- Commandments revealed: what must we do?
- Hear
- Believe
- Repent
- Be baptized
- Be faithful
- Part 3: Fielding questions and rebuttals
- “I believe Jesus saves me. Why do you believe in works-based salvation?”
- Patiently reintroduce the need for obedience. Show multiple examples in the Old Testament of obedience resulting in God doing something (II Kings 5.
- Their rebuttal: Romans 5:1
- Response: Romans 6:1-15 - fellowship with God requires obedience.
- “Ephesians 2:8 says my salvation is a free gift. Why are you telling me I have to repay grace?”
- Ephesians 2:10.
- Their rebuttal: Titus 3:5
- Response: Acts 15:6-11.
- “Baptism was added by men. God just said believe.”
- This often derives from denominational perversion of baptism. See previous responses for second statement.
- Their rebuttal: I Corinthians 1:17
- Response: First, address context of I Corinthians 1.
- “I was baptized as a public show of an inward faith. I was saved when I believed.”
- Note in Acts, baptism is the culmination in each account of the conversion of the particular person (or group) being addressed. Furthermore, no one in Acts is seen teaching or preaching the gospel accurately before they themselves are baptized. No work happens before. Rejoicing happens after baptism.
- Their rebuttal: I Peter 3:21
- Response: Quoting the whole verse (in context) is important to understanding the meaning.
- “Baptism is a pouring out of the Holy Spirit. A water baptism is just a symbol.”
- Acts 8.
- Rebuttal: Acts 2:38
- Response: Note difference in the baptism. There is a baptism by the Holy Spirit only in two places (Acts 2.
- “You’ve convinced me. Baptism is a part of God’s will for receiving Christ and His forgiveness. Thankfully, I’ve already been baptized.”
- I Corinthians 14:15 shows it’s the conscious “appeal” to God.
- “I believe Jesus saves me. Why do you believe in works-based salvation?”
CT
October 03, 2012
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