How The Blood Of Christ Saves

I often like to make comparisons.  Personally, I learn easier when I can compare A to B.  Then it seems to make things easier to comprehend.  I truly believe Satan's focused attack is on the blood of Christ today.  I want to make a comparison to show how the blood of Christ and baptism are related.  

It actually all starts with Christ's death.  Christ shed or poured out His blood in His death. Lk 22:20  We are commanded to be baptized (Mt 28:19,20) into His death. Rom 6:3   The baptism into Christ's death is by immersion only.  Have you ever sprinkled dirt on a person at a funeral and called them buried?  Have you ever rubbed dirt on their head and called them buried?  NO!  You call them buried when they are completely covered with dirt.  Thus, we must be completely covered by water in our baptism into Christ's death.  The close connection between baptism and the blood of Christ has begun. Let us compare A to B, or A (the blood of Christ) to B (baptism).  

      A                                         What we Receive                                    B

Mt 26:28                   New Covenant/Added to the Church           Acts 2:37-47

1Jn 1:7                                             Cleansed                                 Heb 10:19-22

Eph 1:7                                      Remission of Sin                               Acts 2:38

Rev 1:5 KJV                            Sins Washed Away                           Acts 22:16

Heb 9:13,14                            Conscience Cleansed                           1Pe 3:21

Heb 13:12                                     Sanctification                                Rom 6:3,4

The true Christian walks in the light with Christ and the blood of Christ continually cleanses them.  Now, there is nothing automatic about this.  It takes work to walk in the light of Christ.  We can't claim to be baptized into His death and washed by His blood and not walk in His light.  We must be seeking a "way of escape" from temptations. (1Co 10:13)  When we do stumble into sin after being blood bought and washed, we merely have to confess our sin and ask for forgiveness. (1Jn 1:9) Walking in the light of Christ, being blood washed, confessing our sins, and asking for forgiveness is how we know we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. (1Pe 1:18,19) 

Bible baptisms have always been done this way in the New Testament.  Baptism must be preceded by faith in Christ and repentance from all sin.  This should help everyone see that baptism is definitely linked to the blood of Christ.  

Satan does not want people coming into contact with the saving blood of Christ.  That is why he has created the fierce opposition to baptism into Christ's death for the remission of sin.  DO YOU OPPOSE?

We are no doubt saved by the gift of grace given by God. (Eph 2:8)  That grace comes through faith.  We are not claiming this as a work that we should boast reception of grace rather, by obedience, we are working to be His workmanship.  That is how God had prepared for us to walk. (Eph 2:8-10)  Baptism into Christ's death for the remission of sin is walking in the light of Christ that God had prepared for us to walk in that way.  Baptism and an obedient lifestyle proves us to be His workmanship, NOT EARNS OUR SALVATION!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

We are a covenant people

 Gangs are often noticed by colors and signs for easy identification.  When I was in Virginia I went into a particular city and noticed the city had graffiti that I had never really seen before and asked a friend who was a State Trooper about them.  He told me what gang he felt did the graffiti and then he told me somethings about the gangs in that area.   We spoke of initiations getting so violent. He said once in the gang, it must be number one in your life.  Christians don’t join a church (gang) we are the Church!  We enter what is called a covenant- agreement between participants, in its most basic definition.      God’s people are under the New Covenant because they have entered into a covenant relationship with God, in that we will be obedient to the terms of that covenant in order to receive the salvation offered to us by his grace and mercy! KJV several times translates the word covenant as “league.”

There are at least two types of covenants in scripture.  First, you have the covenant between men. Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant over a well (Gen 21:22-34)  Laban and Jacob made a covenant concerning Laban’s daughters and harming each other (Gen 31:43-55)  David and Jonathan made a covenant to be loyal friends (1Sa 18:3; 23:18)  This type of covenant is initiated by man.  God is not a partner in these covenants.  This is similar to the hand shake of today!  Well, at least what a hand shake used to resemble.  Today, a law biding contract may be more applicable. 

