1. Review of Plan of Salvation
A. Hear Romans 10:17
B. Believe Hebrews 11:6
C. Repent Luke 13:3
D. Confess Romans 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:12
E. Baptized Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21
2. The Major Conversions in Acts
A. Conversions
(i). Acts 2:36-47 First Christian in Jerusalem
(ii). Acts 8:26-39 Ethiopian Eunuch
(iii). Acts 16:22-34 Philippian jailer and his family
(iv). Acts 18:24-26 Apollos
(v). Acts 19:1-5 Ephesians
(vi). Acts 9:1-22 Paul
(vii). Acts 22:3-16 Paul
B. Questions concerning Conversions
(i). What was preached?
(ii). What was the person's (people's) response to the
message?
(iii). How long did the person (people) take to make the
decision?
(iv). What was their response after baptism?
3. Refuting False Doctrines
A. "Pray Jesus into your heart": This phrase is
never mentioned in the Bible. People may use Revelation 3:20
about Jesus knocking at the door, however, you must examine the
Scripture in context. This scripture does not teach how to become
a Christian and be saved, but how to come back to God after
becoming lukewarm. It is addressed to disciples who already
responded to Christ in faith, repentance, confession and baptism.
"Accept Jesus into your heart": (same teaching as
praying Jesus into your heart-just different terminology.) Based
on Romans 10:9. You must look at scripture in context. Paul is
addressing the problem of the Israelites: unbelief that Jesus was
the Christ, the Son of God. Read further on to Romans 10:13. When
do you call on the name of the Lord? At baptism (Acts 22:16).
B. Infant baptism: A baby cannot have faith, and since we
are baptized through faith in the power of God (Colossians 2:12),
babies cannot be baptized.
Original sin: Ezekiel 18:20 teaches there is no original sin;
each person is responsible for his own actions and will be judged
accordingly. Therefore babies are born sinless and will be saved
if they die.
C. "Baptism does not save you": 1 Peter 3:21
says that baptism does save you through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Acts 2:38 teaches that sin is forgiven at baptism-one is
saved at the point sin is forgiven.
D. "Baptism is a work-yet we are saved by faith"
(Ephesians 2:8): Colossians 2:12 teaches we are saved by faith-in
the working of God at baptism.
E. "Baptism is an outward sign of an inward
grace": Romans 6:24 states that baptism is an actual
participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It
is not merely a sign, seal or symbol.
F. "Baptism isn't important, after all, look at what
Paul said about it in 1 Corinthians 1:17": Paul does not
diminish the importance of baptism here. (Paul himself was
baptized to have his sins forgiven in Acts 22:16.) In context
(read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17), he makes the point that he does not
want people following men (denominationalism). He mentions
baptism several times in the passage.
G. "The thief on the cross was not baptized and Jesus
told him that they would see each other in paradise": Jesus
had not even died yet, and baptism is participating in his death
(Romans 6:2-4); also on earth, he had the power to forgive sins
(Matthew 9:2-6).
H. "Believers baptism'': This is baptism as an adult,
but is not done in conjunction with the understanding that one is
being saved at this point in time (John 3:5, Acts 2:38).
"Retroactive understanding" is not sufficient for
salvation.