Church Of Christ Adekunle Ajasin Akungba akoko Ondo state

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24/07/2022

The Absolute Necessity of Hearing God’s Word to be Saved!

INTRODUCTION: Read Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 11:6

1. Romans 10:17 stresses that faith comes through hearing God’s Word.

2. Hebrews 11:6 notes that faith is necessary in coming to God.

3. Proposition is settled right here.

4. Subject is important to counteract so-called “spirituality” today.

1) Direct operation

2) “Angel told me.”

3) “God spoke to me.”

4) “Felt led.”

5) “Felt God’s pleasure.”

6) “Can’t do anything good therefore God gave me faith.”

5. The Bible has much to say about hearing God’s word with regard to salvation.

6. STPO

[This hour we are going to study a very important aspect of salvation, that is, hearing God’s Word. I have titled the lesson “The Necessity of Hearing God’s Word.” I aim to set forth that it is absolutely necessary to hear God’s Word to be saved. I want you to leave this place understanding the importance of this matter.]

DISCUSSION: We can see the necessity of hearing God’s Word in salvation…

I. BY NOTING WHAT IT MEANS TO HEAR.

1. We can exclude the type of hearing done before the stoning of Stephen. Acts 7:54

2. We can exclude the hearing of many Pharisees, John 12:36b-43. (note “report”) v. 38 implies hearing.

3. We can exclude the hearing of many disciples, John 6:66.

4. We can include the hearing commanded by God. Deuteronomy 6:3.”Hear and observe to do it.”

5. The kind of hearing that profits has the attitude “The Lord Speaks, I Obey.”

1) Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:9, 10.

2) Micaiah, 1 Kings 22:14.

3) Noah, Genesis 6:13-22; 7:5.

6. “Hearing” has become a figure for the reception of all kinds of communication. For ex. the written word. Romans 10:17; John 20:30, 31; 1 Corinthians 14:37

[We can see the necessity of hearing in salvation by noting what it means to hear. It means to receive the Lord’s instructions with the thought “The Lord speaks, I obey.”]

We can see the necessity of hearing in salvation…

II. BY LEARNING THAT FAITH CANNOT BE GAINED WITHOUT

20/07/2022

What Is Speaking In Tongues?
Speaking in tongues is not mentioned often in the New Testament. Although Jesus did many miraculous things and possessed the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) while He was on the earth, there is no mention in the Gospels of Jesus ever speaking in tongues during His ministry. The only mention of tongues in the four Gospels is in Mk. 16:17. Here we notice that speaking in “new tongues” is listed along with casting out demons, taking up serpents, drinking deadly poison and laying hands on the sick to heal them as accompanying signs to follow those who believe. The section concludes by saying, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).

All that one can find recorded in the New Testament on the subject of “speaking in tongues” is found in four passages in addition to the one in Mark. These are Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:47 through 11:18; Acts 19:1-7; and I Cor. 12:1 through 14:40.

On the day of Pentecost the apostles “began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). The record is crystal clear that the “other tongues” were actual languages. Visitors from some fifteen nations were there and asked “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8). This was a miracle for the apostles to be able to speak in languages which they had never learned. When they spoke in “tongues” it was not a jabber, jargon, conglomeration of unintelligent sounds.

The next mention of speaking in tongues occurs as Peter was preaching to the group of Gentiles gathered by Cornelius in his house. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God” (Acts 10:44-46 NAS). In response, Peter asked if anyone could forbid their being baptized in water and then he “commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48). Then in chapter 11, in reporting his experience with Cornelius and his household to the Jerusalem brethren and the apostles, Peter declared that this was “the like gift” which the apostles received on Pentecost. It is clear that the Gentiles spoke in actual, contemporary languages which they had not learned (Acts 11:15, 17).

In Acts 19 Paul found some disciples who knew only about the baptism of John and needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul baptized them and the record states, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they {began} speaking with tongues and prophesying” (Acts 19:6). If this incident of speaking in tongues was different from the other two just mentioned surely Luke would have given some explanation. Therefore, we conclude that these people spoke in other languages also.

In the epistles, speaking in tongues is discussed only in I Corinthians. It is listed as one of the “spiritual gifts” in I Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30. Paul mentions speaking “in the tongues of men and of angels” (I Corinthians 13:1) in comparison with love, pointing out the absolute necessity of love. Then the apostle plainly teaches that the miraculous spiritual gifts, including “tongues” would pass from the scene when that “which is perfect is come.” “Love never fails; but if {there are gifts of} prophecy, they will be done away; if {there are} tongues, they will cease; if {there is} knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” (1 Cor 13:8-10). When the full revelation of God’s will for man was complete (the Lord’s last will and testament) then there would no longer be any need for the temporary measures designed to assist the early church in its infancy. But while the church was in its infancy, and before God’s revelation was completed, there was a need for special help to be given by God. This need was supplied by the exercise of the spiritual gifts.

