BAPTIST

DISTINCTIVES
8 lessons teaching what Baptists believe using the acrostic "BAPTISTS”

B – Biblical authority
A – Autonomy of the local church
P – Priesthood of the believer
T – Two church ordinances
I – Individual soul liberty
S – Saved church membership
T – Two church offices
S – Security of the Christian
We are glad that you have chosen to be here today. Thank you for taking the time to put God first.

It is good to attend church here, but it is also important to know what this church believes. We are a
Baptist church, and make no apology for it. We are Baptists on purpose. For this reason, please study
carefully the next eight lessons which teach what Baptists believe and teach—and why. By the end of
these lessons, you will have a good understanding of Baptist doctrine.
 Biblical Authority
(Lesson 1)

In the first lesson we will learn that what Baptists believe and teach comes from the Word of God (King
James Version). Baptists do not base their beliefs and teachings upon what they think themselves, but
upon what the Bible says. The Bible is their only authority.

Question: Why do Baptists base their beliefs and teachings only upon the Bible?
Answer: Because the Bible is the only Book that has God Himself as the Author!

II Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is given by inspiration [breath] of God...

This verse teaches that God wrote the Bible; therefore, Baptists use the Bible (King James Version) as
their only authority for what they believe and teach. Everything true about God is true about His Word
the Bible! Since God wrote the Bible, following are some facts we can trust:

THE BIBLE IS ALWAYS TRUE

Psalm 119:160 – Thy [God's] word [the Bible] is true [certain/trustworthy] from the beginning: and
every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy [God's] truth: thy word is truth.

Titus 1:2 – ..God, that cannot lie...

According to these three verses, the Bible is completely true. We know God does not and cannot lie;
therefore, His Word does not and cannot lie. We should believe it and teach it.

THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE

II Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is given by inspiration [breath] of God, and is profitable [helpful] for
doctrine [beliefs/teachings], for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man
of God may be perfect [complete], throughly furnished unto all good works.

This verse teaches that the Bible is profitable (helpful) in four areas: for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, and for instruction.

“DOCTRINE” is what one believes and teaches. The Bible shows us exactly what to believe and teach.
For instance, we know about Heaven and how we can go there someday. We also know about Hell,
Jesus Christ, Satan, and many other things because the Bible tells us.

“REPROOF” is when we are told something is wrong. The Bible tells us what is wrong. For example, what
does the Bible say is wrong in this verse: “Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15)? In this verse, the Bible
reproves those who steal. What are some other things the Bible teaches us is wrong (reproves): lying,
cheating, disobeying parents, etc.
“CORRECTION” means to straighten up again. The Bible not only tells us what is wrong, it also tells us
what is right and how we can correct our mistakes.

“INSTRUCTION” means education or training. The Bible shows us how we can grow into mature
Christian young men and women.

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. Why is the Bible our only authority for what we believe and teach? because it is the only Book
that God wrote

2. What are two things that are true about the Bible? It is always true and it is profitable (helpful)

3. What are four things for which the Bible is profitable (helpful)? doctrine (beliefs and teachings),
reproof (convicts of what is wrong); correction (how to straighten up); and instruction
(education or training)

POINT TO PONDER
Since the Bible is the only Book that God wrote, we know everything true about God, is also true about
His Word. We Baptists use God's Word as our only authority for what we believe and teach. We should
read, believe, and obey what the Bible tells us in all things.

POINT TO APPLY
Are you reading the Bible every day? (If not, start today!)
Are you trying to obey what God has said in His Word?

MEMORY VERSE
(1st – 3rd Grades) Psalm 119:160 – Thy word is true from the beginning...

(4th – 6th Grades) Psalm 119:160 – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous
judgments endureth for ever.
 Autonomy of the Local Church
(Lesson 2)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned that the Bible is the only authority for what Baptists believe and teach.
Remember! God's Word can be trusted and lived according to because it is true. (Ask for volunteers to
recite the memory verse - Psalm 119:160.)

In this lesson we will learn why Baptists believe in the autonomy of the local church. First, we will learn
what “autonomy” means.

WHAT DOES AUTONOMY MEAN?

“Autonomy” simply means independent or self-governing. When we Baptists say we believe in the
autonomy of the local church, we mean that the local church is to govern itself independently of any
governmental control.

