Understanding

We have studied about the first commandment. Remember in our study of Mark, the man who asked Jesus the question, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Mark 12:28

Jesus answered in verse 30, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” Then Jesus said in the next verse, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” 

The Kingdom of God

One of the most well known prayers of the Bible is known as The Lord’s Prayer, Luke 11:2. “And he[Jesus] said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come.” This is a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. People often recite this today but I want to draw your attention to one point; His disciples were instructed to ask that God’s kingdom come. 

The First Commandment

Jesus answered a scribe who asked Him, what the first commandment was. Mark 12:28-30

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which states. “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

The love to God that was the most important commandment was to be shown by obedience to the statutes and judgments of God, an obedience that sprung from a heart that was totally devoted to God and that put God first. Deuteronomy 5:29 and 6:6. This is the essence of faith, a belief that obeys from the heart. A heart that only feels and does not obey, is not an active, living faith and does not love God totally. 

Forgiveness of Sins

Sin separates God and man. Romans 3:23 states that all men have sinned. People are not born sinful but develop a sinful nature by choosing to sin when they are old enough to make that choice for themselves. All men and women, except Jesus, have chosen to sin but babies and children are innocent and pure before God. Matthew 19:14 

Plan of Salvation

We, in the church of Christ, teach that people have to hear the Gospel of Jesus, believe in Him and His teachings,repent of our sins, confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, be baptized and be faithful until death in order to be saved. 

Many Mansions

John 14:2-5 "In my; Father's house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also."

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 14:23-24 ..."if a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

Faith Only?

Many denominations teach that a person is saved when he believes in Jesus, repents of his sins and asks Jesus into his heart. The most commonly used verse to prove this is John 3:16. Of course, faith in Jesus is the cornerstone of a Christian life, but we teach that belief is the beginning of the conversion process. 

Into the Water

Baptizo: Greek word meaning to make whelmed (ie. fully wet) ... especially of the ordinance of Christian baptism. Strong`s Concordance 

The Purpose of Baptism

1. Baptism is the culmination of steps that a person takes when he desires to become a Christian. After hearing the Gospel of Jesus and His kingdom, Acts 8:12, a person either believes or rejects the Good News. Believing God’s Word enables that person to see that they are a sinner and have fallen short of the righteousness of God, Romans 3:23. This knowledge leads to repentance or a change in attitude towards sin and a commitment to live for Christ, Acts 17:30. Then a public declaration of a belief in Jesus as the Son of God in made, Acts 8:36-37, followed by baptism, Acts 8;38-39. Baptism is a commandment, Acts 10:48; Mark 16:16. 

The Difference

As a child I believed that there is a God. His Son Jesus was born in a stable and died on a cross. If a person believed this and went to church and was really "good " he or she could eventually go to Heaven. This was my concept of Christianity well into my adulthood. 

The Search

I thought I was a Christian all my life. I was baptized as a baby into the Catholic religion. I attended a Catholic school. I believed in Jesus and in everything else I was taught.

Then someone read the Bible to me. The Words cut me to the heart because what was read was not what I was taught or practised. I came to trust those Words as I realized they were what would guide me to heaven. I finally left the church of my childhood.