NEW LIFE BIBLE COURSE LESSON FOUR JESUS TEACHES CONCERNING SALVATION
We learned in the last two lessons that the various types and shadows of the Old Testament teach us that the way of salvation is through the blood, water, and Spirit. We learned that Noah's ark with its three stories represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation: 1. blood = repentance 2. water = water baptism in Jesus' name 3. Spirit = receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost
Now we shall see that this is exactly what Jesus Christ taught! REPENTANCE 1. John the Baptist preached repentance: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2). The very first word that John the Baptist spoke when he began his ministry was "repent." This word means that we are sorry for our sins, and we make up our mind to leave them. We confess our sins to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive us. We pray something like this (using our own words, and praying sincerely): "Jesus, I confess to you that I have sinned abundantly. I am sick of my present life. I am tired of my sins. You died for me. Now I want to live for you. Forgive me for all of my sins, and give me a new life. Wash me with your precious blood. In Jesus' name. Amen." Something wonderful happens when we pray the prayer of repentance: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Not only does Jesus forgive us, He forgets all about our sins: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins" (Isaiah 43:25). 2. Jesus taught that everybody must repent: "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:1415). The kingdom of God Jesus spoke about here is not a natural kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom--His spiritual body, the church. The Jews did not understand this. They thought Jesus was coming to establish a natural kingdom and they would be free from the Romans, who ruled and taxed them. Jesus explained to them: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he
answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). 3. Jesus teaches further concerning repentance: "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galillaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-5). By this, Jesus taught us that everyone, regardless of how good we feel we are, needs to repent. In fact none of us are good within ourselves:
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). 4. Jesus taught concerning entrance into His spiritual kingdom, the church: "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be
born again" (John 3:1-7). a. Why must we be born again? Jesus plainly gives us the answer: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh." After Adam fell into sin by his willful disobedience in the garden of Eden, every human being was born with a sinful nature. This is what is meant by the term "the flesh." Paul warns us: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (the enemy of God): for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:5-9). How do we get "out" of the flesh so that we
can please God? Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again!" (John 3:5-6). BIRTH OF THE WATER (BAPTISM) 1. Water baptism by John the Baptist and Jesus was always by immersion (dipping under): "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized" (John 3:23). "Much water" would not be needed if the method was sprinkling. 2. Jesus considered water baptism very important: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned" (Mark 16:15-16). 3. Jesus commanded that baptism should be in the name (not names): "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). ". . . Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:4647). BIRTH OF THE SPIRIT (BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST) "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Jesus Christ compared the Holy Ghost with water, which is essential to life, and also that which quenches our thirst more than anything else. "Jesus answered and said unto her,
Whosoever drinketh of this water (natural water) shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:1314). "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified) (John 7:37-39). Jesus spoke much about the Holy Ghost that would be given to all true believers. If you note the following verses of Scripture carefully, you will see that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, is no less than the very Spirit of Jesus Christ. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are filled with Jesus! "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:16-18). Truly, when we are born of the water (by baptism) and the Spirit (by receiving the Holy Ghost), we do receive the Spirit of Jesus Christ: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin: but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you , he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:9-11). Jesus commanded his disciples:
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). "And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you . . ." (Acts 1:4-5, 8). Before we close this lesson, let us read together the most popular verse of Scripture in the entire Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Many people quote this beautiful verse of Scripture in an attempt to prove that they are saved without baptism of water and Spirit. They point out that Jesus said we could have eternal life by believing alone. However, this is a
dishonest use of the Word of God. We must remember that Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus--the same person that He had already told of his need to be born of the water and the Spirit. A true believer will seek to receive from God all things that will bring him into a closer relationship with God. When more light comes his way, a true believer will accept and walk in that light! God give us an honest heart, so that we can receive all of the beautiful things that Jesus wants to give us, and enjoy the wonderful life that Jesus has for us!