PART II

BASIC STUDIES FOR MAKING DISCIPLES: By Kip McKean

*If you don't have a bible with you, you can look up these scriptures at this site

Light & Darkness I
Light & Darkness II
The Cross

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LIGHT & DARKNESS I

Introduction:

1 Peter 2:9-10

DARKNESS	LIGHT
*Not a people of God *No mercy *Not a Christian *Not a Disciple *LOST	*A people of God *Has mercy *A Christian *A Disciple *SAVED
There are only 2 alternatives!

A. Every person is either in the darkness or the light. There is no twilight zone.
B. Where are you?

I. DARKNESS

• A. Isaiah 59:1-2
  • 1) Sin separates us from God.

DARKNESS (MAN)

WALL OF SIN

LIGHT (GOD)

• 
  2) In order for a man to have a relationship with God the wall must be broken down-sin must be forgiven.
  3) The point in time sin is forgiven is the point in time a person is saved.
  
  

• B. Romans 3:23-25
  • 1) Who has sinned? Everyone!
  • 
    2) Who is further away from God, a person who sins a little or a person who sins a lot? All are equal, all lost. Therefore a good moral life does not save you. You CANNOT earn your salvation by your good deeds.
    3) Faith in the blood of Jesus saves you (v. 25).
    
    
• C. What is Sin?
  • 1) Galatians 5:19-21 (sins of commission)
    2) James 4:17 (sins of omission)
    
    
• D. What is the eternal consequence of sin? Romans 6:23
•  

• WAGES OF SIN	GIFT OF GOD
  *Death *Hell *Darkness	*Eternal Life *Heaven *Light

•  

II. LIGHT

• A. John 3:1-7
  • 1) Born again (v. 3), born of water and spirit (v. 5), born again (v. 7).
    2) Personal decision as an adult
    

  B. What message must one believe to be in the light (to be saved?) Acts 2:22-24.

  • 1) Jesus is from God-miracles (v. 22).
    2) Jesus raised physically from the dead (v. 24).
    3) Everyone is responsible for the crucifixion of Christ (v. 23). ALL have sinned (Romans 3:23).
    

  C. Response of people Acts 2:37

  • 1) Cut to the heart
    2) What shall we do?
    

  D. Once the people believed, what did they do? Acts 2:38-42

  • 1) Repent (Greek = to turn)
    2) Be baptized (Greek = to be immersed).
    3) Purpose of Baptism

    a) Sin forgiven. Therefore this is the point in time a person is saved.
    b) Holy Spirit given to each who responded-power to live as God commands.
    

• E. Baptism Romans 6:1-4
  *Baptism is the sharing (a participation) in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. (More than just a symbol.)
  

DARKNESS	LIGHT
*Sin separates from God. *John 3:5, Born again of water and spirit *Romans 3:25 Faith in the blood of Jesus saves us.	*Acts 2:38, Sin is forgiven *Acts 2:38, Water = baptism Spirit = received at baptism *Jesus shed his blood when he died. In baptism we share by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, we contact the blood in baptism and are forgiven of our sins and SAVED!

 

III. TRADITIONS/ FALSE DOCTRINES - Matthew 15:6-9

• A. Infant Baptism
  • 1) Personal faith is needed (Colossians 2:12).
    2) Began approximately third century A.D.
    3) Original sin
    • a) Ezekiel 18:20
      b) Became "church doctrine" in 549 A.D.
      

  B. Praying Jesus into your heart

  • 1) Revelation 3:20 - taken out of context. This verse is addressed to Christians.
    2) Began in the early 1800s in America.
    
    
• C. True Biblical Doctrine - Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Be Baptized
  

IV. SINFUL NATURE

*Suggestion:  Write a description of your sinful nature, and then be specific about various sins you have committed. This is so that you might see the gravity and magnitude of your sin. You should keep this private, for your personal use only.

