How To Be Sure Of Forgiveness
To receive eternal life according to the gospel of
Christ, a person must be forgiven of sins by Jesus' blood
(Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 26:28; 1 Peter 2:24). But many
people are unsure about whether or not they have been
forgiven. Others may think that they have been forgiven,
but would be surprised to learn that Jesus does not agree.
Matthew 7:21-23 -- Many people, who believe in the Lord,
will expect Jesus to accept them at the judgment. Instead
He will reject them because they have not done the will of
the Father.
Acts 23:1; 26:9 -- Saul was a Jew who opposed Jesus in all
good conscience, doing what he sincerely believed he should
do. Yet he was the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-15).
Clearly he had been misled.
What about you and me? Is it possible we have been misled
like these people? Surely this matter deserves your careful
investigation.
The Bible teaches that we can be sure Jesus has forgiven us
if we have obeyed the gospel conditions of forgiveness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hebrews 5:9 -- Jesus is the author of eternal salvation
unto all them that obey Him. (See also Acts 10:35; Luke
6:46; 1 John 2:3-6.)
1 Peter 1:22 -- We purify our souls in obeying the truth.
Romans 6:17,18 -- We are made free from sin when we obey
from the heart the doctrine delivered.
If we recognize Jesus as our Lord, then we must obey the
conditions of forgiveness just as the gospel reveals them,
without any human changes (Acts 17:11; Galatians 1:8,9; 2
John 9).
This study is designed to help each be sure about
salvation.
==============================================
Please begin with a brief self-examination to show us where
we are now (2 Cor. 13:5). Then we will study what the Bible
says about salvation and we can each compare our own case
to Jesus' teaching.
1. Have you made a personal commitment to serve Jesus? (a)
yes, (b) no.
2. Have you been baptized? (a) yes, (b) no. If so, how old
were you? ____
Were you baptized by (a) sprinkling, (b) pouring, or (c)
immersion?
Why were you baptized? (a) to please loved ones, (b) as a
sign I had been saved, (c) to receive forgiveness of sins,
(d) because others were doing it,
(e) to join a denomination, (f) other:
When you repented of sin and determined to live for God,
how long was it till you were baptized? ________________
3. Suppose a person sincerely does the following things. At
what point do you believe his sins would be washed away?
When he (a) hears the gospel, (b) believes, (c) repents,
(d) confesses Jesus, (e) prays for forgiveness, (f) is
baptized, (g) other:
==============================================
Now please take out your Bible and look up the
>>>CAPITALIZED Scriptures<<<. Then underline in the booklet
the correct answer to each question marked **.
I. LET US CONSIDER SOME NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF
CONVERSION.
=====================================
The book of Acts contains many examples of people who
received forgiveness of sins by Jesus' blood. Since God is
no respecter of persons, we can surely be saved if we do as
these people did (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
A. The Jews on Pentecost
************************
On a Jewish feast day called Pentecost, Jews came to
Jerusalem from all over the Roman empire. The Holy Spirit
empowered the apostles to preach to the people (Acts
2:14-36).
Read ACTS 2:36-41. <<<
** What did Peter tell the people to believe (v36)? (a)
Jesus is Lord and Christ, (b) people can save themselves
without Jesus, (c) it does not matter what we believe, (d)
all the preceding.
** What did Peter command them to do (v38)? (a) just be
sincere, (b) repent and be baptized, (c) follow their
church tradition.
** For what purpose were they to do this (v38)? (a) as a
sign they were already saved, (b) to join a particular
denomination, (c) for remission of sins.
** Who else may receive these blessings (v39)? (a) only
Jews, (b) only people in the first century, (c) all people
everywhere.
Three thousand people heard, believed, repented, and were
baptized. As a result, they were forgiven of sins.
B. The Ethiopian Treasurer
**************************
A certain eunuch was riding in his chariot, reading from
Isaiah. Then a preacher named Philip approached (Acts
8:26-34).
Read ACTS 8:35-39. <<<
** Philip spoke about whom (v35)? (a) Buddha, (b) himself,
(c) Jesus.
** As a result, what did the eunuch want (v36)? (a)
baptism, (b) money, (c) a
direct revelation from the Holy Spirit.
** What did he have to do first (v37)? (a) pray for
forgiveness, (b) believe in Jesus and confess Him, (c) pay
a fee.
The treasurer heard about Jesus, believed in him, confessed
his faith, and was baptized.
C. Saul of Tarsus
*****************
Saul was an unbelieving Jew who was traveling to Damascus
to persecute Christians (Acts 8:3; 9:1-3).
Read ACTS 9:3-6,18; 22:16 <<<
** Who appeared to Saul as he traveled (v3-5)? (a) Jesus
(b) Mary, the mother
of Jesus, (c) John the Baptist.
** What did the Lord tell Saul to do (v6)? (a) wait in the
city to be told what he must do, (b) pray through at the
mourner's bench, (c) send a financial contribution.
** What did Ananias tell him he must do (22:16)? (a) pray
to the saints, (b) give his testimony before the church,
(c) be baptized.
