The 4 Pillars of Spiritual Growth

God's command is:

2 Peter 3:18 “18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” ‌

2 Peter 1:3 “3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

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in another text it says: 2 Peter 1:5–8 “5 Therefore, strive to add virtue to your faith; to virtue is knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance piety; 7 to godliness and brotherhood; and to fraternity love. 8 For if these qualities exist and are growing in your life, they will prevent you, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, from being inoperative and unproductive.”

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2 Peter 1:10 “10 Therefore, brothers, do all the more to strengthen your calling and election, for if you do this you will never stumble,”

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It is very clear in the NT that it is one thing to be saved; another thing is: “to grow, to consolidate your calling, to be richly provided for in the eternal Kingdom” -

Ill.

The thief who was on the cross on the right side of Jesus was saved, but he had no time to grow, consolidate, no time to add NOTHING to his faith, He entered “penny-less” into the eternal kingdom.

I kiddie you not, the Bible promises reward in heaven for work done on earth. If you do them you will be rewarded.

INTRO.

‌Talk about the importance of practices and commitments that contribute to the development and maturation of the Christian faith.

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During Jesus' ministry on earth, there were four activities that He considered vital to a believer's walk in Christ.

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Activities not essential for salvation, but essential for a growth in the relationship with God, essential for rewards and blessings from God here and yonder.

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Remembering what the Word of God says in Ephesians 2:8-10 that we are “saved by grace for good works”…

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If we practice these good works we will grow in our relationship with God, we will never stumble, we will never be inoperative and unproductive, on the contrary, the ears of the Lord will always be attentive and our prayers will be answered, our steps will be guided by the Lord, and blessing will chase us!

‌We will bear much fruit for the glory of the Father! Hallelujah!

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Four activities that contribute to your development and maturity in the Christian faith.

1) Observe the “One Another” Responsibilities

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One of the most vivid ways in which the Lord Jesus reveals His intention for the church is through a series of statements about “our responsibilities to one another”. The phrase “one another” in the NT reveals what our relationship in the body of Christ should be like.

‌There are approximately 31 “One to Another” Passages of Responsibilities in the NT

John 13:14; John 13:34; Romans 12:10; Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5; Romans 14:13; Romans 14:19; Romans 15:7; Romans 15:14; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 1 Corinthians 12:25; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:32; Ephesians 5:19; Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:9; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 10:25; James 4:11; James 5:9; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:9; 1 Peter 5:5

We don't have time today to review all of these texts, but in short: In the Body of Christ, we must:‌

Wash one another’s feet: “Serve one another” (John 13:14)

• love one another (John 13:34 and many other times)

• be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10)

• give preference to one another in honor (Romans 12:10)

• be of the same mind toward one another (Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5)

• stop judging one another (Romans 14:13)

• pursue the building up of one another (Romans 14:19)

• accept one another (Romans 15:7)

Counsel one another (Romans 15:14)

• greet one another (Romans 16:16)

• wait for one another (1 Cor. 11:33)

Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)

• serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13)

• bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)

• be patient to one another (Ephes. 4:2)

• be kind to one another (Ephes. 4:32)

• forgive each other (Ephes. 4:32)

• speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephes. 5:19)

• be subject to one another (Ephes. 5:21)

• regard one another as more important (Phil. 2:3)

• not lie to one another (Col. 3:9)

Teach one another (Col. 3:16)

• comfort one another (1 Thes. 4:18)

Encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11)

• be at peace with one another (1 Thes. 5:13)

• pursue good to one another (1 Thes. 5:15)

• consider one another (Hebrews 10:25)

• not speak against one another (James 4:11)

• not complain against one another (James 5:9)

• confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)

• pray for one another (James 5:16)

• be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

• clothe yourself with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5)

These are the “good works” that God prepared for us to do! - That's what God saved you for!

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These are the practices and commitments that contribute to the development and growth of my brother's faith.

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‌GUESS WHAT?

In the kingdom the only way for YOU to grow is helping others grow.

‌To be better you need to help others to be better.

What have we done so far in your walk with the Lord to help others to grow?

Coming to services on Sunday?… (This is being equipped for service)

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Get involved in helping others to grow and don’t go to heaven empty hand!

Sign up

Acts 246 Project - Jesus in Each Home

Tomorrow at 7:30 pm, we will be starting a training course for leaders and hosts of small groups in our homes and then we will open our homes to Jesus!

Register TODAY!

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Point your phone's camera

in the QR-Code above (screen) to make the‌

your registration or send the following‌

Text: “acts246” to the number [phone]

(talk about Haggai Institute research)

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Jesus saved us for this!

The second important activity for our growth as Christians is that of "fellowship"-

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2) Participation in the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

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Memorial of death and resurrection, that Christ offers us the opportunity to keep our relationship with God and others clean and open.

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It was never God's intention that we abstain from communion, but that we must examine ourselves before participating, make the necessary adjustments so that we can participate openly and without hesitation.

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3) Testimony / Evangelism

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Talk about Jesus to other people - "announce how much God has done for you" (Mark 4:19)

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- Talk about the Good News of the forgiveness that God offers us in his Son. Mat.4:17 "Jesus began to preach: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

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Again, in your small group you will have the opportunity to share how Jesus reached you!

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Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

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The fourth activity is what we are going to celebrate today, "baptism".

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4) Believer's Baptism

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This is a personal act, but very rich in meaning. That's what we'll be looking at today - "The Power of Baptism in the Life of a Christian!"

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In Matthew 3:13-17, we see the Lord Jesus himself going to John to be baptized, John refutes, saying that it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus, Jesus says that it was to leave it that way so that "all righteousness may be fulfilled." The Lord Jesus begins his ministry by being baptized and He concludes his ministry by commanding that whoever believes must be baptized. (see Matthew 28:19).

