By David Watson

Benchley, June 14, 2009

• II John 9?- We must abide within the bounds of God’s teaching.
• Direct command
  • God tells people what to do.
  • Galatians 1:8?- There is no expiration date on the gospel.
  • The Bible teaches us to pay attention to direct commands.? Acts 5:29; II Thessalonians 3:14
  • Acts 2:38?- baptism commanded
  • I Corinthians 11:23-26?- observance of the Lord’s Supper commanded
  • I Corinthians 16:1-2?- offering on first day of the week commanded
• Divine statement
  • A statement of truth.
  • The Bible teaches us to pay attention to divine statements.
    • Matthew 19:3-6?- Divine statements in Genesis show divorce is wrong.
    • Matthew 4:10?- We are to serve God only.
  • Mark 16:15-16?- belief and baptism required for salvation
  • John 4:24?- We must worship in spirit and truth.
  • Luke 16:18?- adultery defined
• Approved example
  • God approved of certain actions in the Bible, so we can follow those examples.
  • The Bible teaches us to pay attention to approved examples.
    • I Corinthians 9:5, 4:16, 11:1
    • III John 11
    • Philippians 3:17, 4:9
  • Mark 3:5?- It’s possible to be angry without sinning.
  • Romans 15:25-26
  • Galatians 2:11-13?- rebuking a brother authorized; hypocrisy prohibited
• Unavoidable conclusion
  • The understanding of facts which are not stated by the facts which are stated.
  • The Bible teaches us to pay attention to unavoidable conclusions.
    • Exodus 3:6; Luke 20:27, 37-38
    • Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-6
    • Matthew 4:10
  • Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 26:17-20, 26-28; Exodus 12:17-20; I Peter 2:22?- use of unleavened bread for Lord’s Supper
  • Acts 8:35-36?- Preaching Jesus implies preaching baptism.
• How to be saved
  • Hebrews 11:6?- faith (unavoidable conclusion)
  • Acts 17:30?- repentence (direct command)
  • Romans 10:10?- confession (divine statement)
  • Acts 2:41?- baptism (approved example)

By David Watson

Benchley, March 1, 2009

[Notes provided from David's handout for this lesson.? Thanks, Dave!]

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The word gospel literally means ?good news.? Let?s examine the good news about Jesus Christ.

1. The story of Jesus.

1. 1. Jesus prepared people for the transition away from the Old Covenant (Matthew 5:17-18), and began revealing the New Covenant which would offer complete forgiveness of sins!
   2. This was the very reason Jesus came to earth (John 1:29, Luke 19:10), and everything else Jesus said and did was in keeping with this Divine mission.
   3. He chose 12 apostles, taught many, and exposed hypocrisy (Matthew 21:37-45, 23:13-14).
   4. Jesus? enemies couldn?t deny the miracles He performed (John 9:16, 32-33, Matthew 15:31).
   5. Jesus was crucified, completing the perfect sacrifice for sins (Ephesians 1:7, Acts 20:28).
   6. His resurrection sealed His Lordship and our hope (I Corinthians 6:14, 15:1ff, Acts 2:36).

1. The command of obedient faith.
   1. Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), but most do not receive it (Matthew 7:13).
   2. What is the deciding factor? Why do some people receive this free gift and not others?
   3. God?s condition for the gift of salvation is obedience (Matthew 7:21-27, 28:18-20, Acts 10:35, II Corinthians 5:10, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 5:9, James 2:24).
   4. Therefore, what is faith in Ephesians 2:8? It means faith which spurs one into obedient action (James 2:14-26).
2. The steps to salvation.
   1. The first step is faith.
      1. We must believe the truth about Deity (Acts 2:36, John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6).
      2. Faith develops as a result of God?s Word affecting our hearts (Romans 10:17).
   2. The second step is repentance (Matt. 4:17, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 2:38, 17:30, II Peter 3:9).
      1. Repentance is a decision to turn away from sin and toward God (Matthew 12:41, Jonah 3:5-10) which is prompted by godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:9-11).
      2. True repentance leads to action (Luke 3:8, Acts 26:20).
   3. The third step is confession.
      1. The Ethiopian was prompted to confess his faith (Acts 8:35-38).
      2. Confession is authorized by Divine precept (Romans 10:9-10).
   4. The fourth step is baptism.
      1. Baptism saves us (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21), is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16), makes us partakers of Christ?s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12), adds us to the church (I Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 1:18), and clothes us with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
      2. Baptism is urgent (Acts 2:41, 8:36, 16:33, 22:16).
   5. The fifth step is growth and service.
      1. Christians must always try to improve (II Peter 3:18, Hebrews 12:28).
      2. Though one is in a saved relationship with God, he has to maintain it (I Cor. 10:12).

