The Sermon Baptism: My Public Testimony That I Follow Jesus by David McGee
Aug 19, 2012
Baptism: My Public Testimony That I Follow Jesus (34:03)
Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:12-13; Acts 8:31-39; Acts 9:11-19; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 16
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Matthew 3:13-17
13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14) But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
15) But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
16) Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17) Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 28:18-20
18) Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19) Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20) teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Acts 8:12-13
12) But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13) Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed.
Acts 8:31-39
31) He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
32) Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, So he doesn‘t open his mouth.
33) In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generations? For his life is taken from the earth."
34) The eunuch answered Philip, "Please tell who the prophet is talking about: about himself, or about some other?"
35) Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
36) As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"
37)
38) He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39) When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn‘t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 9:11-19
11) The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12) and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight."
13) But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14) Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
15) But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
16) For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name‘s sake."
17) Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you in the way which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18) Immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19) He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
Acts 10:44-48
44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
45) They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
46) For they heard them speak with other languages, and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47) "Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized,?"
48) He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
Acts 16
1) He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek.
2) The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
3) Paul wanted to have him go forth with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4) As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5) So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6) When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7) When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn‘t allow them.
8) Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9) A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."
10) When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11) Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12) and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.
13) On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together.
14) A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
15) When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." She urged us.
16) It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
17) The same, following after Paul and us, cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!"
18) This she did for many days. But Paul, becoming distressed, turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.
19) But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20) When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,
21) and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."
22) The multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore their clothes off of them, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23) When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,
24) who, having received such a charge, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25) But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26) Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone‘s bonds were loosened.
27) The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Don‘t harm yourself, for we are all here!"
29) He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
30) and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31) They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your house."
32) They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
33) He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
34) He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
35) But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go."
36) The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out, and go in peace."
37) But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most assuredly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!"
38) The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans,
39) and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city.
40) They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia‘s house. When they had seen the brothers, they comforted them, and departed.
