Chapter I: ACKNOWLEDGED *my sin unto* thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I

said, *I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord*; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

_Psalms 32:5._

IF we *confess* our *sins*, He is *faithful* and *just* to forgive us our *sins*, and to *cleanse* us from all *unrighteousness*.

_I John 1:9._

*3rd. Turn to God.*

THEREFORE *turn thou to thy God*: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on *thy* God continually.

_Hosea 12:6._

IF *thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up*, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

_Job 22:23._

AND He is the *propitiation* for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the *whole world*.

_I John 2:2_

Some say they are backsliders, but are *not*, for they have never *slid forward*.

Baptism.
*COMMANDED by God PRACTICED by Christ and others.*

The Bible plainly teaches that every believer *should confess Christ in baptism*.

GO ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, *baptizing them* into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

_Matthew 28:19, R.V._

HE that believeth and is *baptized* shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

_Mark 16:16, R.V._

AND Peter said up to them, Repent ye, and be *baptized* every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins.

_Acts 2:38, R.V._

AND there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem and were *baptized of him*, in the river of Jordan confessing their sins.

_Mark 1:5._

*JESUS was baptized*.

THEN cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, *to be baptized* of 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.

_Matthew 3:13, 16._

*PAUL was baptized.*

AND immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was *baptized*.

_Acts 9:18._

*The EUNUCH was baptized*.

THE eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be *baptized*? . . . And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he *baptized him*.

_Acts 8:36, 38._

*The JAILOR was baptized*.

AND he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and *was baptized*, he and all his, straightway.

_Acts 16:33._

Baptism.
*It FOLLOWS salvation. Baptized, because SAVED*

There are two extremes taken by people in the matter of baptism, one is to *reject* it entirely, and the other is to magnify it beyond it’s proper significance, and make it *necessary to salvation*.

We are to be baptized, not to *help save ourselves*, but, because *Christ has already saved us* through our acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross. We go forward in baptism in obedience to God’s command, thus openly confessing Him before the world by this act. Our baptism will avail us nothing, unless *our heart is right toward God*.

Philip told the Eunuch that *he could be baptized* if he *believed with all his heart*.

AND Philip said, If thou *believest with all thine heart* thou mayest.

_Acts 8:37._

A performance of ceremonies God hates, unless there is behind them, true *repentance for sin*.

YOUR *new moons* and your *appointed feasts my soul hateth*: they are a trouble unto me; *I* am weary to bear them.

_Isaiah 1:14._

TWO men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The *Pharisee, stood and prayed thus with himself,* God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are. . . . *I fast twice in the week, I give tithes* of all that I possess. And the *publican, standing afar off*, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, *God be merciful to me a sinner*. I tell you, *this man* went down to his house *justified* rather than the other.

_Luke 18:10-14._

The Pharisee was thinking to *justify himself* before God by his *prayers, gifts and keeping of holy days* but the the publican with repentance, and the *believing cry of the sinner*, was saved.

Let us *not neglect* baptism; neither think because we *have been baptized* that we are *safe*. Trust Christ *alone* for salvation; *then* be baptized.

Business.
*I will be HINDERED in making money.*

What *profit* is there to *YOU*, even if you get money—pleasure—position or power— and in a few short years (at longest) you lose your soul?

If you cannot remain in your present business and be a Christian, you had better *give it up*.

FOR what shall it *profit a man*, if he shall *gain the whole world*, and lose his own soul? Or *what shall a man give in exchange for his soul*?

_Mark 8:36-37._

BUT seek ye *first the kingdom of God*, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

_Matthew 6:33._

*LAY not up* for yourselves treasures *upon earth*, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves *treasures in heaven*.

_Matthew 6:19-20._

HE that loveth silver *shall not be satisfied with silver*.

_Ecclesiastes 5:10._

HE that *trusteth in his riches shall fall*: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

_Proverbs 11:28._

THEN said Jesus unto His disciples, *If any man* will *come* after *me*, let him *deny himself*, and take up *his cross* and *follow me*.

FOR *whosoever* will save his life shall lose it: and *whosoever* will *lose his life for my sake shall find it*.

_Matthew 16:24-25._

AND Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But *he shall receive a hundredfold now* in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and *in the* world to come eternal life.

_Mark 10:29-30._

Christian Living.
*Those TRYING to be Christians.*

We are not saved by *trying*, but by *trusting* in what *Christ has done for us*.

This means:

*Repentance*.

LET *the wicked forsake his way* (that’s your part), *and the unrighteous man his thoughts* (that’s your part): *and let him return unto the Lord* (that’s your part), and *He will have mercy upon him*; and to our God, for He will *abundantly pardon* (God’s part.).

_Isaiah 55:7_

*Faith*.

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._

*VERILY, verily*, I say unto you, *He that heareth My word*, and *believeth* on Him (God) that sent Me (Christ), *hath* everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but *hath passed out of death into life*.

_John 5:24. A.V. & R.V._

*Receiving*.

BUT as many as *received Him* (Christ), to them gave He *power to become the sons of God*, even to them that *believe on His name*.

_John 1:12._

*Committing*.

*COMMIT* thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

_Psalms 37:5._

*IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus*, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; *and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation*.

_Romans 10:9-10._

Christian Living.
*STRENGTH for holding out.*

BUT ye *shall* receive *power*, after that the *Holy Ghost* is come upon you.

_Acts 1:8._

BE *strong* in the Lord and in the *power* of His *might*.

_Ephesians 6:10._

PUT on the *whole armor of God*, that ye may be *able to stand* against the *wiles* of the *devil*.

_Ephesians 6:11._

WHEREFORE take unto you the *whole armour* of God, that ye may be *able* to *withstand* in the *evil day*, and *having done all, to stand*.

_Ephesians 6:13._

STAND therefore, *having your loins girt about with truth*, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

_Ephesians 6:14._

ABOVE all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the *helmet of salvation*, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the *word* of God.

_Ephesians 6:16—17._

WATCH ye, *stand fast* in the *faith*, quit you like men, *be strong*.

_I Corinthians 16:13._

BE *strong* and of *good courage;* be not *afraid*, neither be thou *dismayed*: for the *Lord* thy *God* is with thee *whithersoever thou goest*.

_Joshua 1:9._

THE Lord is my *light and* my *salvation*; whom *shall I fear*? the Lord is the *strength* of my *life*; of whom *shall I be afraid*?

_Psalms 27:1._

AND He said unto me, My *grace is sufficient* for thee: for my *strength* is made perfect in *weakness*. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

_II Corinthians 12:9._

I CAN *do* ALL THINGS *through Christ* which strenghteneth me.

_Philippians 4:13._

Christian Living.
*How to GROW In grace.*

If you earnestly desire to grow in grace according to God’s commands, covenant to do the following things *daily; pray, study* your Bible, *confess Christ*, try to *lead souls* to Christ, and *seek the society* of Christian people, and you will do so. Let us see what God says concerning these things, and their importance.

*1st. Daily prayer.*

PRAY *without ceasing*.

_I Thessalonians 5:17._

WATCH ye therefore and pray *always*.

_Luke 21:36._

MEN ought *always* to pray.

_Luke 18:1._