Lesson 10: Examples of Conversion in Acts Lesson 10: Examples of Conversion in Acts

Baptism: Unwatered-down What are we talking about? By Definition—Immersion in WaterBy Definition—Immersion in Water An Important Bible SubjectAn Important Bible Subject The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5)The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5) A Serious Study!A Serious Study! –Water baptism of the Great Commission is tied in some way to salvation. That’s undeniable! –WHAT IS IT’S PURPOSE? –What does it have to do (if anything) with my salvation? By Definition—Immersion in WaterBy Definition—Immersion in Water An Important Bible SubjectAn Important Bible Subject The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5)The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5) A Serious Study!A Serious Study! –Water baptism of the Great Commission is tied in some way to salvation. That’s undeniable! –WHAT IS IT’S PURPOSE? –What does it have to do (if anything) with my salvation?

“Bapt-” words in N.T. = 114 times in 91 verses

Col. 2:12 Eph. 4:5 Gal. 3:27 1Co. 12:13 1Co. 1:17 1Co. 1:16 1Co. 1:15 1Co. 1:14 1Co. 1:13 Ro. 6:4 Ro. 6:3 Ac. 8:36 Ac. 19:5 Ac. 8:16 Ac. 8:13 Ac. 8:12 Ac. 2:41 Ac. 18:8 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 16:33 Ac. 16:15 Ac. 11:16 Ac. 10:48 Ac. 10:47 Ac. 9:18 Ac. 8:38 Mt. 28:19 Baptism: Unwatered-down Let’s Study What the Bible Says! Mk. 16:16 Ac. 22:16 1 Pet. 3:21 Some (not all) other passages that speak of baptism without using that word: John 3:5 Ephesians 5:26 Titus 3:5 1 Corinthians 6:11 Hebrews 10:22 Some (not all) other passages that speak of baptism without using that word: John 3:5 Ephesians 5:26 Titus 3:5 1 Corinthians 6:11 Hebrews 10:22

Wash away sins Be baptized Acts 22:16 Remission of sins Repent Be baptized Acts 2:38 Saved from sins Believe Be baptized Mark 16:15-16 Christian New rela. w/ God Be baptized Matt. 28:18-20 Get into Christ & blood New life, free from sin Buried in baptism Rom. 6:3-4, 17 Sons of God, in Christ Put on Christ Baptized Gal. 3:26-27 Baptism 1 Peter 3:21 Saved Good conscience John 3:5 Be born again Enter kingdom Born of water & spirit = baptism

make disciples believesbelieves remission of sins The Great Commission from Jesus Christ “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The Great Commission from Jesus Christ “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). baptizedbaptized savedsaved repentancerepentance

Baptized (5) Baptized (5) Believed (2, 4) Believed (2, 4) Ephesians Acts 19:1-7 Ephesians Acts 19:1-7 Baptized (8) Baptized (8) Believed (8) Believed (8) Corinthians Acts 18:4-11 Corinthians Acts 18:4-11 Saved (30), rejoiced (34) Baptized (33) Baptized (33) Washed their stripes (33) Believed (31, 34) Believed (31, 34) The Jailer Acts 16:25-34 The Jailer Acts 16:25-34 Baptized (15) Baptized (15) Lydia Acts 16:11-15 Lydia Acts 16:11-15 Remission of sins (43) Baptized (47-48) Baptized (47-48) Repentance (11:18) Believed (43) Believed (43) Cornelius Acts 10:24-48 Cornelius Acts 10:24-48 Sins washed (22:16) Sins washed (22:16) Baptized (9:18; 22:16) Baptized (9:18; 22:16) Saul Acts 9:1-18 Saul Acts 9:1-18 Rejoiced (39) Rejoiced (39) Baptized (36-38) Baptized (36-38) Confessed (37) Confessed (37) Believed (36-37) Believed (36-37) Eunuch Acts 8:26-40 Eunuch Acts 8:26-40 Baptized (12-13) Baptized (12-13) Believed (12-13) Believed (12-13) Samaritans Acts 8:5-13 Samaritans Acts 8:5-13 Remission (38), added Baptized (38, 41) Baptized (38, 41) Repent (38) Repent (38) Cut to heart (37) Cut to heart (37) Jews Acts 2:1-47 Jews Acts 2:1-47 Saved 2 Tim. 2:10 Saved 2 Tim. 2:10 Baptized Gal. 3:27 Baptized Gal. 3:27 Confessed Rom. 10:10 Confessed Rom. 10:10 Repented Luke 13:3 Repented Luke 13:3 Believed Heb. 11:6 Believed Heb. 11:6 Text Examples of Conversion in Acts

What Jesus SAID: make disciples believesbelieves remission of sins baptizedbaptized savedsaved repentancerepentance Mk. 16:16 Lk. 24:47 Mt. 28:19 What They DID: made disciples believedbelieved remission of sins baptizedbaptized savedsaved repentedrepented Ac. 17:30 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 22:16 1.They did EXACTLY as Jesus authorized. 2.They did it IMMEDIATELY. 3.They were SAVED by God. 1.They did EXACTLY as Jesus authorized. 2.They did it IMMEDIATELY. 3.They were SAVED by God.