WHY DO BAPTISTS BELIEVE IN THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH?

Remember! The Bible is our only authority for what we believe and teach; therefore, we believe the
local church is to govern itself independently of governmental control because the Bible teaches it.
Read the following stories from the Word of God to see how the local church governed itself.

Acts 6:1-6 – Did this local church have someone telling it to appoint people to help, or did it make that
decision independently? it decided independently

Acts 13:1-4 – Who told the church to separate Barnabas and Saul for God's work? the Holy Ghost

Acts 14:23-27 – Did the local church independently ordain elders or did the government tell it to? it
ordained elders independently

Notice! In all three passages, the local church acted independently.

WHO IS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH?

Ephesians 5:23-24 – …Christ is the head of the church.. Therefore... the church is subject
[submissive/obedient] unto Christ...

According to these verses, who is to make the decisions in the local church? Jesus Christ

The local church is to be in total subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 ILLUSTRATION
Christ is the head of the body and, therefore, makes all the decisions. Move your hand and explain that
the hand moved because your head told it to. As individuals of a local church, we are to obey the
commands given to us by our Head, Jesus Christ.

Some of the commands He has given us include:

 Faithful church attendance (Hebrews 10:25)
 Obedience to our parents/guardians (Ephesians 6:1-2)
 Bible reading (Revelation 1:3)
 Prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17)
 Telling others about Christ (Matthew 28:18-20)

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. What does autonomy mean? independent/self-governing

2. Does the Bible teach that the local church is to be independent of governmental force? Yes

3. From whom is the local church to take its orders? Jesus Christ

POINT TO PONDER
Baptists believe in the autonomy of the local church which means we take our orders from the Lord
Jesus Christ only.

POINT TO APPLY
As individuals, we are also to take our commands from the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you living in obedience
to what the Lord Jesus has told you?

MEMORY VERSE
(1st – 3rd Grades) Ephesians 5:23 – ...Christ is the head of the church...

(4th – 6th Grades) Ephesians 5:23-24 – ...Christ is the head of the church... Therefore...the church is
subject unto Christ...
 Priesthood of the Believer
(Lesson 3)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned Baptists believe and teach that the local church is to be independent and
self-governing and take its orders directly from Jesus Christ alone. (Ask for volunteers to recite the
memory verse – Ephesians 5:23-24.)

In this lesson we will learn why Baptists believe in the priesthood of the believer.

WHAT DOES PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER MEAN?

The priesthood of the believer simply means that every child of God can pray directly to God!

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us [Christians] therefore come boldly [confidently] unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

“Us" in this verse means God's children. If you have been saved by God's grace you can pray directly to
Him. Has there been a time when you trusted Jesus Christ by inviting Him into your heart and asking Him
to forgive your sins? If so, you can pray confidently to God in Heaven. If so, you need to trust Him today.
(Teacher, please take the time to explain salvation and ask for responses.)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRAY?

Prayer is simply talking to God Almighty. What a privilege!

Psalm 55:1 – Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Psalm 142:1 – I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my
supplication.

According to these verses, praying is simply talking or crying out to God.

HOW SHOULD A CHILD OF GOD PRAY?

Luke 18:1 – And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always [at all times] to
pray, and not to faint [be weary].

Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance [persistence] and supplication [prayer] for all saints.

According to these verses, does God want us to pray faithfully (consistently) or occasionally (every now
and then)? FAITHFULLY Are you praying faithfully every day of the week?
Psalm 55:17 – Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my
voice.

In this verse, notice how faithfully the psalmist prayed. God's children can pray to God about anyone or
anything!

ILLUSTRATION
A prayer list can help us remember the things we should pray for during the week. For example:

Sunday – our pastor Wednesday – our friends Saturday – ourselves

Monday – our parents Thursday – our school
Tuesday – our siblings Friday – our grandparents

These are not the only people and things for which we should pray every day, but it is a good place to
start. And remember, praying is not just asking God for things; it should also include thanksgiving for our
food, houses, families, etc.

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. What does priesthood of the believer mean? God's children can pray to Him directly

2. What does it mean to pray? talking or crying out to God

3. Does God want you to pray every day or some days? every day

POINT TO PONDER
If you are a child of God, you can talk directly to the all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present God.
What a great-exalted privilege!

