three priorities of a new believer three vital steps to spiritual maturity
TRANSCRIPT
Three Priorities Of A New Believer
Three Vital Steps to Spiritual Maturity
Confess Christ
• “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32
• Confessing Christ with the mouth is a consequence that follows believing on Him in our heart.
Receive “Believer’s Baptism”
• There are different purposes of baptism:
• Ceremonial Cleansing
• A ritual cleansing from defilement of sin
• John the Baptist, baptism of repentance
• Believer’s baptism
The Scripural Mode of Baptism
• IMMERSION
• is the scriptural mode of baptism.
• Founders and scholars of may Christian denominations agree
• John Calvin –
• Martin Luther –
• Cardinal Farley
A Physical Illustration of A Spiritual Reality
• “…so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body..”
• 1st Corinthians 12:12a
Unite With A New Testament Church• To receive,
• Teaching
• Example
• Love
• Support
• Ministry and opportunity to serve
Members Of A Local Church
• 28 Times members are exhorted to:
• “love one another”
• “be kind to one another”
• “Be tenderhearted toward one another
• “Encourage one another
• “Bear one another’s burdens”
The Church Is An Assembly
• The church is not a building or a large religious organization or denomination.
• God chose a Greek word meaning “called out ones”
• A church is an assembled body of believers who confess Christ as their Savior
The Church As Man Sees It
• A local, visible church is made up of believers who fulfill the Biblical purposes of the church
• Do not have to belong to a large organization or denomination
• Do not have to have a building
The Church as God Sees It
• He sees the church in its entirety
• From the first believers at Pentecost
• To the last believer of the church age
• Every believer called out of the world
• into God’s assembly.
Symbols of the Church
• The body of Christ - The bride of Christ
• A flock - God’s husbandry
• A new man - The Temple of God
• An habitation of God - House of God
• Pillar and ground of the truth
God’s Revealed Esteem for the Church• Christ is the Founder and Builder
• The Church is God’s Possession
• The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth
• Churches are the Focus of Christ’s Concern
Three Vital Steps To Maturity
• 1. Confessing Christ as Savior
• 2. Follow His example in believer’s baptism
• 3. Becoming a part of a New Testament church
• The foundation for a victorious Christian