Saul heard about Jesus and was baptized to wash away his
sins. Have you done what these people did?
II. LET US SUMMARIZE THE STEPS TO FORGIVENESS.
==============================================
By taking all that Jesus said from the examples of
conversion (Acts 3:22,23), we see that the following steps
were involved. Notice each of them more closely.
A. Hearing
**********
Read JOHN 6:44,45. <<<
** What must one do to come to Jesus? (a) see a vision, (b)
learn the word of God, (c) pray for a direct message from
the Spirit.
** Can one be saved without hearing the gospel? (a) yes,
(b) no.
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free" -- John 8:32.
(See John 6:63,68; 12:48; Acts 11:14; Romans 10:14-17.)
B. Faith
********
Read ROMANS 1:16. <<<
** What is the power of God to salvation? (a) human wisdom,
(b) the gospel,
(c) man-made creeds.
** What condition must we meet to be saved? (a) believe,
(b) just have a good conscience, (c) read the whole Bible 5
times.
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him" -- Hebrews
11:6. Note that believing alone does not make one a child
of God, but only gives him the right to become a child of
God -- John 1:12. (See also John 8:24; 20:30,31; Romans
5:1,2.)
C. Repentance
*************
Read ACTS 17:30,31. <<<
** What does God command men to do? (a) just live better
than most people, (b) hear a voice from God, (c) repent.
** How many people must do this? (a) some, (b) all, (c)
none.
** What event should lead us to repent? (a) the judgment,
(b) the sin of Adam,
(c) the giving of the Law of Moses.
** What is repentance (note Matthew 21:28,29)? (a) not
sinning, (b) not getting caught, (c) changing our mind
about sinning.
God "is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance" -- 2
Peter 3:9. All people are guilty of sin (Romans 3:23) and
must repent to be forgiven. We must change our mind about
sin and decide to do God's will always. (See also Acts
2:38; 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10.)
D. Confession
*************
Read ROMANS 10:9,10. <<<
** What must we believe to be saved? (a) Joseph Smith is a
prophet, (b) Jesus rose from the dead, (c) miracles still
occur, (d) all the preceding.
** What else must we do to be saved? (a) confess Jesus, (b)
believe as our parents did, (c) obey the 10 commands.
"And Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God'" -- Matthew 16:16. (See also
Acts 8:37; Matthew 10:32; John 12:42.)
E. Baptism
**********
Read EPHESIANS 4:3-6. <<<
** How many true Heavenly Fathers are there? (a) thousands,
(b) one, (c) it doesn't matter.
** Can a person be a true Christian if he believes there
are several different gods? (a) yes, (b) no.
** How many true baptisms are there? (a) three, (b) one,
(c) it doesn't matter.
Just as there is only one true God, so there is only one
true baptism today. Yet denominations practice many
different kinds of baptism. What is the true baptism, and
why is it important? In order to be sure what Jesus wants
regarding baptism, let us study it further.
III. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT BAPTISM.
==========================================
A. The Proper Purpose of Baptism
********************************
Why should a person be baptized? Are sins forgiven before
baptism or as a result of it? Some groups say baptism is
essential to receive forgiveness. Others say sins are
forgiven before baptism, but one should be baptized to join
a denomination or as an outward sign he has already been
saved. What does the gospel of Christ say?
Read ACTS 22:16. <<<
** When were Saul's sins washed away? (a) on the road to
Damascus, (b) before he was baptized, (c) as a result of
his baptism?
** Note that Saul had already believed in Jesus and had
been praying (9:1-6,11). Most churches would say he was
already saved before baptism. But was he? (a) yes, (b) no.
One who believes in Jesus must be baptized to wash away
sins.
Read ROMANS 6:3,4. <<<
** Into what are we baptized? (a) Jesus and His death, (b)
a particular denomination, (c) a social club.
** According to what we have earlier learned, can a person
be saved outside Jesus and without His blood? (a) yes, (b)
no.
** For each person there must be a point at which he first
receives forgiveness. He is in sin before that point, but
afterwards, he is forgiven. At what point does this occur?
(a) the moment we believe, (b) when we pray for
forgiveness, (c) when we are baptized.
In Jesus are forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7), freedom from
condemnation (Romans 8:1), salvation (2 Timothy 2:10), and
eternal life (1 John 5:11,12). But to come into Jesus, we
must be baptized. (See also Galatians 3:27.)
Illustration: Before the ceremony, a couple takes several
steps toward
marriage, but they enter the blessings and privileges of
matrimony at the point of the wedding ceremony, not before.
So faith, repentance, etc., are essential steps toward
salvation; but only at the point of baptism does one
contact Jesus' blood.
Note also that, as a result of baptism, we "walk in newness
of life" (we are "born again"). We cannot be born again
without baptism (see also 1 Peter 1:22,23; 2 Corinthians
5:17; John 3:3,5). This new birth obligates us to serve God
faithfully (see the rest of Romans 6).
