LESSON ONE - THE GOSPEL
Welcome to our Table Top Bible Study. The objective of this Bible study is to understand The Gospel and apply it to our lives. We will begin with a Bible overview so that we can put the right pieces in the right place. Without a general knowledge of biblical history and intent, it is difficult to understand where to find the answers to each subject. Our purpose is to answer the ultimate question: “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
The Bible comes from God Himself. The Bible is the Word of God and through it we find salvation. It is imperative that we believe that this is God’s Word for us today. Without faith in His Word it is impossible to be saved.
This Bible study has nothing to do with denominations; it is based purely on the scripture. Particular denominations or church affiliations do not constitute salvation. The Bible is the ultimate authority for every believer and we are commanded to search the scriptures. The Word of God is our only road map to salvation and it is here we must look.
Before we begin, let’s establish that we will accept the Bible’s definition for Salvation regardless of philosophies or the opinions of others. Sometimes errors are made in the process so we will investigate a few of these common human errors.
Three reasons why the Gospel is rejected:
Numbers of people do not constitute salvation. Millions are lost because they have rejected the Gospel. Therefore, we must stay focused on the Bible’s definition of salvation, not on the number of people who receive it or reject it.
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WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The Bible is a collection of
II Timothy 3:15 The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God-breathed (NIV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God (KJV)
II Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Old Testament includes 39 books written by thirty-two writers. · The first five books are called the
The New Testament includes 27 books and at least 11 writers. · The first four books are called the
· Twenty-one
The Old Testament includes creation and the history of the children of Israel. From Genesis to Malachi, God required a blood sacrifice to pay for sin. Each year the people brought a sacrifice to the Lord to relieve their debt of sin. Year after year they pushed their sins forward. But after many years of making sacrifices to God, they lost the intent. Instead of bringing their best to God, they brought diseased sacrifices - blind and lame lambs.
By the conclusion of the Old Testament, God rejected their sacrifice and for 400 years He did not speak to His people. The next recorded Biblical scene occurs when Jesus is born. Jesus is the Ultimate sacrifice for all sin. The scripture calls Him Emmanuel, “God with us.” He was also known as the “Lamb of God.”
The first four books are called the Gospels and they recount the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are several letters written to the churches and the saints, who have already obeyed the Gospel and have been saved. Finishing out the New Testament is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John.
The book that we have not mentioned is the Book of Acts. It is the only book in the Bible where you can actually find someone being saved. If we want to know where and how people were saved then we must investigate the Book of Acts where the original salvation message was first taught. We should also notice that all the other epistles were written to people who had already obeyed the Gospel and were saved. While epistles contain the general view of salvation, only in the Book of Acts do we see the “keys to the Kingdom” obeyed in the lives of people.
Let us begin by detailing the Bible’s plan of Salvation.
WE ARE ALL BORN IN SIN
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Romans 3:10-12 “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
· Human goodness does not earn salvation.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
BIBLE STEPS TO SALVATION - WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
STEP ONE:
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…”
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith”
Notice in the Book of James that while believing is the first step, it does not constitute salvation. The devils believe but they are not saved. Obedience is the key to faith.
James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
Point to Ponder: According to the Scripture, it is not enough to simply believe. We must also OBEY!
STEP TWO
Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
Hebrews 5:9 “…Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who
John 8:30-32 “As He spake these words, many believed on Him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Read: John 8:30-32, Romans 15:18, II Thess. 1:7-10, Hebrews 11:28
BELIEVE AND OBEY THE GOSPEL
Mark 1:15 Jesus said, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Galatians 1:6-8 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
The Gospel is the only way to be saved. Jesus said that we must believe the Gospel and Paul said that anyone who changes it will be cursed.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
The Bible has already given the definition of the Gospel. This definition was clearly defined by Paul to the church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
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The Only way to be Saved is through obeying the
DEATH EQUALS REPENTANCE
· Repentance identifies us with Christ in death. There is no Burial or Resurrection without a Death.
· The Greek word for repent is “metanoeo” which means change of mind – repentance means to turn from sin or “dying to sin.”
· Repentance is a change of mind involving both a
Romans 6:2 “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
II Cor. 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…”
Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Luke 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.”
Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Read: Psalm 51:1-12; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:7-9
BURIAL - BAPTISM
When we are baptized the old nature is buried. Baptism of Water is the burial of our sinful nature. It is the process of washing away our sins.
Romans 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:”
Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God…”
Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
JESUS SAID!
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be
NOTICE: Jesus did NOT say “he that believeth and is saved should be baptized.”
MUST A PERSON BE BAPTIZED TO ENTER HEAVEN?
*JOHN 3:1-7 *
1: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews
2: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. WHAT TWO TYPES OF BAPTISM ARE FOUND IN THESE VERSES?
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RESURRECTION - THE HOLY GHOST
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
BIBLE OVERVIEW
EDEN —- SIN —- BLOOD —- THE LAMB/SALVATION —- THE CHURCH
· In the garden, Adam & Eve were sinless until they disobeyed God.
· To pay for sin there had to be a sacrifice. A blood atonement.
· Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
· Throughout the Old Testament the shedding of blood paid for sin.
· Scripture states that there must be shedding of blood to cover our sin. Leviticus 17:11“For the life of the flesh is in the blood:”
· Over time people became careless with their sacrifices to God and God stopped speaking.
· 400 years of silence separates the Old Testament and the New Testament.
· In the New Testament there was a New Covenant established.
· Fulfilling the prophecies in the Old Testament, God came in the form of Jesus presenting Himself a sacrifice for our sins.
· John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
· Jesus came to establish His church and save the lost.
Jesus gave Peter the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 16:18-19 “…I say, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:”
Peter preached the Keys to the Kingdom on the Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:38-39 “Then 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. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Peter declares and defines the Holy Ghost as the