When we turn to I Corinthians 14, we learn that “speaking in tongues” should be understandable (with an interpretation … note very carefully verses 6-13, and verses 26-28) instructional (again note verse 6, verses 9-12, and verse 18, 19), and unto edifying (note verse 12b). Ecstatic utterances or nonsensical babblings do not meet these criteria as set forth by the inspired apostle in the context of I Corinthians 14, but “foreign” languages certainly do and they also harmonize with what is taught in Acts 2 (see above).

When we leave the period of the New Testament we are struck immediately with the fact that speaking in tongues is rarely mentioned in the Christian literature of the first three centuries. For example, Irenaeus (about 185 A.D.) believed that Paul was able to speak in many languages, and that these languages were human languages he had not learned but was inspired to speak. This is the only reference to speaking in tongues we have until we come to the time of John Chrysostom (about 345-407). During the second and third centuries a large number of books dealing with the acts of various apostles and the epistles to various groups were composed in imitation of the canonical Acts and Epistles of the New Testament. These are found in the Apocryphal New Testament, and contain all kinds of marvelous miracle stories. Yet, there is no evidence of speaking in tongues in them. In a list of specific powers mentioned in the Acts of John (chapter 106) speaking in tongues is absent.

Chrysostom understood the gift of speaking in tongues as the gift of speaking unlearned human languages. While he recognized that by his time these things had ceased he describes the gift of speaking in tongues in these words:

“So since they, the Corinthian Christians, had no clear knowledge and had not been nurtured in the ancient Scriptures, grace granted them some sensible proof of that energy. And so each began to speak, one in the tongue of the Persians, another in that of the Romans, another in that of the Indians, or in some other language. And this disclosed to outsiders that it was the Spirit in the speaker.” (Homily on I Corinthians 12:1-11)

Through this entire period there is no other understanding of the New Testament speaking in tongues than speaking in human languages that one has not learned but which are somewhere spoken among men.

Can anyone miraculously “speak in tongues” today, in the biblical sense? Absolutely not! Since no one can speak in tongues in the biblical sense, then obviously what people who claim they can are doing something other than biblical tongue speaking. Therefore, should we encourage anyone who thinks he can speak in tongues to go ahead and do so anyway? The answer is NO!

30/05/2020

Frequently Asked Questions?
Baptism: Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?
1. Jesus placed baptism before salvation, not after it (Mark 16:16). 2. So did Peter (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). And Paul (Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 22:16). 3. Jesus and the apostles inherently linked baptism with faith (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12). Thus being baptized is simply trusting in God's way of saving you.

Baptism: The Thief On The Cross Wasn't Baptized!
1. The thief was forgiven under a covenant that ceased at the death of Jesus. Upon His death the First Covenant ended (the Law of Moses) and the Second Covenant was instituted (Hebrews 9:15-17; 10:9-10). 2. The command to be baptized in water to obtain the forgiveness of sins is found following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16). 3. Since the death and resurrection of Jesus, all who life, are accountable to the instructions found in the New Covenant. This is a universal covenant for all mankind (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19). 4. Included in this covenant is the command to be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 8:35-38; 10:47-48; 18:8; 22:16; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 3:21). 5. In addition, it is purely assumed that he wasn't baptized. He may have been baptized under John's baptism, for he knew about the Kingdom of God (Luke 23:42).

Baptism: Are Sprinkling And Pouring Scriptural Modes Of Baptizing?
1. The Greek word rendered 'baptize' or 'baptism' means immerision (see any Greek lexicon). 2. The Biblical examples of individuals being baptized support immersion: (a) Much water was necessary (John 3:23). (b) The need to 'arise' to be baptized (one doesn't have to move for sprinkling or pouring to take place) (Acts 22:16). (c) Both baptizer and the person being baptized went down into the water together (Acts 8:36-38). (d) Baptism is described as a burial (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12-13). (e) The word "baptized" is used in connection with being completely enveloped (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). (f) From the standpoint of history, sprinkling and pouring originated long after the days of the apostles and the completion of the New Testament.

