Various Scripture – Big Questions to Ask on This Day Topic: Evangelism / Baptism

I. Big Questions: What happens when someone trusts Christ?

When someone trusts Christ as savior, some radical changes occur

A. You are forgiven Isaiah1:18; Psalm 103:12

(ESV) Isaiah 1 18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

(ESV) Psalms 103 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

B. You are a new Creation 2 Corinthians 5:17

(ESV) 2 Corinthians 5 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

C. You have a relationship with God Ephesians 2

(ESV) Ephesians 2 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

D. You become a child of God John 1:12

(ESV) John 1 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

E. You are certain of heaven 1 John 5:13

(ESV) 1 John 5 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

II. Big Questions: How did it happen?

Four things you must know to go to heaven.

A. Bad news … We are sinners Romans 3:23

(ESV) Romans 3 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1. Illustration: Miss the target / throwa rock to the North Pole

B. Bad news (even worse) … The penalty for sin is death Rom 6:23

(ESV) Romans 6 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Illustration: Wages to do a job / speeding ticket

C. Good news … Christ died for our sins Romans 5:8

(ESV) Romans 5 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1. Illustration: Take your cancer cells into my body

D. Good news (even better) … You can be saved by trusting in Christ John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9

John 3 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(ESV) Ephesians 2 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1. Illustration: Sit in a chair to show you trust it

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5 24

III. Big Questions: What now?

A. Identify with Him / His people

1. Baptism

(ESV) Acts 16 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 … and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

2. Living a new life

(ESV) Romans 6 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

3. Join and engage in a local church

(ESV) Acts 2 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

B. Grow in Him

1. Learn His Word

(NKJV) 1 Peter 2 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

2. Pray – talk to Him about everything

(ESV) Philippians 4 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mindsin Christ Jesus.

C. Serve Him by serving others

1. Tell others

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

2. Serve others

(NLT) 1 Peter 4 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.