Baptist Distinctive 3 - Saved Baptized Church Membership

1Baptist Distinctive #3

2SAVED, BAPTIZED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

3Salvation: Popular Beliefs

• I can be saved my works Rom.8
  • This includes being baptized in some religions.
  • -Baptism is a picture
  • Christ’s
  • Christ’s
  • Christ’s
  • -Baptism is never portrayed as “Salvific” in scripture.

  • CONTENTIOUS QUESTIONS: Why did Jesus need to die?

  • Why do we need to obey God?

  • Who can do the most ?
• I can be saved do works James 2:18-26
• This is often the characteristic of the “dead” church. Revelation 3:1-6
  • -The Sardis church was void of .
  • -The Sardis church was losing in the fight for
  • good over evil…they had no .
  • -The Sardis church was in “coast”.
  • Notice verse 1 – “…you have a name that you are alive…BUT…you are dead”

4Salvation…The Biblical Way

• I can be saved my works James 2:17

  • -What about “backsliding”? (John 15:1-2)

  • -What about the “feeling of peace” which I have in my heart of hearts?

5Obedience is the Key to a Solid and

6Unshakable Faith

7Church Membership

• Church membership can only be available to those who profess to know as and who have been correctly . 1 Corinthians 12
  • -The church will only be powerful as long as it’s members live in obedience to God’s will.
• We are all of one and the same 1 Cor.12:4-5
• We are all 1 Cor.12:6
• We are all 1 Cor.12:7
  • -Membership allows us to utilize our spiritual gifts.
  • -The local church is God’s primary means of spreading His reputation in the world.
  • A local church is not a .
  • A local church is an assembly of believers.
  • Unless your righteousness surpasses the Pharisees
  • And the teachers of the law…
  • You will not see the Kingdom of heaven.

8-Jesus Christ-

• Man looks on the outward…
• God looks on the heart.

9Answer Sheet

• Death
• Burial
• Resurrection
• Boasting
• And not
• Spiritual life
• Power
• And know it through
• Christ
• Savior
• Baptized
• Spirit
• Equal
• Necessary (for specific jobs)
• Building
• Intro:
  • I saw a tract a while back that caught my attention. It read, "Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Susan Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. They were odd people and most difficult to understand. The way they lived was a shame. All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have enjoyed worshipping with them. Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with friends. Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid somebody wouldn't speak to him. So guess who went to church - Nobody. Really, Nobody was the only decent one of the four.
  • Nobody did the visitation. Nobody worked on the church building. Once they needed a Sunday School Teacher, Everybody thought Anybody would do it, and Anybody thought Somebody would do it, and you know who did it? That's right...Nobody! It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area. Everybody thought Somebody should try to win him for Christ. Anybody could have made an effort. You probably know who finally witnessed to him: Nobody!"
  • This little parable brings to focus again the fact that each of us is personally responsible for God's work.
• Conclusion:
  • Jesus said, "...Whoever practices and teaches (my) commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt.5:19-20
  • To the people listening, it was practically impossible to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees! Pharisees taught, fasted, and prayed hours at a time! Who could compete with that kind of righteousness! The simple fact of the matter was, righteousness is not gained by how much you put in the offering plate or how many hours you give up to teach runny-nosed kids or how long you are able to pray. That's what the Pharisees thought. Instead, righteousness comes from faith…and faith becomes visible through the heart. If you have no desire to give or to help or to work, your heart is not very active and therefore, your righteousness is not working to it's full potential. Your faith is not evident in your works. In short, if you are not pitching in to do your part, you're not living your life to it's full potential.
  • Each one of us has a part to play, if you are not playing your part, somebody will have to work overtime to pick up your slack. Or, if we leave our part for somebody or everybody or anybody, maybe nobody will do it. Let's work until the job is finished and let's not get weary in well-doing.
  • BrainStorm

  • What are some popular theories on ways to get to God?

  • BrainStorm

  • What are the 4 main commands included in Jesus’ commission to us?

• Matthew 28:18-20
  • BrainStorm

  • How did the first church people meet in the New Testament?

• Hint:
  • You have already read the answer today.