Read ACTS 2:38. <<<
** When does remission of sins come? (a) before one repents
and is baptized,
(b) after one has repented and been baptized?
** Can one be saved without repentance? (a) yes, (b) no.
** Can one be saved without baptism? (a) yes, (b) no.
** As in the Lord's Supper, baptism involves both an outer
action and an inner meaning (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). If a
person did the outer act but did not understand the inner
meaning or did it for the wrong reason, would his baptism
be valid? (a) yes, (b) no.
(See also Romans 6:17,18; 2:28,29).
Read MARK 16:15,16. <<<
** What must one do to be saved? (a) believe and be
baptized, (b) just believe, (c) just be a zealous religious
person.
** When is one saved? (a) before baptism, (b) after
baptism.
Just as 1 + 1 = 2, so faith + baptism = salvation. Take
away faith or baptism, and you no longer have salvation.
"...Baptism doth also now save us..." -- 1 Peter 3:21. The
power to forgive is in Jesus' death and resurrection, not
in the water. But we receive that power when our faith
leads us to be baptized, not before. (Compare the story of
Naaman in 2 Kings 5:10ff.)
B. The Proper Action of Baptism
*******************************
Does baptism involve sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?
Read ROMANS 6:4. <<< (cf. Colossians 2:12)
** How is baptism described? (a) sprinkling, (b) pouring,
(c) burial and resurrection, (d) all the preceding.
** How was Jesus buried? (a) a little dirt was sprinkled or
poured on Him, (b) he was completely surrounded in the
earth, then came out from it (compare Matthew 12:40;
27:60). >>> Read ACTS 8:38,39. <<<
** How is the eunuch's baptism described? (a) he was
sprinkled, (b) water was poured on him, (c) he went down
into the water and came up out of it.
** When denominations sprinkle or pour, does the person "go
down into" the water and "come up out of it"? (a) yes, (b)
no.
In the gospel, baptism is always a complete immersion. In
fact, the original word meant to dip, immerse, etc. (See
the Greek derivation of the word according to English
dictionaries.) (See also Mark 1:9,10; Hebrews 10:22; John
3:23.)
C. The Proper Subject of Baptism
********************************
Should babies be baptized, or should people wait until they
can understand and decide for themselves?
** Before one can be baptized, he must understand the
gospel (John 6:44,45), believe (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12),
repent (Acts 2:38), and confess (Romans 10:9,10). Can
babies do this? (a) yes, (b) no.
** Baptized people are members of the church and must
participate in its work and worship (1 Corinthians
12:13,25,26; 10:16,17; 11:23-29; Ephesians 4:16). Can
babies do these things? (a) yes, (b) no.
Read MATTHEW 18:3. <<<
** To enter the kingdom, what must we do? (a) become
totally depraved, (b) inherit the sin of Adam, (c) be
converted and become like little children.
** When we are converted, what is our condition? (a)
forgiven of sin, (b) innocent, (c) like little children,
(d) all the preceding.
** Since baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38),
then do babies need to be baptized? (a) yes, (b) no.
The command to be baptized is addressed to people old
enough to make their own choice with understanding. Little
children do not need baptism because they are innocent
before God and are not accountable for sin (Psalm 106:38;
Matthew 19:14; Ezekiel 18:20; 2 Corinthians 5:10). To
baptize babies would be to obey the teachings of men, not
Jesus (Matthew 15:9; Galatians 1:8,9; etc.).
In the Bible, when people understood, believed, and
repented, they were baptized without delay (Acts 2:41;
8:35-39; 22:16; 16:23-34). Many churches today postpone
baptism until a "baptismal service" days or weeks later.
This shows they misunderstand the purpose of it. If you
understand, you should not delay, but obey today.
CONCLUSION
**********
To be sure your sins are forgiven, you must obey the
teachings of Jesus the Lord (Hebrews 5:9). You must not
follow human doctrines, but obey the gospel exactly as
Jesus revealed it.
You began this study by summarizing your own conversion.
Please go back and compare what you have done in the past
to what you now know the Bible teaches.
* Have you understood the true teachings of the gospel
about forgiveness of sins?
* Have you believed in God, in the Bible, and in Jesus as
your Lord and Savior who died for your sins and rose again?
* Have you repented of your sins and determined to dedicate
your whole life to serving God?
* Have you confessed Jesus as your Lord?
* Have you been Scripturally baptized -- did you first
understand and make up your own mind to be baptized, were
you completely immersed, and did you do it for the purpose
of receiving forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus?
Perhaps you are one of the many people who thought you were
forgiven, but now you realize you were misled. What should
you do? You should realize that you simply have never
completed your obedience to the gospel and you should now
determine to complete it.
In particular, if a person realizes that his "baptism" was
not Scriptural, what should he do? Acts 19:1-7 shows that
people with this problem were baptized properly. Remember,
there are many false baptisms, but only one true baptism
(Ephesians 4:3-6).
"Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" -- James
1:22.
"If you love Me, keep my commandments" -- John 14:15. Do
you love Jesus enough
to obey his commandments?