Salvation and Baptism Study Guide
This guide is designed to walk you through key biblical passages related to salvation and baptism. It explores God's original intention for humanity, the impact of sin, God's response, and the path to forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ. By examining these scriptures, you will gain a deeper understanding of God's character, the nature of sin, and the significance of salvation and baptism in a believer's life.
God created us to have a special relationship with Him
- Genesis 1-2:9
- Genesis 1:27
- Genesis 2:7
- Psalm 139:13-14
Sin entered the world and altered our relationship with God.
God had placed Adam and Eve in the garden and provided them with everything they needed. They were in perfect relationship with God and with one another. by exercising his freewill and disobeying God, they would alter their relationship with God, as well as their relationship with each other.
God had placed Adam and Eve in the garden and provided them with everything they needed. They were in perfect relationship with God and with one another. by exercising his freewill and disobeying God, they would alter their relationship with God, as well as their relationship with each other.
God’s reaction to sin
Why does God take such a harsh view of sin? If God is loving, why couldn’t He just ignore Adam and Eve’s sin?
Why does God take such a harsh view of sin? If God is loving, why couldn’t He just ignore Adam and Eve’s sin?
- Deuteronomy 32:4
- Psalm 5:4
- Habakkuk 1:13
- 1 John 1:5
It’s not just Adam and Eve - ALL have sinned
The wages we earn from sin are death and separation from God. And all of us have earned the “wages” of sin. God is holy and just. He cannot tolerate sin.
The wages we earn from sin are death and separation from God. And all of us have earned the “wages” of sin. God is holy and just. He cannot tolerate sin.
- Romans 3:23 (we all fall short)
- James 4:17 (choosing to sin)
- Romans 6:23 (consequence of sin)
- Isaiah 13:11
God is not only holy and just, He is also merciful.
Many people believe that if our good deeds outweigh the bad things we do in life, we get to heaven. There is nothing further from the truth. No “good deed” we do can ever erase or outweigh our sin. The only wage we earn from sin is death. Eternal life with God is not something we earn, it is a gift given to us by a merciful God.
Many people believe that if our good deeds outweigh the bad things we do in life, we get to heaven. There is nothing further from the truth. No “good deed” we do can ever erase or outweigh our sin. The only wage we earn from sin is death. Eternal life with God is not something we earn, it is a gift given to us by a merciful God.
- Romans 6:23 (wages of sin, BUT we get a gift from God)
- Isaiah 64:6
God has provided the way for us to be forgiven and to live with Him throughout eternity through Jesus Christ.
Jesus was the acceptable sacrifice for our sins because “He had no sin.” Jesus is the one and only exception to the rule that all have sinned. He was born and lived upon the earth. He was fully human, and at the same time, fully God. Because “He knew no sin” He could pay the price for our sins. Because of this, and only this, we can receive the gift of God’s righteousness and eternal life.
Jesus was the acceptable sacrifice for our sins because “He had no sin.” Jesus is the one and only exception to the rule that all have sinned. He was born and lived upon the earth. He was fully human, and at the same time, fully God. Because “He knew no sin” He could pay the price for our sins. Because of this, and only this, we can receive the gift of God’s righteousness and eternal life.
- John 3:16
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- Romans 3:22
How to accept God’s gift of salvation.
In order to accept God’s gift, we must believe that Jesus is God’s Son (John 3:16), that He lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:210), that He was raised from the dead (Acts 2:24) and that He now sits at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69-70)
In order to accept God’s gift, we must believe that Jesus is God’s Son (John 3:16), that He lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:210), that He was raised from the dead (Acts 2:24) and that He now sits at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69-70)
- John 3:16-18
- Acts 3:19 (repent means to turn away from a life full of sin, and to turn toward God)
- Romans 10:9 (in order to receive God’s gift you must acknowledge in front of other people that you submitting to Jesus)
- Acts 2:38 (Final step)
- Acts 22:16
PLEASE NOTE: The water in the baptistery has no special powers. If you don’t believe in Jesus and accept His gift of grace, then baptism is nothing more than getting wet. But being baptized by immersion is clearly what the New Testament teaches believers to do when they come to a place of belief in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives.
Baptism by immersion is the pattern we see in Scripture as the God-ordained method for receiving the salvation offered by God through the death of Jesus on the cross. While Scripture binds us to uphold the biblical teaching of baptism by immersion, we acknowledge that God is sovereign and saves people as he sees fit. Baptism by immersion is the pattern laid out in Scripture for one wanting to give his or her heart to God, accept Jesus as Lord of their lives, and become a Christian. We acknowledge that there are circumstances where God can save people by looking at the heart without being baptized by immersion.
Baptism by immersion is the pattern we see in Scripture as the God-ordained method for receiving the salvation offered by God through the death of Jesus on the cross. While Scripture binds us to uphold the biblical teaching of baptism by immersion, we acknowledge that God is sovereign and saves people as he sees fit. Baptism by immersion is the pattern laid out in Scripture for one wanting to give his or her heart to God, accept Jesus as Lord of their lives, and become a Christian. We acknowledge that there are circumstances where God can save people by looking at the heart without being baptized by immersion.
We are called to live lives that reflect His gift of grace that we’ve accepted
Nothing you do before or after you are baptized earns your salvation.
Nothing you do before or after you are baptized earns your salvation.
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Romans 6:1-4 (God’s Grace is NOT a free pass...)