LO+'P THA'NK-KINH HA`M-THU.             |BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
Ba`i So^' Na(m                          |Lesson Five
TRO+? THA`NH MO^N-DDO^` CHRIST          |BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
Ngu+o+`i Vie^'t:  Ralph S. Burcham      |by Ralph S. Burcham         
Di.ch-gia?:  vo^-danh                   |Tranlator:  unknown
Soa.n che'p la.i:  Nguye^~n Da^~n Bao   |Re-edited:  Bao Dan Nguyen
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DDA^'NG CHRIST DDA~ LA`M GI` DDE^? CU+'U|WHAT DID CHRIST DO TO SAVE
TO^.I-NHA^N?                            |SINNERS?                         
                                        |
DDie^`u "be^.nh nha^n" pha?i la`m dde^? |What the patient  must do to be
ddu+o+.c "ma.nh kho?e" tu`y-thuo^.c     |"well" depends upon the "remedy"
"phu+o+ng thuo^'c".  DDa^'ng Christ bi. |Christ crucified is the remedy 
ddo'ng ddinh tre^n tha^.p-tu+.-gia' la` |for the  "malady" of sin.  Every
"phu+o+ng thuo^'c cho "bi.nh"           |sinner has the right to know (a)
to^.i-lo^~i .  Mo.i to^.i-nha^n dde^`u  |who Christ is, and (b) what he
co' quye^`n bie^'t:  a)  DDa^'ng Christ |has done on behalf of sinners. 
la` ai, va` b)  Nga`i dda~ la`m gi` cho |Since this lesson is a
to^.i-nha^n.  Vi` ba`i ho.c na`y la`    |continuation of Lesson Four,
ba`i tie^'p no^'i vo+'i ba`i ho.c so^'  |please review it.                
4, ne^n ha~y o^n la.i ba`i ddo'.        |
                                        |
O+? dda^y co' va`i su+. kie^.n          |Here are some Significant facts
quan-tro.ng ve^` DDa^'ng Christ.        |about Christ.  Jesus is (a) the
Gie^-xu la` a) Con Tro+`i (Ma-thi-o+    |Son of God (Matthew 16:16), (b)
16:16); la` nguo^`n Su+. So^'ng (Gia(ng |the source of Life (John 1:4),
1:4), la` chu? cu?a su+. so^'ng va` su+.|the master of life and death
che^'t (Gia(ng 11:25), la` te^'-le^~    |(John 11:25), (c) the sinner's
chuo^.c to^.i cho to^.i-nha^n (E^-sai   |sinoffering (Isaiah 53; I Peter
53; I Phi-e-ro+ 2:24; II Co^-rinh-to^   |2:24; II Corinthians 5:21), and
5:21) va` d) Cu+'u-Chu'a cu?a           |(d) the sinner's Saviour (Matthew
to^.i-nha^n (Ma-thi-o+ 1:21;  I         |1:21; I Timothy 1:15).
Ti-mo^-the^ 1:15).  Kho^ng ngu+o+`i     |No one but the sinless Christ was
na`o, tru+` ra DDa^'ng Christ vo^ to^.i,|qualified to become man's Saviour
chi? Nga`i mo+'i co' ddu? tu+ ca'ch la` |because no one else could do what
Cu+'u-Chu'a nha^n-loa.i vi` kho^ng mo^.t|was necessary to be done on the
ai kha'c co' the^? la`m ddie^`u ca^`n   |sinner's behalf (Acts 4:12).     
pha?i la`m cho to^.i-nha^n (Co^ng-vu.   |
ca'c Su+'-ddo^` 4:12).                  |
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Ba?n cha^'t cu?a to^.i-lo^~i la` gi` ma`|What is the nature of sin that
loa`i ngu+o+`i ca^`n ddu+o+.c cu+'u     |man needs to be saved from? (a)
kho?i ?  a)  To^.i-lo^~i la` su+.       |Sin is antagonism to God.  Hence,
ddo^'i-la^.p vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .|sin is called "ungodliness" 
Vi` ddo', to^.i-lo^~i ddu+o+.c go.i la` |(Romans 1:18), and sinners are
"mo.i su+. kho^ng tin-ki'nh" (Ro^-ma    |said to be "ungodly" (Romans
1:18) va` to^.i-nha^n bi. go.i la`      |4:5).  (b) Sin renders one guilty
"ngu+o+`i co' to^.i" (Ro^-ma 4:5); b)   |before God.  From the sin of Adam
To^.i-lo^~i la`m ngu+o+`i ta tro+? ne^n |until now sinners are regarded as
pha.m-pha'p tru+o+'c DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i|guilty.  (c) The guilty person is
.  c) Ngu+o+`i pha.m-pha'p thi` o+?     |under divine disapproval.  The
du+o+'i su+. cho^'ng nghi.ch            |"wrath of God" is said to be upon
thie^ng-lie^ng.  Co+n gia^.n cu?a DDu+'c|him (Romans 1:18).  Therefore,
Chu'a Tro+`i ddu+o+.c tuye^n-bo^' ra(`ng|sinners are under condemnation.  
se~ ddo^? tre^n ngu+o+`i ddo' (Ro^-ma   |
1:18).  Vi` va^.y, to^.i-nha^n bi.      |
le^n-a'n.                               |
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Ba^y gio+`, cu~ng chi'nh to^.i-nha^n    |Now, it is such a sinner who is
ddo' la` ddo^'i tu+o+.ng cu?a su+.      |the subject of salvation.  And
cu+'u-ro^~i .  Va` DDu+'c Chu'a Gie^-xu |what Jesus did for him was
dda~ la`m cho to^.i-nha^n la` ddie^`u   |logically necessary.  God's
ca^`n-thie^'t va` co' ho+.p-ly'.  Lo+`i |sentence against sinners must be
tuye^n-a'n cu?a Thie^n-Chu'a ddo^'i     |changed to divine approval.  In
vo+'i to^.i-nha^n pha?i ddu+o+.c ddo^?i |other words, it was the work of
tha`nh su+. tho?a-hie^.p thie^ng-lie^ng.|the Saviour to furnish the ground 
No'i ca'ch kha'c, ddo' la` co^ng vie^.c |of divine mercy.                 
cu?a Cu+'u-Chu'a la`m ne^`n ta?ng cho   |
su+. thu+o+ng-xo't cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a    |
Tro+`i .                                |
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Va^.y Chu'a Gie^-xu Christ dda~ la`m gi`|What was it, then, that Jesus did
dde^? cu+'u to^.i-nha^n?  a)  Nga`i dda~|to save sinners?  (a) Jesus
tro+? tha`nh mo^.t ngu+o+`i .  Tru+o+'c |became man.  Before Jesus came,
khi Chu'a Gie^-xu dde^'n, Nga`i "la`    |he "was God" (John 1:1).  But
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i" (Gia(ng 1:1).      |man's Saviour must be human as
Cu+'u-Chu'a cu?a nha^n-loa.i pha?i vu+`a|well as divine; otherwise he
la` ngu+o+`i va` cu~ng vu+`a la`        |could not bear man's sins. 
tha^`n-linh.  Ne^'u kho^ng, thi` Nga`i  |Therefore, Christ "emptied
kho^ng the^? na`o mang la^'y to^.i-lo^~i|himself, taking the form of a
.  Vi` va^.y, DDa^'ng Christ "tu+. bo?  |servant, being made in the
mi`nh ddi la^'y hi`nh to^i-to+' va`     |likeness of men" (Philippians
tro+? ne^n gio^'ng nhu+ loa`i ngu+o+`i" |2:7).  "The Word became flesh"
Phi-li'p 2:7.  "Ngo^i-Lo+`i dda~ tro+?  |(John 1:14).  For other reasons
ne^n xa'c-thi.t" (Gia(ng 1:14).  Nhu+~ng|for the incarnation of Jesus see
ly'-do kha'c cu?a su+. nha^.p-the^? cu?a|Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:15,16;
Chu'a Gie^-xu ddu+o+.c tha^'y trong     |Hebrews 5:8.  (b) Christ became
He^-bo+-ro+ 2:14-18, 4:15-16; 5:8; b)   |man's sinbearer "Jehovah has laid
DDa^'ng Christ tro+?i ne^n DDa^'ng mang |on him the iniquity of us all"
la^'y to^.i-lo^~i cho nha^n-loa.i .     |(Isaiah 53:5,6).  Also read II
"DDu+'c Gie^-ho^-va dda~ la`m cho       |Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24.
to^.i-lo^~i cu?a he^'t tha?y chu'ng ta  |(c) Christ became man's
dde^`u cha^'t tre^n ngu+o+`i" (E^-sai   |Sinoffering.  Sinbearer and
53:5,6), xin xem the^m trong II         |sinoffering are really the same,
Co^-rinh-to^ 5:21; I Phi-e-ro+ 2:24.  c)|but logically Christ is
DDa^'ng Christ tro+? ne^n te^'-le^~     |sinoffering because he is man's
chuo^.c to^.i cho loa`i ngu+o+`i .      |sinbearer.  Every sinner should
DDa^'ng mang to^.i-lo^~i va` te^'-le^~  |know well the following
cho^.c to^.i thu+.c ra la` gio^'ng nhau,|scriptures: John 3:16; Romans
nhu+ng ve^` phu+o+ng-die^.n lua^.n-ly', |3:25; I Corinthians 15:3;
DDa^'ng Christ la` te^'-le^~ chuo^.c    |Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 7:27.  (d)
to^.i vi` Nga`i la` DDa^'ng mang to^.i  |He was raised for the sinner (I
lo^~i nha^n-loa.i .  Mo.i to^.i-nha^n   |Corinthians 15:20-22; Romans
ca^`n bie^'t ro~ nhu+~ng ca^u           |4:25).  (e) He is at the right
Kinh-Tha'nh sau:  Gia(ng 3:16; Ro^-ma   |hand of God interceding for man
3:25; I Co^-rinh-to^ 15:20-22; Ro^-ma   |(Romans 8:34; Hebrews 1:3; I John
4:25).  e)  Nga`i o+? be^n hu+~u DDu+'c |2:1; Hebrews 9: 24).  Only the
Chu'a Tro+`i dde^? ca^`u thay cho loa`i |Son is qualified to sit at the
ngu+o+`i (Ro^-ma 8:34; He^-bo+-ro+ 1:3; |Father's right hand and to make
I Gia(ng 2:1; He^-bo+-ro+ 9:24).  Chi?  |intercession for man.  This
co' Con xu+'ng-dda'ng ngo^`i be^n hu+~u |intercession is based upon his
Chu'a Cha va` ca^`u thay cho loa`i      |blood shed for the sinner
ngu+o+`i .  Su+. ca^`u thay na`y dda(.t |(Hebrews 9:12,24).               
tre^n huye^'t Nga`i dda~ ddo^? ra vi`   |
co+' to^.i-nha^n (He^-bo+-ro+ 9:12,24). |
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DDa^'ng Christ dda~ la`m nhie^`u ddie^`u|Christ did many other things for
kha'c dde^? giu'p loa`i ngu+o+`i, nhu+ng|the benefit of man, but it was by
nho+` su+. che^'t cu?a Nga`i, Nga`i     |means of his death that he
mo+'i cu+'u-chuo^.c nha^n-loa.i .  "A^'y|redeems.  "In whom we have
la` trong DDa^'ng Christ, chu'ng ta     |redemption through his blood"
ddu+o+.c cu+'u-chuo^.c bo+?i huye^'t    |(Ephesians 1:7).  For example, he
Nga`i" (E^-phe^-so^ 1:7).  Thi'-du.,    |left the incomparable Sermon on
Nga`i dde^? la.i cho chu'ng ta Ba`i     |the Mount, but this teaching is
gia?ng tre^n nu'i tha^.t vo^-song,      |not redemptive.  The gospel that
nhu+ng nhu+~ng da.y-do^~ cu?a ba`i      |saves is the good news of
gia?ng ddo' kho^ng co' na(ng ca'ch      |Christ's death for one's sins (I
cu+'u-chuo^.c.  Tin-la`nh cu+'u-chuo^.c |Corinthians 15:3,4).  The source
la` tin-tu+'c to^'t-la`nh ve^` su+.     |of salvation can be pinpointed in
che^'t cu?a DDa^'ng Christ cho          |the blood of Christ.             
to^.i-lo^~i mo^~i ngu+o+`i .  (I        |
Co^-rinh-to^ 15:3,4).  Nguo^`n cu?a su+.|
cu+'u cho^.c qui-tu. trong huye^'t cu?a |
DDa^'ng Christ.                         |
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CON NGU+O+`I PHA?I LA`M GI` DDE^?       |WHAT MUST MAN DO TO BE SAVED?