The second type of covenant is a covenant between God and man.  This covenant is drastically different from the previous in that man will never initiate a covenant with God.  Nor will man determine the conditions of the relationship!  There are two classes of this type of covenant. UNCONDITIONAL AND CONDITIONAL  

1.  Unconditional- Unconditional, in that, God initiates the covenant and is the one who will fulfills it. These covenants are not dependent on man and thus cannot be broken.  God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham that his seed would bless the world (Gen 12:3) 

2.  Conditional- God initiates the covenant & the terms to be obeyed in order for men to receive the promised blessings.   God established his conditional covenant with Israel  (Gen 20-23)  AKA “The Old Covenant”  

So what is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?  The Old Covenant is often referred to as the Law.  They are basically the same thing.  When God puts a Law or a Covenant in place only he can remove it!  Heb 8:13  Where in the Bible does speak of a “new covenant?”  Jer 31:31-34

This tells us that the Old Covenant was going to pass and God was going to make a new covenant.  That Old Covenant must be annulled.  It is important to understand that the Old Covenant had to be annulled in order to usher in the New Covenant because the Old Covenant did not remove sin!  Heb 10:4  The removal of sin only comes through the blood of Jesus!  Mt 26:28  If believing in God and being a good person was enough to remove sin there would never had been a need for Christ to make such a sacrifice.  We cannot “draw near” to God without the blood of Christ!  Heb 7:25  In order for the New Covenant to be in place, the Old Covenant must be annulled.

The Old Covenant was nailed to the cross. Col 2:13,14   The ink used in ancient times had no acid in it.  Rather than take a bite out of the material it is placed, or written, on the ink dried on top and was easily erased wiped off with a sponge or cloth. If you have ever had a bad injury and got a significant amount of blood on your clothes you know blood doesn't erase, wipe off, or get removed easily!  The New Covenant we have will not be erased because it is written with the blood of Jesus!

As Christians, we are a covenant people, nothing like the gangs we spoke of earlier.  Although, we are to put God as number one in or lives.  The question I have for you today is: “Are you in that covenant relationship with God, signed with the blood of Jesus, and sealed with The Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance?”  Eph 1:13,14  Have you, as of today, obeyed the terms God installed in the New Covenant?    

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22

The Promised King

Zec 9:9,10

The last six chapters of Zechariah are notoriously difficult to interpret.  They were written after the completion of the Temple in 516 BC.  The prophecies seem to be concerning the future of God’s people from time Of Alexander the Great to the Messianic age.  We find five messianic prophecies in these six chapters.  Today we will look at the one in Chapter 9. 

        Chapter 9 opens with a description of an invasion from the north.  It is believed this is prophetically describing Alexander The Great’s campaign in 332BC!  We read along to vv6-8 and they seem a little difficult, but when you read Josephus (Ant XI  viii   v) it is amazing at what God did and does for his people!! 

        Then vv9-11 contrasts the invasion and the military campaign of Alexander The Great with a just, gentle, and humble ruler!  Verse 9a tells God’s people to “rejoice greatly” in time of this invasion because a King is coming!  You see no one had occupied the throne of Israel in over 70yrs.  This Promised King must be the Messiah.  Notice, Zechariah says “your king.”  This Promised King comes for the sake of his people.  He will be their prophet, priest, king, teacher, and ultimately a perfect sacrifice!

This Promised King will have a few characteristics that will be unique to him!

        A. He will be JUST

This word also means righteous.  Ps 145:17a  This word is constantly given to the Messiah. (Isaiah 45:21; 53:11; Jeremiah 23:5, 6)  His being just is written here in association with kingly righteousness.  His decisions will be altogether righteous.  Isaiah also says in 53:9 in reference to the messiah “nor there was any deceit in his mouth.” 

    Endowed with salvation  The coming king was to be nothing like the earthly leaders such as Alexander The Great!  The Promised King will be humble; Alexander the Great considered himself a god; the Promised King will be just; Alexander the Great filled the world with atrocious deeds; the Promised King will bring salvation; Alexander brought death and destruction.  

   The Promised King was to be a savior or literally “to show himself as a savior.”  The word “salvation” in Hebrew is actually where the Greek word “save” comes from. 

          B. He will be HUMBLE  Humble literally means meek and afflicted! Without worldly pomp or splendor!  The prophecy so far is actually rather vague.  It is easy to find a man that doesn't gossip and doesn’t pursue worldly possessions.  This Promised King, however, will be riding:

         A colt, the foal of a donkey-  (foal is a young animal usually still following its mother) Most king’s ride a beautiful horse, but not this one.  Actually, riding a donkey was in ancient times reserved for only men of distinction. Jud 10:4

     It wasn’t until after Solomon that riding a horse was adopted and it was lowly to ride a donkey.  The donkey was used for peaceful purposes and was viewed as a peaceful animal.  NOT HOW WE LOOK AT THEM TODAY!!  Here is how specific this prophecy is…

    Under the law of Moses animals devoted to the service of God were to be animals which HAD NOT previously been used in any service of man.  Num 19:2; Dt 21:3; 1Sa 6:7   When our Lord and Savior rode that foal of a donkey into Jerusalem in the Triumphal entry he was saying (1) I am involved in the service of God (2) I am the Promised King you have been looking for.  I alone fulfill all prophecies of the Coming Messiah!!