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This is when we think of the subject of water baptism that the title that I put together with this is my public testimony that I follow Christ and the baptism by immersion is which. We believe in is that it is my testimony that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and descriptors that we have been sent there many different Scriptures, but the first one I want to read it in Matthew chapter three verses thirteen to seventeen and this is speaking of the baptism of Jesus that whenever he began his ministry, says Jesus then appeared arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John John the Baptist John to baptize him and John objected. I'm the one who needs to be baptized not, you, but Jesus insisted do it God 's work, putting things right all these centuries is coming together right now in this baptism of John didn't want that is referring to is that is the dividing line between Jesus 's early childhood is you is, you know, being son of Mary, and we don't know where his father is jealous over assuming that Jesus is the carpenter and he 's learned their trade in these been taking care is on his mother and his siblings, and now there is the dividing line between that experience in that part of his life in the beginning of his public ministry in this declaration of baptism. Here is his beginning of his public ministry and verse sixteen says the moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God 's spirit looked like a dove descending and landing on him, and along with the spirit of voice. This is my son chosen and marked by my love life of my life. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased as a King James version. So when Jesus came out of the water of our baptism. There was the sign, the Trinity that the dot representing the Holy Spirit came and ascended upon Jesus and the boys are having the God the father spoke over Christ. This is my beloved son in whom I won't be leased out that it was in the declaration of of the baptism of Jesus. Now, baptism by immersion didn't begin here. If you study and in the on the Old Testament with the Hebrew, the Jewish people. When someone left their neighboring lands or became part of the Jewish culture became became a Hebrew and ischemia Jewish would would go when follow Judaism and the sacrifices and the sacrificial system. That person was immersed in water. They were baptized. They were changing their old life into okay, another one were going to read it in Matthew twenty eight verses eighteen to twenty, Jesus uttered went right ahead and gave him discharge. This is called the great commission. God authorized and commanded me to commission you go out and train everyone you meet far in the year. In this way of life marking them by baptism in the threefold name, father, son and Holy Spirit that instruct them in the practice of all, I have commanded you all be with you as you do this then after day after day right after the end of the age. So the great commandment is to God into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing them in the name of Jesus, so this was the great commission and the Jesus placed upon his followers and his disciples was to go out and traced the gospel the good news of Jesus Christ and that they were to baptize to be baptized in the name of Jesus, don't kind of a I guess this is for myself and excuse. We do not have a baptistery. So therefore, having water baptism at eight you know intervals every month or some churches do it every Sunday evening. They have enough people coming into the church in committing their life to Christ. They did every Sunday evening. Some do it every month. Something twice the earth of my gusto once a year we try to and it kind of takes away from the emphasis of what baptism by water is as merely do once a year and that we do it and is willing. We missed the opportunity and the window off it, it kind of passes to another year of water baptism is symbolizes death, burial, resurrection, we we think of it in the context of Bobby would you and your points that we got. We've got a demonstration of Bob is going to assist me today in in the Baptist and in the baptistery which is Jan and multiple. Know what were going to do with this now too. Baptism is death, burial and resurrection death to our old way of life. So whenever you buy your barriers submit submersion in water and then raise the resurrection. So what we do is insult some of you who haven't been baptized and you're thinking about this in your frightened that what the president did anything is probably healthier than dumped me and all that stuff so want to do is figure right-hand of your nose. I collect can put it on your arm up here now, there, and that's whenever Bobby B on the other side and then we lay you down in the water don't don't go backwards. I think I will thought you'll fall because I you are so in the end, we emerged into the water in the name the father, son and Holy Spirit, and raise you up. So if you're frightened by what you're going to have to do what you are going to get whacked. Okay, but murdered in MLB to list Debbie myself and lobby assisting and were going to let you down in the water in the idea is the analogy is water about the news of the death death of the old way of life burial in the water and resurrection to the so water baptism signifies our new life in Christ. It is it is a commitment. It is a visible demonstration of what Jesus Christ has done to us. Death to self death to sin and death, the old nature very resurrection to new life in Christ, resurrection for the Spirit is aware for the spirit of God, you know that God has ascended, and God has become part of our life now, there are some bubbly when I would call it their other baptisms that we know up in the church and sung. I have infant baptism now is not a bad thing is that this is not a bad thing is not