The Goal: Maturity “let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity” Hebrews 6:1 “…to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13 CONVERTED by the GOSPEL – Believing the good news of Jesus Christ that he provides complete FORGIVENESS and perfect righteousness to ALL who receive Him as LORD CONSISTENT in the WORD – Investing time daily to read and understand God’s blue print and will for our lives so that we can know the TRUTH CONSTANT in PRAYER – Interacting and talking with God on a regular basis so that we can receive His POWER and be faithful and fruitful COMMITTED to FELLOWSHIP – Becoming involved in a Bible believing, teaching, and obeying church so that believer’s are equipped towards MATURITY (to be like Christ) COURAGEOUS in WITNESSING – Obeying Christ’s command to GO make disciples by sharing the message of the gospel and showing the LOVE of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet CONTINUOUS in WORSHIP – Honoring the Lord and giving Him praise and GLORY in everything we do and say CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN – Seeing others saved, baptized, and growing in their walk with Christ as we pass the torch of truth to others through EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man mature in Christ.” Basic Discipleship `

MIND EMOTIONS WILL TRUST COMMITMENT BELIEF

John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. “Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:10-12 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Mark 1:15 Acts 4:12 John 5:24 John 14:6 Paul: “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”Acts 20:21 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 You are invited to Truth Bible Church - Sunday Service: 10:00a - Thursday Bible Study 7:15p - For Directions, more info, or to Listen online go to truthbiblechurch.com

“Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.” 2 Corinthians 8:24 Repent: Put OFF Sin (Eph.4:17-19) Faith: Put ON Truth (Eph. 4:20-24) How about you? Will it be written of you that you were a friend and follower of Jesus because “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness” (Hebrews 1:9), or that you lived like the world and were friends with a world that “loved darkness instead of light (John 3:19)?” 1. Real Christians prove they KNOW God and are KNOWN by God because they have accepted Jesus’ invitation to FOLLOW Him through repentance and faith. Genuine faith and repentance is evidenced over time by a committed life of obedience to the service of Christ (not merely with words or only shown by a one time “sinners prayer” - Mark 8:34-36). True Christians enjoy an ongoing friendship & intimate relationship with God (1 Timothy 6:17, John 10:10, Romans 5:13). 2. Real Christians prove they are FOLLOWERS of Jesus by FOLLOWING (obeying) Jesus’ commands in the Bible (1 John 2:3-6). True Christians will understand the importance of Water baptism after conversion (Matthew 28:19), commitment to a local Bible-believing church (Hebrews 20:24), and daily devotions (Bible reading and prayer) that will discover the joy of obeying the two greatest commandments identified by Jesus (loving God with all your being and loving others as yourself– Matthew 22:37-40). 3. Real Christians prove their REPENTANCE by their DEEDS (Acts 26:20). True Christians live righteous lives that are radically different from the wicked world (1Thes. 4:3). They demonstrate ongoing repentance and confession of sin (1 John 1:9). Although they still sin, the Holy Spirit always convicts them of sin, leads them toward confession and forgiveness of sin, and provides the power necessary to resist temptation. True believers progressively become more like Christ (increasing obedience and victory over sin) over time. While they can stagnate or even digress for a time, they cannot habitually or willfully practice evil in an unbroken pattern like those who reject Jesus and walk in darkness all the time (1 John 1:5). 4. Real Christians prove their FAITH by being FAITHFUL. Overall, their faith will grow, persevere, and turn away from wickedness (2 Timothy 2:19) 5. Real Christians prove they belong to Jesus and can be recognized by their FRUIT (what their lives produce - Matthew 7:15-20 ). Yet, Christians can prove nothing in and of themselves. All the proof and power is ultimately provided by the Holy Spirit as a true Christian learns to listen, obey, and strive with the power God provides. There are times when a Christian ignores the Spirit and grieves the Spirit by sinful choices, but the Holy Spirit never leaves a real believer. They are eternally secure as children of God because the Holy Spirit within them is a seal (mark of ownership) that guarantees their perseverance in the faith and their resurrection to perfection in heaven. So while Jesus’ death on the cross broke the power of sin and death, we still long for heaven when we will be completely free from the presence of sin. How about you? Will it be written of you that you were a friend and follower of Jesus because “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness” (Hebrews 1:9), or that you lived like the world and were friends with a world that “loved darkness instead of light (John 3:19)?” Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.“ 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. James 2:17 Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. John 8:31 Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 1 John 3:18 Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:10-12 "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Why do 85% of Americans claim to be “Christians,” but so many don’t live for Jesus or live like Jesus? How can one know for sure that they KNOW Jesus and are truly saved? The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6 Romans 8:5-14 Eph. 4:25 John 15:14 2 Cor. 5:17 2 Cor. 13:5 The NEED for salvation: Our Sin – rebellion against God and his law that falls short of God’s glory and results in present separation and future judgment (Romans 3:23, 6:23, Isaiah 59:2, John 3:36) The SOURCE of salvation: Jesus Christ – his Perfect Life and Sacrificial Death forgives and cleanses our sins by his perfect blood (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:7, Romans 3:25,5:9, Revelation 1:5, Acts 17:30, Ephesians 2:8-9) The RESPONSE to salvation: Believe/Love/Follow Jesus through Repentance and Faith (Acts 16:31, Mt 22:37-40, Mark 1:15-17, Acts 20:21, Heb. 6:1-3, Eph. 2:8-9) The PROOF of salvation: God marks those he has forgiven (justified - declared not guilty of sin, Colossians 2:13-15) and adopted as his children (John 1:12-13) by the indwelling seal of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22). The H.S. produces a radically changed life (2 Cor. 5:17), fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), and deeds (Eph 2:10) that show the genuineness of our belief, love, following, repentance, and faith (1 John 2:3, James 2, Acts 26:20)

