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Responding To God’s LoveResponding To God’s LoveLesson SixLesson Six

Introduction:

This Is A Continuation Of Our Previous Lesson Where We Asked The Question:

““How Would God Have You How Would God Have You Respond To His Great Respond To His Great Love?”Love?”

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Seek To Understand & ObeySeek To Understand & Obey

Each Person Must Seek To Understand And Obey These Truths For Him Or Herself.

By So Doing, God Will Consider You A Disciple Of Jesus And A Part Of His Eternal Kingdom.

When You, By Faith, Surrender Your Life To Jesus -

God Does What He Promised.

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First Century ResponsesFirst Century Responses• Notice The Response Of First Century Hearers

Of The Gospel And What They Were Promised.• In Acts 2 We Read An Historical Account Of

What Happened In Jerusalem On A Jewish Holiday Called Pentecost.

• Thousands Of People From All Over The Roman Empire Were Gathered To Celebrate The Occasion.

• Jesus Had Already Ascended Back Into Heaven About Ten Days Earlier.

• He Sent The Holy Spirit Just As He Promised His Apostles The Night Before His Crucifixion (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-15).

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Apostles Empowered By The Apostles Empowered By The Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

• Jesus Also Reminded Them Of This Promise Just Before He Ascended Into Heaven (Acts 1:4-5).

The Holy Spirit Empowered The Apostles, Giving Them Miraculous Abilities.

They Spoke Languages They Had Not Studied And Were Given An Inspired Message They Had Not Previously Understood.

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Peter’s Message To The CrowdPeter’s Message To The Crowd

Acts 2:22-24, 32"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him . . . God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.”

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The People Were WitnessesThe People Were Witnesses

Peter Addressed The People As Witnesses Of The Miraculous Works God Had Done Through Jesus.

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Jesus Was Put To DeathJesus Was Put To Death

Peter Stated Clearly That Jesus Was Put To Death By Their Deeds

And That God Raised Him From The Dead. This Was According To God’s Eternal Purpose.

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Jesus Was Raised By GodJesus Was Raised By God

Paul Repeats The Fact That Jesus Was Raised By God And The Apostles Had Seen Him Alive.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

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Final ProofFinal Proof• Remember That The Resurrection Of Jesus Was

The Final Proof Of His Claim To Be The Son Of God.

• This Fact Is A Major Pillar Of Christianity.• Without His Resurrection, We Have No Hope For

Life Beyond The Grave (1 Cor. 15:12-21)• These Facts Were Put Before These People So

That They Could Base Their Decisions On The Truth.

Acts 2:36

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

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Peter ContinuesPeter Continues• Peter Restated Who

Jesus Was And Reminded His Listeners That They Were Responsible For His Crucifixion.

• Jesus Died For Their Sins.

• Notice Their Reaction When They Believed What They Heard.

Acts 2:37

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

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The Facts Touched Their HeartsThe Facts Touched Their Hearts

• They Had Put To Death The Son Of God.• Your Sins Put Him On That Cross, Too.• We Are As Guilty As They Were.• He Died For Your Sins.• The Message Should Cut Your Heart Just

As It Did Theirs.• They Asked, “What Shall We Do?”• This Indicates They Believed The Gospel

Message But Realized The Need For Further Response On Their Part.

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Peter’s Reply Peter’s Reply

• So Peter’s Reply Should Be As Important To You As It Was To Them.

Acts 2:38-40

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.“ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

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Repentance And Baptism Are Repentance And Baptism Are NecessaryNecessary

• Peter States That Repentance And Baptism By The Authority Of Jesus Are Necessary For The Forgiveness Of Sins.

• The Crowd Was Also Promised That God’s Spirit Would Take Up Residence In Them When Their Sins Were Removed (Acts 5:32 Says God Gives His Spirit To Those Who Obey Him).

• Notice How The People Responded And What They Were Promised.

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The Lord Added The BaptizedThe Lord Added The BaptizedActs 2:41, 47

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day . . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• When They Were Baptized, The Lord Added Them To The Number Of Disciples (His Church).

• The Lord Also Added Them To The Number Of Saved People.

• They Were Saved From Sin And The Separation Caused By Sin.

• They Were Saved From The Wrath Of God At Judgment And An Eternal Destiny In A Godless Hell.