Baptism: Holy Spirit Or Water Baptism?
1. The baptism commanded is water baptism (Acts 10:47-48). Baptism in water is inherently linked with preaching Jesus (Acts 8:35-38). 2. Holy baptism was a promise to a selected group of individuals (John 14:26; Acts 1:4-5), and is recorded as only happening twice (Acts 2:1-4; 11:15-17). 3. The baptism linked with salvation is water baptism (1 Peter 3:20-21). It is a baptism that requires the individual to arise (Acts 22:16). 4. Therefore, the one essential baptism of Ephesians 4:5, the baptism commanded of every person, is water baptism, for it is the salvation associated with salvation. Telling people they are saved prior to being baptized in water is failing to tell them the truth (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

30/05/2020

The church of Christ
Welcome to a brief introduction to the church of Christ! If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to contact us.

Matthew 16:18 '..upon this rock I will build My church'



Romans 16:16 '..All the churches of Christ salute you'



I. The Origin of the Church:

From Matthew 16:18 we learn: a: The church wasn't established in the Old Testament. Thus the rules governing this relationship will be found in the New Testament. b. The church belongs to Christ, not man. c. The church is a very important relationship. d. The word 'church' is spoken of in the singular, Jesus desires that all believers be united and in one universal body (Eph. 1:20-23; John 17:20-23).

Acts 20:28 '..the church of God which He purchased with His own blood'. This verse reveals: a. The church came into existence after the death of Christ. b. It is an essential relationship, for it is inherently connected with the blood of Christ. c. The church isn't a building, rather it is people who have been redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-19). d. The church isn't an optional relationship, for one cannot be saved apart from the blood of Christ. e. The church is the same relationship known as the kingdom of God (Compare Acts 20:28 with Revelation 1:5-6).

Acts 2:38,41,47 '...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved' (KJV). From these passages we learn: a. Hearing the gospel, faith (2:37), repentance and baptism stand between the sinner and salvation. b. Upon being baptized one is added by the Lord to the church. The church that the Lord adds us to belongs to Him. c. Being saved and being a member of the church are the same thing. d. Therefore the church is the body of the saved (Eph. 5:23). e. Thus the church that Jesus Christ established came into existence upon the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.



II. The Undenominational Church:

If you have spent much time reading the Bible then you already have realized that there are no denominations mentioned within its passages. Every Christian was simply a member of one united body of believers. Various congregations existed (Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, etc..), but they were all part of the same body. Each congregation practiced and believed the same doctrines or teachings, that is, what was being revealed through the apostles (1 Corinthians 4:17; 14:37). Christians were admonished to remain united, divisions based on following certain leaders within the church, or dividing up the body of Christ into various sects or flavors of Christianity were condemned (1 Cor. 1:10). In fact, even sects based on following elevating one apostle over all others were rebuked (1:12-13).



III. What Christians Believed/Practiced:

This isn't meant to be a complete list. But here is just a sample. Someone has noted that if you were trying to find something then you would look for its identifying marks, such as the specific characteristics of a car that had been stolen. In like manner, the church that Jesus established has identifying marks.



Worship

Christians assembled on the first day of every week (Sunday) (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1; Heb. 10:25),and observed the Lord's Supper. Every member partook of both elements (1 Cor. 11:23-26). They sang spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Colossians 3:16); gave as they had been prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Collections were not solicted from non-members. They prayed together (Acts 2:42), and listened as the Word of God was taught (Acts 2:42).



Organizational Structure

Jesus was the sole head (Eph. 1:20-23). Each local congregation was shepherded by a plurality of men called elders/pastors/overseers or bishops (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11). The authority of these men was limited to the congregation of which they were members (1 Peter 5:1-3). Thus each congregation was self-governing. The New Testament provides no earthly organizational structure for the church which is beyond the local congregation. Including state, regional, national or a world headquarters.



Basic Teachings

The church that Jesus established taught and practiced: a. Water baptism is just as essential to salvation as is hearing the gospel or believing that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16). b. Man is born pure and innocent (1 Cor. 14:20). c. No one has been predestined for salvation or damnation (2 Peter 3:9). d. Heaven and hell are both eternal (Matt. 25:46). e. The Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit each possess the qualities of Deity (John 1:1; Acts 5:3-5). f. Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). g. All non-Christian religions are powerless to save (Acts 4:12). h. God's moral standard is not changed by time and culture (Galatians 5:19-21). i. A Christian can lose their salvation (Heb. 10:26-31).



