Becoming Part of God’s Family
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you were baptized into Christ having clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28) (NIV)
God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. HE TOOK THE INITIATIVE. NOW HE WAITS FOR EACH OF US to individually ACCEPT what He has done for us.
What Does He Want Me To Do?
1. Hear The Word of God that produces Faith in Christ Jesus.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the
message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NIV)
2. BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS AND THAT HE ROSE AGAIN, AND IS ALIVE TODAY.
” That if you confess with your mouth, ‘ Jesus is your Lord,’ and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..” Romans 10:9 (NIV)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven given by men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)
3. REPENT FROM SELF TO LIVING FOR JESUS CHRIST.
“Unless you repent you shall likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 (NIV)
4. CONFESS TO OTHERS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.
“Yet all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to be become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. ” John 1:12-13 (NIV)
5. BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, EXPERIENCING HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION.
“… 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 6:3-4 (NIV)
6. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH
“ For it by grace you have been saved through faith- and this is not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8 (NIV)
EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION FOUND IN SCRIPTURE
· Acts 2:36-41 After Peter’s First Sermon on the Day of Pentecost
· Acts 8:29-40 The Ethiopian Eunuch
· Acts 9:1-19; 22:12-16 Paul was baptized
· Acts 16:11-15 Lydia and her household
· Acts 16:22-34 The Jailer and his household
Why Immersion:
1. John the Baptist practiced Immersion.
“ I baptize with water,” John replied. John 1:26 (NIV)
2. John’s disciples immersed.
“ The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples” John 4:1-2 (NIV)
3. Jesus was immersed.
“ As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matt. 3:16(NIV)
4. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
See examples above.
5. The word “Baptize” means “ to Immerse.
6. Jesus commanded that people of all nations be immersed.
“ 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..” Matt. 28:19 (NIV)
7. Paul states that baptism by immersion is the dying to sin and entering into the new life.
“ 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 6:3-4 (NIV)
8. A PARTICIPATION IN JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION.
“Christ died for our sins … He was buried … and He rose again.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4 (NIV)
“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.” Col. 2:12 (NIV)
9. IT STARTS MY NEW LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Jesus was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Rom. 6:4 (NIV)