How many men can claim to have these characteristics?  

We can see 3 distinct qualities in the coming king’s kingdom.

         A. His kingdom will be established without WAR.

     The chariots are the 1^st apparatus of war mentioned to be cut off or eliminated.  The kingdom of the Promised King will not be started with war.  Rather, it will be the exact opposite of war, it will be of love!!  Ps 46:9

     Then we see the horses to be cut off or eliminated.  The horse is what generally pulled the chariots.  Horses are often an emblem of power, because the more horses an Army had the more potential the Army had for swift combat.  *The Promised King has no need for these horses as he will be riding a donkey!!

     Finally, the battle bow is eliminated.  The bow and arrow were effective arms from long-range (300-400 yards).  This weapon was used widely by the nations of the Bible. Israel had expert archers in men from Benjamin.  1Ch 8:40  and the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. 1Ch 5:18  Bows were constructed with single pieces of wood, or more effectively with glued layers  of wood,  horn,  and sometimes  even with added bronze. The size varied from approximately three to six feet in length.  The Promised King's kingdom was to be established without physical force. Ps 72:7

          B. His kingdom will be PEACEFUL

The messianic reign of peace is not to be confined to the Jews and to the physical land of Canaan.  It will extend to the nations as well.

        He will speak Peace- Peace here is the word Shalom.  It means more than the absence of strife.  It expresses completeness, harmony, and fulfillment.  When you wish someone shalom you are also blessing them!  Jesus said Jn 14:27 

        C. His kingdom will be universal.

  “from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth” is an Old Testament way of saying worldwide!  It is this same humble king, whose entry into Jerusalem is on a despised animal, who shall, by His mere will, make war to cease, who shall, by His mere word, give peace to this world.  Jn 18:36  The kingdom Jesus is talking about is a spiritual kingdom and not physical one.  The Promised King will establish a universal spiritual kingdom!!

Where can such a man be found.  Who can fulfill all these prophecies and criteria?  


The fulfillment of prophecy

A king will come              The Magi knew it.  Mt 2:1,2 

He will be just                 Jesus was sinless   Heb 4:15

He will provide Salvation.  Jesus came for that reason.  Mt 1:21

He will be humble            Jesus meets this characteristic.  Mt 11:29 

He will ride a foal            The Triumphal Entry Mt 21:1-17

Est a Kingdom w/out war  Live by sword, die by sword Mt 26:52

Peaceful Kingdom            Jesus wanted us to have peace  Jn 16:33

Universal Kingdom           Jesus wants ALL NATIONS  Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15

You must make a decision the information placed before you today.  Is Jesus our Promised King of the Old Testament?  If you believe he is the Messiah, the anointed, do you acknowledge his authority?  Are you obedient to all his commands concerning entrance into his kingdom?    **Notice that this prophecy has nothing to do with how the king is received, but that he is coming! Jesus is King whether we choose to accept him as such or not.  

Today, for those "in Christ" or a member of Christ's universal spiritual kingdom, the Church, will you share the truth about the Promised King that came and died in order to establish his peaceful kingdom?  Is being a part of His kingdom a priority in your life or are you a weekend visitor?  If you are not a member of his spiritual kingdom why a you waiting?  Today is the time and it is your day of salvation? 2Co 6:2

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22 

What Happens at Baptism

Mk 16:16

Many people think baptism, or immersion, is just a formality.  I have been told that baptism is to be administered after one is saved from their sins.  This person held the belief that baptism is an "outward sign of an inward grace."

The Bible, however, says baptism is much more than that.  Mk 16:16 gives a MINIMUM of what must be done for salvation.  There can more criteria for salvation from this point, but never anything less than belief and baptism.  Does this verse say a person is lost without baptism?  Well, if you hold the above statement concerning "a minimum" for salvation to be true, then this verse absolutely says that.  If one has belief and has not been immersed then they have not done the "minimum" of Mk 16:16.  Notice this verse has two minimums for salvation and only one for condemnation, mere disbelief.  Many ask why there is no mention of baptism in latter part of the verse?  I see that as an easy answer because belief must be present prior to a person being immersed.  The eunuch is a great example.  When he sees water he asks why he shouldn't be baptized.  Look at what Phillip tells him in Acts 8:37.  His belief was present prior to his baptism.  Therefore, if no belief is present, like the latter part of Mk 16:16, there is no need for a baptism.

