{"id":682,"date":"2015-10-06T17:30:25","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T21:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/?p=682"},"modified":"2015-10-06T17:30:25","modified_gmt":"2015-10-06T21:30:25","slug":"follow-through-after-salvation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/?p=682","title":{"rendered":"Follow through after Salvation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Scripture: Luke 19:1-10<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Areas that need follow through:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>1. Repentance<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Initial repentance (unbelief &amp; striving to earn heaven through your own efforts) but what about the other things that need to be taken care of? Things that hinder our conformity to the image of Christ<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Repentance in my life following salvation:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Words that came out of my mouth \u2013 gossip, vulgar language, inappropriate jokes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The places I went<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The things I watched<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The music I listened to<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My possessions<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The way I dressed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The way I treated others<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Dishonoring my dad<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Who I dated and would marry<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lack of commitment to church<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Giving to the Lord \u2013 Couple dollars to a tithe<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My lack of care for peoples souls<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>2. Baptism<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>An act of obedience whereby the believer publicly identifies through immersion with Jesus death, burial and resurrection.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>A. Identification with Jesus Christ<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A Proclamation \u2013 A public testimony that you are a Christian<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A Sign &#8211; Sign of your commitment and allegiance to a new master and a new way of life<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A Declaration \u2013 Declares your faith<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>B. Outward showing of what the Lord has done in your life<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Announces your new life in Christ<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Baptism says, \u201cI am buried with Christ; I no longer live; I have risen from the dead; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I am a new person in Christ\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>C. Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord \u2013 Matthew 28:18-20<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Baptism needs to be considered as the next step after salvation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Baptism is not an optional ritual, to be delayed or postponed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>3. Membership in a Local Church <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In the NT, from what we can tell, no one went church shopping or hopping!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">There seems to have been only one church in each community<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Church membership is not:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A record of a box once checked<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A sentimental feeling<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An expression of affection toward a special place<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An expression of loyalty or disloyalty to parents<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>It is an expression of a living commitment!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>8 Reasons Local Church Membership is Important:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>1- Demonstration of your commitment a specific local church family<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>2- Transitions from attending a particular gathering of believers to belonging to a specific local body <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">By identifying yourself through membership with a particular local church, you are telling the church\u2019s pastor and other members that you are not only committed to them, but committed in gathering, giving, prayer, service and accountability<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>3- Establishes an accountability relationship<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>4- Communicates your confidence that this is a place to direct others<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>5- Enables your participation at a capacity you can\u2019t otherwise<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Can\u2019t hold a teaching position<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Can\u2019t be considered for any leadership role<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Can\u2019t be a part of decisions made by the church<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It hinders your ability to exercise your spiritual gifts for the benefit of the local body &#8211; 1 Corinthians 12:7<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>6- Places you under a specific shepherd care and responsibility<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>Hebrews 13:17 &#8211; Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>is<\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i> unprofitable for you.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>7- Means taking responsibility<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An act of saying I am now your responsibility and you are mine!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>8- NT Pattern indicates some type of verifiable membership or commitment level <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\">A. The phrase \u201cwhole church\u201d indicates a verifiable membership \u2013 Acts 15:22<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\">B. Records kept &#8211; Acts 2:41<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\">They knew who belonged to their assemblies and who did not \u2013 1 Corinthians 5:1 <\/span><i>\u201cAmong you\u201d<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\">C. The responsibility for pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership &#8211; 1 Peter 5:1-4<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\">D. Instructions given for church discipline &#8211; Matthew 18:15-17<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">You cannot formally exclude someone if he is not formally included in the first place (1Cor.5:13)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>1 Corinthians 5:9-13<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i> &#8211; I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:\u00a0Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.\u00a0But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.\u00a0For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?<br \/>\nBut them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Church is not a come-as-you-please and get-what-you-can attachment like one more store to peek your head into stores at the mall or market. Church is a body in which all parts care for one another \u2013 the home in which they live!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Church membership means being incorporated in practical ways into the visible body of Christ!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>4. Involved in an Intentional Plan to Grow<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Time with God \u2013 in His Word and prayer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Scripture memory<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Prayer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Consistent intake of God\u2019s Word through preaching and teaching<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>5. Taking Steps in Trusting God<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Thanksgiving<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Giving of resources<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>6. Witnessing<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>7. Recognizing and Obeying the Promptings of the Holy Spirit<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\"><i>Romans 8:14 &#8211; For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 Areas that need follow through: 1. Repentance Initial repentance (unbelief &amp; striving to earn heaven through your own efforts) but what about the other things that need<span class=\"excerpt-ellipsis\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/?p=682\" itemprop=\"url\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunmorn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":683,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions\/683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.csbcva.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}