1. Belief and Baptism - “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” Ephesians 4:3-6

2. “ 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

4. Does it Matter what you believe? The ecumenical movement teaches that these verses say We all worship the same God Basically we are all doing the same thing Ultimately we can do things our way It doesn't matter what you believe? Is this true?

5. Agenda One Faith –Bible Definition of Faith –Examples (one Old Testament, one New Testament) –What it means for us Today One Hope –Bible Definition of Hope –Examples (one Old Testament, one New Testament) –What it means for us Today One Baptism –Bible Definition of Baptism –Examples (one Old Testament, one New Testament) –What it means for us Today Final Message to take Home

6. One Faith - Bible Definition “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1 (AV) “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.” - (God's Word) “Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.” - (Weymouth)

7. One Faith - Bible Definition “Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6

8. One Faith - Bible Definition Faith is a confident anticipation of things hoped for in the Future Based upon evidence from the PAST From past events it can be seen that God's declarations have been fulfilled

9. One Faith Old Testament Example - Abraham “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed ; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” – Hebrews 11:8

10. One Faith Old Testament Example - Abraham Abraham was an idolater He lived in Ur of the Chaldees near Babel “And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods....Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” (Josh. 24:2,14)

11. One Faith Old Testament Example - Abraham In Ur God Appeared to Abraham Abraham made a promise to God Abraham would leave his native country He wasn't even told where he was to go “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Genesis 12:1) “And (God) said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.” (Acts 7:3)

12. One Faith Old Testament Example - Abraham Abraham Obeyed, because of faith “Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:” (Neh. 9:7-8)

13. One Faith New Testament Example – The Centurion “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” – Matthew 8:10

14. One Faith New Testament Example – The Centurion “ 5 ¶ And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof : but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me : and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

15. One Faith New Testament Example – The Centurion “ 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. ” – Matthew 8:5-13

16. One Faith - What it means for us today And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. (1 Sam 3:1) –God's word is precious today So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17) –We can hear God's Word through reading the Bible

17. One Faith - What it means for us today And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 3:15) –The Bible is able to save us from sin “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” –Faith came through reading God's Word

18. One Faith - What it means for us today But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:20) –You have to act upon what you read

19. One Faith - What it means for us today Faith in these last perilous days depends on our careful meditation on the Word of God Without Faith, we will not please God Without Faith, we have no salvation READ THE BIBLE Act upon what you read

20. One Hope - Bible Definition 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. (Acts 28:19-21)

21. One Hope - Bible Definition 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23) The Hope of Israel = The Gospel

22. One Hope - Old Testament Example - Ruth “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth 1:16)

23. One Hope - Old Testament Example - Ruth Ruth was a Moabite who married a Jew Her husband died Ruth left her Country + People She left for a life that she knew would be hard She made the Hope of Israel her Hope She looked for the Kingdom of God “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth 1:16)

24. One Hope - New Testament Example - Paul “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12) - Paul Taught - Without the hope of Israel, there is no hope

25. One Hope - Affect upon us today By Faith in the gospel SINNERS are forgiven “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ-it is by grace that you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5 (Weymouth)

26. One Hope - Affect upon us today Believers in the gospel will be saved through Jesus Christ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

27. One Hope - Affect upon us today There is hope of resurrection from the dead “I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.... Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:5-8)

28. One Hope - Affect upon us today There is hope of an Everlasting Kingdom upon Earth “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:9-12)

29. One Baptism - Bible Definition “ 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” - Galatians 3:26-29 Formally admits the believer into the Ecclesia as fellow-heir of the promises

30. One Baptism - Bible Definition “Buried with him in baptism, where in also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” Col. 2:12-13 An association with the death, burial & resurrection of Christ

31. One Baptism - Old Testament Example - Noah “eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:20)

32. One Baptism - Old Testament Example - Noah “when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 3:20-22

33. One Baptism - Old Testament Example - Noah An answer of faith – Noah did as he was told - action Done to God's instructions – cp. Infant Sprinkling today Without obeying he would have died He could not save others through his actions – cp. Mormons who baptize on behalf of predecessors

34. One Baptism - New Testament Example - Jesus “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Matthew 3:14)

35. One Baptism - New Testament Example - Jesus “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. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:15-17)

36. One Baptism - Message for us today Baptism is essential for salvation Baptism associates us with the death burial and resurrection of Christ Baptism is a washing away of sins Baptism is the first act of obedience Baptism admits the believer into the Ecclesia Baptism must be according to Gods direction Baptism involves complete immersion in water Infant sprinkling is unscriptural

37. Does it Matter what you believe? The ecumenical movement teaches that these verses say We all worship the same God Basically we are all doing the same thing Ultimately we can do things our way It doesn't matter what you believe? Is this true?

38. Does it Matter what you believe? The ecumenical movement teaches that these verses say We all worship the same God Basically we are all doing the same thing Ultimately we can do things our way It doesn't matter what you believe? Is this true? - No

39. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

40. Positive Message to End There is a hope of everlasting life for mankind clearly set out in the Bible If you believe and gain faith in that hope, you are going to get there The first act of gaining eternal life is baptism It doesn't end there, but that is the first step