Section 4: Will you go back to the Bible in order to be saved?

    I.      Based on the New Testament, there were good people that were NOT saved.

           ·       Cornelius was a good person, but that did not mean he was saved.

                   ·       Cornelius is described as a just man, one that feared God and someone that was of 
                           good report.

    Acts 10:22 22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

                   ·       Although Cornelius was a good man, he had been told to send for Peter so that he     
                           would know what he must do to be saved.

    Acts 11:13-14 13And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.    
    II.      Based on the New Testament, there were religious people that were NOT saved.

           ·       Cornelius was also a “religious” person, but that did not mean he was saved.

                  ·       Cornelius is also described as a devout man who gave his money to the poor and 
                          who was always praying to God.

    Acts 10:2 2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

                  ·       However, just because Cornelius was “religious”, he was not considered saved.

    Acts 11:13-14 Scripture has already been written out; see previous reference in point I

           ·       Christ declared that just because someone was religious, it did not mean that he was 
                   saved.

                  ·       Christ rebuked the “religious” people of the day when he said that they reject God’s 
                          commands in order to keep their own traditions.

    Mark 7:9 9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

                  ·       Christ said that someone will not be saved just by reciting the name of the Lord and 
                          doing deeds in His name.

    Matthew 7:21-23 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.    
    III.      Based on the New Testament, there were those who lived in good conscience and were     
               zealous for God that were NOT saved.

           ·       Prior to becoming a Christian, Paul had lived in all good conscience

                  ·       Paul’s conscience did not bother him because he thought he was saved and doing the 
                          will of God.

    Acts 23:1; 26:9 1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. (…) 9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

                  ·       However, Paul, who is also called Saul (cf. Acts 13:9), learned that he was not saved, 
                          but was living contrary to the will of God.

    Acts 9:4 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

           ·       Paul had also been very zealous.

                  ·       Paul admitted that he was zealously wrong.

    Galatians 1:13-14 13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

                  ·       Paul would exhort the Jews that their zeal should not be according to what they 
                          believed to be righteous but should be based on their knowledge of God’s 
                          righteousness so that they might be saved.

    Romans 10:1-3 1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.    
    IV.      Based on the New Testament, there were believing people that were NOT saved.

           ·       The New Testament refers to those that believed, but were not willing to act on that belief 
                   so that they might be saved.

                  ·       The demons are not saved even though they believe because faith without works of 
                          obedience is a dead faith that does not save.

    James 2:19-20, 24 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (…) 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

                  ·       The chief rulers believed but did not receive any praise from God because they 
                          preferred the praise of men.

    John 12:42-43 42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.    
    V.      Based on the New Testament, there were those that were incorrectly baptized that were 
              NOT saved.

           ·       The New Testament teaches that it is possible for someone to be baptized for the wrong 
                   reasons.

                  ·       The Ephesians were baptized for the wrong reasons and were not saved and had to be 
                          baptized correctly.

    Acts 19:1, 3-5 (…) Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,(…) 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    
    VI.      Based on the New Testament, there were those who prayed for their salvation that were 
               NOT saved.

           ·       The Apostle Paul, who is also called Saul (cf. Acts 13:9), was not saved by saying a prayer.

                  ·       Saul was told to go into the city in order to be told what he must do; he was there for 
                          three days.

    Acts 9:6, 9 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (…) 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

                  ·       A man named Ananias was told to find Saul and tell him what he must do; he was 
                          told Saul would be praying.

    Acts 9:11 11 (…) go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

                  ·       When Ananias found Saul, he told him to arise off of his prayerful knees (remember 
                          he had been praying for three days) and then told him what he must do so that his 
                          sins would be washed away.

    Acts 22:16 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.    
    VII.      Based on the New Testament, how did the saved become saved?

           ·       The New Testament has stated that the saved have been saved by the grace of God     
                   through their faith.

                  ·       The saved of Ephesus had been saved by the grace of God through their faith.

    Ephesians 2:8 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

                         ·       The grace of God is something we cannot earn and it teaches us because it is His 
                                 word as given by His Son Jesus Christ.

    Titus 2:11-12 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

                         ·       Faith is something that is produced when one hears God’s word and believes it to 
                                 be true.

    Romans 10:17 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

                  ·       Those in Ephesus were saved by God’s grace because they heard what they must do 
                          to be saved and they were saved through faith because they acted upon the 
                          words of God through obedience.

    Acts 19:1, 3-5     (…) Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,(…) 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    
           ·       The New Testament has stated one is saved when they have been baptized based on their 
                   belief in the gospel.

                  ·       The Corinthians were taught the gospel when they learned that Jesus Christ died, was 
                          buried and rose again from the dead.

    1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel (…) 3 (…) how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

                  ·       The Corinthians that believed the gospel were baptized; Crispus was also baptized 
                          based on his belief.

    Acts 18:8 8And Crispus (…) believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

    1 Corinthians 1:14 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

                  ·       Baptism that is “required” at a certain age is not a Biblical baptism because it is not 
                          based on a good conscience that is responding to a belief in the gospel.

    Mark 16:16 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

    1 Peter 3:21 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:    
           ·       The New Testament states one is saved when they have been baptized based on their                
                   confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

                  ·       The Ethiopian eunuch was told he could not be baptized unless he believed Jesus 
                          Christ is the Son of God and then he confessed his belief.

    Acts 8:36-37 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

           ·       The New Testament states one is saved when they have been baptized for the remission 
                   of their sins.

                  ·       A baptism that occurs after one has “said a prayer to be saved” is a void baptism 
                          since it is not fulfilling its purpose.

                         ·       Baptism that takes place after one is told that he has already been saved is not 
                                 Biblical baptism because Biblical baptism is defined as being the point in which 
                                 one is saved who believes and has confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

    Acts 22:16 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 

    1 Peter 3:21     21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:    
                  ·       Baptism saves when one is immersed or buried in water; sprinkling is not immersion, 
                          is not a burial and is not baptism.

    Acts 8:38 38(…) and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

    Romans 6:4 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: (…)

                  ·       Baptism saves when one is baptized into Christ based on a belief and confession that 
                          He is the Son of God.

    Romans 6:3 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

    Galatians 3:27 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    Acts 8:36-37     36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.