Answering Objections Someone says: “I don’t see how you can say baptism is absolutely necessary when the conversions in Acts show that people were not always given the same answer for salvation. Some were told to believe, some were told to repent, etc.” 1.Do different answers necessarily contradict one another or cancel one another out? 2.Does being told to do one thing eliminate the responsibility to do all things? a.Did the Ethiopian not have to repent? b.Did Saul not have to believe & repent? c.Did the Philippian jailor not have to be baptized? 3.Each was told the next “step(s)” needed to take, as some steps had already been taken, yet the need for one step included ALL steps (synecdoche). Someone says: “I don’t see how you can say baptism is absolutely necessary when the conversions in Acts show that people were not always given the same answer for salvation. Some were told to believe, some were told to repent, etc.” 1.D o different answers necessarily contradict one another or cancel one another out? 2.D oes being told to do one thing eliminate the responsibility to do all things? a.D id the Ethiopian not have to repent? b.D id Saul not have to believe & repent? c.D id the Philippian jailor not have to be baptized? 3.E ach was told the next “step(s)” needed to take, as some steps had already been taken, yet the need for one step included ALL steps (synecdoche).

Are driving directions contradictory if given from different cities along a travel route from WPB to Glacier National Park? Are driving directions contradictory if given from different cities along a travel route from WPB to Glacier National Park? Neither are salvation directions!

Answering Objections Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 1.Think about this! 2.This “theory” claims that ALL the jailor had to do to be saved was believe, while those on Pentecost were required to repent and be baptized. AND, it was left up to the apostles to decide when to forgive sins and when not. 3.Question: Did the apostles have the power to forgive sin? Or was it limited to God only (Mk. 2:7; 1 Jn. 1:9)? Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 1.T hink about this! 2.T his “theory” claims that ALL the jailor had to do to be saved was believe, while those on Pentecost were required to repent and be baptized. AND, it was left up to the apostles to decide when to forgive sins and when not. 3.Q uestion: Did the apostles have the power to forgive sin? Or was it limited to God only (Mk. 2:7; 1 Jn. 1:9)?

Answering Objections Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 4.God alone has the power to forgive sin (1 Jn. 1:9; Isa. 43:25; Acts 8:22). 5.Did God relinquish that power to men? 6.If different men were saved from their sins based upon meeting different conditions: a.Does God show partiality? b.How does the one gospel save differently (cf. Rom. 1:16; Eph. 4:4-6)? c.What gospel should we preach today? d.How should we tell men to be saved today? Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 4.God alone has the power to forgive sin (1 Jn. 1:9; Isa. 43:25; Acts 8:22). 5.Did God relinquish that power to men? 6.If different men were saved from their sins based upon meeting different conditions: a.Does God show partiality? b.How does the one gospel save differently (cf. Rom. 1:16; Eph. 4:4-6)? c.What gospel should we preach today? d.How should we tell men to be saved today?

Answering Objections Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 7.If someone is in need of having their sins forgiven and is studying to that end, is it fair to tell one man he has reached salvation a step (or two steps) before another man? 8.Return to the WPB  Glacier travel example: a.If three men are traveling from WPB to Glacier… b.Is it sensible (or truthful) to tell one in Atlanta that he’s already there? To tell another man in St. Louis that he’s already there? And yet a third man actually travels every mile to be there? Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 7.If someone is in need of having their sins forgiven and is studying to that end, is it fair to tell one man he has reached salvation a step (or two steps) before another man? 8.Return to the WPB  Glacier travel example: a.If three men are traveling from WPB to Glacier… b.Is it sensible (or truthful) to tell one in Atlanta that he’s already there? To tell another man in St. Louis that he’s already there? And yet a third man actually travels every mile to be there?