LIGHT & DARKNESS II

• I. REVIEW OF PLAN OF SALVATION
  • A. Hear - Romans 10:17
    B. Believe - Hebrews 11:6
    C. Repent - Luke 13:3
    D. Confess - Romans 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:12
    E. Baptized - Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21
    

  II. THE MAJOR CONVERSIONS IN ACTS

  • A. Conversions
    • 1) Acts 2:36-47 .......... First Christian in Jerusalem
      2) Acts 8:26-39 .......... Ethiopian Eunuch
      3) Acts 16:22-34 ........ Philippian jailer and his family
      4) Acts 18:24-26 ........ Apollos
      5) Acts 19:1-5 ............ Ephesians
      6) Acts 9:1-22 ............ Paul
      7) Acts 22:3-16 .......... Paul
      
  • 
    B. Questions concerning Conversions
    • 1) What was preached?
      2) What was the person's (people's) response to the message?
      3) How long did the person (people) take to make the decision?
      4) What was their response after baptism?
      

  III. REFUTING FALSE DOCTRINES

  • A. "Pray Jesus into your heart": This phrase is never mentioned in the Bible. People may use Revelation 3:20 about Jesus knocking at the door, however, you must examine the Scripture in context. This scripture does not teach how to become a Christian and be saved, but how to come back to God after becoming lukewarm. It is addressed to disciples who already responded to Christ in faith, repentance, confession and baptism.
  •  
  • "Accept Jesus into your heart": (same teaching as praying Jesus into your heart-just different terminology.) Based on Romans 10:9. You must look at scripture in context. Paul is addressing the problem of the Israelites: unbelief that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Read further on to Romans 10:13. When do you call on the name of the Lord? At baptism (Acts 22:16).
    
  • 
    B. Infant baptism: A baby cannot have faith, and since we are baptized through faith in the power of God (Colossians 2:12), babies cannot be baptized.
    Original sin: Ezekiel 18:20 teaches there is no original sin; each person is responsible for his own actions and will be judged accordingly. Therefore babies are born sinless and will be saved if they die.
    
  • 
    C. "Baptism does not save you": 1 Peter 3:21 says that baptism does save you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38 teaches that sin is forgiven at baptism-one is saved at the point sin is forgiven.
    
  • 
    D. "Baptism is a work-yet we are saved by faith" (Ephesians 2:8): Colossians 2:12 teaches we are saved by faith-in the working of God at baptism.
    
  • 
    E. "Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace": Romans 6:24 states that baptism is an actual participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is not merely a sign, seal or symbol.
    
  • 
    F. "Baptism isn't important, after all, look at what Paul said about it in 1 Corinthians 1:17": Paul does not diminish the importance of baptism here. (Paul himself was baptized to have his sins forgiven in Acts 22:16.) In context (read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17), he makes the point that he does not want people following men (denominationalism). He mentions baptism several times in the passage.
    
  • 
    G. "The thief on the cross was not baptized and Jesus told him that they would see each other in paradise": Jesus had not even died yet, and baptism is participating in his death (Romans 6:2-4); also on earth, he had the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:2-6).
    
  • 
    H. "Believers baptism'': This is baptism as an adult, but is not done in conjunction with the understanding that one is being saved at this point in time (John 3:5, Acts 2:38). "Retroactive understanding" is not sufficient for salvation.

THE CROSS

• I. PASSION ACCOUNT
  • Read Matthew 26:31 - 28:10.
    Suggested Reading Intervals:
        A. 26:31-35   27:27-31
        B. 26:36-46   27:32-44
        C. 26:47-56   27:45-56
        D. 26:57-68   27:57-61
        E. 26:69-75   27:62-66
        F. 27:1-10   28:1-10
        G. 27:11-26
    

  II. PHYSICAL DEATH

  • *Read the MEDICAL ACCOUNT of Jesus' physical death. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
  • 
    A. Remember there were many others who died by crucifixion in the first century. It was not that Jesus was painfully crucified that makes him unique-it was that he was crucified for you, in your place. He died on the cross for you.
    B. Romans 3:23
    C. Isaiah 59:1-2
    D. Matthew 27:46
    E. Share the sins that you have had forgiven. Ask the person with whom you are studying to go over their sins.
    F. Isaiah 53:4-6 (substitute your name).

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