GOD MAKES A MAN
1. How sad when men make gods and worship these powerless idols. Jeremiah 10:1-7. Men make powerless gods. their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good. (Jeremiah 10:5). Isaiah 44:18-19. Shall I bow down to a block of wood? (Isaiah 44:19). 2. In contrast, how Great is our God, The Creator of man and the universe. Genesis 2:4-7. 3. Not only is our God great, He is also perfectly Holy! Our Great and Holy God Deuteronomy 32:3-4. His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. (Deuteronomy 32:4). a. 1 John 1:5 teaches that God has no. b. Isaiah 6:1-5. Special angels constantly proclaim that God is holy. God breathes life into dust. We should realize the Power of God and be amazed at His Sinless nature. Surely we should reverence and praise our Great and Holy God! 2 3
Sinful Man Is Lost 4. God is Holy. God has no sin. In contrast, Man is full of sin. Romans 1:28-32. a. God is our Holy Judge. In God s sight, people who sin deserve. b. Romans 2:1-5. God has patiently waited for each of us to. c. Romans 3:9. All people are sin. 5. As clouds separate the earth from the sun, so sin separates man from God. Isaiah 59:1-2. Your sins have separated you from God. Isaiah 59:2 a. God put Adam and Eve out of the Garden although their sin seems small. Genesis 3:23-24. b. I Samuel 15:22-23 teaches that refusing to obey God is as bad as. 6. All sin is terrible to God. All sinners deserve death, even a second death in the eternal lake of fire. Revelation 21:8. Have you thought of your sin in God s sight? 4 5
Justice and Mercy 7. REVIEW: (Place an X before the correct statements.) a. God is Holy. God has no sin. b. God is Fair and Just. c. All people sin. d. All sin deserves death. e. Therefore, in justice, each person deserves death for his sins, even the lake of fire. 8. Although God is Just, He is also Merciful. Romans 6:23. 9. Question: How could God be Just and yet be Merciful to sinful man? God s Answer: By arranging for someone to pay the debt of sin. someone to receive the punishment, one who did not owe the debt himself. a. Isaiah 53:4-8. Who is the One who paid that price?. b. Christ could pay for our sins because He was without sin of His own. II Corinthians 5:21. c. Our Sin was so terrible, it separated Jesus from His own Father to die alone without God. Matthew 27:45-46. Who can set me free from the clutches of my own sinful nature? I thank God there is a way out through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:24, 25 Thus in the death of Christ, 6 God s Justice and Mercy meet. 7
Salvation through Christ s Blood 10. Christ gave His perfect life to pay the debt of our sins. John 1:29. 11. The payment for our sins was the blood of Jesus. Romans 5:6-9. Revelation 1:5b; 5:9-10. Matthew 26:27-28. 12. Therefore, to be forgiven of sins, a man or woman must personally receive the saving blood of Christ. Yes No One of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus side. Blood and water came out. John 19:34 13. Have YOU personally contacted the Blood of Jesus Christ? No Not sure Yes a. Nothing is gained by the shedding of Jesus Blood unless it is contacted. b. Everyone is thankful for vaccines. However, only those who come into contact with the serum are protected. The hypodermic needle makes the time of contact very obvious. 14. If you believe you have contacted the Blood of Christ, when did you receive the saving blood? 8 9
15. REVIEW: (Place an X before the correct statements.) a. Each person is lost in sin. b. Christ shed His Blood to save us. c. Each person must contact Christ s blood to be saved. 16. Jesus shed His Blood in His Death. John 19:31-34. a. As Christ carried our sin until He died, so we carry our sin until we die with Him and contact His Saving Blood. The Point of Contact b. How can a person share in Christ s death so he can come into contact with the Saving Blood of Jesus? Romans 6:1-4. 17. Simply then: a. The Blood of Christ is the only thing that can save us from our sins and make us right with God. b. The only way we can contact that Saving Blood is to believe in Jesus and be baptized into His death. Mark 16:15-16. 10 11
Bible Examples of Conversion 18. Now we understand that a person is baptized into the death of Christ in order to contact the saving blood. This explains why in every Bible example of conversion the believers were immediately baptized. a. Acts 2:36-42. When these believed, Peter told them to and be to be of sins. ( To repent means to determine in one s heart to turn to God. ) b. Acts 8:12-13. Both men and believed and were. c. Acts 16:23-34. The time was after midnight when the Jailer believed. When was he baptized? d. Acts 22:6-16. Saul was told to be baptized to his sins. e. Acts 8:26-39. As soon as this man learned of Jesus, slain like a lamb for him, he asked to be. How was he baptized? (See verse 38.) Both went down into the ; the Ethiopian was baptized, and they came of the water. f. Romans 6:4. This verse indicates a person is by baptism. (The New Testament was written in Greek; the word baptize means to immerse, to dip in water. This explains why they went down into the water and how we are buried by baptism. ) 19. The Lord guided Philip to meet the Ethiopian in order that he might believe, be immersed, and be saved. Perhaps the Lord has guided you to study today so that you can be saved. 20. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Yes No 21. Are you willing to follow Jesus, even if it means changing your life? Yes No 22. Are you ready to be immersed in water to have the blood of Jesus wash away your sins? Yes No And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16). 12 13
38 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38). 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12). 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. Why shouldn t I be baptized? 37 [And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:35-39). 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16). 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4). Would you like for someone to arrange to immerse you? This is the most important decision of your life. If you firmly believe you are a sinner and need to have your sins washed away by the blood of Jesus in baptism, sign the following and mail to the address below. I am committed to obey and follow Jesus as God s Son and my Lord. Please help me to be immersed to have my sins washed away. Name: Address: Baldwin Church of Christ 4377 E. Huntsville Fayetteville, AR 72701 U.S.A. 14 15
The churches of Christ salute you. Romans 16:16 Used by permission of Lloyd Deal and Jerry Loutzenhiser Iowa Campaigns for Christ GOSPEL TRACTS INTERNATIONAL 4377 E. Huntsville Fayetteville, AR 72701 U.S.A.