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Now Look At The IllustrationNow Look At The IllustrationActions Facts PromisesBelieve John 3:16 “Jesus is God’s Son”

John 11:25-26 “He who believes in me will live”

Mark 5:7 (Demons know Jesus is God’s Son)

James 2:19 (Demons believe and shudder)

Eternal Life

Confess Rom 10:9-10 “Jesus is Lord”, Master, Ruler, Authority

Matt 7:21 Not all who say Lord, Lord, will enter heaven

Matt 10:32-33 Christ will acknowledge those who acknowledge Him

2 Cor 3:17-18 Freedom is in Him

Saved

Repent Mark 16:16Matt 28:18-20 Jesus has all authority”

Baptized Acts 2:38-41, 47

1. Sins Forgiven

2. Received the gift of the H.S.

3. Added to the # of the saved.

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RepentanceRepentance• There Are Two Important Parts To Biblical

Repentance.

• The First Part Is Change.• Repentance Means To Change One’s Mind

And Actions.• It Is A Heartfelt Decision To Turn From

Sinfulness To God - • And To Stop Doing Those Things That Grieve

Him.

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Acts 3:19Acts 3:19

• When God’s Spirit Is In Us, We Are Refreshed By Having A Renewed Relationship With Him.

• Changed Living Takes A Decided Effort On Our Part, But The Power To Do So Successfully Comes From The Lord

(2 Cor 3:17-18) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

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RepentanceRepentance

• Sorrow is the second part of Repentance.2 Cor. 7:9-10. . . . . your sorrow led you to repentance.

For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

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There Are Two Kinds Of SorrowThere Are Two Kinds Of Sorrow•Two Kinds Of Sorrow Are Mentioned in 2 Cor. 7:9-10,•Worldly Sorrow And Godly Sorrow.

Example:

Two Bank Robbers Are In Prison At The Same Time, And Both Of Them Are Sorry.

One Is Grieved That His Life Has Become Such A Mess And That He Has Hurt God With His Sinful Ways.

The Other Is Just Sorry He Got Caught And Grieves Over The Fact That He Didn’t Have A Good Enough Getaway Plan And Now Has To Serve Time.

One Has Godly Sorrow That Leads To Repentance; The Other Has Worldly Sorrow.

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Another IllustrationAnother Illustration

• While Traveling Down A Road Called Sin, You Look Ahead And See The End Result, It Is An Eternal Destiny You Do Not Want, Torment In A Godless Hell.

• You Are Sorry That You Have Come This Way And Decide To Turn To A Different Road.

• God Gives You That Opportunity Through His Forgiveness, Made Available In Jesus Christ.

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Repentant BelieversRepentant Believers

• The People Being Baptized In Acts 2 Were Repentant Believers.

• Each Person Had To Decide Whether He Or She Believed The facts About Jesus As Stated By The Apostles.

• Each Person Had To Repent Of His Or Her Own Sin And Be Baptized.

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God’s Purpose For BaptismGod’s Purpose For Baptism Let’s Look At Some More Passages Of Scripture That Will Let’s Look At Some More Passages Of Scripture That Will

Deepen Our Understanding Of God’s Purpose For Baptism.Deepen Our Understanding Of God’s Purpose For Baptism.

John 3:1-5John 3:1-5 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a

member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.“ In reply Jesus signs you are doing if God were not with him.“ In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.“ "How can a man be born when God unless he is born again.“ "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!“ Jesus second time into his mother's womb to be born!“ Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

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Jesus Taught NicodemusJesus Taught NicodemusNicodemus Knew Jesus Was From God, So Nicodemus Knew Jesus Was From God, So Jesus Taught Him About Spiritual Rebirth.Jesus Taught Him About Spiritual Rebirth.

Nicodemus Thought Jesus Was Talking About Nicodemus Thought Jesus Was Talking About Being Physically Reborn.Being Physically Reborn.

But Jesus Said Spiritual Rebirth Consists Of But Jesus Said Spiritual Rebirth Consists Of Water And Spirit.Water And Spirit.

Notice How Acts 2:38 Makes The Same Notice How Acts 2:38 Makes The Same Connection Between Water Baptism And Connection Between Water Baptism And Receiving God’s Spirit.Receiving God’s Spirit.

You Will Be Spiritually Starting Over When Your You Will Be Spiritually Starting Over When Your Sins Are Removed And God Gives You His Sins Are Removed And God Gives You His Spirit.Spirit.

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Romans 6:1-4Romans 6:1-4What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (2)By no means! We died to sin; how grace may increase? (2)By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (3)Or don't you know that all of can we live in it any longer? (3)Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4)We were therefore buried with him through his death? (4)We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.live a new life.

The Christians In Rome Were Reminded Of How They Had The Christians In Rome Were Reminded Of How They Had Been Separated From Their Sins In Baptism.Been Separated From Their Sins In Baptism.They Were Baptized Into The Death Of Jesus (6:3).They Were Baptized Into The Death Of Jesus (6:3).That Is When His Blood Washed Away Their Sins.That Is When His Blood Washed Away Their Sins.Paul Describes Baptism As A Burial And Resurrection (6:4)Paul Describes Baptism As A Burial And Resurrection (6:4)The Old Man Of Sin Is Dead And Buried With Christ.The Old Man Of Sin Is Dead And Buried With Christ.He Is Then Raised With Him To Live A New Life.He Is Then Raised With Him To Live A New Life.