IV. Church History:

The unity found in the New Testament wasn't to last. Through the apostles God predicted a coming apostasy which would hit the church (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:2-4).

Following the death of the apostles changes started to happen. For example, changes were made in the organizational structure of the local congregation. One elder began to be elevated above his fellow elders and assumed the title of bishop as applying exclusively to himself. Such bishops began to oversee more than one congregation, instead they were ruling a geographical region containing many congregations. Eventually, one bishop assumed oversight over all the congregations, thus the organizational structure found in Roman Catholicism came into existence. During the early centuries many other foreign practices were being introduced (the Bible clearly condemns adding to the Word-Matt. 15:1-9; 2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19). We find such human religious traditions as infant baptism, prayers for the dead, the fruit of the vine withheld from the members during communion, a clergy-laity system, and so on.

Finally people realized that these things weren't right and began to "protest", thus the beginnings of the Protestant religious bodies. While many people had good intentions, and some of the human traditions found in Catholicism were removed, unfortunately the Protestant Reformation only succeeded in establishing even more religious bodies based on human founders, doctrines and practices. Among other things, the Reformation introduced the unscriptural idea of being saved by faith alone, which is a complete reverse of what the Bible says (James 2:24).



Conclusion

The Church of Christ in Beaverton Oregon is striving to be nothing more and nothing less than a congregation that conforms to the Church that Jesus established and purchased with His own blood. We urge all believers to come back to the teachings and practices one can find revealed in the New Testament, to discard all human religious traditions which lack book, chapter and verse and to lovingly and obediently speak and practice what the Bible sanctions (1 Peter 4:11). Let's be content to allow God to tell us how He wants to be worshipped and served.

30/05/2020

Pure in Heart





“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).



Purity in Heart Defined



Jesus taught that true defilement comes from within (Matthew 15:18-19). Psalms 24:3-4 “Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully”. Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me”. “That is, in his relations with both God and man he is free from falsehood. So the pure in heart are "utterly sincere" (JPB). Their whole life, public and private, is transparent before God and men. Their very heart--including their thoughts and motives--is pure, unmixed with anything devious, ulterior or base. Hypocrisy and deceit are abhorrent to them; they are without guile” (Stott p. 49). Purity of heart is also translated “clean in heart” (Ber). “Utterly sincere” (Phi). “Pure from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt” (Thayer p. 312). “Singleness of heart, an honest heart, free from any hidden motive of self-interest” (Zond. Ency. p. 353). This is an attack upon the external religion of the Pharisees and scribes (6:1-5).



Connection in the Context



Jesus has already mentioned the man or woman who is blessed because they are mourning over their spiritual poverty (5:3-4). In such a condition, a person is willing to listen to, and bring their will into submission to, God’s answer (5:5); they are eager and hungry for a right relation with God (5:6). As a result they are far more merciful to others because of the mercy they have experienced (5:7); there is a hunger and overwhelming desire to be absolutely honest, truthful and clean when it comes to their thoughts, goals, motivations, interests, and loves. “This statement which we are now considering, namely, ‘blessed are the pure in heart’, also corresponds to the second statement in the first group, which was, ‘blessed are they that mourn’. What did they mourn about? We saw that they were mourning about the state of their hearts. They were mourning, not only because they did things that were wrong, but still more because they wanted to do wrong” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Martyn Lloyd Jones, p. 107).



Motivation



· Tired of manipulation and self-interest:



The world claims that everyone has an angle, and this is probably for the most part true. The Bible notes that the wisdom that dominates this world is one mixed with selfish ambition (James 3:14-16), while the wisdom from above is without hypocrisy (3:17). After a while, living in a world filled with advertisements and relationships that are cluttered with fine print gets tiring. The Church is one place that we can find people with pure motives. If someone asks us, “Why are you treating me so nicely?” Christians should be able to honestly say, “Just because I love you--nothing more, nothing less.”



· The wonderful feeling of innocence:



Jesus described His followers as being, “Innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), or “like children” (Matthew 18:3). Purity of heart is liberating because one no longer has to keep track who they lied to and about what. Some people might not like the idea of “becoming like little children”, yet the truth of the matter is that we will remain very immature and will actually act like some spoiled child until we accept Jesus’ offer to become like innocent children.



· Security in Relationships:



It is a wonderful feeling when you realize that someone loves you genuinely and that you have been freed from all the games, manipulation, uncertainty, strategy, and the maneuvering that so often plagues families, friendships, and marriages among non-Christians.