DDU+O+.C CU+'U ?                        |
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Ca^u ho?i na`y kho^ng the^? tra? lo+`i  |This question cannot be answered
ta'ch-bie^.t vo+'i co^ng-ta'c           |apart from the redemptive work of
cu+'u-chuo^.c cu?a DDa^'ng Christ ma`   |Christ which has just been
chu'ng ta vu+`a nghie^n-cu+'u .         |considered.  What a lost person
Su+.-kie^.n mo^.t ngu+o+`i hu+-ma^'t    |must do to be saved obviously
pha?i la`m gi` dde^? ddu+o+.c cu+'u     |relates to what Jesus did to save
hie^?n-nhie^n lie^n-quan dde^'n ddie^`u |him.                             
DDu+'c Chu'a Gie^-xu dda~ la`m dde^?    |
cu+'u ngu+o+`i .                        |
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Ve^` phi'a DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i, thi`    |Now, since the blood of Christ is
to^.i-lo^~i loa`i ngu+o+`i dda~ ddu+o+.c|a complete satisfaction for sin
huye^'t DDa^'ng Christ hoa`n-toa`n      |on God's part, just how may one
thanh-tho?a, va^.y thi` la`m sao mo^.t  |have the benefits of this blood?
ngu+o+`i co' the^? nha^.n ddu+o+.c gi`  |What are the conditions on man's
o+? trong huye^'t na`y ?  Ve^` pha^`n   |part?                            
loa`i ngu+o+`i, ca^`n co' nhu+~ng       |
ddie^`u kie^.n na`o ?                   |
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DDU+'C-TIN DDU+O+.C XA'C-DDI.NH         |FAITH DEFINED
                                        |
DDu+'c-tin dde^'n nhu+ mo^.t ke^'t-qua? |Faith comes as a natural result
tu+.-nhie^n cu?a su+. nghe Tin-la`nh    |of having heard the Good News
ve^` DDa^'ng Christ dda~ da^ng chi'nh   |that Christ has offered up His
su+. so^'ng Nga`i vi` co+' to^.i-lo^~i  |life for man's sins.  Faith or
loa`i ngu+o+`i .  DDu+'c-tin hay lo`ng  |trust in the blood is a natural
tin-ca^.y trong huye^'t la`             |requirement of forgiveness. 
ddie^`u-kie^.n ca^`n cho su+. tha-thu+'.|Faith or reliance is the proper 
DDu+'c-tin hay lo`ng tin-tu+o+?ng la`   |response of a soul toward a
lo+`i-dda'p thi'ch-u+'ng cu?a mo^.t     |meritorious atonement.  Only two
linh-ho^`n ddo^'i vo+'i su+. cho^.c     |attitudes toward the atonement
to^.i xu+'ng dda'ng.  Chi? co'-the^? co'|are possible -- namely, faith or
hai tha'i-ddo^. ddo^'i-vo+'i su+.       |trust, and unbelief.  Jesus
chuo^.c to^.i:  ddu+'c-tin hay vo^-ti'n.|classified all who hear the 
Chu'a Gie^-xu dda~ xe^'p loa.i nhu+~ng  |gospel into "he who believes" and
ngu+o+`i nghe Tin-la`nh tha`nh "ngu+o+`i|"he who does not believe." 
tin" va` "ngu+o+`i kho^ng tin".         |Indifference means unbelief.  God
La~nh-dda.m ddo^'i vo+'i Tin-la`nh co'  |cannot forgive the unbeliever. 
nghi~a la` vo^ ti'n.  DDu+'c Chu'a      |Therefore, salvation must be
Tro+`i kho^ng the^? tha to^.i cu?a      |conditional.                     
ngu+o+`i kho^ng tin.  Vi` va^.y, su+.   |
cu+'u-ro^~i ca^`n co' ddie^`u-kie^.n.   |
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TA.I-SAO HO^'I-CA?I LA` CA^`N-THIE^'T?  |WHY REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY?
                                        |
Ve^` pha^`n loa`i ngu+o+`i, thi` vie^.c |That there must be conditions on
ca^`n co' ddie^`u-kie^.n thi` ddu+o+.c  |man's part is as reasonable as it
coi la` ho+.p-ly', cu~ng nhu+ ddu'ng    |is Scriptural.  If salvation were
theo Kinh-Tha'nh.  Ne^'u su+.           |unconditional, it would be
cu+'u-ro^~i kho^ng co' ddie^`u-kie^.n,  |possessed by those who do not
thi` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i kho^ng muo^'n     |want it and who are wholly unfit
ddu+o+.c cu+'u cu~ng nhu+ nhu+~ng       |for it.  Salvation is as much
ngu+o+`i kho^ng dda'ng ddu+o+.c         |salvation from the love and the
cu+'u-ro^~i dde^`u se~ ddu+o+.c cu+'u!  |practice of sin as it is from the
Su+. cu+'u ro^~i la` su+. cu+'u kho?i   |guilt of sin.  And one must be
lo`ng ye^u-thi'ch to^.i-lo^~i cu~ng nhu+|saved from the love of sin before
kho?i su+. pha.m-to^.i .  Mo^.t ngu+o+`i|he can enjoy the forgiveness of
pha?i ddu+o+.c cu+'u kho?i lo`ng        |sins.  Therefore, repentance is
ye^u-thi'ch to^.i-lo^~i tru+o+'c khi    |necessary.  There is a double
ngu+o+`i a^'y co' the^? vui-hu+o+?ng    |necessity for repentance.  It is
su+. tha-to^.i .  Vi` the^', su+.       |necessary that man enjoy the
ho^'i-ca?i la` ca^`n.  Su+. a(n-na(n    |blessings of a spiritual kingdom
go^`m hai ddie^`u ca^`n-thie^'t:  Su+.  |which consists of "righteousness
a(n-na(n ca^`n dde^? ngu+o+`i vui       |and peace and joy in the Holy
hu+o+?ng nhu+~ng phu+o+'c la`nh cu?a    |Spirit" (Romans 14:17).  If he
vu+o+ng quo^'c DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i go^`m|that loves sin cannot be happy in
"su+. co^ng-bi`nh, bi`nh-an, vui-ve?    |the presence of those who hate it
bo+?i DDu+'c Tha'nh-Linh" (Ro^-ma       |in this world, how could heaven
14:17).  Ne^'u ngu+o+`i ye^u-thi'ch     |be heaven to him after this life?
to^.i-lo^~i thi` ngu+o+`i kho^ng the^?  | It could not be.  Repentance is
so^'ng vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ghe't     |necessary, in the next place, so
to^.i-lo^~i trong the^'-gian.  La`m sao |that God can appropriately bestow
thie^n-dda`ng co' the^? la`             |pardon.                          
thie^n-dda`ng ddo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i a^'y|
ddu+o+.c sau co~i ddo+`i na`y ?  DDie^`u|
ddo' kho^ng the^? na`o ddu+o+.c va^.y . |
DDie^?m tie^'p theo:  Ho^'i-ca?i  la`   |
su+. ca^`n-thie^'t vi` do ddo', DDu+'c  |
Chu'a Tro+`i co' the^? ban su+.         |
thu+'-tha thi'ch-u+'ng.                 |
                                        |
Khi ddu+o+.c ho?i ve^` su+. cu+'u       |When asked about salvation on
chuo^.c trong nga`y le^~ Ngu~-tua^`n,   |Pentecost, Peter's first words
nhu+~ng lo+`i dda^`u tie^n cu?a         |were:  "Repent ye"(Acts 2:38). 
Phi-e-ro+ la` "Ha~y ho^'i-ca?i"         |To the Gentiles, repentance was
(Co^ng-vu. 2:38).  DDo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i|indispensable for it was "unto
ngoa.i-bang, su+. a(n-na(n la`          |life" (Acts 11:18).  Jesus said,
ca^`n-thie^'t vi`  "dde^? ho. ddu+o+.c  |"except you repent, you shall all
su+. so^'ng" (Co^ng-vu. 11:18).  Chu'a  |likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).    
Gie^-xu dda~ pha'n "ne^'u ca'c ngu+o+i  |
cha(?ng a(n-na(n, thi` he^'t tha?y se~  |
bi. hu+-ma^'t va^.y" (Lu-ca 13:3).      |
                                        |
Su+. a(n-na(n co' nghi~a la` xa^y kho?i |Repentance means turning from sin
to^.i-lo^~i dde^? dde^'n cu`ng DDu+'c   |to God.  This repentance involves
Chu'a Tro+`i .  Su+. a(n-na(n lie^n-quan|man's turning his back on sin,
dde^'n su+. quay lu+ng la.i phi'a       |crucifying the flesh at the
to^.i-lo^~i cu?a con ngu+o+`i, su+.     |cross, and renouncing the things
ddo'ng ddinh xa'c-thi.t ta.i tha^.p-tu+.|of this world as he looks up to
gia' va` tu+`-bo? nhu+~ng gi` thuo^.c   |the cross believing that Jesus
ve^` the^'-gian, nhi`n le^n ca^y        |has paid the price in full for
tha^.p-tu+. tin ra(`ng Chu'a Gie^-xu    |his sins.  Since all sin is
dda~ tra? gia' dda^`y-ddu? cho          |committed against God, man's
to^.i-lo^~i mi`nh.  Vi` mo.i to^.i      |repentance is directed toward God
dde^`u pha.m-nghi.ch cu`ng DDu+'c Chu'a |as his faith looks up to Jesus
Tro+`i, ne^n su+. ho^'i-ca?i cu?a       |(Acts 20:21).                    
ngu+o+`i pha?i tru+.c-tie^'p hu+o+'ng   |
ve^` Thie^n-Chu'a cu~ng nhu+ ddu+'c-tin |
nhi`n le^n Chu'a Gie^-xu (Co^ng-vu.     |
20:21).                                 |
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Y'-NGHI~A CU?A SU+. XU+NG-NHA^.N.       |THE MEANING OF CONFESSION
                                        |
Su+. xu+ng-nha^.n co' nghi~a gi`?       |What is meant by confession? 