My friend believed baptism is to be administered after one is saved from their sins.  Well in Mk 16:16 "and" is a very important word in that verse.  In the Greek it is used in the conjunction form and is defined as having a copulative and cumulative force.  Which means belief "and" baptism must be present for a person to receive salvation, not salvation then baptism.  belief and baptism cannot be separated for salvation.  He believed he was saved from sin prior to baptism, but the Bible teaches baptism is what washes away our sins. Acts 22:16.  Acts 2:38 says a similar thing.  It is at our baptism where we are changed, or transformed, from sinner to saint.  See Rom 6:4.  We go into that watery grave as a lost sinner.  We get immersed, or baptized, for the remission of our sins into the likeness of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.  Our old self is buried and laid to rest in that water.  We rise to a "newness of life" where we are a new person.  Once we are baptized we are "in Christ" (Gal 3:27) then we are a new creature. 2Co 5:17  Many people struggle with this thought because they do not see a physical transformation at our baptism.  If we will keep an open mind on this subject consider the following:

1.  At a wedding a person is changed from single to married.

2.  At a military induction ceremony a person is changed from civilian to military personnel.

If we can understand the two examples above why is the transformation, or change, at our baptism so difficult?  We must understand that baptism is the dividing wall between saved and lost or sinner and saint.  Baptism is not God imputing righteousness into a sinner, it is God putting the lost into Christ!

What do people in the Bible say about baptism?

1.  We already know what Jesus said in Mk 16:16

2.  Paul said when we are baptized into Christ when we are baptized into his death in Rom 6:3.   We contact Christ's blood when we are baptized into Christ's death.  There only two ways to contact his blood and they are baptism and communion.  One is about entering a blood relationship with God through his Son and the other is maintaining that blood relationship with God through his Son.  

3. Peter said we must repent prior to baptism, we another minimum pertaining to salvation, and then we are immersed for the remission of our sins in Acts 2:38.

    Peter also said baptism now saves us and compares it to the waters of the flood in 1Pe 3:20,21.  It was the waters of the flood that separated Noah from a disobedient generation.  It is the water of baptism that separates sinner and saint today.  Noah and his family were "born of water" and the Christian today is to do the same. Jn 3:5   It was the water of the flood which washed away the filth of that evil generation and it is the water of Christian baptism that, in a figure, washes away the sins of Christians. There is a variation in the figure here, which Peter pointed out.  Namely, that, whereas it was actual filth that was washed away by the flood, it is moral and spiritual filth which are washed away in baptism. The former affected the flesh and not the conscience; the latter affected the conscience but not the flesh.

Few were saved in the flood and few will be saved in Christ.  Mt 7:13,14

So what actually happens at baptism?   What we see from above is this:

Salvation (Mk 16:16); New birth (Jn. 3:5); forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38); washing away of sin (Acts 22:16); burial into Christ’s death (Rom 6:3); clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27); A new creature (2Co 5:17); figurative cleansing that saves us (1Pe 3:21); Spiritual circumcision (Col. 2:11)   THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS AT BAPTISM!!!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22     

   

Flubba, Flubba, Flubba

I remember when I was younger my cousin and I decided to make up our own language and alphabet.  We thought it was great.  We could talk to each other in front of people and they wouldn't have a clue what we were saying.  I continue to talk in front of people who have no clue what I'm talking about, but now I call that preaching.  I often get my tongue wrapped around my eye tooth and I can't see what I'm saying.  Speaking of my "tongue", I recently sent an email to a person I hope to friends with for a long time in a response to a question about tongues.  I would like to share that with you or at least some of it.  Also, I would like to say I appreciate and respect any comment or question I get.  Thank you!!

Today's religious world makes a big deal of speaking in tongues.  Many use this as a sign of salvation.  Some say it has redemptive purposes.  Most claim speaking in tongues will remain until Christ returns.  The question is, "Does the Bible say that?"  We shall see...

It's first important to understand where Pentecostalism got its start.  It can be traced back to John Wesley's "perfect love" teachings.  He taught that after a conversion a Christian must have an experience.  It was a sign of sanctification.  Then a man named Charles Finney, agreat revival speaker, took the perfect love teaching and modified it a bit.  He began to teach that the "after conversion experience" was nothing more than the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Later a man named Charles Parham, founder of Bethany Bible College and often called the father of the modern Pentecostal movement, had his students seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues as its evidence.  Parham moves to Texas and starts another Bible school where he taught a man named W.J. Seymour.  Seymour ends up in LA and begins to preach.  He speaks in houses and churches when he had the chance.  Then he gets a former Methodist church located at 312 Azuza Street.  There the "Azuza Street Mission" was born and lasted three years.  Soon we Assemblies of God congregations organizing.  Pentecostals believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is where the Spirit does all the acting, like speaking in tongues, and this is where a person becomes a Christian.  Does our Bible say that? Not really, it says there is only one baptism in Eph 4.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit was NOT redemptive!!  Here are some passage that are often involved with speaking in tongues

Mt 3:5-12- This is the first time we see the baptism of the Holy Spirit mentioned.  This is no way referring to spiritual gifts or speaking in tongues.  This is saying Christ will baptize everybody whether it will be with the Holy Spirit, which we receive in our baptism, or of fire, which is for those who have not the Spirit!  It is referring more to judgment.

