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
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 a perfect relationship with God and with one another. By exercising their free will 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 a perfect relationship with God and with one another. By exercising their free will and disobeying God, they would alter their relationship with God, as well as their relationship with each other.
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's promise to deal with sin)
God is not only holy and just, but He is also merciful.
Many people believe that if the good things we do outweigh the bad things we do in life, we will be allowed into 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 the good things we do outweigh the bad things we do in life, we will be allowed into 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.
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.
How to accept God’s gift of salvation.
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 5:21), 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)
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 5:21), 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 (to receive God’s gift, you must acknowledge in front of other people that you are 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 a very important step in a believer's walk when they come to a place of belief in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives.
Baptism by immersion is an act of obedience. We are called to live lives that resemble Jesus, and if He was baptized, then it's a step we should take. We acknowledge that God is sovereign and saves people as he sees fit. 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 an act of obedience. We are called to live lives that resemble Jesus, and if He was baptized, then it's a step we should take. We acknowledge that God is sovereign and saves people as he sees fit. 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...)