DDie^`u gi` ca^`n ddu+o+.c xu+ng-nha^.n?|What is to be confessed?  Man 
Con ngu+o+`i pha?i sa(~n-sa`ng          |should stand ready to confess
xu+ng-nha^.n DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i,       |God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, as
DDa^'ng Christ, DDu+'c Tha'nh-Linh cu~ng|well as all truth.  But are all
nhu+ ta^'t ca? cha^n-ly'.  Nhu+ng co'   |these included in the confession
pha?i ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u na`y    |here contemplated?  The
go^`m trong su+. xu+ng-nha^.n chu'ng ta |confession that is "unto
ca^`n suy-nga^~m kho^ng?  Su+.          |salvation" must necessarily
xu+ng-nha^.n dde^? "ddu+o+.c su+.       |relate to that which procures
cu+'u-ro^~i" se~ pha?i lie^n-quan       |salvation.  But Jesus Christ is
ma^.t-thie^'t dde^'n su+. cu+'u-ro^~i . |the Saviour of men.  Therefore,
Nhu+ng Gie^-xu Christ la` Cu+'u-Chu'a   |the confession here meant must
cu?a nha^n-loa.i, ne^n vi` the^', su+.  |relate to him. It must not only
xu+ng-nha^.n pha?i co' tu+o+ng-quan     |relate to Christ, but it must
vo+'i Nga`i .  Kho^ng pha?i chi?        |relate to Him as Saviour.  Faith
lie^n-he^. dde^'n DDa^'ng Christ ma`    |that stops short of accepting
tho^i, nhu+ng pha?i la` lie^n quan      |Christ and Him crucified as man's
dde^'n Nga`i, la` Cu+'u-Chu'a cu?a      |redeemer cannot save. 
nha^n-loa.i .  DDu+'c-tin thie^'u su+.  |Confession, then, must relate to
cha^'p-nha^.n DDa^'ng Christ va` thie^'u|Christ crucified for man's sins. 
su+. cha^'p-nha^.n ra(`ng Nga`i dda~ bi.|"Because, if you confess with
ddo'ng ddinh, la`m DDa^'ng Cu+'u-chuo^.c|your lips that Jesus is Lord and
cu?a nha^n-loa.i, thi` kho^ng the^?     |believe in your heart that God
ddu+o+.c cu+'u .  Su+. xu+ng-nha^.n, do |raised Him from the dead, you
ddo', pha?i lie^n-he^. dde^'n DDa^'ng   |will be saved. For man believes
Christ dda~ bi. ddo'ng ddinh thay cho   |with his heart and so is
to^.i-lo^~i loa`i ngu+o+`i .  "Va^.y    |justified, and he confesses with
ne^'u mie^.ng ngu+o+i xu+ng DDu+'c Chu'a|his lips and so is saved" (Romans
Je^sus Christ ra va` lo`ng ngu+o+i tin  |10:9-10).  Here we see the object
ra(`ng  DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i dda~ khie^'n|of confession is the object of
Nga`i tu+`  ke? che^'t so^'ng la.i, thi`|saving faith.  Confession is a
ngu+o+i se~ ddu+o+.c cu+'u" (Ro^-ma     |statement in words of the belief
10:9, 10).  O+? dda^y, chu'ng ta tha^'y |of the heart.  Confession,
ddo^'i-tu+o+.ng cu?a su+. xu+ng-nha^.n  |therefore, is faith spoken.  When
la` ddo^'i-tu+o+.ng cu?a ddu+'c-tin     |one has heard the Good News that
cu+'u-ro^~i .  Su+. xu+ng-nha^.n la`    |"Christ bore his sins on the
lo+`i ddu+o+.c no'i ra bo+?i nie^`m tin |cross", a faith is produced in
trong lo`ng.  Vi` the^', su+.           |the Saviour that demands public
xu+ng-nha^.n la` ddu+'c-tin ddu+o+.c    |acknowledgment.  When Christ is
pha't-bie^?u .  Khi mo^.t ngu+o+`i nghe |confessed before men, He has
ddu+o+.c Tin-la`nh ra(`ng "DDa^'ng      |promised that He will confess man
Christ dda~ mang to^.i-lo^~i cu?a       |before the Father (Matthew 10:
ngu+o+`i a^'y tre^n ca^y tha^.p-tu+.",  |32).                             
thi` ddu+'c-tin trong Cu+'u-chu'a se~   |
ddo`i-ho?i su+. thu+`a-nha^.n ca'ch     |
co^ng-khai .  DDa^'ng Christ dda~ hu+'a,|
ne^'u ai xu+ng Nga`i ra tru+o+'c ma(.t  |
mo.i ngu+o+`i, Nga`i se~ xu+ng ngu+o+`i |
ddo' ra tru+o+'c ma(.t Chu'a Cha        |
(Ma-thi-o+ 10:32).                      |
                                        |
LE^~ BA'P-TE^M                          |BAPTISM
                                        |
"Ba'p-te^m" la` mo^.t tu+`-ngu+~ co'    |"Baptism" is a word of a definite
mo^.t nghi~a ro~-re^.t.  Ca'c ho.c-gia? |meaning.  The scholarship of the
du`ng tie^'ng Hy-La.p "Baptizo" nghi~a  |world says the Greek word,
la` nhu'ng di`m xuo^'ng nu+o+'c.  Chu+~ |baptizo, means to dip, to
na`y kho^ng co' nghi~a la` tu+o+'i, ra?y|submerge.  The word does not mean
(nu+o+'c) hay la` ddo^? (nu+o+'c).      |to sprinkle or pour.             
                                        |
Kho^ng pha?i chi? chu+~ "Baptizo" co'   |Not only does the word baptizo
nghi~a la` nha^.n xuo^'ng nu+o+'c, ma`  |mean to immerse, but the
ca? nhu+~ng hoa`n-ca?nh quanh           |circumstances surrounding the
tha'nh-le^~ na`y, nhu+ dda~ ddu+o+.c    |ordinance as mentioned in the New
dde^`-ca^.p trong Ta^n-u+o+'c, cu~ng    |Testament necessarily imply 
ha`m-chi? su+. di`m xuo^'ng nu+o+'c     |immersion (Matthew 3:5-6; Acts
(Ma-thi-o+ 3:5,6; Co^ng-vu. ca'c        |8:38-39)                         
Su+'-ddo^` 8:38,39).                    |
                                        |
Y'-nghi~a cu?a le^~ ba'p-te^m la`m tan  |The meaning of baptism excludes
y'-tu+o+?ng ve^` su+. ra?y nu+o+'c hay  |the idea of sprinkling or
ddo^? nu+o+'c.  Le^~ ba'p-te^m          |pouring.  Baptism pictures the
hi`nh-dung ve^` su+. cho^n va` so^'ng   |burial and resurrection of
la.i cu?a DDa^'ng Christ, ma` su+. ra?y |Christ.  Sprinkling or pouring
nu+o+'c va` ddo^? nu+o+'c kho^ng the^?  |cannot  do this.  If baptism is a
la`m ddu+o+.c.  Ne^'u le^~ ba'p-te^m la`|burial and a resurrection, the
su+. cho^n va` so^'ng la.i thi` chi? co'|only immersion is baptism.       
su+. nha^.n chi`m trong nu+o+'c mo+'i   |
la` ba'p-te^m.                          |
                                        |
Y'-NGHI~A CU?A LE^~ BA'P-TE^M LA` GI`?  |WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?
                                        |
Trong pha^`n dda^`u, chu'ng ta dda~     |In the first place, we have seen
bie^'t ba'p-te^m la` su+. di`m xuo^'ng  |that baptism is immersion, and
nu+o+'c, mo^-ta? ve^` su+. cho^n va`    |that it pictures the burial and
so^'ng la.i cu?a DDa^'ng Christ.  DDa^y |resurrection of Christ. Here is a
la` mo^.t su+. ba('t dda^`u to^'t dde.p.|good beginning.  Baptism, then, 
Va` ba'p-te^m cu~ng co' lie^n-quan      |relates to Christ. Since Christ
dde^'n DDa^'ng Christ.  Vi` DDa^'ng     |is Saviour and baptism relates to
Christ la` Cu+'u-Chu'a va` le^~         |Him, it can rightfully have a
ba'p-te^m lie^n-he^. dde^'n Nga`i, ne^n |place under Christianity. 
no' co' chie^'m mo^.t cho^~ trong       |Baptism refers not simply to
Co+-ddo^'c-gia'o (to^n-gia'o Christ)    |Christ, but to him in his saving
mo^.t ca'ch ho+.p-ly'.  Ba'p-te^m kho^ng|capacity.  It concerns Christ's
chi? lie^n-he^. mo^.t ca'ch             |death, burial, and resurrection
ddo+n-thua^`n vo+'i DDa^'ng Christ, no' |for the sins of the world.       
co`n lie^n-he^. vo+'i Nga`i trong       |
kha?-na(ng cu+'u chuo^.c cu?a Nga`i .   |
No' tu+o+ng-quan vo+'i su+. che^'t cu?a |
DDa^'ng Christ, su+. cho^n va` su+.     |
so^'ng la.i cho to^.i-lo^~i the^'-gian. |
                                        |
Theo su+. an-ba`i thie^n-ddi.nh, le^~   |According to divine arrangement,
ba'p-te^m va` su+. ho^'i-ca?i kho^ng    |baptism and repentance were
the^? chia ca'ch ra ddu+o+.c, cu~ng     |inseparable.  Neither was to be
kho^ng the^? xe't vie^.c na`y           |considered apart from the other. 
ta'ch-bie^.t kho?i vie^.c kia .  Ne^'u  |Baptism apart from repentance
ta'ch-ro+`i kho?i su+. ho^'i-ca?i, le^~ |would have been meaningless, and
ba'p-te^m se~ tha`nh vo^-nghi~a; va`    |repentance without baptism would
su+. ho^'i-ca?i kho^ng co' ba'p-te^m se~|have been without its
kho^ng co' bie^?u-lo^. ban-tu+' cu?a    |God-ordained manifestation. 
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .  Kho^ng co'       |Neither faith nor baptism can do
ddu+'c-tin, ma` cu~ng cha(?ng co' phe'p |the work of repentance.  In
ba'p-te^m na`o, co' the^? la`m          |repentance one cease to love sin
co^ng-vie^.c cu?a su+. ho^'i-ca?i .     |and begins his love for
Trong su+. ho^'i-ca?i, mo^.t ngu+o+`i   |righteousness.  To use a Bible
du+`ng la.i, kho^ng co`n ye^u-thi'ch    |figure, in repentance one dies to
to^.i-lo^~i nu+~a, va` ba('t dda^`u     |sin and is raised to
me^'n-ye^u su+. co^ng-nghi~a .  Ha~y    |righteousness.  There, is no
hi`nh-dung mo^.t hi`nh-a?nh trong       |neutral ground.  As soon as one
Kinh-Tha'nh, thi` trong su+. ho^'i-ca?i,|hates sin he loves righteousness.
con ngu+o+`i pha?i che^'t ve^`          |Repentance not only turns one
to^.i-lo^~i va` so^'ng cho su+.         |away from Satan, but turns him
co^ng-nghi~a .  O+? dda^y kho^ng co'    |toward God.  Hence, it is
ti`nh-tra.ng trung-la^.p, ngay khi con  |appropriately considered  a 
ngu+o+`i ghe't to^.i-lo^~i, thi`        |death with respect  to sin and a
ngu+o+`i se~ ye^u su+. co^ng-nghi~a .   |resurrection  with  respect  to
Su+. ho^'i-ca?i kho^ng chi? la` xa^y    |righteousness.                   
kho?i Sa-tan nhu+ng co`n co' nghi~a la` |
quay hu+o+'ng ve^` DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .| 
Tu+` lu'c dda^'y thi` mo+'i ddu+o+.c xem|
nhu+ la` dda~ che^'t trong to^.i-lo^~i  |
va` ddu+o+.c phu.c-sinh trong su+.      |
co^ng-nghi~a .                          |
                                        |
Co^ng-vie^.c la`m cu?a su+. ba'p-te^m   |Under Christ it is the work of
tu+o+.ng-tru+ng cho su+. thay-ddo^?i    |baptism to represent this change
tha'i-ddo^. ddo^'i vo+'i to^.i-lo^~i va`|of mind toward sin and
su+. co^ng-nghi~a trong DDa^'ng Christ. |righteousness.  Baptism cannot
Phe'p ba'p-te^m kho^ng the^? ta'c-du.ng |effect this change, but it can
su+. thay-ddo^?i na`y, nhu+ng ba'p-te^m |and does represent or symbolize
co' the^? va` cha('c-cha('n la`         |it.                              
