Cases of Conversion

1. Introduction.
   1. Importance of subject.
      1. Old Testament points to Jesus; New Testament reveals Jesus.
      2. Jesus and church are inseparably connected.
         1. Church is house (family) of God and Jesus, as the elder brother, is over the house (Heb. 3:6).
         2. Church is body of Jesus, and he is the head of the body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
         3. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). There are therefore no spiritual blessings out of Christ.
         4. God adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). Therefore there are no saved outside of the church.
         5. To persecute the church is to persecute Jesus (Acts 9:4).
      3. Entrance into the kingdom, church, body is essential to past, present, and future salvation.
   2. In first century cases of conversion we learn of how people of that day entered the church. When we do what they did the same results will follow. When we obey what they obeyed, we will be added to the church, just as they were added to the church.
2. Cases of Conversion.
   1. Pentecost day of Acts chapter two.
      1. Believed - Acts 2:36.
      2. Repented - Acts 2:38.
      3. Baptized - Acts 2:38, 41.
   2. Samaria in Acts chapter eight.
      1. Believed - Acts 8:12.
      2. Repentance implied by their change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 8:12.
   3. Eunuch from Ethiopia in Acts chapter eight.
      1. Believed - Acts 8:35.
      2. Repentance implied by his change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 8:38.
   4. Saul of Tarsus - later Paul, the apostle.
      1. Believed - Acts 9:5; 2 Tim. 1:12.
      2. Repentance implied (see Acts 9:9).
      3. Baptized - Acts 9:18; 22:16.
   5. Cornelius' conversion reported in Acts chapters ten and eleven.
      1. Believed - Acts 11:14; Rom. 10:17.
      2. Repented - Acts 11:18.
      3. Baptized - Acts 10:48.
   6. Lydia in Acts chapter sixteen.
      1. Believed - Acts 16:14; Rom. 10:17.
      2. Repentance implied by her change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 16:15.
   7. Jailor in Philippa reported in Acts chapter sixteen.
      1. Believed - Acts 16:31.
      2. Repentance implied change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 16:33.
   8. The twelve at Ephesus recorded in Acts chapter nineteen.
      1. Believed - Acts 19:4.
      2. Repentance shown by change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 19:5.
   9. The Corinthians.
      1. Believed - Acts 18:8.
      2. Repentance shown by change.
      3. Baptized - Acts 18:8.
3. Conclusion.
   1. Faith, repentance and baptism necessary to salvation.
   2. God is interested in forms - in the plan.
      1. "But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Rom. 6:17).
      2. Obedience to the New Testament "form of teaching" is necessary to a person's salvation.