Mk 16:17-  It is very important we keep the Bible in context.  People pull this verse out and feel they have proved their point.  Who is addressed here in this verse?  Is it the entire world or the 11 apostles?  THE APOSTLES.  Go back to verse 14 and you see Jesus rebuking them for nothing other than their unbelief of those who witnessed to them about the risen Lord. Jesus then gives them the Great Commission and tells them they sign that they will see, if they believe, will be these gifts.  If I am correct the apostles did have these gifts.

Acts 2:1-11-  This is where we see the first occurrence of speaking in tongues in the Bible.  We know this was the gathering of Jews from all over the world.(v5)  So we see that people from all over the world tell us what speaking in tongues exactly is in vv7,8.  It is speaking in human languages that are understandable.  Today people usually do not claim to speak in understandable tongues.  

Acts 8:14-19- There is no direct reference to speaking in tongues here, but since it says they received "spiritual gifts" from the laying on of hands I better mention it.  This "gift" was imparted by the laying on of hands from an apostle.  This happens a few times.  I often ask those who claim to have the gift of tongues, "Which apostle laid their hands on you to receive such a gift?"   Also, these verses show that not every Christian received spiritual gifts...  Simon didn't!!! 

Acts 10:44-48- This is a similar situation to Acts 2.  These two instances of the baptisms of the Holy Spirit are in no way redemptive.  They are a miraculous signs that are revealing new truths.  In Acts 2 we see the revealing of the New Testament Church and it being entered into by immersion. (Acts 2:37-47)  In Acts 10 we see the revealing of the truth that gentils are now welcomed into this New Testament Church.  Miracles and signs in the Bible are not to a person is redeemed.  They are to reaveal a new truth or to show the authority of the person doing the signs and miracles.  Those who claim to be speaking in tongues got it all twisted.

Acts 19:1-6 John the Immerser's disciples are taught about Jesus by Paul.  He baptizes them and lays his hands on them.  Again, we see some one other than an apostle or Acts 10 must have hands laid on them to receive any spiritual gifts.

Outside of Acts we only read of speaking in tongues in  1Co 12-14

1Co 13:8-13  I will try to be brief as this post is getting very lengthy.  First, you see the words "done away" in vv8, 11.  In the Greek this word carries the connotation of being done away in order to be replaced with something better.  You may do away with your old home in order to build a mansion.  So Paul says prophecy and knowledge will be done away until the "perfect" comes.  That will be discussed in a minute.  What does Paul say about tongues?  He says they will "cease."  That word in the Greek means a full stoppage; to cease and desist.   The apostle Paul said prophecy and knowledge will be replaced but the tongues will completely stop!! 

Now, about the word "perfect."  Many people try to say that is Jesus.  They say tongues existed after Jesus so this scripture is just wrong.  Understand this there are 3 genders in the Greek language and they are male, female, and neuter.  The word "perfect" is in the neuter which means the word perfect is describing a thing or an it.  It can also mean complete.  Take out perfect of the verse and install the word complete and you will see that some claim this is referring to the second advent.  They say when the time is "complete" for His return, but would the apostle really call Jesus an it?  NO!!  The perfect or complete is referring to the written New Testament.  

1Co 14- We see here that the apostle is basically teaching that prophecy and knowledge will go away but return in a better form, the written word.  Tongues will cease to exist and in chapter 14, specifically verse 22, he explains why.  He says tongues were just a sign to unbelievers. There is no longer a need for tongues with God's written word.  He said prophecy and knowledge is need for the believers and that's why they were replaced into a greater thing, the written word.

The "speaking in tongues" we see today are very different from the "speaking in tongues" we just learned about.  Today a lot of people claim to have this gift of speaking in heavenly tongues that are not understandable by man.  Pentecostal Preachers, Voodoo Priests, and Devil Worshipers all claim to still posses the gift of tongues.  They are sincere in what they believe, but they are sincerely wrong. Saul of Tarsus was sincerely killing Christians and he was sincerely wrong too!  The bible clearly states that tongues have ceased and I believe the infallible Word of God!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22