tu+o+.ng-tru+ng hay bie^?u-tu+o+.ng cho |
su+. thay-ddo^?i ddo'.                  |
                                        |
Trong Ro^-ma 6:3-4, Phao-lo^            |In Romans 6:3-4 Paul explains the
gia?i-thi'ch y' nghi~a cu?a ba'p-te^m   |meaning of baptism in answering
khi tra? lo+`i ca^u ho?i:  "Chu'ng ta   |the question:  "Shall we continue
pha?i cu+' o+? trong to^.i-lo^~i, ha^`u |in sin that grace may abound? 
cho a^n-ddie^?n ddu+o+.c du+-da^.t      |The Christian cannot continue in
cha(ng?"  Ti'n-hu+~u Christ kho^ng the^?|sin, for the evident reason that
tie^'p-tu.c so^'ng trong to^.i, vi`     |in becoming a child of God he
ly'-do hie^?n-nhie^n la`: dde^? tro+?   |died unto sin.  One cannot live
ne^n con-ca'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i, thi` |in that unto which he has died.
ngu+o+`i ddo' dda~ che^'t ve^`          |Therefore, Paul reminded those
to^.i-lo^~i .  Ngu+o+`i ddo' kho^ng     |who asked the question that at
the^? so^'ng trong ca'i dda~ che^'t     |the time of their conversion they
ro^`i!  Vi` va^.y, Phao-lo^ nha('c      |died unto sin, and that their
nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ho?i o^ng ra(`ng chi'nh|baptism represented this death to
lu'c ho. tro+? la.i tin Chu'a, ho. dda~ |sin as well as their resurrection
che^'t ve^` to^.i-lo^~i .  Le^~         |to righteousness.  Every one, he
ba'p-te^m cu?a ho. dda~ tu+o+.ng-tru+ng |said, "who is baptized into
cho su+. che^'t vi` to^.i-lo^~i, va`    |Christ Jesus" was thereby
cu~ng tu+o+.ng-tru+ng cho su+. so^'ng   |"baptized into His death".  The
la.i vi` co^ng-nghi~a .  Phao-lo^ dda~  |burial in baptism implies a
no'i:  Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i "dda~ chi.u     |previous death, as the
phe'p ba'p-te^m trong DDu+'c Chu'a      |resurrection in baptism signifies
Je^sus-Christ," thi` ba(`ng ca'ch ddo', |a new life.  In repentance "the
ma` ho. dda~ "chi.u phe'p ba'p-te^m     |old man was crucified with him"
trong su+. che^'t Nga`i ."  Su+.        |and signified by the burial in
cho^n-vu`i (nha^.n-chi`m du+o+'i        |baptism.  The death of Christ
nu+o+'i) trong le^~ ba'p-te^m ha`m-y'   |relates to sin, while his life
mo^.t su+. che^'t tru+o+'c, trong khi   |relates to God.  "For the death
ddo' thi` su+. so^'ng-la.i (tro^`i le^n |that he died, he died unto sin
kho?i ma(.t nu+o+'c) trong ba'p-te^m    |once:  but the life that he
bie^?u-hie^.n mo^.t ddo+`i so^'ng mo+'i |liveth, he liveth unto God"
.  Trong su+. a(n-na(n, "ngu+o+`i cu~   |(Romans 6:10).                   
cu?a chu'ng ta dda~ bi. ddo'ng ddinh    |
tre^n tha^.p-tu+.-gia' vo+'i Nga`i," va`|
ddu+o+.c bie^?u-hie^.u ba(`ng su+.      |
cho^n-vu`i (nha^.n-chi`m) trong le^~    |
ba'p-te^m.  Su+. che^'t cu?a DDa^'ng    |
Christ la` vi` to^.i-lo^~i, trong khi   |
ddo' thi` su+. so^'ng cu?a Nga`i la` cho|
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .  "Vi` ne^'u Nga`i |
dda~ che^'t, a^'y la` che^'t cho        |
to^.i-lo^~i mo^.t la^`n ddu? ca?; nhu+ng|
hie^.n nay Nga`i so^'ng, a^'y la` so^'ng|
cho DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i ."  Ro^-ma 6:10)|
                                        |
Vi` va^.y, trong su+. a(n-na(n cu?a     |Christ and with Him, we die unto
chu'ng ta co' hai bie^'n-ca?i:  Tru+o+'c|sin.  Second, like Christ and
he^'t cu~ng nhu+ DDa^'ng Christ va`     |with Him, we are raised to live
cu`ng vo+'i Nga`i, chu'ng ta che^'t ve^`|unto God.  But these changes are
to^.i-lo^~i .  Sau ddo', gio^'ng nhu+   |represented by Paul as taking
DDa^'ng Christ va` cu`ng vo+'i Nga`i,   |place in baptism.  Paul shows
chu'ng ta ddu+o+.c ca^'t-da^.y dde^?    |that baptism signifies repentance
so^'ng trong DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .  Theo|-- the burial standing for death
Phao-lo^, nhu+~ng bie^?u-tu+o+.ng na`y  |to sin, the emersion representing
xua^'t-hie^.n trong le^~ ba'p-te^m.     |a resurrection to righteousness. 
Phao-lo^ tri`nh-ba`y ra(`ng ba'p-te^m   |
bie^?u-hie^.u cho su+. ho^'i-ca?i --    |
su+. cho^n-vu`i  (nha^.n-chi`m)         |
bie^?u-hie^.u cho su+. che^'t ve^`      |
to^.i-lo^~i, su+. tro^`i le^n kho?i     |
ma(.t nu+o+'c tu+o+.ng-tru+ng cho su+.  |
so^'ng la.i cho le~ co^ng-bi`nh.        |
                                        |
Nhu+ng ba'p-te^m kho^ng chi? la` mo^.t  |But baptism is not simply an act
ha`nh-vi cu?a ddu+'c-tin;  DDo' la`     |of faith.  It is a special act
mo^.t ha`nh-vi ban-tu+' dda(.c-bie^.t   |ordained of God to represent or
cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i dde^?          |embody faith.  Being baptized in
tu+o+.ng-tru+ng hay dde^? cu.-the^?-ho'a|the name of Christ not only
ddu+'c-tin.  Chi.u ba'p-te^m "nho+n danh|implies faith, but in a special
DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus-Christ" kho^ng      |way pictures it.  In other words,
nhu+~ng chi? go^`m co' ddu+'c-tin ma`   |God's design in giving baptism
cu~ng la` mo^.t phu+o+ng-ca'ch          |was to represent one's faith in
dda(.c-bie^.t dde^? mo^-ta? ddu+'c-tin  |the death, burial, and
nu+~a .  No'i ca'ch kha'c, ke^'-hoa.ch  |resurrection of Christ.  No other
cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i trong su+. ban |act is ordained of God thus to
phe'p ba'p-te^m la` dde^?               |picture faith.                   
tu+o+.ng-tru+ng ddu+'c-tin cu?a con     |
ngu+o+`i trong su+. che^'t, cho^n va`   |
so^'ng la.i cu?a DDa^'ng Christ.  Kho^ng|
co' mo^.t ha`nh-ddo^.ng na`o kha'c      |
ddu+o+.c DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i du`ng dde^?|
mo^-ta? ddu+'c-tin nhu+ va^.y .         |
                                        |
Ba'p-te^m pha?i mang y'-nghi~a cu?a     |Baptism, then, must possess  the
ddu+'c-tin.  DDu+'c-tin chi? co' nghi~a |meaning of faith.  Faith simply
ddo+n-gia?n la` su+. tu+`-cho^'i        |means the rejection of self and
ba?n-nga~ va` su+. co^ng-bi`nh rie^ng   |human righteousness and the
dde^? cha^'p-nha^.n DDa^'ng Christ va`  |acceptance of Christ and divine
su+. co^ng-bi`nh cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a      |righteousness.  And so does
Tro+`i .  Va` bo+?i the^', ba'p-te^m    |baptism, in the name of Jesus
"nho+n danh DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus-Christ" |Christ.  Baptism is faith
cu~ng pha?i nhu+ va^.y:  Ba'p-te^m la`  |embodied in an outward act.      
ddu+'c-tin ddu+o+.c ho'a-tha^n trong    |
mo^.t ha`nh-vi ngoa.i-gio+'i .          |
                                        |
Su+. quan-ta^m cu?a Phao-lo^ ve^` le^~  |Paul's reference to baptism in
ba'p-te^m trong thu+ o^ng go+?i cho     |his letter to the Galatians is
ngu+o+`i Ga-la-ti co' mo^.t y' nghi~a   |significant:  "For you are all
quan-tro.ng:  "Vi` chu+ng anh em bo+?i  |the sons of God, through faith,
tin DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus-Christ, ne^n    |in Christ Jesus.  For as many of
he^'t tha?y dde^`u la` con trai cu?a    |you as were baptized into Christ
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i . Va?, anh em tha?y |did put on Christ" (Galatians
dde^`u chi.u phe'p ba'p-te^m trong      |3:26-27).  Sonship is reached
DDa^'ng Christ, dde^`u ma(.c la^'y      |through faith -- that is, faith
DDa^'ng Christ va^.y" (Ga-la-ti         |appropriates the atonement made
3:26,27).  Quye^`n la`m con chi? dda.t  |by Christ Jesus.  Baptism relates
ddu+o+.c qua ddu+'c-tin, nghi~a la`,    |to Christ; it is "in the name of
ddu+'c-tin pha?i thi'ch-u+'ng va`o su+. |Jesus Christ".  But we are sons
cu+'u-chuo^.c cu?a Chu'a Gie^-xu .      |through faith in him.  Baptism,
Ba'p-te^m co' lie^n-quan dde^'n DDa^'ng |then, expresses faith. 
Christ, ne^n mo+'i "nho+n danh DDu+'c   |Therefore, in Acts 2:38
Chu'a Je^sus-Christ."  Nhu+ng chu'ng ta |repentance and baptism both
cu~ng la` ca'c con trai qua ddu+'c-tin  |precede the promise of the
no+i Nga`i .  Va^.y thi` ba'p-te^m cu~ng|remission of sins.               
bie^?u-lo^. ddu+'c-tin.  Vi` the^',     |
trong Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` 2:38,   |
ca? hai su+. ho^'i-ca?i va` ba'p-te^m   |
dde^`u ddi tru+o+'c lo+`i hu+'a         |
tha-to^.i .                             |
                                        |
Mo.i ngu+o+`i ca^`n pha?i xoay kho?i    |Every man needs to turn from sin
to^.i-lo^~i -- tu+'c a(n-na(n -- tro+?  |-- repentance -- back to God. 