· Peace in the Home:



It only takes one person in the family to be “acting up”, that is, being deceitful or dishonest, for the family to be in turmoil(Proverbs 10:1; 14:1). It is noteworthy that Jesus observed that all man’s true troubles spring from evil thoughts in his heart (Matthew 15:18). As soon as we realize that all the challenges that surround us in the environment and circumstances are not the real problem, and that the secret of changing ourselves is found in cleaning up our hearts, rather than some quick fix in circumstances, we will experience permanent change and success over our struggles. Remember, if Adam and Eve sinned in “Paradise”, a perfect environment, so even if I could be placed in a perfect environment today, this would not lead to real and lasting change in my life. Only when “I” change will everything else change. A pure heart is a bigger factor then environment in spiritual victory.



· “I don’t want to end up being this person”:



“You are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28). “We must ever beware lest we stop at giving only an intellectual assent to the faith or to a given number of propositions. We have to do that, but the terrible danger is that we stop at that. When people have had merely an intellectual interest in these matters it has often-times been a curse to the Church” (Jones p. 109). We must not only accept the truth, we must love it.



· I am only Fooling Myself:



When people are pretending to be someone that they are not, they certainly are not fooling God (Hebrews 4:12-13), and, many people do see through the play acting.



Applications in the Sermon



The Sermon on the Mount reveals some practical applications of what it means to be pure in heart: The removal of lust (5:28); maintaining pure motives in worshipping God (6:2); expressing honesty in our speech and commitments (5:33-37); removing of hate (5:22); pursuing one great single goal (6:19-24) and living with complete loyalty to one Master (6:24).



· Purity of heart is manifested in a mind so clean that lust cannot survive (5:28).

· Basic honesty so well known that oaths are unnecessary (5:33).

· Motivations so pure that worship is real (6:33).

· Love so pure that sinful hate, anger, contempt, and partiality have no place (5:22; 44-48).

· Singleness of purpose so completely confident in God’s love and power that worry and materialism are unable to thrive (6:19-24).

· A heart that only serves one Master (6:24).







Practical Applications



· There is no need to pretend about the nature of one’s social status or wealth.

· There is no need to either entrap someone to marry you or stay with you.

· Freedom from games in relationships.

· Freedom from flirting.

· Freedom to concentrate on the inner beauty (1 Peter 3:4).

· Freedom from the need to manipulate others.

· Freedom from playing with other’s emotions.

· Freedom from temper tantrums so that people will bow to your will.

· Freedom from bullying or threatening.

· Freedom from moodiness, sulking or unpredictability.

· Freedom from the need to “impress”.

· Freedom from fine print that governs our commitments and promises.

· Freedom from half-truths.

· Freedom from turmoil and drama for the purpose of keeping others off their guard.

· Freedom from posturing and seeking the “chief seats”.



For They Shall See God



“It is the ultimate goal of every endeavor. To ‘see God’ is the whole purpose of all religion” (Martyn Lloyd Jones p. 106). Their aim is pure, to do God's will, to please God, and be with Him eternally. Such individuals will get their wish. 2Corinthians 5:9 “Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto Him”. “Jesus’ challenge to His or any age is simply: ‘How badly do you want to see God?’ Are you willing, then, to open up your inmost thoughts, your best-hidden desires, and your secret designs for the inspection of God? How happy is that man who so lives that at any moment he could bare his heart to the eye of God without shame. Who is willing to pay this price to enter the kingdom?” (Fowler p. 219).



This can be a Reality



If Jesus says that only the pure in heart can see God, then any of us can be pure in heart. The world, and many religious groups contend that we can never purify our hearts or our motives, yet God says otherwise (2 Corinthians 7:1; 10:5; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1Peter 2:1; John 1:47).

30/05/2020

God's Plan of Salvation

GOD'S PART

1. The great love of God for man (John 3:16)
2. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Saviour (Luke 19:10)
3. Sent the Holy Spirit as a guide (John 16:13)
4. Gave the Gospel as "the power" unto salvation (Romans 1:16)
5. Provided atonement by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9)

MAN'S PART

1. Hear the Gospel. (Romans 10:17, John 8:32)
2. Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
3. Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
4. Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
5. Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
6. Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)

God has done His part; will you do yours?

If you have questions concerning your part of this great plan, continue reading.

'What Must I do to be saved?'

This is the question that every man and woman must answer in their lives if they hope to spend eternity with God in Heaven. The apostle Paul says, in Phil 2:12, to those of the church in Philippi,

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Thus, we understand that it is our own responsibility to answer the question, "What we must do to be saved?" No one else can answer that question for us, nor can we trust others with this, most important, decision. We must seek our answer from God and His Word.