Answering Objections Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 9.The text of John 20:23 will not support this. 10.Did God allow the apostles to make up laws as they went? Some so claim that Jesus gave them the right in Matthew 16:19, 18:18 to bind and loose, and that heaven would follow the apostles’ lead (use same logic in Jn. 20). 11.But Matthew 16:19; 18:18 and John 20:23 do not teach any such thing. 12.Find one example of an apostle forgiving sins! Someone says: “In John 20:23, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins of anyone they chose based on any conditions they may or may not have met.” 9.The text of John 20:23 will not support this. 10.Did God allow the apostles to make up laws as they went? Some so claim that Jesus gave them the right in Matthew 16:19, 18:18 to bind and loose, and that heaven would follow the apostles’ lead (use same logic in Jn. 20). 11.But Matthew 16:19; 18:18 and John 20:23 do not teach any such thing. 12.Find one example of an apostle forgiving sins!

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18, NASB; cf. 16:19). “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (John 20:23, NASB). “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18, NASB; cf. 16:19). “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (John 20:23, NASB). Perfect tense verbs following aorist tense verbs indicate an abiding/present state from an action prior to the action of the aorist verbs.Perfect tense verbs following aorist tense verbs indicate an abiding/present state from an action prior to the action of the aorist verbs. So what happened prior to the binding, loosing and forgiving that the apostles “did”?So what happened prior to the binding, loosing and forgiving that the apostles “did”? -GOD ALREADY DID IT IN HEAVEN! Perfect tense verbs following aorist tense verbs indicate an abiding/present state from an action prior to the action of the aorist verbs.Perfect tense verbs following aorist tense verbs indicate an abiding/present state from an action prior to the action of the aorist verbs. So what happened prior to the binding, loosing and forgiving that the apostles “did”?So what happened prior to the binding, loosing and forgiving that the apostles “did”? -GOD ALREADY DID IT IN HEAVEN!

Notice the place of baptism in Acts 1. 1.Nine conversions are detailed in Acts Not a single account explicitly states all the conditions of salvation Believing is not explicitly stated in every account Repentance is not explicitly stated in every account Confession is not explicitly stated in every account Baptism IS explicitly stated in every account Nine conversions are detailed in Acts Not a single account explicitly states all the conditions of salvation Believing is not explicitly stated in every account Repentance is not explicitly stated in every account Confession is not explicitly stated in every account Baptism IS explicitly stated in every account.

Baptism stands between the sinner and… 1. 1.Becoming a Christian (Matt. 28:19) 2. 2.Entering a new relationship with God (Matt. 28:19) 3. 3.Being saved from sins (Mark 16:16) 4. 4.Having remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Col. 2:13) 5. 5.Having sins washed away (Acts 22:16) 6. 6.Calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16) 7. 7.Getting into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:26-27) 8. 8.Getting into the death of Christ, wherein is His blood (Rom. 6:3) 9. 9.Having a new life in Christ, a new creature (Rom. 6:4; 2 Co. 5:17) Being free from sin (Rom. 6:3-4, 17) The working of God (Col. 2:12) Becoming a son of God (Gal. 3:27) Putting on Christ (Gal. 3:27) Being saved (1 Pet. 3:21; Titus 3:5) Obtaining a good conscience (1 Pet. 3:21; Heb. 10:22) Being born again, regeneration (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5) Entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5) Being sanctified and cleansed (Eph. 5:26) Being added to the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Ac. 2:41,47) Being sanctified and justified (1 Cor. 6:11) Being converted into a N.T. Christian (Acts) Rejoicing (Acts 8:39; 16:34) Wearing the name of Christ (1 Cor. 1:12-17) 1. 1.Becoming a Christian (Matt. 28:19) 2. 2.Entering a new relationship with God (Matt. 28:19) 3. 3.Being saved from sins (Mark 16:16) 4. 4.Having remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Col. 2:13) 5. 5.Having sins washed away (Acts 22:16) 6. 6.Calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16) 7. 7.Getting into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:26-27) 8. 8.Getting into the death of Christ, wherein is His blood (Rom. 6:3) 9. 9.Having a new life in Christ, a new creature (Rom. 6:4; 2 Co. 5:17) Being free from sin (Rom. 6:3-4, 17) The working of God (Col. 2:12) Becoming a son of God (Gal. 3:27) Putting on Christ (Gal. 3:27) Being saved (1 Pet. 3:21; Titus 3:5) Obtaining a good conscience (1 Pet. 3:21; Heb. 10:22) Being born again, regeneration (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5) Entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5) Being sanctified and cleansed (Eph. 5:26) Being added to the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Ac. 2:41,47) Being sanctified and justified (1 Cor. 6:11) Being converted into a N.T. Christian (Acts) Rejoicing (Acts 8:39; 16:34) Wearing the name of Christ (1 Cor. 1:12-17)