POINT TO APPLY
Are you a child of God? (Have them respond with heads bowed and eyes closed.) Are you praying every
day?

MEMORY VERSE
(1st – 3rd Grades) Luke 18:1 - .. men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
(4th – 6th Grades) Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to
pray, and not to faint.
 Two Church Ordinances
(Lesson 4)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned Baptists believe and teach that every child of God can pray directly to God
anytime or from any place about anything or anyone. (Ask for volunteers to recite the memory verse
Luke 18:1.)

In this lesson we are going to learn about two church ordinances taught in the Bible. An ordinance is
simply a practice. There are two ordinances that we practice in our Baptist church: Baptism and The
Lord's Supper.

BAPTISM

WHEN should you be baptized?

Acts 2:41 – Then they that gladly [with pleasure] received his word were baptized...

Acts 18:8 – ..and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

According to these two verses, should you get baptized before or after you receive Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior? AFTER

WHY should you be baptized after salvation?

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.

“Teaching them" in this verse means winning people to Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke this
verse to His disciples; therefore, we should be baptized after salvation to be obedient to the
commandment of Jesus Christ.

HOW should you be baptized?

Acts 8:38 – ..and they went down both into the water… and he baptized him.

"Baptized" literally means to dip, plunge, submerge, immerse; therefore, you should be baptized by
being placed under the water. This gives an accurate portrayal of the death, burial and resurrection of
Christ.

Do you HAVE to be baptized to go to Heaven?

John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 3:36 – He that believeth on the Son [Jesus Christ] hath everlasting life...
According to these verses, do you have to be baptized to go to Heaven? NO

In these verses the "hath" is in the present tense, so in modern English the equivalent word would be
“has." Therefore, the Bible teaches that you have everlasting life the very moment you receive the Lord
Jesus Christ into your heart. (Explain how the child can do this!) You DO NOT have to be baptized to go
to Heaven, but you should be baptized because God wants you to be.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

What is the Lord's Supper?

Read I Corinthians 11:24-26 – According to the Bible, the Lord's Supper is a time when children of God
come together and REMEMBER the Lord's dying for them. The Lord wants us to remember what He did
for us when He died for our sins on Calvary.

What happens at the Lord's Supper? (refer to reading)

Each child of God eats a piece of broken bread (vs. 24) which pictures the broken body of Christ on
Calvary. (Explain the crucifixion here to remind your students of Christ's broken body—not a broken
bone, but body.)

Each child of God drinks a little grape juice (vs. 25) which pictures the shed blood of Christ on Calvary
for our sins. (Explain to your students how Christ bled and died for our sins.)

Jesus Christ died for us on Calvary, and when we accept Him into our hearts by confessing our sins to
Him and inviting Him into our hearts, He saves us by His marvelous undeserving grace.

We must REMEMBER how good He has been to us. One way to do this is by observing the Lord's Supper.

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. How many ordinances have been given to the Local Church? Two
2. When should you be baptized? after salvation
3. Why should you be baptized after salvation? to be obedient to Christ's command
4. How should you be baptized? by being placed under the water
5. Do you have to be baptized to go to Heaven? No
6. What is the Lord's Supper? a time to remember Christ's death on the cross for our sins
7. What does the broken bread picture? Christ's broken body
8. What does the grape juice picture? Christ's shed blood

POINT TO PONDER
There are two ordinances given to the local church: Baptism and The Lord's Supper

POINT TO APPLY
 1. Have you been saved by God's grace?
2. Have you been baptized since salvation? (If not, please make arrangements by letting your
teacher, bus captain, or pastor know.)
3. Have you forgotten how good God has been to you by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on
the cross for your sins?

MEMORY VERSE
John 3:36 – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life...
 Individual Soul Liberty
(Lesson 5)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned that Baptists practice two church ordinances: Baptism and The Lord's
Supper. (Ask for volunteers to recite the memory verse John 3:36.)

In this lesson we will learn that the Bible teaches individual soul liberty which means that every
individual is accountable to God for his own actions! You have the right to choose, but you will be judged
by God for the decisions you make. Baptists believe there are two judgments, and every person who has
ever lived will be at one of the two.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:11-15)

WHO will judged at the Great White Throne Judgment?

Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life...