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Three Spiritual StatesThree Spiritual States

SINHolySpirit

New Life

Death

Burial

Resurrection

This Simple Illustration May Help.The Same Person Is In Three Spiritual States:

Death, Burial, And Resurrection.

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The Gospel DefinedThe Gospel Defined

1 Corinthians 15:1-51 Corinthians 15:1-51 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I

preached to you, which you received and on which you preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. Paul Defines The Gospel For The Corinthian Paul Defines The Gospel For The Corinthian

Christians.Christians. He Says It Is The Death, Burial, And Resurrection Of He Says It Is The Death, Burial, And Resurrection Of

Jesus.Jesus.

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Baptism, Our Response To Baptism, Our Response To Obedient FaithObedient Faith

Scripture Tells Us That We Are Saved Scripture Tells Us That We Are Saved Through Faith In The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Through Faith In The Gospel Of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Baptism Is Our Personal Participation In The Baptism Is Our Personal Participation In The Gospel (The Death, Burial, And The Gospel (The Death, Burial, And The Resurrection Of Jesus).Resurrection Of Jesus).

Baptism Is A Person’s Response Of Obedient Baptism Is A Person’s Response Of Obedient Faith.Faith.

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Baptism Is A Burial And Baptism Is A Burial And ResurrectionResurrection

Colossians 2:12-13Colossians 2:12-13““. . . . having been buried with him in baptism and . . . . having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins . . . ”forgave us all our sins . . . ”

Paul Describes Baptism As A Burial And Paul Describes Baptism As A Burial And Resurrection.Resurrection.

These People Put Their Faith In God’s Power To These People Put Their Faith In God’s Power To Take Away Their Sins.Take Away Their Sins.

It Is God Who Made Them Spiritually Alive Again It Is God Who Made Them Spiritually Alive Again When He Forgave Their Sins.When He Forgave Their Sins.

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A New Start In A New A New Start In A New RelationshipRelationship

Galatians 3:26-29Galatians 3:26-29You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Becoming A Child Of God Is Through Faith In Christ Becoming A Child Of God Is Through Faith In Christ Jesus.Jesus.

Baptism Is The Point When You Put On Christ Or Baptism Is The Point When You Put On Christ Or Are Clothed With Him.Are Clothed With Him.

You Begin Wearing His Characteristics And Become You Begin Wearing His Characteristics And Become An Heir Of God’s Eternal PromisesAn Heir Of God’s Eternal Promises

This Is A New Start In A New Relationship With God.This Is A New Start In A New Relationship With God.

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Cleansed By The Blood Cleansed By The Blood Of JesusOf Jesus

1 Peter 3:21-221 Peter 3:21-22and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.to him.

Peter Compares The Water That Saved Noah Peter Compares The Water That Saved Noah (Genesis 6) From A Sinful World To God’s (Genesis 6) From A Sinful World To God’s Purpose For Water Baptism.Purpose For Water Baptism.

We Aren’t Baptized To Have Our Dirty Skin We Aren’t Baptized To Have Our Dirty Skin Washed With Water.Washed With Water.

Our Sins Are To Be Washed Away By The Our Sins Are To Be Washed Away By The Blood Of Jesus And Our Consciences Made Blood Of Jesus And Our Consciences Made Clean Again.Clean Again.

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ConclusionConclusion Now How About You?Now How About You?

Do You Believe That Jesus Is The Risen Do You Believe That Jesus Is The Risen Son Of Son Of God?God?

Are You Ready To Surrender Your Life To Are You Ready To Surrender Your Life To Him, Him, Letting Him Become Your Lord?Letting Him Become Your Lord?

Are You Sorry For Your Sinful Life And Are You Sorry For Your Sinful Life And Ready To Ready To Turn From Sin To God?Turn From Sin To God?

Are You Ready To Be Baptized As God’s Are You Ready To Be Baptized As God’s Word Word Says So That Your Sins Will Be Says So That Your Sins Will Be Forgiven?Forgiven?

May The Lord Bless You With May The Lord Bless You With Wisdom And Courage As You Wisdom And Courage As You Prayerfully Consider This Most Prayerfully Consider This Most Important Decision.Important Decision.

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End Of Lesson Six

In Our Next Lesson We Will Continue To Investigate The Response Of First Century Hearers Of The Gospel And What They Were Promised.