Section 7: Will you go back to the Bible to secure your eternal destiny?

    I.      One who desires to be right with God must go back to the Bible and one who wants to go 
            back to the Bible must give up all other beliefs other than that which the Bible teaches.

    Matthew 15:9 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

    Luke 14:26 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

    Luke 9:23 23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.    
    II.      Jesus Christ clearly stated that whether we obey His words or not they would be the 
             standard by which we are judged and that His words would be given to those who would 
             write the New Testament.

    John 12:48 48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

    John 16:13 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.    
    III.       Any accountable person who has ever transgressed God’s law has sinned, is lost and is in 
             need of God’s forgiveness in order to secure their eternal salvation.

    1 John 3:4 4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

    Romans 6:23 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.    
    IV.      It is only by obeying the words of Jesus Christ as given in the New Testament that man can 
               be forgiven of his sin.

    Hebrews 5:9 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;    
    V.      All those seeking to be eternally saved must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; 
               however, belief that is not acted upon is dead and does not save.

    John 8:24 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

    James 2:19, 24 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (…) 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.    
    VI.      Saying a prayer is not how one becomes 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.      One seeking to be saved must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

    Luke 12:8 8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

    Romans 10:10 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.    
    VIII.      Just as one must believe and confess in order to be saved, one also must be baptized into 
                  Christ in response to his conscience in order to be saved; moreover, baptism is the point in 
                  which one is forgiven of his sins and saved.

    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:

    Acts 2:38 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    Acts 22:16 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.    
    IX.      Water baptism that consists of immersion in water based on one’s belief and confession in 
               Christ is essential to one’s salvation.

    Acts 8:37-38 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.  38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.    
    X.      When the church began on the day of Pentecost, we read of whom the Lord added to His 
              church.

    Acts 2:40-41, 47 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.    
    XI.      Just because one has been baptized into Christ based on his belief and confession in Christ 
               does not mean that his eternal destiny is secured, he must continue to obey the doctrine of 
               Christ in all that he does in order to have Christ and remain saved.

    2 John 9 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.    
    XII.      Those that seek to worship God must worship Him with the proper attitude and must 
                worship Him according to His will.

    John 4:24 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.    
    XIII.      Worshipping God in accordance with His will includes singing and playing our hearts as 
                  our instruments while teaching and admonishing the church.

    Hebrews 13:15 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

    Ephesians 5:19 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

    Colossians 3:16 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

    Revelation 22:18-19 18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.    
    XIV.      If one is going to go back to the Bible, he must accept that only those who are faithfully 
                  serving in the church of Christ are on their way to heaven.

    Ephesians 1:7 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

    Acts 20:28 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

    1 John 1:7 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.