According to this verse, those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be judged at
the Great White Throne. If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, your name is written in the Book of
Life.

WHAT will be the judgment (punishment) of those at the Great White Throne?

Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.

According to this verse, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake
of fire forever and ever. The lake of fire is a place of constant pain and torment. Everyone who chooses
not to trust Christ will be put there for all eternity.

ILLUSTRATION
Pretend you have a lighter. Explain that it would be foolish for anyone to put his finger into the flame
even for a few seconds; however, in Hell, the whole body will burn for all eternity. Because of individual
soul liberty, we can choose whether to receive Jesus Christ or to reject Him. Those who reject Him will
be judged at the Great White Throne and sentenced to the lake of fire for all eternity.

Please take the time to check on the children’s salvation. Their salvation is more important than finishing
the lesson. If a child does not know for sure he is saved, please take the time to lead him to Jesus Christ.
Please get their contact information for follow-up.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

 WHO will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...

Since the Apostle Paul wrote this verse, “we" includes him: therefore, those who will be judged at the
Judgment Seat of Christ are those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. We know this
because Paul was saved.

WHAT will be the judgment of those at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

According to this verse, we as Christians will be judge according to the things we have done.

I Corinthians 3:11-15 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire.

According to these verses, Christians will be judged for their works. Those who are saved will go to
Heaven, but they will be judged for the types of works they performed as Christians.

Are you pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ by your works? Are you pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ in how you
are living as a Christian?

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. What does “individual soul liberty" mean? God has given us the ability to choose but every
individual is accountable to God for his own actions
2. What are the two judgments discussed in this lesson? the Great White Throne and the
Judgment Seat of Christ
3. If a person chooses not to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, where will he spend
eternity? in the lake of fire
4. If a person chooses to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, where will he spend eternity?
in Heaven
5. Will everybody stand before God at one of the two judgments? yes

POINT TO PONDER
We will all be judged by God for the decisions and choices we make.

POINT TO APPLY
If you met God today and He judged you, are you saved? Are you living in a way that pleases Him?

MEMORY VERSE
II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
 Saved Church Membership
(Lesson 6)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned that Baptists believe in individual soul liberty which means that every
individual has a free will to make his own decisions. However, everyone will be judged by God for the
decisions he makes. (Ask for volunteers to recite the memory verse – II Corinthians 5:10.

In this lesson we will learn that the Word of God teaches that those who become members of the local
church must first be saved. Therefore, Baptists believe in saved church membership.

To become a member of this Baptist church one must first become a member of God's family by
receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.

Acts 2:41 – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them [the local church] about three thousand souls.

This verse says that before people were added to the local church they were first SAVED and BAPTIZED.
Since we have already learned about baptism in an earlier lesson, we are going to focus on the more
important of these...that of being SAVED!

WHAT DOES BEING “SAVED” MEAN?

Romans 4:7 – ..Blessed are they whose iniquities [sins] are forgiven, and whose sins are covered
[forgiven].

According to the Word of God, to be saved means to have your sins forgiven!

WHY DOES EVERYONE NEED TO GET SAVED?

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

According to the Word of God, everyone needs to get saved because everyone is a sinner.

CAN I SAVE MYSELF?

Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God.

According to this verse, can you save yourself? no

According to this verse, salvation is a gift from whom? God
A gift is free to the one who receives it at the expense of the one who gives it. You cannot earn a gift: it
is free to you. Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary to pay for your sins so you can be saved, but you
must receive His free gift.
HOW DO I GET SAVED?

 Realize You are a Sinner (Romans 3:23)

 Realize Your sin must be paid for (Romans 6:23)
 Realize Jesus Christ has paid for your sins (Romans 5:8)
 Ask Jesus Christ into your heart (Romans 10:13)

WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH AFTER I HAVE BEEN SAVED AND BAPTIZED?

1. God commanded it (Acts 2:41-47; Hebrews 10:25)

2. It is a place to worship the Lord and observe the ordinances (Romans 6:1-4; I Corinthians 11:23-
34)
3. Everyone needs a pastor and church's authority (Ephesians 4:11-16)
4. Everyone needs encouragement and fellowship (Galatians 6:1-10)
5. It is a place to bring tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2)

God desires for you to become a member of a local church that faithfully teaches and preaches the
Word of God. This Baptist church would be privileged to have you as a member; however, you must first
be saved and baptized.