some sin or something. Whatever infant baptism is more what we would call it in on our denomination and also what happened with Jesus that when Jesus was taken to the Temple. He was dedicated. It was there as a presentation of Jesus in its infancy was pricing the Temple and he was presented. So what we have these infant dedication and the ever dedication is that as parents we dedicate ourselves to raising our child for God that this child is a gift God wants as a family and so therefore we are recognizing our responsibility as parents to bring this child to draw that very much part of the Old Testament rituals and very much a part of Jesus and what Jesus went through in his birth and presentation at the Temple. So there are some who look at that and they would say will that's a time of debt and baptism won't baptism is considered for when we are mature enough to make a decision so we have baptized a member of one church we were at. There is young or young child six seven eight oh hold was six years old. The one in Japan. He will all you this, but he was a very spiritual young child. I mean, and something Soweto, baptizing, and they hasn't been dedication out. Only then all these no, this child do in a very was very mature, very mature spiritually and so a week. We think you the youngest time of ever baptized, but you're saying is when and in the Jewish culture when a person was twelve trying on going on thirteen. Was there a place of dedication and analyze at a time in which were able to make a choice again chosen to serve Christ and this is my declaration on that I am following Jesus and the waters of baptism now. Water baptism is not a washing away of our same effect, the decision is made by losses in individual for Jesus Christ to be our Savior and when Jesus Christ as our Savior, that's a place of decision. Then once we have made that decision we then have a public demonstration of that decision, which is water baptism. That's what it significances so Jesus has forgiven us of our sins, and then baptism then becomes this public declaration that I do not have a secret life. Now I'm a Christian, don't tell anybody while it was a very in the time of Jesus and the early disciples. It was a very public demonstration that was a declaration that we are a follower of Jesus Christ, because we have given our life to him. We recognize me that he has risen from the dead, and that we are following him, and this is a public declaration to all that we are a follower of Jesus Christ that the misconception that somehow baptism washes away sin, or that it is baptism that saves us Bible states the bike racer, we saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. So no act of sprinkling or immersion and you can be immersed three times in four words and everybody having in your search. There's those people who baptized three times for the earth. He will baptize three times backwards. There are some people who baptized this one guy in all, they put him on therein. You know, they held in their and would let them up and in the individual. Why does one make sure he was saved that just shouldn't stuff, but he also is there a right way is there wrong way. The idea is that we are in and out and if a person were on their deathbed and they wanted and I've done this and they wanted to be baptized in always very much an emphasis that they wanted to have before they died. While I can't take them to the back the work to the river were assiduously rental I I sprinkled them into water on the head. I mean, you know, this is what's in the heart. If you I've you are not baptized. We do not haven't Bible says, by grace you safety faith and not of works, so baptism is not the thief on the cross was not baptized, Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise. So maybe always, it was a requirement to get into heaven knows, not a requirement, but it is following as an act of obedience in our faith that we are following Jesus Christ into the waters of baptism, so this makes water baptism more than a religious form, will our shirt, no as in saying that there's some denominations in some churches that while you cannot baptize you can't be a member you want to join the church. You have to be baptized in the baptism makes you a member while you can get online. You can be incinerated on the dry sinner, but what center is if you never confessed your sins. It doesn't change anything. So the baptism that is death to an old way of life resurrection to a new life in Christ so as we began to say this with the answer, then act upon it and recognize that this is part of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Now Jesus himself instituted water baptism. He directed the church to baptize those who follow him as an active discipleship. It was an act of discipleship on people who were followers of Christ in Matthew twenty eight, verse nineteen, scripted, and we read eighteen nineteen twenty Jesus giving the great commission, says God authorizes and commanded me to as you go out and train everyone you meet train wreck tell them about the message trained them in the steps of righteousness and salvation. In this way of life in the Christian life marking them by baptism. So Jesus himself was the one who instituted this whole idea of baptism, and that it was a mark for his disciples is where to place them and to all believers to be baptized. The New Testament attached to the water baptism. The book of acts, speaks of it on the day of Pentecost next aperture. There were three goes three thousand routed to the church. There are three thousand baptisms that day they went they went baptizing and asked chapter eight, verses twelve and thirteen and this is where Philip is in Samaria, never