la.i vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .  Vi`   |Since all have sinned, all are in
mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u pha.m to^.i ne^n   |need of the sin offering made by
mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u ca^`n dde^'n       |Jesus Christ to reconcile the
te^'-le^~ chuo^.c to^.i la` Chu'a       |sinner to God.  Christ's
Gie^-xu Christ dde^? da`n-ho`a          |sacrifice demands faith or trust
to^.i-nha^n vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i . |and a public confession of that
Su+. hy-sinh cu?a DDa^'ng Christ dda~   |faith in Christ as Saviour and as
ddo`i-ho?i ddu+'c-tin hay lo`ng         |the Son of God.  Then the
tin-ca^.y, va` su+. xu+ng-nha^.n        |believer shows his death to sin
co^ng-khai ve^` ddu+'c-tin no+i DDa^'ng |by being buried in a watery
Christ, ra(`ng Nga`i la` Cu+'u Chu'a va`|grave.  When man goes down into
la` Con DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .  Ro^`i    |the grave of baptism, he is
ngu+o+`i ti'n-ddo^` ba`y to? su+. che^'t|acting out his repentance.  He is
ve^` to^.i-lo^~i ba(`ng ca'ch bi. cho^n |showing to the world that he has
trong thu?y-mo^..  Khi ngu+o+`i na(`m   |died to sin.  In baptism, as the
xuo^'ng va`o trong pha^`n-mo^. cu?a     |embodiment of faith and
ba'p-te^m, thi` ngu+o+`i dda~           |repentance, union with Christ is
thu+.c-ha`nh ra ddu+o+.c su+. ho^'i-ca?i|affirmed -- thus allowing a
cu?a mi`nh.  Vi` la`, ngu+o+`i dda~ to? |spiritual birth; for here the
cho the^'-gio+'i bie^'t ra(`ng ngu+o+`i |Christian is conceived.  Man is
dda~ che^'t ve^` to^.i-lo^~i .          |raised to a new life with Christ
Ba'p-te^m la` ho'a-tha^n cu.-the^? cu?a |for he has put Him on (Galatians
ddu+'c-tin va` lo`ng a(n-na(n, va`      |3:27).  From that moment he has
ba'p-te^m xa'c-ddi.nh mo^'i lie^n-he^.  |been reconciled to God and he
vo+'i DDa^'ng Christ -- cho ne^n        |belongs to Jesus Christ.  The
ba'p-te^m cho phe'p mo^.t su+. sanh-dde?|world no longer has control over
thuo^.c-linh.  Ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c go.i   |him because he has been crucified
da^.y le^n so^'ng trong mo^.t ddo+`i    |to the world, has become free
so^'ng mo+'i vo+'i DDa^'ng Christ vi`   |from the power of sin, and now
ngu+o+`i dda~ ma(.c la^'y Nga`i         |belong to his Saviour.  He is a
(Ga-la-ti 3:27).  Tu+` gio+` phu't a^'y,|new creation; the old man is dead
ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c phu.c-ho`a vo+'i      |and all is become new. (II
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i va` ngu+o+`i thuo^.c|Corinthians 5:17)                
ve^` Chu'a Gie^-xu Christ.  The^'-gian  |
kho^ng co`n cai-tri. ngu+o+`i nu+~a, vi`|
ngu+o+`i dda~ chi.u ddo'ng ddinh che^'t |
ve^` the^'-gian ro^`i, ne^n ngu+o+`i    |
ddu+o+.c thoa't-kho?i quye^`n-lu+.c cu?a|
to^.i-lo^~i .  Ba^y gio+` ngu+o+`i      |
thuo^.c ve^` Cu+'u Chu'a .   Ngu+o+`i   |
ddu+o+.c du+.ng ne^n mo+'i, con ngu+o+`i|
cu~ dda~ che^'t va` mo.i su+. dde^`u    |
tro+? ne^n mo+'i (II Co^-rinh-to^ 5:17).|
                                        |
Xin ddu+`ng co' tri`-hoa~n, nhu+ng ha~y |Do not delay, but give your life
trao ddo+`i so^'ng ba.n cho DDa^'ng     |to Christ today!                 
Christ ho^m nay!                        |
                                        |
Nhu+~ng Thi'-du. Ve^` Su+.              |EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION
Tro+?-la.i-dda.o                        |
                                        |
Trong ba`i 2, chu'ng ta dda~ ho.c       |We learned in lesson two that
ra(`ng, Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^`       |Acts is called "the book of
ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ la` "sa'ch ve^` su+.  |conversions", because it
tro+?-la.i-dda.o", vi` no' mo^-ta?      |describes how people were
ngu+o+`i dda~ thu+.c-su+. ddu+o+.c      |actually converted in New
hoa'n-ca?i trong tho+`i Ta^n-U+o+'c nhu+|Testament times.  Though other
the^' na`o .  Du` nhu+~ng pha^`n kha'c  |parts of the Bible tell of Christ
cu?a Kinh-Tha'nh no'i ve^` DDa^'ng      |before He died and established
Christ tru+o+'c khi Nga`i chi.u che^'t  |His New Covenant, Acts is the
dde^? thie^'t-la^.p giao-u+o+'c mo+'i,  |only book which contains divinely
Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` la` sa'ch duy |approved examples of conversion
nha^'t co' nhu+~ng thi'-du. minh-chu+'ng|for this age.  Acts is primarily
mo^.t ca'ch thie^ng-lie^ng ve^` su+.    |historical and tells what
tro+?-la.i-dda.o trong tho+`i ddo'.     |responses men made to the Good
Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` la` sa'ch co' |News of Christ, but the epistles
ti'nh-ca'ch chu?-ye^'u ve^` li.ch-su+?  |should be read as these give
ke^? la.i nhu+~ng su+. dda'p-lo+`i cu?a |depth of meaning to those
loa`i ngu+o+`i ddo^'i vo+'i Tin-la`nh   |responses.  In Acts we read of
cu?a DDa^'ng Christ.  Co`n ca'c         |eight separate cases of
tho+-ti'n ca^`n ddo.c, cho bie^'t       |conversion each of which follows
chie^`u sa^u y'-nghi~a cu?a lo+`i dda'p |the same pattern.  These are
ddo'.  Trong sa'ch Co^ng-vu. ca'c       |listed in the chart on the next
Su+'-ddo^`, chu'ng ta ddo.c tha^'y ta'm |page for convenience of study.
tru+o+`ng-ho+.p rie^ng-bie^.t ve^` su+. |From these cases we learn how men
tro+?-la.i-dda.o, va` mo^~i             |responded to the message of
tru+o+`ng-ho+.p dde^`u theo cu`ng mo^.t |Christ in New Testament times,
ma^~u-mu.c.  Nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng-ho+.p    |and therefore what responses men
na`y ddu+o+.c lie^.t-ke^ trong          |should make today.               
ddo^`-bie^?u o+? trang ke^' dde^? tie^.n|
nghie^n-cu+'u .  Tu+` nhu+~ng           |
tru+o+`ng-ho+.p na`y, chu'ng ta         |
ho.c-hie^?u ca'ch ngu+o+`i dda~ dda'p   |
la.i su+'-ddie^.p cu?a DDa^'ng Christ   |
trong tho+`i Ta^n-U+o+'c, va` do ddo',  |
chu'ng ta bie^'t ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng su+.  |
dda'p-lo+`i na`o ma` loa`i ngu+o+`i     |
ca^`n co' nga`y nay .                   |
                                        |
Ca^`n ghi la.i ra(`ng, ta'c-gia? cu?a   |It should be noted that the
sa'ch Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` kho^ng  |writer of Acts made no attempt to
co' y'-ddi.nh lie^.t-ke^ ta^'t-ca?      |list every single thing that
su+.-kie^.n xa?y ra trong mo^~i         |happened in every conversion.  In
tru+o+`ng-ho+.p tro+?-la.i-dda.o .  O+? |some cases repentance and
va`i tru+o+`ng-ho+.p, su+. ho^'i-ca?i   |confession are described (marked
va` su+. xu+ng-nha^.n ddu+o+.c          |with X in the chart) while in
tri`nh-ba`y (ddu+o+.c la`m da^'u X trong|others they are not.  This does
ddo^`-bie^?u) trong khi nhu+~ng         |not mean, however, that they did
tru+o+`ng-ho+.p kha'c kho^ng co'.       |not take place; for example,
Tuy-nhie^n, ddie^`u na`y kho^ng co'     |repentance is necessary before
nghi~a la` su+. ho^'i-ca?i va`          |one can turn to God as God cannot
xu+ng-nha^.n ddo' kho^ng xa?y ra .      |save the impenitent.  Each
Thi'-du.:  su+. ho^'i-ca?i la`          |response is necessary because of
ca^`n-thie^'t tru+o+'c khi ngu+o+`i     |the nature of sin to the sinner
tro+? la.i vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i    |and the nature of Christ's death
kho^ng the^? tha-thu+' ngu+o+`i kho^ng  |for sin. When we see a summary of
a(n-na(n.  Mo^~i lo+`i-dda'p la` ca^`n  |all of these cases, however, we
vi` to^.i-nha^n mang ba?n-cha^'t cu?a   |see what men did to accept Christ
to^.i-lo^~i va` su+. che^'t cu?a DDa^'ng|as their Savior.  There are five
Christ la` thay cho to^.i-lo^~i,        |essentials to conversion to
tuy-nhie^n, khi xem ba?ng to'm-ta('t    |Christ; they are:  (1) hearing
cu?a ta^'t-ca? nhu+~ng tru+o+`ng-ho+.p  |the message that God's love
na`y, chu'ng ta tha^'y na(m ddie^`u con |prompted Him to send Christ to be
ngu+o+`i dda~ la`m dde^? tie^'p-nha^.a?n|man's Saviour, (2) believing or
DDa^'ng Christ la` Cu+'u-chu'a:  1) Nghe|trusting -- faith -- in Christ's
su+'-ddie^.p ve^` ti`nh-ye^u dda~       |power to save from sin, (3)
thu'c-dda^?y DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i ban    |conviction of sin and repentance
DDa^'ng Christ xuo^'ng la`m Cu+'u-chu'a |of those sins, (4) making a
nha^n loa.i .  2)  Tin, hay tin-ca^.y   |confession of one's faith in
--ddu+'c-tin-- trong quye^`n-na(ng cu?a |Christ as Saviour and as the Son
DDa^'ng Christ cu+'u kho?i to^.i .  3)  |of God, and (5) being buried in
Y'-thu+'c to^.i-lo^~i va` lo`ng a(n-na(n|baptism in the name of Christ for
nhu+~ng to^.i-lo^~i ddo'.  4)           |the remission of sins.           
Xu+ng-nha^.n ddu+'c-tin mi`nh trong     |
DDa^'ng Christ, nha^.n Nga`i la`        |
Cu+'u-chu'a va` la` con DDu+'c Chu'a    |
Tro+`i, 5)  ddu+o+.c cho^n trong        |
Ba'p-te^m, trong danh DDa^'ng Christ    |
dde^? ddu+o+.c tha to^.i .              |
                                        |
BIE^?U-DDO^` VE^` SU+. DDO^?I MO+'I     |CHART OF CONVERSIONS
(TRO+? LA.I DDA.O)                      |
                                        |
Vie^'t ta('t:                           |Abbreviations:
ND=Nghe-dda.o                           |H=Hearing
DT=DDu+'c-tin                           |F=Faith
AN= A(n-na(n                            |R=Repentance
XN= Xu+ng-nha^.n                        |C=Confession
BT= Ba'p-te^m                           |B=Baptism                        
                                        |
                                        |
Nghe-dda.o                              |
DDu+'c-tin                              |
A(n-na(n                                |
Xu+ng-nha^.n                            |
Ba'p-te^m                               |
                         ND DT AN XN BT |
1. Ngu~-tua^`n nha^n     ND DT AN    BT |1.Pentecostians     H F R   B
(Co^ng-vu. 2:36-42)ND                   |  Acts 2:36-42                   
                                        |
2. Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i      ND DT       BT |2.Samaritans        H F     B
Sa-ma-ri (Co^ng-vu. 8:4-12)             |  Acts 8:4-12                    
                                        |
3. Vie^n hoa.n-quan      ND DT    XN BT |3.The Eunuch        H F   C B
(Co^ng-vu. 8:426-39)                    |  Acts 8:26-39                   
                                        |
4. Sau-lo+ (Phao-lo^)   ND           BT |4.Saul (Paul)       H       B
(Co^ng-vu. 22:1-16;                     |  Acts 22:1-16 &
9:17-2)                                 |  9:17-20                        
                                        |
5. Co.t-na^y            ND           BT |5.Cornelius         H       B
(Co^ng-vu. 10:25-48,                    |  Acts 10:25-48 &
11:12-14)                               |  11:12-14                       
                                        |
6. Ly-ddi               ND           BT |6.Lydia             H       B
(Co^ng-vu. 16:13-15)                    |  Acts 16:13-15                  
                                        |
7. Ngu+o+`i dde^`-lao   ND DT        BT |7.Philippian Jailor H F     B
Phi-li'p                                |  Acts 16:23-34                  
(Co^ng-vu. 16:23-34)                    |
                                        |
8. Ngu+o+`i Co^-rinh-   ND DT        BT |8.Corinthians       H F     B
to^ (Co^ng-vu. 18:4-11)                 |  Acts 18:4-11                   
                                        |
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To'm-ta('t              ND DT AN XN BT  |Summary             H F R C B    
Nge-dda.o,DDu+'c-tin,A(n-na(n,Ba'p-te^n |Hear,Faith,Repent,Confess,Baptism  
                                        |
BA'P-TE^M LA` GI`?                      |WHAT IS BAPTISM?
