Asking For A Friend – Week 3

Do we have to be baptized to be saved? Answered by Dave Crock

Do we have to be baptized to be saved?  No.  We are saved BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Thief on the cross next to Jesus.  “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

CBC Belief : We believe that baptism by immersion is the only Scriptural mode. We believe that baptism does not save. It is an act of obedience to the command of Christ and is a testimony to the world of the believer’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The greek root word for Baptism is Baptizo, which means to plunge, immerse and sink.

Romans 6:3-4  “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Early church history did not have a large time gap between BELIEF and BAPTISM.  Often immediately after someone placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they were baptized.  Acts 22:16 says, ‘And now why do you wait?  Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

*What does the bible say about baptism?

Mark 16:16  Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

-We see the package deal again:  Believe and be baptized or Reject and be 

Condemned.  One leads to another…

1 Corinthians 12:13  “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

-Baptism unifies the body of Christ.  It takes people from all different walks of life,

Races, socio economic status and unites us in the cause of Christ.

Colossians 2:12  “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

*So if we aren’t saved by baptism, HOW are we saved?

Acts 2:21  “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:13  “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

-Who will be saved?  EVERYONE who calls upon the name of the Lord.*WHY would God save us?

John 3:16 Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

-Jesus said the ACCESS POINT to eternal life is BELIEF in the Son.  There is

No ritual that saves you.  There is no amount of self-righteousness that saves

You. 

*WHEN did God save us?

Romans 5:10  “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

-Paul says when Christ died for us, he was our enemy.  We rebelled against him.

We hated him.  We grieved him.  We turned our back on him.  But if God was

Willing to do that for us in that state, how much more will he do for us that are his 

children?!

Ephesians 2:8-9  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

-Paul says that God has made available a gift, and that gift is salvation.  He

Made it free to you, but it cost him dearly.  But if you receive his gift by Faith

(Believing that God is going to do what He said He will do), you will be saved

By the grace He so freely lavished upon us.

 

What does it look like to support Israel Biblically?  Is it the nation of Israel established by God or the state of Israel established by people?  What can we do as a church, as an individual, to biblically support Israel in 2024? With Chris Fawley

Groundwork:

Abrahamic covenant -the founding of Israel:

Genesis 12:1-3, 27:29, Numbers 24:9

Deut. 7:6-8

 

ROMANS – To understand God’s plan concerning Israel and the church.

 

We must know that Christianity itself is completely dependent upon and even part of story of Israel.

  • The entire OT itself ultimately points to Jesus Christ as Messiah.
  • We know that much, but not all, of Israel, then and now, has rejected Jesus as Messiah.
    • True Israel (in the heart, believing in faith) was part of that group in Acts 2 at Pentecost that formed the beginning of the church, the body of Christ.
    • There are Messianic believers to this day and the numbers continue to grow.
  • Paul in Romans gets into detail on what God is doing with Israel.
    • Not all of the Nation of Israel was (is) true Israel. Rom 2:28-29. It was about the condition of the heart, not appearance or even just nationality.
    • In Romans 11 Paul uses the analogy of an olive tree.
      • The tree represents Israel, God’s covenant people.
      • Unbelieving Israel (rejected Messiah) are branches broken off. 11:17a
      • The tree isn’t cut down and replaced with a new one (replacement theology).
      • Neither is there a 2nd tree planted.
      • Gentiles (you and I) are grafted into that original tree. Rom 11:17, Gal. 3:29
      • Romans 11:18 – do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
    • Purpose and Future of Israel – pattern in Romans 11
      • 11:11-12 – “Trespass of Israel” – “Salvation for the gentiles” – “Israel jealous” – “Israel full inclusion”
      • 11:15 – “Their rejection” – “the reconciliation of the world” – “their acceptance”
      • 11:17-23 – “Natural branches broken off” – “wild shoots grafted in” – “natural branches” grafted back in.
      • 11:25-26 – “Hardening of Israel” – “Fullness of Gentiles” – “all Israel will be saved”
      • Romans 11:30-31 – Disobedience of Israel – mercy for the gentiles – mercy for Israel
    • GOD is not done with Israel. Right now we are in the Age of the Church.  Israel will repent.

 

 

 

 

 

Is it the nation of Israel established by God or the state of Israel established by people? 

 

Short answer – YES

 

ESTABLISHED BY GOD OR BY PEOPLE?

 

SOME DETAILS:

  • Israel overall is apostate, in rebellion, rejected Messiah and their faith.
    • Secular nation
    • Government system today does not follow OT either in moral principal or law
  • The current nation of Israel, which was established in 1948, is a direct fulfillment of prophecy.
    • Amos 9:14-15 – I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God. 
    • Ezekial 37:10-14 – 14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
    • Ezekial 4:3-6 – predicts when Israel would be re-established. When you convert the ancient lunar calendar to the current solar calendar, we come up with the year
    • Isaiah 66:7-8 – speaks of Israel being reborn in one day. May 14th, 1948 – Jews declared Israel as a united and sovereign nation for first time in 2900 years.
      • Same day – US recognized Israel
      • Hours beforeN. mandate expired, ending British control of the land.
      • 24 hr. period – foreign control ended, and the nation was founded.
    • Ezekial 37:21-22 – Speaks of the Jews regathering to the land and one king being over them.
    • Jeremiah 16:14-15 – 2nd Israel more impressive than the first.
    • Ezekial 34:13 – They would return to their own land.
    • Jeremiah 31:10 – God will gather them back and watch over them like a shepherd.
      • Literally hours after established, they were attacked by the surrounding countries (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon), but prevailed.
      • Recent attack by Hamas (Iran) 99.99% deflected. Many declared an absolute miracle.
    • Leviticus 26:3, 7-8 – Israel’s army would be disproportionately powerful.
      • Initially attacked / prevailed.
      • 6 days war of 1967 – took control of Jerusalem and took back additional land.
      • 6, 1973 – attacked by Egypt and Syria, then others. Israel pushed them back beyond their borders.
    • Deuteronomy 30:3-5 – Fortunes of Israel restored, God’s compassion, and gathering.
      • 3 – then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
    • MANY MORE FULFILLED SINCE 1948 – SEE ME FOR LIST.

 

IN CONCLUSION TO THIS PART:

 

God’s hand is all over the establishment of the current nation of Israel.

 

They are over all in rebellion, but not every individual.

 

They will one day (half-way through the tribulation period) recognize their great error in rejecting Messiah and will repent as a nation.  Zechariah 12:10

 

 

What does it look like to support Israel Biblically?

 What can we do as a church, as an individual, to biblically support Israel in 2024?

8 THINGS

  1. Read and understand the book of Romans – Ch. 11 especially.
  2. Recognize God’s hand on Israel, and on us as we join in unity with them and support them.
    1. This does not mean necessarily supporting all of their decisions or actions.
    2. Remember that they need Messiah, just as we do.
  3. Acknowledge that what God started in them, we are grafted into. The more we recognize this the more our love for the Jewish nation will grow.
    1. They literally are our family, distanced only by rebellion.
  4. Recognize that not only do they have a right to exist as a nation, but they are ordained by God Himself, in whom they are in an eternal
  5. Engage with our Representatives and Congressmen encouraging them to support at least the right of Israel to exist as a nation and defend themselves from foreign adversaries.
  6. Study the people and the culture.
    1. Go there if you can.
  7. Pray – Psalm 122:6 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
  8. Support Messianic Jewish missions.
    1. Prayer
    2. Finances
    3. Service

 

 

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