God's Plan for Saving Man

God's Plan for Saving Man

LESSON FIVE - RESULTS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION

TEXT: Acts 2:41

INTRODUCTION:

A. Acts 2 DESCRIBES THE BEGINNING EFFORTS OF THE APOSTLES TO CARRY OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION.

1. Peter’s summary & command( Acts 2:36-38 ).

2. They who received his work( vs. 41 ).

B. IF WE PUT A NEW FOOD OR MEDICINE ON THE MARKET, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO FOLLOW-UP STUDIES ON ALL WHO USED THAT PRODUCT TO SEE ITS EFFECTS.

C. LET’S DO A FOLLOW-UP ON THESE FIRST CONVERTS TO LEARN THE EFFECTS OF BAPTISM ON US.

I. SINS WASHED AWAY( Acts 2:38; 22:16 ).

A. BUT SOMEONE ALWAYS OBJECTS:

1. Aren’t sins washed away by Jesus’ blood?( 1 John 1:7 )YES.

2. Wasn’t his blood poured out for remission?( Matt. 26:28 )YES.

B. ONE PASSAGE SAYS BLOOD, THE OTHER SAYS BAPTISM. WHICH IS IT?

C. WHEN WE SAY BLOOD, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ( Heb. 9:14-15 ).

D. HOW CAN WE FELLOWSHIP JESUS IN HIS DEATH?( Rom. 6:3-4 ).

II. THEY EXPERIENCED A "NEW BIRTH"( John 3:3-5 ).

A. THE RESULT OF BEING BEGOTTEN( 1 Pet. 1:3 ).

B. THE "SEED"( 1 Pet. 1:22-23 ).

C. JESUS & NICODEMUS - "WHAT IS THIS NEW BIRTH?"( John 3:3-5 ).

1. Jesus addresses Nicodemus’ questions

_________________________NATURE________________MODE

Nicodemus_______________Physical_______________Mother’s womb

Jesus___________________Spiritual_______________Water - Baptism

2. Evidence in the context( vs. 6-10 ).

D. IT IS THE NEW BIRTH THAT CREATES HOPE( 1 Pet. 1:3 ).

E. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A "NEW LIFE"( Rom. 6:3-4, 17-18 ).

III. THEY WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH( Acts 2:47 ).

A. BAPTISM PUTS ONE INTO CHRIST( Gal. 3:27 )& THE BODY OF CHRIST ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18 ).

B. JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE BODY( Eph. 5:23 ). THIS IS BECAUSE THE BODY IS MADE UP OF THE SAVED( Acts 2:47 ).

C. SINCE ALL IN THE CHURCH ARE WASHED IN THE BLOOD, THE CHURCH IS THE BLOOD BOUGHT BODY( Acts 20:28 ).

D. JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY( Eph. 1:22-23 ). WE MUST BE SUBJECT TO HIM IN ALL THINGS( Col. 3:17 ).

IV. BUT WHAT DID THEY DO FOLLOWING THEIR BAPTISM? ( Acts 2:42 ).

A. THEY CONTINUED IN THE APOSTLE’S TEACHING( John 8:31 ).

B. THEY WENT ABOUT TEACHING OTHERS( Acts 5:42 ).

CONCLUSION: WHAT ABOUT YOU?

A. HAVE YOUR RECEIVED THE WORD?( Acts 2:41 ).

B. IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU NEED TO BE BAPTIZED!

C. IF YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED, WHAT EFFECT HAS IT HAD ON YOU?