                                        |
Tu+`-ddie^?n hie^.n tho+`i ddi.nh-nghi~a|A modern dictionary defines
ba'p-te^m la` "su+. ra?y nu+o+'c hay    |baptism as a "sprinkling with or
di`m xuo^'ng nu+o+'c".  DDi.nh-nghi~a   |immersion in water.   This
na`y kho^ng the^? xa'c-ddi.nh le^~      |definition is unreliable in
ba'p-te^m trong Kinh-Tha'nh.  Thu+.c ra,|determining what constitutes
tu+`-ddie^?n hie^.n-dda.i ddi.nh theo   |scriptural baptism, however,
nghi~a tho^ng thu+o+`ng, kho^ng nhu+    |since modern dictionaries define
nghi~a dda~ du`ng trong Kinh-Tha'nh.    |words as they are currently used
Du` co' va`i nho'm gia'o-pha'i va^~n    |and not as they were used in
a'p-du.ng lua^.n-thuye^'t cu?a Na-ha-man|Bible times.  Though some
ba(`ng ca'ch thay-the^' tie^'ng         |religious groups have followed
ba'p-te^m trong Kinh-Tha'nh vo+'i chu+~ |Naaman's reasoning in
ra?y nu+o+'c, song, trong toa`n sa'ch   |substituting sprinkling and
Ta^n-U+o+'c, kho^ng no+i na`o cho phe'p |pouring for Bible baptism, there
la`m nhu+ va^.y .  Trong mo.i tru+o+`ng |is not one shred of authority for
ho+.p cu?a Kinh-Tha'nh, danh tu+`       |doing so in the entire New
Hy-la.p "baptizo" dde^`u ddu+o+.c di.ch |Testament.  In every case in the
sang tie^'ng anh la` "baptize", du`ng   |Bible, the Greek word "baptizo"
dde^? chi? su+. di`m xuo^'ng nu+o+'c,   |which is rendered "baptize" in
cho+' kho^ng bao gio+` chi? su+. ra?y   |our English versions, is used to
nu+o+'c hay ddo^? nu+o+'c.  Kho^ng mo^.t|refer to immersion, never to
nha` soa.n tu+`-ddie^?n danh tie^'ng    |sprinkling or pouring.  There is
na`o cu?a Hy-la.p ddi.nh-nghi~a         |not a single reputable Greek
"ba'p-te^m" la` "ra?y nu+o+'c" hay      |lexicographer who defines
"ddo^? nu+o+'c".  Tha^.t ra co' nhie^`u |"baptizo" by "to sprinkle" or "to
Hy-ngu+~ kha'c nhau du`ng dde^? chi?    |pour," in fact entirely different
nhu+~ng tie^'ng tre^n.  Li.ch su+? cho  |Greek words are used for these
bie^'t ca'c danh-tu+` tre^n ddu+o+.c    |terms.  History shows that these
du`ng ca'ch rie^ng-re~, kho^ng co'      |practices were never in general
ti'nh-ca'ch pho^?-qua't cho ma~i dde^'n |use until 1311 A.D. when they
na(m 1311 Sau Chu'a, thi` ho^.i-nghi.   |were declared to be acceptable
Gia'o-ho^.i La-ma~ ho.p ta.i Ravenna    |substitutes for immersion by a
mo+'i cha^'p-nha^.n danh-tu+` kha'c     |council of the Catholic Church
dde^? thay cho su+. di`m xuo^'ng        |held at Ravenna (See Edinburch
nu+o+'c.                                |Encyclopedia, Sir Edward
                                        |Brewster, Baptism).              
                                        |
Tu+o+ng-pha?n vo+'i quan-nie^.m         |In contrast to the substitutes of
thay-the^' cu?a con ngu+o+`i,           |man, the Bible is clear that
Kinh-Tha'nh cho Ba'p-te^m la` su+. cho^n|scriptural baptism is a burial or
hay di`m xuo^'ng nu+o+'c. Kinh-Tha'nh   |immersion in water.  The, Bible
da.y ba'p-te^m tha^.t su+. pha?i ho^.i- |says that true baptism requires: 
ddu? ca'c ddie^`u-kie^.n sau dda^y:     |
                                        |
A .  "Nhie^`u nu+o+'c"--Gia(ng 3:23.    |A. "Much water."  John 3:23. 
Nhie^`u nu+o+'c nhu+ va^.y thi` kho^ng  |This is not necessary for
ca^`n-thie^'t cho su+. ra?y nu+o+'c hay |sprinkling or pouring.
ddo^? nu+o+'c                           |
                                        |
B.  DDi dde^'n "cho^~ co'               |B. Going to the water.  Acts,
nu+o+'c"--Co^ng-vu. 8:36.  Thu+o+`ng    |8:36.  In sprinkling or pouring
thi` nu+o+'c ddu+o+.c mang dde^'n ne^'u |the water is usually
ma` dde^? ra?y hay ddo^? nu+o+'c cho    |brought to the person.           
ngu+o+`i (o+? dda^y thi` ngu+o+`i ddi   |
dde^'n nu+o+'c).                        |
                                        |
C.  DDi "xuo^'ng nu+o+'c"--Co^ng-vu.    |C. Going down into the water. 
8:38-39.  Su+.-kie^.n na`y se~ vo^-i'ch |Acts 8:38-39.  This would be
ne^'u ba'p-te^m tha^.t theo Kinh-Tha'nh |useless if sprinkling or pouring
la` ra?y nu+o+'c hay ddo^? nu+o+'c.     |were true Bible baptism.
                                        |
D.  Mo^.t su+. cho^n-ca^'t cu?a ngu+o+`i|D. A burial of the candidate. 
chi.u phe'p--Ro^-ma 6:4.  Vie^.c na`y   |Romans 6:4.  This is accomplished
chi? co' the^? hoa`n-tha`nh ba(`ng ca'ch|only by immersion.
di`m mi`nh xuo^'ng nu+o+'c.             |
                                        |
E .  DDu+o+.c so^'ng-la.i--Co^-lo^-se   |E. Being raised.  Colossians
2:12.  DDa^y kho^ng ddu'ng vo+'i ra?y   |2:12.  This is not true of
hay ddo^? nu+o+'c.                      |sprinkling or pouring.           
                                        |
F.  Le^n kho?i du+o+'i nu+o+'c--Ma'c    |F. Coming up out of the water. 
1:9-10; Co^ng-vu. 8:39.  DDa^y cu~ng    |Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:39.  This
kho^ng phu`-ho+.p vo+'i ra?y hay ddo^?  |also does not fit either
nu+o+'c, nhu+ng dda~ chi'nh-thu+.c xa?y |sprinkling or pouring, yet it is
ra trong ba'p-te^m tha^.t su+..         |exactly what happens in true
                                        |baptism.
                                        |
Khi co' the^? ddu+o+.c, thi` ba.n ne^n  |You are strongly encouraged to
ddo.c nhu+~ng khu'c Kinh-Tha'nh na`y .  |read these scriptures from your
Du` ra(`ng va`i su+. kie^.n tre^n dda^y |own Bible as time permits. 
kho^ng ddu+o+.c mo^.t so^' trong gio+'i |Though some of them are not fully
to^n-gia'o cha^'p-nha^.n, cu~ng nhu+    |accepted by part of the religious
nhu+~ng lo+`i Chu'a gia?ng-da.y kho^ng  |world, neither were the Lord's
ddu+o+.c tie^'p-nha^.n trong khi Nga`i  |teachings fully accepted during
thi-ha`nh chu+'c-vu. tre^n dda^'t.      |His public ministry upon the
Tuy-nhie^n, cha^n-ly' va^~n kho^ng he^` |earth.  This fact however, does
thay ddo^?i trong nhu+~ng ddoa.n        |not change the truth of these
Kinh-Tha'nh lo+'n-lao na`y .  Nguye^.n  |great passages.  May God bless
DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i ban phu+o+'c cho    |you in doing His will.           
ba.n dde^? la`m theo y'-muo^'n Nga`i .  |
                                        |
SU+. XU'C-PHA.M VE^` THA^.P-TU+.-GIA'   |THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS
                                        |
"Chu'ng ta gia?ng DDa^'ng Christ bi.    |"We preach Christ crucified, unto
ddo'ng ddinh tre^n ca^y tha^.p-tu+., la`|Jew:  a stumbling block, and unto
su+. ngu+o+`i Giu-dda la^'y la`m gu+o+ng|Gentiles foolishness; but unto
xa^'u, da^n ngoa.i cho la` do^`-da.i;   |them that are called, both Jews
song le, ve^` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c |and Greeks, Christ the power of
go.i, ba^'t lua^.n ngu+o+`i Giu-dda hay |God and the wisdom of God" (I
ngu+o+`i Go+`-re'c, thi` DDa^'ng Christ |Cor. 1:23, 24).                 
la` quye^`n-phe'p cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a     |
Tro+`i va` su+. kho^n-ngoan cu?a DDu+'c |
Chu'a Tro+`i" (I Co^-rinh-to^ 1:23,24). |
                                        |
DDo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i Do-tha'i,         |To the Jews the cross was a
tha^.p-tu+.-gia' la` mo^.t              |stumbling-block, for they
chu+o+'ng-nga.i va^.t, vi` ho. ddang    |expected a Messiah (Christ) to
mong ddo+.i mo^.t DDa^'ng Me^-si        |come from the royal line of David
(Christ) se~ dde^'n tu+` do`ng-do~i vua |with pomp and military might and
DDa-vi't trong su+. huy-hoa`ng          |set up a political kingdom under
tra'ng-le^. va` su+'c ma.nh qua^n-su+.  |God which would overthrow all the
ha^`u thie^'t-la^.p mo^.t vu+o+ng-quo^'c|nations of the world. They looked
cha'nh-tri., du+o+'i quye^`n DDu+'c     |for one who would, deliver them
Chu'a Tro+`i, se~ la`m la^.t-ddo^? mo.i |from the oppressive foreign yoke
da^n-to^.c tre^n the^'-gio+'i .  Ho.    |and let them be free under the
tro^ng ti`m mo^.t DDa^'ng se~           |Son of David as in the days of
gia?i-pho'ng ho. thoa't a'ch ngoa.i-bang|old.  They could not think of a
va` dde^? la^'y la.i tu+.-do trong Con  |Messiah coming humbly out of the
Vua DDa-vi't nhu+ trong nhu+~ng nga`y   |hill country of Galilee, going
xa-xu+a .  Ho. kho^ng the^? nghi~ to+'i |about among the common people and
mo^.t DDa^'ng Me^-si hie^.n-dde^'n tu+` |associating with them, and then
nhu+~ng ddo^`i-nu'i xu+' Ga-li-le^,     |dying on a shameful cross at the
tu+`ng ddi la.i trong dda'm bi`nh-da^n  |hands of the Romans.  Truly this
cu`ng ngu+o+`i La-ma~.  Tha^.t-va^.y,   |was an "offense", to them.       
