ASSIGNMENT

1. Memorize I John 5:13 and II Peter 3:18

2. Read the Gospel of John, chapters 1-7, by reading one chapter a day. Please note the times that you find any form of the word “believe.” Please record this information [on a separate note pad since you can’t really write on the blog page].

3. List at least three promises that were a blessing to you from your reading of John 1–7. Record [on a separate note pad again].

4. List one truth that you received during your reading each day that was a blessing to you that day. Record this [on a separate note pad again].

5. Answer the following questions in your own words [and on a separate page again]:

a. Why do men need to be saved? (Romans 5:12)

b. Why did Jesus come to earth? (I Timothy 1:15)

c. For whom did Christ die? (Romans 5:8)

d. What must we do to be saved? (Acts 16:30–31)

e. What part do good works have in our salvation? (Ephesians 2:8–9)

f. From I John 5:13, how can we know that we are saved?

g. Did Paul say that he knew he was saved? Why? (II Timothy 1:12; Romans 8:16)

h. What does God guarantee to those who have the Son? (I John 5:11–12)

i. What happened the moment we believed? (John 5:24)

j. Since feelings often change, upon what must we depend for assurance? Why? (I Peter 1:25)

k. Whom does God receive as His children? (John 1:12)

l. What are the consequences of not believing in Jesus Christ? (John 3:36b)

m. State briefly how you know you are a child of God and have eternal life:

n. What important blessing does a new convert have when he receives Christ? (Ephesians 1:7)

Separate your Notes into 3 parts:

1. Promises I have found in the first seven chapters of John that were a real blessing to me. (List at least three)

a. ________________________

b. ________________________

c. ________________________

2. Truths I received from my daily reading of John 1–7 that I applied to my life that day:

Day 1 — John 1 _____________________

Day 2 — John 2 _____________________

Day 3 — John 3 _____________________

Day 4 — John 4 _____________________

Day 5 — John 5 _____________________

Day 6 — John 6 _____________________

Day 7 — John 7 _____________________

3. The verses in which I found a form of the word “believe”:

4. Remember to create note cards that have the memory verses printed out on them. The following format usually works the best – Say the reference before the verse, say the verse, then say the reference again:

I John 5:13

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”.

I John 5:13

Editor’s Note:

Remember that if you have any questions that regard this blog content, feel free to leave a comment below. You never know, someone else after you might have the same question. I will do my best to answer them to the best of my ability. I will NOT oblige anyone who just wants to cause problems, though. Honest thoughtful questions only. If someone wants to get into a hardcore discussion, you can find my email on my profile and I will do my best, with the grace of God to defend God’s Word.

Growing In Grace – Lesson 1 Print out here

Links:

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Lesson 2 – Baptism – Lesson >>

Continued Reading:

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by Christians Are Us on October 13, 2012 • Permalink

Posted in Lesson 1

Posted by Christians Are Us on October 13, 2012

https://christiansareus.com/2012/10/13/lesson-1-assignment/

Lesson 1 – Assurance of Salvation – Lesson

Growing In Grace – Lesson 1 Print out here

Lesson 1

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

One of the most important things in your new life as a Christian is your assurance of salvation. There are far too many people today who lack this assurance. They simply do not know that they are saved.

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVED.

I John 5:13 — “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

This verse clearly teaches that you can know you are saved.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVED.

Assurance of salvation is the most important thing in life (Mark 8:36).

Assurance of salvation is necessary to make you the successful witness God wants you to be.

HOW CAN YOU KNOW YOU ARE SAVED?

By the Word of God

The only sure basis for our assurance is the Bible, God’s Word. God says, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36).

We know we are saved because God’s Word says that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we have everlasting life.

HOW CAN OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE SAVED?

By the life you live

We are saved by faith, not by works. However, we need to live a good and exemplary Christian life so that others can be attracted to Christ by our testimony. Because others watch our lives to see if there is a change, we must live so that they can see Christ in us.

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8).

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER

1. There is a plan of salvation.

It is important that you understand clearly the plan of salvation. Therefore, we give it here so that you do understand.

a. You are a sinner.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” –Romans 3:23

b. As a sinner, you are under condemnation.

“For the wages of sin is death’ but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” –Romans 6:23

c. Christ paid the price for your sins and mine.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” –I Peter 3:18

d. You and I are saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

“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

2. God receives those who receive His Son.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power [right or privilege or authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” –John 1:12

3. Your becoming a Christian does not mean you are perfect.

The Bible does not teach that a Christian is perfect. Rather, a Christian is a sinner saved by grace. It is not possible to be perfect in this life. Perfection will come when we are taken out of this life and into the presence of the Lord.

This is important to realize, for many new converts get discouraged when they see they are not living as perfectly as they felt they would. Remember, you are a spiritual baby, and you need to grow in grace. God will work in you if you are willing to let Him do it.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 1:6

4. You are not saved by your feelings – and you do not receive assurance by your feelings.

Not once does the Bible say we need any special feeling to be saved. Of course, there will be a feeling of peace and joy when we know our sins are forgiven, but this feeling comes as a result of our salvation. It does not produce salvation.

Feelings can change, but God’s Word will remain the same. We need to rest completely on the Word of God as our only assurance. Your dare not base your assurance on any feelings you might have, and you should not doubt your salvation because of a lack of feeling.

Growing In Grace – Lesson 1 Print out here

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Lesson 1 — Assignments >>