BASIC Principles of Christianity

Lesson 3

A Starting Point

A Starting Point♦ Everyone has to start the Christian life. We may

begin early in life or late in life. One may begin a religious life, quit and then want to start again.

♦ This study considers a point of beginning as demonstrated by those examples in the New Testament. An individual cannot compare their beliefs and responsibility with the experience of others, but only with the word of God.

♦ The message to be preached and believed is that Christ died on the cross and in so doing made it possible for people to be saved from sin. Only those who hear and understand the gospel can respond and obey it. Romans 7:9-10

Romans 7:9-10 “ And I was alive apart from the law once: but when

the commandment came, sin revived, and I died; and the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death:”

♦ Those too young or incapable of understanding are innocent in God’s sight.

♦ In the New Testament when one became a Christian they were also added to the church at the same time.

I. THE LAW OF PARDON IS AFTER A PATTERN♦ Romans 1:16♦ Romans 5:1♦ Romans 6:3-7♦ Romans 6:17-18♦ Acts 2:47♦ I Corinthians 12:13

Romans 1:16♦ For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is

the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 5:1♦ “Being therefore justified by faith, we have

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

Romans 6:3-7♦ “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized

into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin.”

Romans 6:17-18♦ “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were

servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.”

Acts 2:47♦ “praising God, and having favor with all the

people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.”

I Corinthians 12:13♦ “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into

one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

II. NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

♦ The teachings of Jesus - Matthew 28:18-20♦ The Jews on Pentecost - Acts 2:22-41♦ The Samaritans - Acts 8:5, 12

Matthew 28:18-20♦ “And Jesus came to them and spake unto

them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Acts 2:22-41♦ Turn to Acts 2:22-41 and read.

Acts 8:5, 12♦ “And Philip went down to the city of

Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.”

♦ “But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

MORE EXAMPLES :

♦ The Man of Ethiopia - Acts 8:26-39♦ Saul of Tarsus – Acts 9:1-18; 22:15-16; 26:9-

19♦ Cornelius – Acts 10:1-48

♦ Lydia – Acts 16:13-15♦ The Philippian Jailer – Acts 16:25-34♦ The Corinthians – Acts 18:1-8♦ The Ephesians – Acts 19:1-5

Lydia – ♦ Acts 16:13-15 “And on the sabbath day we went forth without the

gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. “

The Philippian Jailer – ♦ Acts 16:25-34 “But about midnight Paul and Silas were

praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. …”

The Corinthians – ♦ Acts 18:1-8 “After these things he departed from Athens,

and came to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them; and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath….”

The Ephesians –♦ Acts 19:1-5 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at

Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.”

More Examples ………

♦ The Romans – Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that

grace may abound? 2God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? 3Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:17-18Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were

servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.”

Corresponding Scriptures

♦ Galatians 3:26-27 “For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in

Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ”

♦ Colossians 2:11-12 ”in whom ye were also circumcised with a

circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

♦ I Peter 3:21 “which also after a true likeness doth now

save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;”

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LESSON 4DYNAMIC CHRISTIAN

LIVINGOr View Additional Slides On This

Subject“A Closer Look At Saul”

A Closer Look At SaulOne of the most talked about examples of

conversion is recorded in three chapters of the Book Of Acts – Chapters 9, 22 and 26.

Before the Paul’s conversion he was called Saul. In Acts 22, Paul tells us about his own “Starting Point”

Verses 3-5♦ Paul’s description of his passion for the Law

of Moses and how he persecuted Christians – even to death.

Verses 6-11♦ With his one purpose of mind he travels

toward another city to do more persecution.♦ About lunch time a great light from heaven

focused directly on him and a voice from heaven was heard.

♦ Saul responds by asking two questions.Who art thou Lord?What shall I do?

The Answer to Saul’s Questions♦ The voice from heaven instructed him to go

to the City of Damascus and there he shall be told what to do.

Verse 16♦ This verse contains the exact command from

God which was delivered to Saul by the man Ananias.“And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be

baptized and wash away thy sins calling on his name.”

♦ Saul did not hesitate to obey. See Acts 9:18♦ This is how Saul received forgiveness for the

sins he committed against God and man.

Verses 12-15♦ These verses tell us about the vision and

instructions given to a man named Ananias by God.♦ Ananias is told what he must do and what he must

say to Saul, even though it might have presented the same fate for Ananias as it did for many of the Christians that came in contact with Saul before he was converted.

♦ Because of the obedience of Ananias to go and instruct Saul in the “Way” and Saul’s willingness to do all that God said, he (Paul) found answers to his questions and a new PASSION for LIFE!

Thank You For Your Interest!!!♦ If you found the Basic Principles of Christianity series

educational and informative … ♦ Feel free to drop us a note and let us know what you thought

of this lesson series – we will be glad to hear from you. Kevin Wilsonkmwilson.hpcc@gmail.com ork.mark.wilson@gmail.com

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LESSON 4

DYNAMIC CHRISTIAN LIVING