when Jesus went to Samaria, I must needs go through Samaria woman at the well, while Philip, this and this lady stayed there in those there were individuals who came out took to see Jesus and the other woman with several fellow went to Samaria. Now it came to the town announcing the good news. The news of God 's kingdom of proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simeon Nelson realizes this individual who had done a lot of great works and things like that while wind when Philip came to town, they forgot about singing and these individuals were baptized. They believed in Christ, and they were baptized becoming believers right and left him, and Simeon himself believe, and was baptized and from that moment he was like, Philip shadow so fascinated with all the God signs and miracles that he would leave Phillips side so and ask chapter eight, we have another example, when Philip Philip comes along five. This includes on-site. This chariot and his chariot, the meaning unit. This individual who is the treasurer for. I forget who he was a treasure for, but he was right. He was reading the Scriptures and Philip is walking alongside God directed Philip walked alongside and in enterprises, ratings and how can I any after the question. Do you understand what is rating is copyright. How can I without some help and he invited Philip into the chariot within the passage. He was reading was this at the sheep led to the slaughter, and quiet is a land being shared. It was silent, saying nothing. It was locked and put down never got a fair trial, but who now can count his camp since he's been taken from your and your they said tell me who is this prophet talking about himself or some other Philip grabbed his chance using the passage as his text. He preached Jesus to him, told him about Jesus Christ NASA continued down the road. They came to a stream of water in the UNIX said is water. Why can I be baptized, so he believed in Jesus and then immediately as even as they are traveling, he said here's some water anywhere to turn to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized them on the spot when they came up out of the water. The spirit of God suddenly took Philip off and that was the last eunuch saw him, but he did. He had when you come for and won on the road as happy as he could be so here is an experience where God through the two fellow came along and explained to this unit isn't this man about the gospel of Jesus Christ. What Jesus Christ did John and he became a believer and immediately was baptized in water that we have solved I was asked after nine win over Saul has been traveling and he was going to Tarsus to arrest Christians. He was going there to put an end. His goal is always to put in into Christianity, but on the road to Damascus. It was as a worse drop-down saw great light. He became blind and he heard the voice of Jesus, speak to him, you know, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and Emily 's end, and then we have verse, beginning at verse eleven. Get up and go over to straight Avenue after the house of Judas for the man from Parsons and this is where Ananias is receiving the vision from God to go to help solve prices. All will be later known as he's there, praying he has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias into the house and they have the new, so he could see again, and I've protested and what you are going there to help this guy some farces is a young easement persecuting the court to charge these the galley 's been killing Christians and knees in a human help out regardless of people while they stoned Stephen, I'm not going there to help them God told Ananias Udall and your talent and his waiting because he's auditory: you're coming I so he's in L Ananias is protesting his reign of terror against your people. Jerusalem, and now he shown up here with papers from the chief priests. They give him license to do the same to us, but the master said Jesus said don't argue that argument got go. I picked him as my personal representative non-Jews and things engines and now I'm about to show him what he is in for the hard suffering that goes with this job, so I had a niacin went and found the house placed his hands on blind small and said brother Saul, the master sent me the same Jesus you saw on your way here, he said to me, so you could see again, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. No said there were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul 's eyes because she again they got to his feet and one and was baptized and set down within for a hearty meal. He was baptized, so it was an immediate thing and then on to one. This happens over and over throughout the Scriptures and then proudly one more and acts chapter ten at the house of Cornelius. Now these are the house of Cornelius is is is is a very special one here because Peter is in his house and has a vision from God about a sheet of unclean animals coming down, and God asked Peter if he is, so I can't do that because those are unclean and finally got this Peter what I clean my consider clean you considerably so. Kyle Austin is the limit and at that very moment somebody knocked at his door and he's then this guy from the house of grain aliases knocking at the door because Cornelius 's had a vision go to a certain house and Inquirer Peter to come and talk to you. So all this is going on and on. Peter now goes to the house of Cornelius and this is where beginning verse forty four, no center where these words out of peers, mouth, and the Holy Spirit came on the listeners to Cornelius and his household. