I. “Every spiritual blessing…in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3)
A. Is it important to be “in Christ”? (Romans 3:24; 6:23; 8:1,39; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 15:19; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 2:16; 3:28; 2 Timothy 2:10; 3:15)
B. How does one get “in Christ”? (Galatians 3:26-27
II. Contact with the blood of Christ
A. “Baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 2:13; 1 John 1:7)
B. Former life of sin is gone (Romans 6:5-7, 17)
III. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:4-7)
A. “Through the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5)
B. Results: justification by grace and heirs of the hope of eternal life
IV. Direct link between baptism and salvation (1 Peter 3:18-22)
A. Baptism is an “antitype”
B. Baptism “now saves us” (1 Peter 3:21; Genesis 3:1-5)
A. They “stood afar off” (Luke 17:11-12; Leviticus 13:45-46; Numbers 5:2-3)
B. “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13; 5:12-15)
II. The Lord’s response
A. His instruction (Luke 17:14a)
B. Their obedience (Luke 17:14b; cf. Mark 16:15; Luke 6:27-28; 12:22)
III. The lone returner
A. Thanksgiving (Luke 17:15-16; Philippians 4:6-7)
B. Spiritual healing (Luke 17:19; Matthew 1:21; Luke 7:50; 19:10)
C. What about the others? (Luke 17:17-18; Romans 1:20-21)
A. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47)
B. The Day of Pentecost: “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:36-38, 40-41, 47)
II. Continuing through the book of Acts
A. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:12)
B. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35-36, 38)
C. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:6, 17-18; 22:16)
D. Cornelius (Acts 10:47-48)
E. Lydia in Philippi (Acts 16:14-15)
F. The Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-33)
III. Can you be baptized right if you are taught wrong?
A. Why were you baptized?
B. The example of the disciples in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7)
A. Selfishness shown in “aggressive pronouns” (Luke 12:16-19)
B. Opportunities to share (Acts 2:44-45; 5:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 12)
II. The rich fool thought only of this life
A. Success measured by materialistic standards (Luke 12:19)
B. “But God said…” (Luke 12:20; James 4:13-17; Galatians 6:10)
C. Are we more concerned with the temporary or the eternal? (Luke 12:21; 12:4-5)
III. God cares for us
A. We are valuable to Him (Luke 12:6-7; John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
B. Warning against anxiety (Luke 12:22-34; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Colossians 3:1-3)
A. He is our light, salvation, and stronghold (Psalm 27:1; 28:8)
B. His people will always have enemies (Psalm 27:2-3; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3)
II. God is our strength
A. We must intently seek Him with perseverance (Psalm 27:4)
B. He will protect us in times of trouble (Psalm 27:5; James 4:8)
C. Assurance of present and future deliverance (Psalm 27:6)
III. Yet, we experience lingering fear
A. Distractions of negativity (Psalm 27:7-9; Matthew 14:22-33)
B. Fear and doubt diminishes faith, but God is there (Psalm 27:10)
IV. God is our guide
A. We must be willing to learn and follow (Psalm 27:11-12)
B. Faith can get us through difficulties (Psalm 27:13)
C. Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14)
A. “The multitudes marveled” (Luke 11:14)
B. “Others…sought a sign from heaven” (Luke 11:16, 29-32)
C. “He casts out demons by Beelzebub” (Luke 11:15; cf. 23:2)
II. Christ responds to the slander
A. Exposing absurdity (Luke 11:17-18)
B. Exposing inconsistency (Luke 11:19)
C. “The kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20; cf. Exodus 8:16-19)
III. A parable showing superiority and strength
A. The strong man = Satan (Luke 11:21)
B. The stronger man = Jesus Christ (Luke 11:22)
IV. In spiritual warfare, there can be no neutrality
A. We must be engaged and united in the fight for the faith (Luke 11:23)
B. Attitudes of apathy and indifference are deadly (Revelation 3:14-19; 1 Corinthians 15:58)
A. “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
B. “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” (Luke 10:26-28; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)
C. “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
II. The parable
A. The priest (Luke 10:30-31; cf. Deuteronomy 22:1-4; Exodus 23:4-5)
B. The Levite (Luke 10:32)
C. The Samaritan (Luke 10:33-35)
D. Which acted as a neighbor to the victim? (Luke 10:36-37a)
III. The call to action
A. “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37b)
B. A timeless truth (Micah 6:8; Matthew 23:23; Romans 13:10; Galatians 6:10)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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