“What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30

Luke 18:18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Luke 18:20 “You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18:26-27 Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Luke 1:76-77

…You will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

Luke 3:3 [John] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

John 3:1-7 …No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:1-10 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…

…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…

Spiritual Birth

Spiritual BirthEssential Ingredient:

GOD and His Grace

Process: You participate in the process through

YOUR FAITH

Coming to FAITH1. Hear and Believe the Message

Romans 10:14-17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Faith is conceived when someone hears the word of Christ and believes!

Is this complete faith? Is this where the journey of faith begins and ends?

Faith in Action2. Repent of your Sins Galatians 5:19-21…those who live like will not

inherit the kingdom of God. James 4:17, Acts 26:20 Faith grows and leads to repentance Repentance is a necessity – it requires a TURNING

from your old life to a new one

SAVING FAITH3. Be Baptized!

Colossians 2:12 …having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

• Remember – we were DEAD in our transgressions and sins…thus the time when we are “raised to life” when we are united in his death, burial, and resurrection at baptism!

REMAINING IN THE FAITH4. Walking faithfully to the end

1 Corinthians 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Acts 2:36-41 – Arrival of “Church Age”36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,

"Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:36-41 – Arrival of “Church Age”36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?”38 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.

Acts 2:36-41 – Arrival of “Church Age”36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?”38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:36-41 – Arrival of “Church Age”36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?”38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

United with ChristAt Baptism Romans 6:1-8

Biblical Pattern of FAITH

1. Hear and Believe the Good News

2. Repent of your sins

3. Be Baptized

BORN AGAIN of Water & SpiritIs this pattern of conversion consistent in the

book of Acts? (Hear, believe, repent, baptism)

Hear, Believe, Repent, Baptism1. Acts 2:37-41 First 3,000 at Pentecost2. Acts 8:4-25 Simon and the Samaritans3. Acts 8:26-39 Ethiopian Eunuch4. Acts 9:1-19 Paul5. Acts 22:1-16 Paul in his own words6. Acts 16:11-15 Lydia7. Acts 16:25-34 Jailer

But where are you starting from?

The Destination is the Same…

Destination is the SameActs 8:26-39 “Do you understand what you are (Ethiopian) reading?”

Acts 16:25-34 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will (Jailer) be saved--you and your household.”

Acts 2:37-41 “Repent and be baptized” (3,000)

Acts 22:1-16 “What are you waiting for? Get up and (Paul) be baptized and wash your sins away.

Catholic / Orthodox Church3. Baptized (Infant)

1. Hear and Believe (Confirmation)2. Repent of your sins (Confession)

Church Americana1. Hear and Believe (Accept Christ)

2. Repent of your sins3. Be Baptized

“Mega Church”1. Hear and Believe (Accept Christ)

2. Repent of your sins (Spiritual Growth)3. Be Baptized (Membership)

• We believe Jesus is the only Son of God,who came to earth as a man, died for our sins, and came back to life again.

• We believe all who in faith trust Him as their Lord and Savior to forgive their sins are part of the worldwide body of Christ

• We believe Christ has commissioned His Church to observe the baptism of believers and the Lord's Supper until He returns.

Mariners Church

What we believe about Salvation:

• Salvation is a gift from God to man.

• Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty.

• Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Saddleback Church

What we believe about Baptism:• Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and

resurrection of Jesus and is your public declaration that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

• Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that you have already been saved. And while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ.

Saddleback Church

1 Peter 3:21 …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…

Verse What occurs at baptism according to each VerseActs 2:38 . . . . Forgiveness of SinsActs 2:38 . . . . Receive the gift of the Holy SpiritActs 2:41 . . . . Added to the number of faithful disciplesActs 22:16 . . . Sins are washed awayRomans 6:1-8 . . Crucify old self and united with Christ in his Death1 Cor. 12:13 . . . Added to the body of ChristGalatians 3:27 . . Clothed with Christ, become a descendant of AbrahamColossians 2:12 . Buried with him and raised with Him1 Peter 3:21 . . . Saved through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Baptism: Moment in Time

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

Claim: Baptism is a work, yet we are saved by grace

Analogy: Inheritance

1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you

Rich UnclePennybags

How does it work?

PROCESS!

At what point during that “process” did this money cease to be an inheritance?• When did it cease to become a “gift”?

Did you somehow “earn” this inheritance by:• Attending the reading of the will?• Going through probate? • Filling out a few forms?• Would you consider that you “worked” for it?

It is is and always was a gift – an inheritance.

But there a process set up to “receive” this gift.

Likewise, there is a “process” described in scripture that we must participate in BY FAITH to receive forgiveness of sins and take hold of this most precious inheritance, but at no point during this process are we deserving of God’s amazing grace.

Acts 2:36-41 – Promise36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?”38 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.

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.