ddo' la` mo^.t "xu'c-pha.m" ddo^'i vo+'i|
ho..                                    |
                                        |
DDo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i Hy-la.p,          |To the Greeks the cross was
tha^.p-tu+.-gia' la` mo^.t su+.-kie^.n  |foolishness of the most
ro^`-da.i lo^'-bi.ch nhu+'t.  Ngu+o+`i  |ridiculous sort.  The Greeks
Hy-la.p la^'y la`m ha~nh-die^.n ve^`    |prided themselves on their
su+. ho.c thu+'c cu?a mi`nh cu`ng       |learning, trusting in the power
tin-tu+o+?ng va`o na(ng-lu+.c, ly' tri' |of unaided human reason to solve
ddo^.c-la^.p cu?a con ngu+o+`i, dde^?   |man's problems.  They held that
gia?i-quye^'t nhu+~ng va^'n-dde^` lo+'n |man was inherently good and
cu?a nha^n-loa.i .  Ho. chu?-tru+o+ng   |noble, and philosophy would bring
ra(`ng con ngu+o+`i vo^'n cao-ca?,      |complete joy to one's life if its
nha^n-la`nh va` ne^`n trie^'t-ho.c se~  |principles were followed.        
mang la.i mo^.t nie^`m vui tro.n-ve.n   |
trong cuo^.c so^'ng ne^'u ta theo ddu'ng|
nhu+~ng nguye^n-ly' cu?a no'.           |
                                        |
Va`o the^'-ky? thu+' 20 na`y, thi` co'  |In this 20th century there are
nhie^`u ngu+o+`i cu~ng ca?m tha^'y      |still those who find the cross a
tha^.p-tu+.-gia' la` gu+o+ng xa^'u, vi` |stumbling-block, because God's
lo^'i cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i cha(?ng  |ways are not man's ways.  There
pha?i la` lo^'i cu?a loa`i ngu+o+`i .   |are still those who find it
La.i co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i tha^'y ddo'   |foolish, because it is an affront
la` ro^`-da.i, vi` ddo' la` su+.        |to their pride, to their trust in
la(ng-ma. cho danh-du+., la(ng-ma. cho  |human reason, to their conception
su+. tin-tu+o+?ng cu?a ho. no+i ly'-do  |of man's nobility.  But, to those
loa`i ngu+o+`i, la(ng-ma. cho           |who believe now as then, Christ
kha'i-nie^.m cu?a ho. ve^` su+.         |is "the power of God and the
cao-thu+o+.ng cu?a loa`i ngu+o+`i .     |wisdom of God."
Nhu+ng, ddo^'i-vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i   |
ddang tin hie^.n-ta.i cu~ng nhu+ gio^'ng|                        
nhu+ tho+`i ddo', thi` DDa^'ng Christ   |
la` "quye^`n-phe'p cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a    |
Tro+`i va` su+. kho^n-ngoan cu?a DDu+'c |
Chu'a Tro+`i ."                         |
                                        |
CA^U HO?I                               |QUESTIONS
                                        |
Xin tra? lo+`i ca'c ca^u ho?i sau dda^y |Please answer the following
va` go+?i trang gia^'y na^`y ve^` dde^? |questions and return this last
ddu+o+.c xe^'p ddie^?m.                 |page to be graded.
                                        |
BA`I  5                                 |LESSON V
                                        |
I.  DDie^`n va`o ca'c khoa?ng tro^'ng:  |I.  FILL IN THE BLANKS:          
                                        |
1.  " Nhu+ va^.y, ddu+'c-tin dde^'n     |1. "So faith comes from what is
bo+?i su+.  ________________ , ma`      |_______, and what is  _______
 ________________ , la` khi  __________ |comes from
______________  ddu+o+.c  __________ .  |the ____ of ___" (Romans 10: 17).
(Ro^-ma 10:17)                          |
                                        |
2. "... Co' lo+`i che'p ra(`ng DDa^'ng  |2. ". . . thus it is written,
Christ pha?i chi.u ddau-ddo+'n du+o+`ng |that the Christ should suffer and
a^'y, nga`y thu+' ba se~ tu+` ke? che^'t|on the third day rise from the
so^'ng la.i, va` ngu+o+`i ta se~ nho+n  |dead, and that __________ and
danh Nga`i ma` rao-gia?ng cho da^n ca'c |_________ of sins should be
nu+o+'c  _____________  dde^? ddu+o+.c  |preached
 ___  to^.i, ..."  (Lu-ca 24:46-47)     |in his name to all nations . . ."
                                        |(Luke 24: 46-47)                 
                                        |
3. " Chu'a kho^ng cha^.m-tre^~ ve^`     |3. "The Lord is not slow about
lo+`i hu+'a cu?a Nga`i nhu+ ma^'y       |his promise as some count
ngu+o+`i kia tu+o+?ng dda^u, nhu+ng     |slowness, but is forbearing
Nga`i la^'y lo`ng nhi.n-nhu.c ddo^'i    |toward you, not wishing that any
vo+'i anh em, kho^ng muo^'n cho mo^.t   |should  ______, but that all
ngu+o+`i na`o  ____________ , song      |should reach __________"
muo^'n cho mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u         |(II Peter 3:9)                       
 ________ ."  (II Phi-e-ro+ 3:9)        |
                                        |
4. " Bo+?i dde^`u na^`y, ha~y nha^.n    |4. "By this you know the Spirit
bie^'t Tha'nh-Linh cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a    |of God: every spirit which
Tro+`i:  Pha`m tha^`n na`o  _____       |____________ that _____ ______
 __________________________  la^'y      |has come in the flesh is of God,
xa'c-thi.t ma` ra ddo+`i, tha^`n ddo'   |and every spirit which  does not
la` bo+?i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i; co`n     |___________ _____ is not of God"
tha^`n na`o kho^ng  __________________  |(I John 4:2,3).                  
______ , cha(?ng pha?i bo+?i DDu+'c     |
Chu'a Tro+`i ."  (I Gia(ng 4:2,3)       |
                                        |
5. " Ha~y ho^'i-ca?i, ai na^'y pha?i    |5. "Repent, and be ________ every
nho+n danh DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus  _____   |one of you in the name of _____
_______________ , dde^?  ____________   |______ for the ___________ of
___________ , ro^`i se~ ddu+o+.c la~nh  |sins; and you shall receive the
su+. ban cho DDu+'c Tha'nh Linh."       |gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts
(Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` 2:38)        |2:38).                           
                                        |
II DDU'NG HOA(.C SAI:  Ne^'u lo+`i no'i |II. RIGHT OR WRONG: Circle "R" or
ddu'ng, xin cho.n "DD".Ne^'u sai, thi`  |"W".
cho.n "S"                               |
                                        |
DD S 1. DDa^'ng Christ dda~ da^ng ca?   |R W  1. Christ gave His perfect
su+. so^'ng Nga`i dde^? tra? cho gia'   |life to pay the price for our
to^.i-lo^~i cu?a chu'ng ta .            |sins.                            
                                        |
DD S 2. Gia' cu+'u chuo^.c la` huye^'t  |R W  2. The actual redemption
cu?a Chu'a Gie^-xu                      |price was the Blood of Jesus.
                                        |
DD S 3. Ne^'u mo^.t ngu+o+`i muo^'n     |R W  3. If a man is to be saved,
ddu+o+.c cu+'u, thi` ngu+o+`i a^'y pha?i|he must have the sinoffering
co' te^'-le^~ chuo^.c to^.i ma` DDa^'ng |Christ made to cover his sins.
Christ dda~ la`m dde^? kho?a la^'p to^.i|
lo^~i ngu+o+`i .                        |
                                        |
DD S 4. Ca^`n pha?i co' su+. ho^'i ca?i |R W  4. Repentance is necessary
thi` DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i mo+'i co' the^?|before God can forgive sins.
tha to^.i cho .                         |
                                        |
DD S 5. Su+. ho^'i ca?i co' nghi~a la`  |R W  5. Repentance mean turning
xa^y kho?i to^.i lo^~i dde^? dde^'n     |from sin to God.
vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .             |
                                        |
DD S 6. Su+. xu+ng nha^.n la` su+.      |R W  6. Confession is a statement
tuye^n bo^' lo`ng tin cu?a mo^.t        |of one's belief in Christ as
ngu+o+`i no+i DDa^'ng Christ, la` Cu+'u |Saviour and as the Son of God.
Chu'a va` la` Con DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i . |
                                        |
DD S 7. Su+. xu+ng nha^.n DDa^'ng Christ|R W  7. One's confession of
cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i pha?i la` su+.      |Christ must be an expression of
bie^?u-lo^. ddu+'c-tin tu+` trong lo`ng.|the faith felt in the heart.
                                        |
DD S 8. Le^~ Ba'p-te^m ddu+o+.c mo^ ta? |R W  8. Baptism as described in
trong Kinh tha'nh la` su+. cho^n.       |the Bible is a burial.
                                        |
DD S 9. Le^~ Ba'p-te^m, kha(?ng-ddi.nh  |R W  9. Baptism affirms one's
ddu+'c-tin cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i va` lo`ng|faith and repentance.
ho^'i ca?i cu?a ngu+o+`i ddo'.          |
                                        |R W 10. Every person needs to be
DD S 10. Mo^~i ngu+o+`i ca^`n chi.u     |baptized even though he may not
ba'p-te^m du` ngu+o+`i ddo' co' the^?   |believe in Christ.               
kho^ng tin DDa^'ng Christ.              |
                                        |
III . XA'C-DDI.NH CA^U KINH-THA'NH  --  |III. NAME THE SCRIPTURE: Draw a
Xin Cho.n Khu'c Kinh Tha'nh Na`o No'i:  |line around the scripture which
                                        |says:                            
                                        |
1. "...Ne^'u ca'c ngu+o+i kho^ng        |1. "...Except you repent, you
a(n-na(n thi` ta^'t ca? se~ bi. hu+     |shall all likewise perish"
ma^'t nhu+ va^.y ."                     |A. Luke 13:3;  B. Acts 17:30; 
a) Lu-ca 13:3 b) Su+' ddo^` 17:30; c)   |C. Matthew 7:21                  
Ma-thi-o+ 7:21                          |
                                        |
2. "Ai tin va` chi.u phe'p ba'p-te^m,   |2. "He who believes and is
se~ ddu+o+.c ro^~i"                     |baptized will be saved..."  A.
a) Ga-la-ti 3:27; b) Co^ng-vu. ca'c     |Galatians 3:27; B. Acts 10:48; 
Su+'-ddo^` 10:48; c) Ma'c 16:16         |C. Mark 16:16
                                        |
3. "Ho. (to^.i-nha^n) nho+` a^n-ddie^?n |3. "They (sinners) are justified
Nga`i ma` ddu+o+.c xu+ng co^ng-bi`nh    |by his grace as a gift, through
nhu+ng-kho^ng, bo+?i su+. chuo^.c to^.i |the redemption which is in Christ
dda~ la`m tro.n trong DDu+'c Chu'a      |Jesus, whom God put forward as an
Je^sus-Christ, la` DDa^'ng DDu+'c Chu'a |expiation by his blood to be
Tro+`i dda~ la^.p la`m cu?a-le^~ chuo^.c|received by faith"  A. Romans
to^.i, bo+?i ddu+'c-tin trong huye^'t   |5:1-2; B.Romans 3:24-25; C.
