A small Church of about 200 souls (including children) in Greenville, a town of approximately 7,781 people, located just off I-65, 45 miles south of Montgomery, Alabama.
We are simply a group of Christians, members of the Body of Christ, His church, nothing else. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.” (Ephesians 4:3-6)
Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I will build my Church….” (Matthew 16:18) This He did, and purchased it with His own blood. (Acts 20:28) After the resurrection, Peter taught the people about the salvation offered through Christ’s death. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)
Today, those who believe and obey the Lord are continuing to be added to His church in just the same way as on that first Pentecost day after the resurrection of Christ.
Our Authority
Jesus promised the apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit after He was taken away, to “teach them all things” and “bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)
Again, He said “Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth….” (John 16:13)
The Spirit, The Holy Spirit of truth came on that first Pentecost day after Christ was resurrected, and did not fail in any of Jesus’ promises. (Luke 24:47)
John also said “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:30-31)
We have all we need for salvation, supplied by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and written by the Apostles. Our plea is that all would study and be guided by the inspired word of God, His Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (complete), throughly furnished unto all good works."
The Sin Problem:
1. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4).
2. Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).
3. Sin’s punishment is death (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Is The Answer:
1. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
2. Jesus was sinless (Hebrews 4:15), but He suffered and died for us, so that our sins could be forgiven (Romans 5:6-8).
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Hear The Gospel:
1. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
2Unless one has heard that Jesus Christ died for his sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, he cannot be saved (I Corinthians 15:1-4).
Believe In Jesus:
1Jesus said: “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
2. When the Philippian Jailor asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31).
3Jesus also said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Repent Of Sins:
1. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
2When the Jews on Pentecost Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son of God, they “were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, so they asked, “What shall we do?” They were told to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:37-38).
Confess Jesus As Lord:
1. Jesus said: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
2. The apostle Paul wrote: “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:8-10).
When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” Philip told him he could be baptized if he believed. The eunuch then confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:35-38). We must make this confession in order to be saved.
Be Baptized Into Christ:
1. Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
2. Only those who believe in Jesus, repent of sins, and confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God can truly be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, Acts 8:37-38). Otherwise, baptism becomes what Peter said it is not: “the putting away of the filth of the flesh…” (I Peter 3:21)…in other words, a bath.
3. When one is baptized, or buried in water, according to the Scriptures, he/she is baptized into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3-4), Added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:41,47), saved (Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21), born again (John 3:3-5), and in Christ where all spiritual blessings are to be found (Ephesians 1:3, Galatians 3:26-27).
What does one have to do in order to be forgiven of his sins? He must:
1. Hear the Gospel of Christ;
2. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God;
3. Repent of all his past sins;
4. Confess that Christ is God’s Son;
5. Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Are you saved from your sins? Have you taken these simple steps to salvation? If not, why not do so today?