Gospel Light Baptist Church » The Bible Way To Heaven

Will you accept or reject His Gift?

Romans 10:13

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

“God’s Simple Plan of Salvation From the Bible”
My Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you 100% sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) This includes eternal separation from God in Hell.

“ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” (Lev. 17:11) “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [Forgiveness].” (Hebrews 9:22)

“ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you will receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this over and over, without laying it down, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.

God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

1.Pray — You can now talk directly to God.
2.Read your Bible — God will talk to you.
3.Witness — You need to tell others of God’s Salvation.
You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8)

“Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)

If you have prayed this prayer for Salvation with you heart, then according to God’s word, you are saved. Please, let us know by E-mail, or you can call the Church office on 301-884-7366, and we will send you some helpful literature, free. If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance to you, please give us a call or visit one of the Services.

Now that you are saved, what do you do?

Acts 2:41-47

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

“Baptism Explained”

What is Baptism?

Baptism is a witness to the world of our faith in the atoning work of Christ.
Acts 8:36 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
b. Baptism identifies us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.”

Why should I be Baptized?

Because it fulfills righteousness – Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then he suffered him.”
b. Because Jesus commanded it – Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
c. Because the early Church did it – Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. “

Who should be Baptized?

Baptism is only for Believers – Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 16:30 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Note: No where in scripture do we find babies being baptized! Only Believers!
b. Always after Faith:
Believers at Pentecost – After Faith Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Ethiopian Eunuch…After Faith – Acts 8:38 “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Paul…After Faith – Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Cornelius…After Faith – Acts 10:48 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Philippian Jailor…After Faith – Acts 16:33 “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

How should I get Baptized?

The Bible teaches Baptism by immersion only:
a. Because of the very word used – The Greek word “baptizo” means “to dip, to plunge under, to submerge.”
b. Because of the scriptural expressions used:
1. “Much water” – John 3:23 “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized
2. “down both into the water” – Acts 8:38 “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
3. “coming up out of the water” – Mark 1:10 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Is Baptism a sacrament?

No, the word sacrament means “ Saving value”

Baptism has no saving value. You must be saved by faith first, than you witness of that faith in Christ’s work of Salvation through Baptism.
b. Baptism does not wash away sin, even so called “Original Sin”, only the blood of Jesus can cleanse sin. 1 Peter 1:18 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
c. Baptism is one of the two ordinances given by scripture; the other is the Lord’s Supper or Communion.

How can I grow as a Christian?

Hebrews 10:19-25

19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

“Church Membership Explained”

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
These 3000 souls were 1st – Saved – “…They that gladly received his word…”
2nd – Baptized – “…were baptized…”
3rd – Added – “…were added unto them…”
1. Who was “them”?
“Them”, was the “Local New Testament Church” in Jerusalem.
God always works through the Local New Testament Church to accomplish His will on earth. Revelation Chap. 2 & 3
Note: Gospel Light Baptist Church is the “Local New Testament Church in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

Placed in the Body – 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
We have been placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and as members of this body we have been given gifts to do the work of the Local New Testament Church.
1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ
Note: This Body of Christ is the Local New Testament Church and not the Universal Church till the rapture takes place. Though we are sealed with the same Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 12:3 “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” We still perform the will of God through the individual Local New Testament Church.

Its Purpose is Evangelizing the World – Matthew 16:22 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The Keys to Heaven:
• Peter opened “Door of Faith” to Jews on Pentecost – Acts 2:14 “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
• Philip opened “Door of Faith” to Samaria – Acts 8:5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
• Peter opened “Door of Faith” to Gentiles – Acts 10:44 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• Paul opened “Door of Faith” to Gentiles outside Palestine – Acts 13:2 “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Note: They were sent by the Holy Spirit through the Local New Testament Church. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

The Umbrella of Protection through the Local Church – Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Hell can not prevail against the Local New Testament Church because Christ is protecting it, and those who are obedient in being in it.
• Teaching – 1Cor.4:17 “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
• Discipline – 1Cor.5:11 “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”
• Disputes – 1Cor.6:1 “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
• Sanctifying the Home – 1Cor.7:14 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”
• Sickness – James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
In the cover of the Local New Testament Church, God has provided for feeding (Preaching and Teaching) for the Saints through the Sunday School classes and Services. God has provided ways to serve Him and to answer His call to service. Instruction in the Word of God and His statutes and standards for Christian Life, but most of all training to reproduce yourself by soul-winning.