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it. They couldn't believe that the death of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the outsiders, the non-Jews, but there was they heard them speaking in tongues and hard and praising God. So that was assigned that they had actually committed and given her life to Christ, at the same baptism, the ban on the day of Pentecost and all that was in place and the people from the jurors with Peter was a wow that they got the same thing we began to understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ was more than just for abandonment in the Jewish individuals, but then Peter said, do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water. This is where the Gentiles now have received the baptism is aware of the Holy Spirit, the recording of that was given to the Jews and accepted to and then those three thousand were baptized. Now that the house of Cornelius that his household was saved his household was saved, and they gave your life to Jesus Christ and Christ became a part of their life and Pierce says, how can we object to these individuals being part of the church, and there were no objections with Peter war with all the Jews that had come with Peter caused for the Jewish individual to enter a Gentile house that was a certain, that was a black mark against them. They neighbor. They were, they would have to go through a whole ritualistic cleansing because these people were unclean. Here, Peter goes into the house and finds out, God gave to the Cornelius and his whole household exactly what was given to Peter on the day of Pentecost, and all the Jews often on the hundreds way on the day of Pentecost. So what is Peter, do while they had the same thing as review all objections, so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus, so there are always those other situations do that happened in the house of Cornelius and then we have and ask chapter sixteen, Libya, the seller of purple, yellow sheet, you know, she's spoken many times in the Scriptures and in the Philippian jailer next chapter sixteen, we have all these situations in which people came to Christ and receive Christ and then immediately following the waters of baptism, so water practice. If you outward demonstration of an inward reality. The client has saved us from our sin. Water baptism is a picture that is pictured in the New Testament as the initial step of obedience and is part of the life of obedience that we follow in listening to the word of God is given to us throughout our spiritual life. Water baptism is a mark of our unity with Christ as Christ was baptized in water, so we are being baptized as unto Christ and his entire body of believers. It's like we are uniting with Christ and uniting with the church, so water baptism, then, is our personal spiritual funeral is our spiritual funeral and our spiritual resurrection. So, it signified is that it is a very significant event in our life and and it is a very important part of our life. Now, as I said, what we don't have that were not baptized in water. Yes, even across. There was& so do you have to be baptized as a requirement and well, were following Jesus is an act of obedience. It's not an act of coercion is not unlike the preacher says I got to do this route, but that are not that she when we went when we are tempted when we are tempted to fall is aware back to our old lifestyle and Paul says that forgetting those things which are behind, I press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting the things which are behind, that it's remembering I'm dead to my former life, I buried that person I'm risen to so when we are tempted. It's a way of looking at all I can say this is a line of demarcation. Never Jesus 's life prior to the baptism 's ministry began at baptism and on. So it is that what is aware that lineup means we can look at our salvation. Our declaration of forgiveness that Jesus Christ is forgiveness of our sin. That's a line of demarcation and baptism is a physical demonstration of that spiritual reality that is in the heart that we've been training and so my declaration as I stand before others and say Christ has forgiven me of my sins. I have heard Jesus in his word, say, and he commanded it to the disciples train, teach baptize. I feel the need. It is my desire to follow Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism, this water baptismal service is something wonderful. I remember when we were in Israel and we got. I got to baptize those who were with us in the Jordan River and the couple hundred other people doing the very same thing, but it was it was very and what they may have quizzed at all site is sectioned off at each little group had their own section and you have your standards. The world of bleachers. They were there were bleachers, but they were in in the bank of the river bank, and you would set that you and everyone was in our group was there and have little walkways down into the water ramps underwater and there you would be able to be in the same Jordan that same water Saint Jordan River that Jesus was in and perform the baptismal service, and that was a high water experience that it was it was a really great experience because I'm short note, just because it was ever the people who were baptized. That's where David R Mike and I got baptized David in the Jordan River. So was quite an experience. So it's a statement that I am changed with the statement that I believe that I am a follower of Christ that I'm doing as he has commanded that we he will help me in my life when I'm dead to the old ways of seeing my old nature, and I am resurrected to do. So if you've never been baptized, today's the day if you were baptized as an infant. Okay, we believe that the baptism in water is the following of an example example of what Christ is set for us and that he has forgiven us. If you are baptized as a ritual that I really didn't need anything, but now you would like to do again, that is fine. So my urge is that doors open, then you are welcome. Whether you've been baptized whether you and you just one week middle. I don't believe that you have to be baptized every year. You know the next time next year and in and out next year and now is that if it's something that you feel in your heart would like to do whether you been baptized as an infant when you've been baptized ritual weather is just the point in your life where you want to say I'm really feel it is important to me to follow Christ in the waters of baptism. I want you to know I want you to know you're free to do that today so that is kind of the nutshell of water baptism, and it is very important. Some have had some experiences are extremely popular say life-changing and others. It's just like while. That was nice. So whatever it may be to you, whatever you feel the need is, we know that our sins are forgiven because we asked Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. Okay the next block walk of obedience is that I do this as I want to follow Christ in the waters of baptism and then felt that actress John know that I was to feel that we are open to so what were going to do is in there somewhere. I now have to run home and get there. What I like what I do is if you have a swimming suit or whatever I put that on underneath, and then put a related, but it pants for the top one maybe a couple of them, but if you have your say you have your if you have your as one. That's okay. You will need a couple of pots, but just to have a top one hundred copier bathing suit, and I'm going to have swimming trunks in the top of shirt so and then we will have the service first to get a few things set up while waiting for everyone to show up and then before we need to before we do anything will have the baptismal service, and then we'll have the picnic and everybody's welcome to come the picnic and then we'll have swimming for those who would like to do so. Okay, found some good stuff you like to be baptized in water. Please see me so we don't miss you as you go home and come I so wish that thank you Lord for saving us from our sins. Thank you Lord that you are a save your thank you Lord that you died on the cross and that Lord by your blood, the Lamb of God, whose whose life what his blood in life were given for the forgiveness of our sins, we thank you Lord for saving us, forgive us, O God, and live within our hearts, Lord, and for those who, in this moment, Lord, you touch our life and perhaps Lord, you speak your heart. It is important for us to be baptized in water, we pray Lord that you speak to us in on your urging Lord your impression upon our hearts, minds that we would be baptized touch our lives in this moment, but that prompting be of your spirit to touch us and speak to us now. We pray in Jesus name andThis is when we think of the subject of water baptism that the title that I put together with this is my public testimony that I follow Christ and the baptism by immersion is which. We believe in is that it is my testimony that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and descriptors that we have been sent there many different Scriptures, but the first one I want to read it in Matthew chapter three verses thirteen to seventeen and this is speaking of the baptism of Jesus that whenever he began his ministry, says Jesus then appeared arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John John the Baptist John to baptize him and John objected. I'm the one who needs to be baptized not, you, but Jesus insisted do it God 's work, putting things right all these centuries is coming together right now in this baptism of John didn't want that is referring to is that is the dividing line between Jesus 's early childhood is you is, you know, being son of Mary, and we don't know where his father is jealous over assuming that Jesus is the carpenter and he 's learned their trade in these been taking care is on his mother and his siblings, and now there is the dividing line between that experience in that part of his life in the beginning of his public ministry in this declaration of baptism. Here is his beginning of his public ministry and verse sixteen says the moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God 's spirit looked like a dove descending and landing on him, and along with the spirit of voice. This is my son chosen and marked by my love life of my life. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased as a King James version. So when Jesus came out of the water of our baptism. There was the sign, the Trinity that the dot representing the Holy Spirit came and ascended upon Jesus and the boys are having the God the father spoke over Christ. This is my beloved son in whom I won't be leased out that it was in the declaration of of the baptism of Jesus. Now, baptism by immersion didn't begin here. If you study and in the on the Old Testament with the Hebrew, the Jewish people. When someone left their neighboring lands or became part of the Jewish culture became became a Hebrew and ischemia Jewish would would go when follow Judaism and the sacrifices and the sacrificial system. That person was immersed in water. They were baptized. They were changing their old life into okay, another one were going to read it in Matthew twenty eight verses eighteen to twenty, Jesus uttered went right ahead and gave him discharge. This is called the great commission. God authorized and commanded me to commission you go out and train everyone you meet far in the year. In this way of life marking them by baptism in