Where Have We Been?

Born innocent, without sin (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
All who have reached an accountable age have sinned (Romans 3:23)
Sin separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:1-3)
Without direction (Jeremiah 10:23)

Where Are We Now?

Those who have not had their sins forgiven are still in the condition described above
Christians have been saved by the grace of God [...]

Text: Ephesians 1:3-14
Spiritual Blessings

Predestination (v. 4-5) — God was able to foreknow who would be saved: those who were holy and blameless
Grace (v. 6) — God’s gift of salvation, given to us freely, not according to what we deserve
Redemption (v. 7) — God purchased us, bought us back from our bondage to sin
Forgiveness (v. 7) [...]

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Four Facts of First Importance

Christ died – laid down His life for our sins (John 10:18; Colossians 1:22)
He was buried – shows that His death was not a hoax (Matthew 27:57-60)
He was raised – first fruits of those who are asleep, gives us hope (1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Peter 1:3)
He appeared – [...]

Text: John 3:1-8
The Kingdom is Open to All

Jew or Gentile, young or old, etc.
But one must be born again – even the Jews, God’s chosen people

What is the New Birth?

Of water and the Spirit
Baptism – by water (Acts 8:36-38) and by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Comparison between Physical & Spiritual Births

New life (Romans 6:4,6; Colossians [...]

Misused Passages:

Mark 16:16 – baptism not in second clause (but if one does not believe, they naturally will not obey)
Luke 23:39-43 – the thief on the cross was saved without baptism (also before Jesus’ death, we live under a different law – Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 9:17)
Acts 2:38 – we are baptized for (because of) the [...]

What Makes Us Brethren?

By faith we have been baptized into Christ (Acts 2:37-38; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
What if one does this but joins an institutional church or a denomination? Still a brother
What if one doesn’t do this, but is religious and claims belief in God/Jesus? Not a brother

Be Mindful of These Types of Brethren:

Weak [...]