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. What two things must a person be before he can become a member of this Baptist church?
saved and baptized
2. What does being saved mean? that one’s sins are forgiven
3. Why does everyone need to get saved? because everyone is a sinner
4. How do you get saved?
 Realize you are a sinner
 Realize your sin must be paid for
 Realize Jesus Christ has paid for your sins
 Ask Jesus Christ into your heart
5. Why should you become a member of local church after you have been saved and baptized?
 God commanded it
 It is a place to worship the Lord and observe the ordinances
 Everyone needs a pastor and church's authority
 Everyone needs encouragement and fellowship
 It is a place to bring tithes and offerings

POINT TO PONDER
God desires us to become members of a local church that faithfully teaches and preaches His Word;
however, we cannot become members of this Baptist church until we have been saved and baptized.
 POINT TO APPLY
1. Have you been saved by God's grace? (if not, please go through the plan of salvation)
2. Have you been baptized after salvation? (if not, encourage it)
3. Are you a member of a local church that faithfully teaches and preaches God's Word?
MEMORY VERSE
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith...it is the gift of God.
 Two Church Offices
(Lesson 7)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned that this Baptist church believes and teaches that no one can become a
member of the local church until he has been saved and baptized. We also learned what it means to be
saved. (Ask for volunteers to recite the memory verse – Ephesians 2:8.)

In this lesson we are going to learn that, according to the Word of God, there are two church offices. An
office is a position in authority. The two church offices are pastor and deacon.

Read I Timothy 3:1-10, and note that "bishop" is another word for pastor.

THE PASTOR

What IS a pastor?

I Timothy 3:2 – A bishop [overseer] then must be blameless...

Since "bishop" is another name for pastor, "pastor" means overseer. An overseer is somebody who
supervises work done by somebody else.

Jeremiah 17:16 – ..I have not hastened from being a pastor [shepherd; keeper of the sheep]...

“Pastor” can also mean shepherd. Often, God relates His children to sheep, and sheep need a shepherd
(John 21:15-17).

What does a Pastor DO?

I Peter 5:2 - Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof...

In context, this verse is speaking to pastors, therefore, there are two things a pastor does:

The Pastor LEADS: “taking the oversight" means the pastor is to oversee every area of the local church.
Remember, "bishop" in I Timothy 3:2 means “overseer” which means the pastor oversees everything
that goes on in his church. He is the leader of the ministry.

The Pastor FEEDS: “feed the flock" means the pastor feeds his congregation spiritual food by preaching
and teaching them the Word of God.

Who IS our Pastor?

Our Pastor is _____________________. He is a faithful man who fulfills his duties as pastor well. Why
don't you encourage him by making or buying a card of appreciation and delivering it to him yourself the
next time you come to church?
 THE DEACON

What IS a deacon?

I Timothy 3:8 – Likewise must the deacons [servants] be grave...

“Deacon” means servant; therefore, a deacon is to serve those in the church.

What does a Deacon DO?

Acts 6:1-7 – Read and notice that the first deacons were given duties which would allow the pastor time
to study and preach God's Holy Word. The deacon's duty is to help the pastor. He is not to rule or run
the church, but he is to help the pastor by doing some of the necessary duties in the church.

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. How many offices have been given to the local church? 2
2. What are the two church offices? pastor and deacon
3. What does “pastor” mean? overseer and shepherd
4. What are the two things, among many, that a pastor does? leads and feeds
5. Who is your pastor? ____________________
6. What does “deacon” mean? Servant
7. Is a deacon supposed to lead the church or help the pastor? help the pastor

POINT TO PONDER
There are two church offices in the local church: pastor and deacon

POINT TO APPLY
1. Are you a sheep in the Lord's fold? (Explain how to become a “sheep".)
2. Have you ever thanked your pastor for his faithfulness?

MEMORY VERSE
I Peter 5:2 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof...
 Security of the Christian
(Lesson 8)

REVIEW
In our last lesson we learned the Bible teaches there are two church offices in the local church: pastor
and deacon. (Ask for volunteers to recite the memory verse – I Peter 5:2).