DDa^'ng a^'y ."                         |Matthew 20:28
a) Ro^-ma 5:1.2;  b) Ro^-ma 3:24.25;  c)|
Ma-thi-o+ 20:28                         |
                                        |
4. "Va^.y ne^'u mie^.ng ngu+o+i xu+ng   |4. "Because,  if you confess with
DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus Christ ra va` lo`ng |your lips that Jesus is Lord and
ngu+o+i tin ra(`ng  DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i |believe in your heart that God
dda~ khie^'n Nga`i tu+`  ke? che^'t     |raised him from the dead, you
so^'ng la.i, thi` ngu+o+i se~ ddu+o+.c  |will  be saved"  A. Acts 8:37-38;
cu+'u;."                                |B. Luke 24:46-47; C. Romans
a) Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` 8:37-38;   |10:9-10
b) Lu-ca 24:46,47;  c) Ro^-ma 10:9,10   |
                                        |
5. "Anh em dda~ bo+?i phe'p ba'p-te^m   |5. "And you were buried with Him
ddu+o+.c cho^n vo+'i Nga`i thi` cu~ng   |in baptism, in which you were
ddu+o+.c so^'ng la.i vo+'i Nga`i bo+?i  |also raised with Him through
ddu+'c-tin trong quye^`n phe'p DDu+'c   |faith in the working of God, who
Chu'a Tro+`i, dda~ khie^'n Nga`i tu+`   |raised Him from the dead"  A.
ke? che^'t so^'ng la.i ."               |Colossians 2:12; B. Romans 5:9;
a) Co^-lo^-se 2:12;  b) Ro^-ma 5:9;     |C. Romans 6:3                    
c) Ro^-ma 6:3                           |                                 
                                        |  
TE^N ___________________________        |NAME ___________________________
DDIE^?M ____                            |GRADE ______
DDI.A-CHI? _______________________      |ADDRESS__________________________
___________                             |___________
THA`NH-PHO^'_______ TIE^?U-BANG __      |CITY___________________ STATE___
                                        |
                                        |
BA`I  GIA?I SO^' 5                      |LESSON 5's ANSWER  
                                        |
I.  DDie^`n va`o ca'c khoa?ng tro^'ng:  |I.  FILL IN THE BLANKS:        
                                        |
1.  " Nhu+ va^.y, ddu+'c-tin dde^'n     |1. "So faith comes from what is
bo+?i su+. *NGU+O+`I TA NGHE*, ma`      |HEARING, and what is  HEARING
*NGU+O+`I TA NGHE*, la` khi *LO+`I CU?A |comes from
DDA^'NG CHRIST* ddu+o+.c *RAO-GIA?NG *. |the WORD of GOD" (Romans 10: 17)
(Ro^-ma 10:17)                          |
                                        |
2. "... Co' lo+`i che'p ra(`ng DDa^'ng  |2. ". . . thus it is written,
Christ pha?i chi.u ddau-ddo+'n du+o+`ng |that the Christ should suffer a
a^'y, nga`y thu+' ba se~ tu+` ke? che^'t|on the third day rise from the
so^'ng la.i, va` ngu+o+`i ta se~ nho+n  |dead, and that REPENTANCE and
danh Nga`i ma` rao-gia?ng cho da^n ca'c |REMISSION of sins should be
nu+o+'c *SU+. A(N-NA(N* dde^? ddu+o+.c  |preached
*THA* to^.i, ..."  (Lu-ca 24:46-47)     |in his name to all nations . . 
                                        |(Luke 24: 46-47)               
                                        |
3. " Chu'a kho^ng cha^.m-tre^~ ve^`     |3. "The Lord is not slow about
lo+`i hu+'a cu?a Nga`i nhu+ ma^'y       |his promise as some count
ngu+o+`i kia tu+o+?ng dda^u, nhu+ng     |slowness, but is forbearing
Nga`i la^'y lo`ng nhi.n-nhu.c ddo^'i    |toward you, not wishing that an
vo+'i anh em, kho^ng muo^'n cho mo^.t   |should  PERISH, but that all
ngu+o+`i na`o *CHE^'T MA^'T*, song      |should reach REPENTANCE"
muo^'n cho mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u         |(II Peter 3:9)                 
*A(N-NA(N*."  (II Phi-e-ro+ 3:9)        |
                                        |
4. " Bo+?i dde^`u na^`y, ha~y nha^.n    |4. "By this you know the Spirit
bie^'t Tha'nh-Linh cu?a DDu+'c Chu'a    |of God: every spirit which
Tro+`i:  Pha`m tha^`n na`o *XU+NG*      |ACKNOWLEDGES that JESUS CHRIST
*DDU+'C CHU'A JE^SUS-CHRIST* la^'y      |has come in the flesh is of God
xa'c-thi.t ma` ra ddo+`i, tha^`n ddo'   |and every spirit which  does not
la` bo+?i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i; co`n     |ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS is not of God
tha^`n na`o kho^ng *XU+NG DDU+'C CHU'A  |(I John 4:2,3).                
JE^SUS*, cha(?ng pha?i bo+?i DDu+'c     |
Chu'a Tro+`i ."  (I Gia(ng 4:2,3)       |
                                        |
5. " Ha~y ho^'i-ca?i, ai na^'y pha?i    |5. "Repent, and be BAPTIZED every
nho+n danh DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus *CHI.U   |one of you in the name of JESUS
PHE'P BA'P-TE^M*, dde^? *DDU+O+.C THA   |CHRIST for the FORGIVENESS of
TO^.I MI`NH*, ro^`i se~ ddu+o+.c la~nh  |sins; and you shall receive the
su+. ban cho DDu+'c Tha'nh Linh."       |gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts
(Co^ng-vu. ca'c Su+'-ddo^` 2:38)        |2:38).                         
                                        |
II DDU'NG HOA(.C SAI:  Ne^'u lo+`i no'i |II. RIGHT OR WRONG: Circle "R" 
ddu'ng, xin cho.n "DD".Ne^'u sai, thi`  |"W".
cho.n "S"                               |
                                        |
DD   1. DDa^'ng Christ dda~ da^ng ca?   |R    1. Christ gave His perfect
su+. so^'ng Nga`i dde^? tra? cho gia'   |life to pay the price for our
to^.i-lo^~i cu?a chu'ng ta .            |sins.                          
                                        |
DD   2. Gia' cu+'u chuo^.c la` huye^'t  |R    2. The actual redemption
cu?a Chu'a Gie^-xu                      |price was the Blood of Jesus.
                                        |
DD   3. Ne^'u mo^.t ngu+o+`i muo^'n     |R    3. If a man is to be saved
ddu+o+.c cu+'u, thi` ngu+o+`i a^'y pha?i|he must have the sinoffering
co' te^'-le^~ chuo^.c to^.i ma` DDa^'ng |Christ made to cover his sins.
Christ dda~ la`m dde^? kho?a la^'p to^.i|
lo^~i ngu+o+`i .                        |
                                        |
DD   4. Ca^`n pha?i co' su+. ho^'i ca?i |R    4. Repentance is necessary
thi` DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i mo+'i co' the^?|before God can forgive sins.
tha to^.i cho .                         |
                                        |
DD   5. Su+. ho^'i ca?i co' nghi~a la`  |R    5. Repentance mean turning
xa^y kho?i to^.i lo^~i dde^? dde^'n     |from sin to God.
vo+'i DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i .             |
                                        |
DD   6. Su+. xu+ng nha^.n la` su+.      |R    6. Confession is a statemeNT
tuye^n bo^' lo`ng tin cu?a mo^.t        |of one's belief in Christ as
ngu+o+`i no+i DDa^'ng Christ, la` Cu+'u |Saviour and as the Son of God.
Chu'a va` la` Con DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i . |
                                        |
DD   7. Su+. xu+ng nha^.n DDa^'ng Christ|R    7. One's confession of
cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i pha?i la` su+.      |Christ must be an expression of
bie^?u-lo^. ddu+'c-tin tu+` trong lo`ng.|the faith felt in the heart.
                                        |
DD   8. Le^~ Ba'p-te^m ddu+o+.c mo^ ta? |R    8. Baptism as described in
trong Kinh tha'nh la` su+. cho^n-ca^'t .|the Bible is a burial.
                                        |
DD   9. Le^~ Ba'p-te^m, kha(?ng-ddi.nh  |R    9. Baptism affirms one's
ddu+'c-tin cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i va` lo`ng|faith and repentance.
ho^'i ca?i cu?a ngu+o+`i ddo'.          |
                                        |
   S 10. Mo^~i ngu+o+`i ca^`n chi.u     |  W 10. Every person needs to be
ba'p-te^m du` ngu+o+`i ddo' co' the^?   |baptized even though he may not
kho^ng tin DDa^'ng Christ.              |believe in Christ.              
                                        |
III . XA'C-DDI.NH CA^U KINH-THA'NH  --  |III. NAME THE SCRIPTURE: Draw a
Xin Cho.n Khu'c Kinh Tha'nh Na`o No'i:  |line around the scripture which
                                        |says:                          
                                        |
1. "...Ne^'u ca'c ngu+o+i kho^ng        |1. "...Except you repent, you
a(n-na(n thi` ta^'t ca? se~ bi. hu+     |shall all likewise perish"
ma^'t nhu+ va^.y ."                     |A. Luke 13:3;   
a) Lu-ca 13:3                           |               
                                        |
                                        |
2. "Ai tin va` chi.u phe'p ba'p-te^m,   |2. "He who believes and is
se~ ddu+o+.c ro^~i"                     |baptized will be saved..."  
c) Ma'c 16:16                           |C. Mark 16:16
                                        |
3. "Ho. (to^.i-nha^n) nho+` a^n-ddie^?n |3. "They (sinners) are justifie
Nga`i ma` ddu+o+.c xu+ng co^ng-bi`nh    |by his grace as a gift, through
nhu+ng-kho^ng, bo+?i su+. chuo^.c to^.i |the redemption which is in Chri
dda~ la`m tro.n trong DDu+'c Chu'a      |Jesus, whom God put forward as 
Je^sus-Christ, la` DDa^'ng DDu+'c Chu'a |expiation by his blood to be
Tro+`i dda~ la^.p la`m cu?a-le^~ chuo^.c|received by faith"
to^.i, bo+?i ddu+'c-tin trong huye^'t   |B.Romans 3:24-25
DDa^'ng a^'y ."                         |
b) Ro^-ma 3:24.25;                      |
                                        |
4. "Va^.y ne^'u mie^.ng ngu+o+i xu+ng   |4. "Because,  if you confess wi
DDu+'c Chu'a Je^sus Christ ra va` lo`ng |your lips that Jesus is Lord an
ngu+o+i tin ra(`ng  DDu+'c Chu'a Tro+`i |believe in your heart that God
dda~ khie^'n Nga`i tu+`  ke? che^'t     |raised him from the dead, you
so^'ng la.i, thi` ngu+o+i se~ ddu+o+.c  |will  be saved"  
cu+'u;."                                |C. Romans 10:9-10
c) Ro^-ma 10:9,10                       |
                                        |
5. "Anh em dda~ bo+?i phe'p ba'p-te^m   |5. "And you were buried with Hi
ddu+o+.c cho^n vo+'i Nga`i thi` cu~ng   |in baptism, in which you were
ddu+o+.c so^'ng la.i vo+'i Nga`i bo+?i  |also raised with Him through
ddu+'c-tin trong quye^`n phe'p DDu+'c   |faith in the working of God, wh
Chu'a Tro+`i, dda~ khie^'n Nga`i tu+`   |raised Him from the dead"  A.
ke? che^'t so^'ng la.i ."               |A. Colossians 2:12
a) Co^-lo^-se 2:12                      |
                                        |
                                 --HE^'T|END--

Soa.n Che'p la.i | Vietnamese translation revised by Bao Da^~n Nguye^~n in Fullerton, California, 01/01/1997

Tro+?-ve^` Trang DDa^`u

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1997/06/01