Three Priorities Of A New Believer

Three Vital Steps to Spiritual Maturity

Confess Christ

• “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

• Confessing Christ with the mouth is a consequence that follows believing on Him in our heart.

Receive “Believer’s Baptism”

• There are different purposes of baptism:

• Ceremonial Cleansing

• A ritual cleansing from defilement of sin

• John the Baptist, baptism of repentance

• Believer’s baptism

The Scripural Mode of Baptism

• IMMERSION

• is the scriptural mode of baptism.

• Founders and scholars of may Christian denominations agree

• John Calvin –

• Martin Luther –

• Cardinal Farley

A Physical Illustration of A Spiritual Reality

• “…so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body..”

• 1st Corinthians 12:12a

Unite With A New Testament Church• To receive,

• Teaching

• Example

• Love

• Support

• Ministry and opportunity to serve

Members Of A Local Church

• 28 Times members are exhorted to:

• “love one another”

• “be kind to one another”

• “Be tenderhearted toward one another

• “Encourage one another

• “Bear one another’s burdens”

The Church Is An Assembly

• The church is not a building or a large religious organization or denomination.

• God chose a Greek word meaning “called out ones”

• A church is an assembled body of believers who confess Christ as their Savior

The Church As Man Sees It

• A local, visible church is made up of believers who fulfill the Biblical purposes of the church

• Do not have to belong to a large organization or denomination

• Do not have to have a building

The Church as God Sees It

• He sees the church in its entirety

• From the first believers at Pentecost

• To the last believer of the church age

• Every believer called out of the world

• into God’s assembly.

Symbols of the Church

• The body of Christ - The bride of Christ

• A flock - God’s husbandry

• A new man - The Temple of God

• An habitation of God - House of God

• Pillar and ground of the truth

God’s Revealed Esteem for the Church• Christ is the Founder and Builder

• The Church is God’s Possession

• The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth

• Churches are the Focus of Christ’s Concern

Three Vital Steps To Maturity

• 1. Confessing Christ as Savior

• 2. Follow His example in believer’s baptism

• 3. Becoming a part of a New Testament church

• The foundation for a victorious Christian