In our last lesson on what Baptists believe we will learn the Bible teaches the security of the Christian.
This means that once an individual receives Jesus Christ by asking Him to forgive his sins and inviting Him
into his heart, he becomes a child of God FOREVER. There will never again be a time when that child of
God is not a child of God. We are saved FOREVER! Everyone who has trusted Jesus Christ is going to
Heaven.

The security of the Christian is clearly taught in the Word of God.

GOD'S GIFT IS EVERLASTING

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal [forever/everlasting] life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

According to this verse, how long does the gift of salvation last? FOREVER

Salvation is a gift. We cannot work for it, and we cannot earn it. Therefore, if we cannot work to get it,
we cannot work to lose it.

GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE

Titus 1:2 – ..which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that
sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed
from death unto life.

Jesus (who is God) said that those who have been saved have everlasting life NOW and shall NEVER
come into the judgment of God!

John 10:27-28 – My sheep [those who have been saved] hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they SHALL NEVER PERISH, either shall any man
pluck them out of my hand.

God has promised that His children WILL NEVER PERISH!

Hebrews 13:5 – ..for he [God] hath said, I will NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.

God said He would never leave us, and this would not be true if we could lose our salvation.
 GOD'S PRONOUNCEMENT IS SINGLE

Matthew 7:21-23 – Read and notice the Lord will make one single pronouncement to those about to
be cast away from Him: “I NEVER KNEW YOU."

If someone could get salvation and then lose it, God would have to make at least two pronouncements,
"I never knew you" AND “I once knew you, but I do not know you anymore." However, He said there
would only be one pronouncement: “I NEVER KNEW YOU." Therefore, those who do not go to Heaven
were never saved in the first place.

GOD'S PRESERVATION IS CERTAIN

Preserved in Christ

Psalm 37:28 – For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are PRESERVED
[guarded] forever...

Jude 1 – Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the
Father, and PRESERVED [detained in custody] in Jesus Christ...

"Preserve" means to keep something protected from anything that would cause it harm. The Bible
teaches that when we trusted Christ we were preserved in Jesus Christ and were detained in His
custody. Just as a prisoner is under the control and protection of the jail master, so a Christian's
salvation is under the control and protection of Jesus Christ.

SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed [stamped] unto the day
of redemption.

When we received the Lord we were sealed with God's Spirit.

KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD

I Peter 1:5 – Who are kept [guarded] by the power of God...

In context, this verse is speaking of Christians, and it plainly says we are kept by God's power, not ours. I
know I am a child of God forever because the Bible plainly teaches that God, who is all-powerful, is
keeping and guarding me.

Just as fruits and vegetables can be placed into canning jars and sealed tight until their lids are removed,
a child of God is placed into Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit to be kept by the power of God until
the day of redemption.

THE LORD'S PRAYERS ARE HEARD

John 11:38-44 – Read and notice the Lord Jesus said His Father always hears Him. There is never a
prayer that Jesus Christ prays that His Father does not hear.

John 17:17-24 – Read and notice the Lord Jesus was praying to His Heavenly Father when He said,
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me." If you are a child of God, you will forever be a child of God. This is
true because our security is based upon God, not us!

QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. Is salvation a free gift or do you have to work for it? a free gift
2. The Bible says salvation is everlasting. What does “everlasting” mean? Forever
3. Can God lie? No
4. Who said that children of God “shall never perish" in John 10:28? God
5. According to the Bible, did Jesus Christ ever know those who don't go to Heaven? No
6. According to the Bible, who is keeping us saved? God
7. According to the Bible, once an individual becomes a child of God, will he ever lose his salvation
and become lost again? no

POINT TO PONDER
When an individual receives the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart by asking Him to forgive his sins and
accepting Him as his personal Savior, he is eternally saved. He will go to Heaven because he is secure in
Jesus Christ.

POINT TO APPLY
Are you a child of God? If you are, you are secure in Jesus Christ, and you should try to live a life that is
pleasing to Him! You should want to please the One who made it possible for you to go to Heaven when
you die.

MEMORY VERSE
Romans 6:23 – ..the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 OVERVIEW
Eight Doctrines Baptists Believe

B – Biblical authority
A – Autonomy of the local church
P – Priesthood of the believer
T – Two church ordinances
I – Individual soul liberty
S – Saved church membership
T – Two church offices
S – Security of the Christian
These are not all of the doctrines Baptists believe, but they are some of the most important!