Theo 211

#5 Salvation and #6 Ordinances

of the Church

Chapters 5 and 6

#5. Salvation of Humankind

Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus

Christ the Son of God.

a. Conditions to Salvation. Salvation is received through

repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By

the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being

justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God

according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; Jn 3:3; Rm 10:13–15; Eph 2:8;

Titus 2:11; 3:5–7).

b. The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is

the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom 8:16). The outward evidence to

all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24; Titus 2:12).

We need a source of salvation. Salvation means “deliverance or

rescue from danger.” God has provided a way to save us from

sin, deliver us from death, and restore life through Jesus’ sacrifice

on the cross and resurrection.

Biblical salvation involves deliverance from eternal punishment

for sin, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation includes all God has done to save us from the power

and consequences of sin.

Matt states why Jesus came as a human: “She will give birth to a

son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will

save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

What does the word atonement mean?

God’s holiness and justice require payment for sin. The price was

Jesus’ death; He died in our place. In the Old Testament, God

accepted animal sacrifice as a substitute payment (atonement)

for a person’s sin. These animal sacrifices did not really provide

ultimate forgiveness for sins because the animals were not

valuable enough to replace a man or woman. Rather, they

symbolized Jesus’ future death. Because Jesus is God, He is

perfect and can pay the penalty for another. Because Jesus was

human, He can be the substitute for humankind. “He is the

atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the

sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

What is the process of regeneration?

It is like a second birth that occurs at salvation. It comes

through the Holy Spirit and brings eternal life. The person

becomes a child of God and free from sin.

How could you illustrate the work of reconciliation?

Many people use the illustration of removing or destroying a

wall that has divided two people. A bridge is also used to

show how entities have been brought back together.

How are redemption and atonement related?

Redemption and atonement are both brought about by the shedding of

Jesus’ blood. Atonement is the payment being made for our sin.

Redemption is the freedom that comes from that atonement.

What does justification have to do with our sin?

Through our justification in Christ, God has removed our sin and declared us

innocent.

Requirement for Salvation

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”

(Ephesians 2:8–9).

Salvation comes from God, and we receive it by faith alone. We cannot

earn it, we cannot buy it, and we cannot steal it.

Chapter 6

The Ordinances of the Church

There are 2: Water Baptism and Communion

#6 Doctrinal Statement: The Ordinances of the Church

1. Baptism in Water:

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the

Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are

to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with

Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness

of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47–48; Romans 6:4

2. Communion:

The Lord’s Supper, consists of two elements: bread and the fruit of the

vine. They are symbols to express our sharing the divine nature of our

Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (1

Cor 11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor 11:26). The

Lord’s Supper it is to be observed by all believers “until He comes.”

Note the use of the term ordinance rather than sacrament.

Sacrament is used when it is believed that the act of taking part

brings special grace from God. Ordinance is used by the A/G

because we believe the act to be symbolic.

Definitions

Sacrament—a visible sign and pledge of invisible

grace, ordained by Christ

Ordinance—something ordained or decreed by

God

Water Baptism:

John the Baptizer (Jesus’ cousin): called the ‘last OT prophet’,

baptized for repentance –Mark 1: 4 - 8

Jesus was baptized not for repentance but to fulfill prophecy and

set the example for us to follow –Matt 3: 13 –17

Jesus commands us to baptize those who believe in Him –Matt 28:

18 -19

The A/G practices immersion because: the meaning of the word,

the example in Scriptures and the method fits the Biblical

symbolism (sins buried –dead in Christ then risen with Him

cleansed by His blood - Romans 6: 4 - 6

Romans 6: 4 - 6

4Therefore 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.

5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of

his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his

resurrection:

6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that

the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we

should not serve sin.

Water baptism provides the believer with the opportunity to

identify with Christ (His death and resurrection) in a personal and

public way. By being baptized in water, a person is making a

public statement that her or she will be counted with Christ and

His people. Our Fellowship does not practice infant baptism

because (1) there are no infant baptisms recorded in the Bible;

(2) infants are not capable of deciding for themselves to be

baptized; and

(3) infants do not have the understanding to repent and cannot

exercise the faith that leads to salvation.

A/G’s Perspective on Infant Baptism

Communion –our 2nd Ordinance

Symbols of Salvation: The emblems (or symbols) used in

communion point to the sacrifice made by Jesus on our behalf.

Bread—represents the broken body of Jesus. Bread, a basic food

to sustain life, was the perfect symbol to represent the life Jesus

offers us (Luke 22:19; John 6:48, 51).

The cup—represents the blood of Jesus. The new covenant

between God and all humankind came through the blood of

Christ (Luke 22:20). The fruit of the vine reminds us that we have

direct access to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

I Cor 11:27 tells us not to take communion in an

unworthy manner...

What does this mean? By taking communion with an irreverent,

self-centered, and divisive spirit without any intention or desire of

departing from known sins.

Avoid being unworthy; examine your heart, repent of any sin,

and take willingly with a heart of humility and joy

Abstaining from communion is being disobedient to Jesus’

command to “do this in remembrance of me.”