So, what does the Bible say about salvation?

We cannot be saved by the creeds or manuals of men.

In Matthew 15:9, Jesus says,

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for a doctrine the commandments of men."

In Galatians 1:6-9, the inspired writer says,

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

God is against any teaching that is not directly from Him. Thus, we must turn to the Word of God to determine that which we must do to be saved.

Again, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

So then, we must look to the Word of God to learn the way of our salvation, if we are to have hope of reaching Heaven.

First, we must HEAR the word of God. In John 5:24-25, Jesus says,

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgement, but hath passed out of death into life."

Obviously, hearing His word is very important to our salvation.

Second, we learn that hearing produces FAITH.

Romans 10:17 says,

"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

We cannot have faith if we do not know what the word of God has to say. Many believe they have faith, and that it is independent of what the Bible actually says. But according to the Bible, men and women can only attain faith through hearing the word of God.

Third, we must REPENT.

In Luke 13:3, Jesus says,

"Unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

In Acts 2, Peter preaches the first gospel sermon, in which he explains to everyone who Jesus is and the horrific crime they had committed in putting Him to death. We can pick up the story in verse 37;

"Now when the heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles 'men and brethren what shall we do?' Then Peter said unto them, Repent..."

We will get to the rest of the story in a moment, but certainly this appears to be a requirement for those who desire to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Again, in Acts 3:19 Peter says

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"

So, if repentance is a requirement, what does it mean and what must we do to meet this requirement? To repent is to change our mind and make the decision that we will change our life to begin serving the Lord as He desires us to serve Him. This is brought about by understanding what God has done for us, and realizing that we are not right with Him in our current condition and that we desire to change so as to please Him. This means, that an immoral person must become moral and upright in lifestyle. For the religious person who has tried to live a life pleasing to God, repentance may involve recognizing that we have not done what God requires of us with regard to salvation and that we must obey the inspired plan in order to be right with Him. If we are in the denominational world, belonging to a church that has a creed or doctrine other than the Bible and/or in addition to the Bible, then we must turn away from such a religion and find a congregation of people that believe in the Bible and only the Bible. (We are certainly happy to help you in any such search.) Repentance then is produced by Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) which leads to a change of heart and a change of mind, which is the beginning of a changed life... one that is dedicated to God.

Fourth, we must CONFESS our faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:8-10 says,

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Then, we must be BAPTIZED...

The person who is a repentant, confessing believer is a person ready to be baptized. To many in the world, baptism is a controversial issue. As simple as the process is and as often as it is commanded in the New Testament, many in the religious world just cannot accept it as the Bible teaches it. Let's see what the Bible says about baptism. Remember Peter's first Gospel ermon in Acts 2? We looked at it earlier in the section on repentance. Let's take a look at the rest of that passage now.

Acts 2:36-39

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

This tells us that baptism is necessary for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.

The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 3:26-27,

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

So, we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. But what does that faith in Jesus lead us to do? When do we actually put on Christ?

The answer of Galatians 3:27 is simple. The believer has put on Christ when he or she is baptized into Christ.

Look again to the Bible. In Acts 22:16, Ananias is quoted by Paul as saying,

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

So then, baptism washes away sins. But it is not the physical washing of the body that makes the difference. Rather, it is our willingness to do that which God has commanded us to do. Peter explains this in I Peter 3:20-21 when he says,

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

We come up out of the water to "walk in newness of life."

God then adds us to the church (Acts 2:47). Not by vote or the decisions of men, but God alone adds us to His Church.

Finally, we must live our lives in faithful and loyal service to our Lord Jesus Christ as God has directed (Revelation 2:10). We must find a congregation that believes and practices as the New Testament directs... following the Word of God... speaking where the Bible speaks, living by His Word and His Word alone. Trusting in God to save us as He has promised those who would be faithful to Him.

If you find yourself not in compliance with the Bible's plan of salvation, you can change. You can make your life right with God. No matter how old you may be, it is not too late to make your life right by obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are sincerely desiring to serve the Lord, then He can certainly help you in your pursuit of righteousness. Please contact us if you would like to correspond or speak with someone concerning the Bible's plan of salvation.

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Church Of Christ Adekunle Ajasin Akoko
Akungba

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Wednesday 06:00 - 19:00
Friday 06:00 - 19:00
Sunday 09:00 - 17:00

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+2349139986596

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