By Steve Fontenot

Benchley, November 13, 2008

• John 3:16
• This verse has been called the “golden text” of the Bible.
• Matthew 4:5-7?- just quoting scripture is not enough to get down to the truth.
  • The law of harmony must be applied to harmonize all the scriptures on a particular topic.
• This verse expresses God’s immense love for mankind and shows that the blessing of eternal life is available to all who believe.
• Ephesians 2:8-9?- salvation is by the grace of God.? It’s not something we can earn.
• If you are?a true believer, you can go to sleep at night without worrying about your fate.
• But what does “believe” mean in John 3:16?
  • The common interpretation is that you can be saved through simple belief alone.
  • The other view iis that belief involves serving God and everything that goes with that service.
  • “Believe” here is a synecdoche.
  • Acts 11:18?- The same figure of speech is used here.
  • John 3:14-15?- To live when bitten by the poisonous serpents, the Israelites had to believe and look on the bronze serpent.? “Believe” here means looking and believing.
  • Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16?- Taken together, these verses show that baptism is required for salvation.
  • Acts 2:38?- These believers were told to repent and be baptized.
  • Acts 22:16?- Saul was told to arise and be baptized.
  • I Peter 3:21?- Baptism saves.
  • James 2:14,24?- Faith without obedience means nothing!
  • Matthew 6:30; Hebrews 3:12; I John 2:16-17?- the dangers of unbelief
  • Romans 5:1; 6:3-7,17-18; 1:5; 16:26?- further examples of this figure of speech
  • Acts 4:4; 2:41; 5:14; 2:47,38,41?- When men believed, repentance and baptism were included.
  • Acts 16:31-34?- Belief here clearly includes baptism.
  • Acts 18:8
  • Hebrews 11:6

By Steve Fontenot

November 11, 2008

• Acts 19:1-5?- all types of baptism are not acceptable to God.
• Four characteristics of baptism in the name of Jesus:
  • The right candidate
    • Someone must understand and have faith in Jesus.
    • Acts 8:35-37?- The Ethiopian eunuch believed and was baptized.
    • Acts 2:37-38?- The people had to believe, repent, and be baptized.
    • Infant baptism or baptism just because of family pressure is not in the name of Jesus Christ.? There is no faith or change of will behind the baptism.
    • It is not important who baptizes you.? John 4:1-2; I Corinthians 1:14-17; Acts 18:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16
    • II Peter 3:18?- You don’t have to know everything about the Bible to be baptized.
    • Mark 9:20-24?- The question is not of Jesus’ power – it is of our belief.
  • The right element
    • Acts 10:47-48?- Baptism should be in water to be in the name of Jesus.
  • The right act
    • Acts 8:38-39?- Baptism is immersion.
  • The right design
    • Acts 2:37-38?- for the remission of sins
    • Acts 2:41?- People were baptized the same day they believed.
    • Acts 8:36?- The Ethiopian was baptized immediately.
    • Acts 16:30-33?- They were baptized immediately.
    • Acts 9:18?- Paul was baptized immediately.
    • Baptism is urgent because it is required for salvation.
    • Acts 8:39?- The Ethiopian rejoiced for salvation after he was baptized.
    • Acts 16:33-34?- The jailer rejoiced after baptism.
    • Acts 9:19?- Paul ate after baptism because he was relieved and rejoicing.
    • Romans 6:3; I Peter 3:21 – We are baptized into Jesus’ death for the remission of our sins.