The critical aspects of Salvation: The Need for salvation: SIN (Genesis 3, Galatians 3, Romans 3, Isaiah 59:2, Revelation 20) The Source of salvation: JESUS CHRIST (Heb. 5:9, Acts 4:12, John 3:18) –forgiveness by His blood (Eph. 1:7, 1 John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, Gal. 3:13, Heb. 9) –righteousness by His perfect life (Matt 5:20, 6:33, Rom. 1:17, 3:21-22, 4:3-6, 4:22-24, 5:17-19, 10:1-9, 1 Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9) The Response to salvation: BELIEVE (John 3:16, Rom.10:9, Acts 16:31) –Repentance: turning from sin - fearing, admitting, renouncing, and leaving a life of sin that results in a death to self (Matt. 4:17, Luke 9:23,13:3, 14:26-33, Acts 2:38, 3:19,17:30, 26:20, Gal. 2:20, 5:24, 6:14, Rom. 6:6, 1 Cor. 15:31) –Faith: turning to Christ -a change of mind, commitment, and covenant that receives Christ’s blood for forgiveness and His righteousness for the gift of eternal life while fully surrendering control of one’s life to live & serve Jesus as LORD (Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 2:16, 3:11, 3:24, Luke 7:50) The Proof of salvation: The HOLY SPIRIT (Eph.1:13, 4:30, 2 Cor ) –Baptism (Immersion): Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38-41, Romans 6:3-4 –Change (Ongoing Repentance): 2 Tim. 2:19 2 Cor. 5:5-21, Ephesians 4-5, Philippians 1:27-30, 1 John 1:5-10 –Love (God/People): Matthew 22:36-39, John 8:31-42, 13:35, Romans 5:5, 1 John 4-5, Acts 2:42, Heb. 10:24 –Obedience (Holy Living): 1 John 2:3-6, 3:24, 5:2-3, John 14:21-24, 2 John 1:6, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Heb.12:14 –Fruit (Evangelism): Matt. 28:19-20, Gal. 5:22-23, James 2, 2 Cor. 2:20, John 15:8 –Eternal Life (Inheritance): Daniel 12:2, Revelation 21-22, John 5:24, 14:3, Matthew 25:34