the threefold name, father, son and Holy Spirit that instruct them in the practice of all, I have commanded you all be with you as you do this then after day after day right after the end of the age. So the great commandment is to God into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing them in the name of Jesus, so this was the great commission and the Jesus placed upon his followers and his disciples was to go out and traced the gospel the good news of Jesus Christ and that they were to baptize to be baptized in the name of Jesus, don't kind of a I guess this is for myself and excuse. We do not have a baptistery. So therefore, having water baptism at eight you know intervals every month or some churches do it every Sunday evening. They have enough people coming into the church in committing their life to Christ. They did every Sunday evening. Some do it every month. Something twice the earth of my gusto once a year we try to and it kind of takes away from the emphasis of what baptism by water is as merely do once a year and that we do it and is willing. We missed the opportunity and the window off it, it kind of passes to another year of water baptism is symbolizes death, burial, resurrection, we we think of it in the context of Bobby would you and your points that we got. We've got a demonstration of Bob is going to assist me today in in the Baptist and in the baptistery which is Jan and multiple. Know what were going to do with this now too. Baptism is death, burial and resurrection death to our old way of life. So whenever you buy your barriers submit submersion in water and then raise the resurrection. So what we do is insult some of you who haven't been baptized and you're thinking about this in your frightened that what the president did anything is probably healthier than dumped me and all that stuff so want to do is figure right-hand of your nose. I collect can put it on your arm up here now, there, and that's whenever Bobby B on the other side and then we lay you down in the water don't don't go backwards. I think I will thought you'll fall because I you are so in the end, we emerged into the water in the name the father, son and Holy Spirit, and raise you up. So if you're frightened by what you're going to have to do what you are going to get whacked. Okay, but murdered in MLB to list Debbie myself and lobby assisting and were going to let you down in the water in the idea is the analogy is water about the news of the death death of the old way of life burial in the water and resurrection to the so water baptism signifies our new life in Christ. It is it is a commitment. It is a visible demonstration of what Jesus Christ has done to us. Death to self death to sin and death, the old nature very resurrection to new life in Christ, resurrection for the Spirit is aware for the spirit of God, you know that God has ascended, and God has become part of our life now, there are some bubbly when I would call it their other baptisms that we know up in the church and sung. I have infant baptism now is not a bad thing is that this is not a bad thing is not some sin or something. Whatever infant baptism is more what we would call it in on our denomination and also what happened with Jesus that when Jesus was taken to the Temple. He was dedicated. It was there as a presentation of Jesus in its infancy was pricing the Temple and he was presented. So what we have these infant dedication and the ever dedication is that as parents we dedicate ourselves to raising our child for God that this child is a gift God wants as a family and so therefore we are recognizing our responsibility as parents to bring this child to draw that very much part of the Old Testament rituals and very much a part of Jesus and what Jesus went through in his birth and presentation at the Temple. So there are some who look at that and they would say will that's a time of debt and baptism won't baptism is considered for when we are mature enough to make a decision so we have baptized a member of one church we were at. There is young or young child six seven eight oh hold was six years old. The one in Japan. He will all you this, but he was a very spiritual young child. I mean, and something Soweto, baptizing, and they hasn't been dedication out. Only then all these no, this child do in a very was very mature, very mature spiritually and so a week. We think you the youngest time of ever baptized, but you're saying is when and in the Jewish culture when a person was twelve trying on going on thirteen. Was there a place of dedication and analyze at a time in which were able to make a choice again chosen to serve Christ and this is my declaration on that I am following Jesus and the waters of baptism now. Water baptism is not a washing away of our same effect, the decision is made by losses in individual for Jesus Christ to be our Savior and when Jesus Christ as our Savior, that's a place of decision. Then once we have made that decision we then have a public demonstration of that decision, which is water baptism. That's what it significances so Jesus has forgiven us of our sins, and then baptism then becomes this public declaration that I do not have a secret life. Now I'm a Christian, don't tell anybody while it was a very in the time of Jesus and the early disciples. It was a very public demonstration that was a declaration that we are a follower of Jesus Christ, because we have given our life to him. We recognize me that he has risen from the dead, and that we are following him, and this is a public declaration to all that we are a follower of Jesus Christ that the misconception that somehow baptism washes away sin, or that it is baptism that saves us Bible states the bike