"These things have I written unto you...that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." - 1 John 5:13

God desires you to be sure you will go to Heaven when you die. Where you spend eternity is the most important decision you will ever make. Having a "wait-and-see" or "cross-your-fingers" attitude is not what God intended. In the Bible, God says you can know that you have eternal life.

IF YOU WERE TO DIE TODAY, ARE YOU 100% SURE THAT YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN?

WE ARE ALL BORN SINNERS

"Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." - Romans 5:12

How did you become a sinner? Adam, the first man whom God created, sinned by disobeying God. Everyone born after him was born with a desire to do wrong. The result of sin is death and eternal separation from God in Hell.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER?

ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT EARNED BY DOING GOOD WORKS

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Eternal life is not gained by balancing more good works that sins committed. It is a free gift. A gift is something voluntarily transferred from one person to another without compensation. This means eternal life is free!

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ETERNAL LIFE CANNOT BE EARNED?

JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SIN

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". - Romans 5:8

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:6

God proved His love for you by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and pay the penalty for your sin. Jesus died in your place. His death has provided the only way to Heaven.

"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

Jesus did not remain dead. He rose again three days later!

"Christ died for our sins...he was buried, and that he rose again the third day." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Some think there are many ways to eternal life (Heaven) or that any belief will lead to it. But the Bible, points to Jesus as the only way.

DO YOU REMEMBER A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU BELIEVED ON JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

YOU CAN RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God that raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9

"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." - Acts 16:31

Believing is not merely acknowledging that Jesus existed or that He was a good example.

Believing is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. You must have faith that He died for you, paid the price for your sin, and is the only way to Heaven. You can express your belief on Jesus through prayer.

BAPTISM

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

The Bible teaches that baptism is a symbol-an outward expression of an inward decision. In the life of every Christian, it is an important first step of obedience to God in which you declare, to others, your faith in Christ. As a wedding ring identifies a wife with her husband, so baptism identifies a Christian with Christ. That identity is in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

Romans 6:3-5 says, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

Baptism not only identifies us with Jesus Christ, but it also identifies with His local church and its doctrine. When you are baptized at Calvary Baptist, you become a member of this local church.

Acts 2:41-42 - "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and prayers."

IS BAPTISM FOR ME?

The Bible teaches that baptism is for anyone who has personally accepted Christ as Savior. Baptism does not save or wash away sins. It is simply an outward expression of an inward decision to accept Christ. If you have accepted Christ and never been baptized, you should choose to be baptized as soon as you can.

Acts 8:37 says, "And Phillip 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 2:41 says, "Then they that gladly recevied his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

There are three Biblical reasons to be baptized...

1. Christ Commands it: Matthew 28:19 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

2. Christ was our Example: Matthew 3:13 says, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."

3. Belivers in the Bible Practiced it: Acts 2:41 says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized."

HOW SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

The Word baptize literally means to plunge or to dunk. The Bible teaches that you should be baptized in water by immersion rather than sprinkling. Because baptism is a picture of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, only immersion correctly pictures this.

John 1:26 says, "John answered them, saying, I baptize you with water..."

Mark 1:9-10 says, "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him."

Acts 8:38 says, "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

In the Bible, baptism always took place right after salvation. Rather than taking a thirteen week course before you can be baptized, you should choose to be baptized as soon as you can after your salvation decision.

Acts 16:30-33 says, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway."

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."

WHAT IF I AM NOT BAPTIZED?

While baptism is not required for salvation, it is an important step of obedience to Christ. The Christian who refuses to be baptized could be compared to a wife who refuses to accept her wedding ring. How can my relationship with Christ start off right if I refuse to follow Him and if I am ashamed of Him before others? By not being baptized, I am disobeying Christ and actually telling Him that I am ashamed that He is my Savior. I am missing the blessing of committing myself to Christ through obedience and losing the testimony I might have through my public identification with Him.

James 4:17 says, "...to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

John 8:31 says, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."

John 15:14 says "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

MEMBERSHIP

WHAT IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?

The word "church" comes from a greek word that means a called out assembly.

The Bible tells us that the "church" is the body of Christ. Romans 12:5 says," So we, being many, are one body in Christ.."

The church is also a group of people that is committed to each other. Romans 12:5 says, "...and everyone members one of another."

We also find that the members of the church are there to serve each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT TO GATHER TOGETHER TO SERVE THE LORD AND ONE ANOTHER IN VARIOUS WAYS.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP?

Salvation - a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

Baptism - believers should be baptized by immersion

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH?

During the invitation time of any morning service of Calvary Baptist Church, come down to the front of the auditorium and tell the invitation worker you would like to become a member. That worker will ask you to give your salvation and baptism testimony to him or her before you are presented to the church. Upon a satisfactory testimony of salvation and baptism, the pastor will present you to the church for membership. There is no public speaking required.