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The act of water baptism is the first important step in the growth of a Christian.

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ILLUSTRATION:

In the modernized world, and in the era of "Comfort Christianity" - ... the sad reality is that many Christians do not take God's commandments seriously.

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Chuck Colson once said:

"Most Westerners do not take baptism seriously, but for many around the world the act requires immense courage. For believers in Africa, the Middle East and some countries in Asia, baptism is signing your own death warrant."

Why would someone risk their life for baptism?

HOW IMPORTANT IS BAPTISM IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE?

There is strong evidence that biblical Baptism…

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IS REQUIRED.

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1. Jesus Christ asked for Baptism - See John 1:33; Matt. 3:13-15

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2. Christ approved Baptism - See John 4:1

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3. Christ commanded Baptism - See Matt. 28:18-20

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4. It was part of the apostolic preaching:

"...Repent, and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ..." Acts 2:38

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5. It was a universal practice of the Christian Church at its beginning and later 1 Cor. 1:12-17

THE MEANING OF BAPTISM

‌A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married.

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A military uniform is an outward sign that a person is engaged in a particular branch of service.

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Likewise, water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

It means at least 3 things:

The new life.

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When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:27

Galatians 3:27 NIV84

27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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“baptized into Christ” and “into one Body”, means placed in Christ, in his church…

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- 1 Corinthians 12:13

1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV84

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Water Baptism is an external representation of these spiritual realities.

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In biblical symbolism, water represents inner cleansing (Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22), and spiritual rebirth (John 3:5), both of which are central themes of baptism.

B) New Lordship.

1) Being Baptized does not mean being perfect. We will always struggle with sin...

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2) Being Baptized symbolizes having a new Master/Lord.

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Jesus is our righteousness, He is our Master/Lord & Owner!

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3) Being baptized is a commandment from God, not an option. It is an act that God demands of every believer.

In fact, Jesus' last recorded words on earth were. "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...." (Mark 16:16). Think about this for a moment. If Jesus' last words on earth included baptism, that must be very important to Him, don't you think?

You will never read in the Bible about an unbaptized Christian.

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In fact, baptism always follows immediately after a person's salvation.

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They don't see it as something to be delayed or postponed.

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Let me quickly mention to you some of the conversions described in the book of Acts.

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Acts 2:38 When the people heard Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, they were troubled in their hearts, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

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"Peter replied, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

We read in verse 41 Those who accepted the message were baptized, and that day there was an addition of about three thousand people.

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Acts 8:26-40- This is the account of Phillip leading the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ. When they finish their conversation, the eunuch enthusiastically asks "What prevents me from being baptized?" Phillip responds, "If you believe with all your heart, you can." Then they turn to water, and Philip promptly baptizes him.

Acts 22:16 The first thing the Lord tells the apostle Paul to do after his conversion is to be baptized - "Now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." -

There are a number of other examples we could look at (Acts 10:46-48; 16:14-15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:1-5).

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In each of these cases, notice that there is a sense of urgency that is attached to baptism.

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All of these people responded to Jesus by simple faith.

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We need to remember what James 2:17 wrote. ... "faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by works, is dead."

We need to remember what James 2:17 wrote. ... "faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by works, is dead."

- faith without works (corresponding actions) is dead.

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A living faith produces an obedient heart (Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46, 1 John 2:3-4) and water baptism is to be our first work of faith in obedience to the Lordship of Christ in our lives.

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D) New Character.

A. The Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral.

It is an act of faith that testifies, both to God and to the world, that the person we once were is dead and buried, and we are now a new creation in Christ. This point is beautifully illustrated by these Scriptures:

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B. Romans 6:4 “4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

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C. When the true believer passes through the waters of baptism he is declaring to the world that as Christ died, he also died...

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The. ...for sin

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...for the consequence of sin (6:23)

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...the judgment of sin. (Rom.8:1)

D. He also declares that he has been resurrected to a new life, with a new identity.

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It is. ...life of freedom in Christ

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f. ...life free from the wages of sin

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g. ...life free from the dominion of sin

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H. ...life free from judgment and condemnation to come.

ii. Baptism symbolizes that the person:

... listened to Christ

...died with Christ

…he was resurrected with Christ and is now a new creature. (1Pe.2:9-10)

CONCLUSION -

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A very important reason to be baptized

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A. Approval

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Baptism gives us God's approval. Luke 3:21-22 (quote only..) .

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When a person believes in the Gospel of Christ and is baptized, God is pleased because that person is obeying, by faith and doing exactly as Jesus commanded! In Jesus' Baptism, God demonstrated his approval.

B. We should not procrastinate Baptism, it is our first opportunity to demonstrate that our faith is not dead!

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1. Baptism must be followed as soon as the person has believed in Jesus.

2. There is no Biblical reason to wait... Acts 2:38-39; 8:12, 38; 9:18; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8; 19:3-5;—

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w. Baptism is our opportunity to show God and the world that we are a new creature and that we are with the Lord for whatever may come.

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i. ... show that we want to see his plans fulfilled in our lives...

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ii. We live in a time where our generation lives to do what God disapproves of, but we will seek God's approval in our lives. Amen!

Invitation:

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Let's stand up...‌

In addition to those who will be baptized next services, is there anyone else today who wants to give their life to Jesus and confess Him as their Lord and Savior? Come forward…

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Is there anyone here today who has already confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and today wants to be baptized as the Bible teaches? Come forward…

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Is there anyone here today who is far from Jesus and would like to be reconciled with the Lord and return to his church? Come forward…

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