That Form of Teaching

That Form Of Teaching Terry Sanders

That Form Of Teaching

Romans 6:15-18

Introduction: Every once in a while you may engage someone in conversation about salvation (as related to the Bible, of course). You may have reached the point where you brought up the Plan of Salvation (POS). This is where things begin to go awry. The person you have been talking to may refuse to accept that there is such a thing as the POS. Let me hasten to point out that the one who refuses to accept this may NOT automatically be someone who is NOT a member of the church. There are (and I have personally met some) disciples who are dubious about the POS.

Our study today will center on the POS and then show how it is more common than might be thought.

I.The Plan Of Salvation.

[A brief synopsis with the intent to show from the Scriptures evidence a logical order concerning this]

A.The usual arrangement.

1.Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized.

a.A process with a logical order.

b.Explain logic of order.

2.Called for by Jesus (Lk. 11:28; Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Matt. 10:32; Mk. 16:16).

B.The POS is not found in any one place, but is actually more of a composite of instances.

1.Notice the Corinthians (Acts 18:8).

2.Repentance implied (“such were some of you,” 1 Cor. 6:11).

3.“Call upon the name of the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:2).

[While these things are not in all in one place or in specific order, the nonetheless are the points.

Often the opposition will introduce Ephesians 2:8-9 and claim salvation by faith only. They will zero in on and pronounce baptism as a work and allege it inconsequential to salvation (“not f works”). Keep in mind that this means repentance and confession, “works” to this mind-set, are then also inconsequential.

I think we can understand this better if we examine the Ephesian disciples and what they did.]

II.How The Ephesians Were Saved.

A.They heard the gospel (Eph. 1:13).

1.The “word of truth, the gospel” contains facts to be believed (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

2.Hearing is something that is DONE!

B.The believed (Eph. 1:13, 15, 19).

1.They TRUSTED and BELIEVED.

2.Believing Hearing is something that is DONE (Jn. 6:28-29)!

C.They repented of sin (Eph. 2:1-3).

1.“In which you formerly walked” (cf. Eph. 4:22).

2.Works of repentance are something to be DONE(Acts 26:20)!

D.They confessed (Acts 19:18).

1.Believing and confessing(cf. Rom. 10:10).

2.Confession is something that is DONE!

E.They were baptized (Acts 19:1-5).

1.There is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5).

2.Baptism is something that is DONE!

Conclusion: is there ONE place where the entire POS is found? No, but the points are nevertheless found. Does Ephesians 2:8-9 eliminate all acts (works) from salvation? No, not unless one is willing to dismiss a huge chunk of God’s revealed word! Why do that? Why not just obey the gospel and what it says to DO?

~1~