racer, we saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. So no act of sprinkling or immersion and you can be immersed three times in four words and everybody having in your search. There's those people who baptized three times for the earth. He will baptize three times backwards. There are some people who baptized this one guy in all, they put him on therein. You know, they held in their and would let them up and in the individual. Why does one make sure he was saved that just shouldn't stuff, but he also is there a right way is there wrong way. The idea is that we are in and out and if a person were on their deathbed and they wanted and I've done this and they wanted to be baptized in always very much an emphasis that they wanted to have before they died. While I can't take them to the back the work to the river were assiduously rental I I sprinkled them into water on the head. I mean, you know, this is what's in the heart. If you I've you are not baptized. We do not haven't Bible says, by grace you safety faith and not of works, so baptism is not the thief on the cross was not baptized, Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise. So maybe always, it was a requirement to get into heaven knows, not a requirement, but it is following as an act of obedience in our faith that we are following Jesus Christ into the waters of baptism, so this makes water baptism more than a religious form, will our shirt, no as in saying that there's some denominations in some churches that while you cannot baptize you can't be a member you want to join the church. You have to be baptized in the baptism makes you a member while you can get online. You can be incinerated on the dry sinner, but what center is if you never confessed your sins. It doesn't change anything. So the baptism that is death to an old way of life resurrection to a new life in Christ so as we began to say this with the answer, then act upon it and recognize that this is part of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Now Jesus himself instituted water baptism. He directed the church to baptize those who follow him as an active discipleship. It was an act of discipleship on people who were followers of Christ in Matthew twenty eight, verse nineteen, scripted, and we read eighteen nineteen twenty Jesus giving the great commission, says God authorizes and commanded me to as you go out and train everyone you meet train wreck tell them about the message trained them in the steps of righteousness and salvation. In this way of life in the Christian life marking them by baptism. So Jesus himself was the one who instituted this whole idea of baptism, and that it was a mark for his disciples is where to place them and to all believers to be baptized. The New Testament attached to the water baptism. The book of acts, speaks of it on the day of Pentecost next aperture. There were three goes three thousand routed to the church. There are three thousand baptisms that day they went they went baptizing and asked chapter eight, verses twelve and thirteen and this is where Philip is in Samaria, never when Jesus went to Samaria, I must needs go through Samaria woman at the well, while Philip, this and this lady stayed there in those there were individuals who came out took to see Jesus and the other woman with several fellow went to Samaria. Now it came to the town announcing the good news. The news of God 's kingdom of proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simeon Nelson realizes this individual who had done a lot of great works and things like that while wind when Philip came to town, they forgot about singing and these individuals were baptized. They believed in Christ, and they were baptized becoming believers right and left him, and Simeon himself believe, and was baptized and from that moment he was like, Philip shadow so fascinated with all the God signs and miracles that he would leave Phillips side so and ask chapter eight, we have another example, when Philip Philip comes along five. This includes on-site. This chariot and his chariot, the meaning unit. This individual who is the treasurer for. I forget who he was a treasure for, but he was right. He was reading the Scriptures and Philip is walking alongside God directed Philip walked alongside and in enterprises, ratings and how can I any after the question. Do you understand what is rating is copyright. How can I without some help and he invited Philip into the chariot within the passage. He was reading was this at the sheep led to the slaughter, and quiet is a land being shared. It was silent, saying nothing. It was locked and put down never got a fair trial, but who now can count his camp since he's been taken from your and your they said tell me who is this prophet talking about himself or some other Philip grabbed his chance using the passage as his text. He preached Jesus to him, told him about Jesus Christ NASA continued down the road. They came to a stream of water in the UNIX said is water. Why can I be baptized, so he believed in Jesus and then immediately as even as they are traveling, he said here's some water anywhere to turn to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized them on the spot when they came up out of the water. The spirit of God suddenly took Philip off and that was the last eunuch saw him, but he did. He had when you come for and won on the road as happy as he could be so here is an experience where God through the two fellow came along and explained to this unit isn't this man about the gospel of Jesus Christ. What Jesus Christ did John and he became a believer and immediately was baptized in water that we have solved I was asked after nine win over Saul has been traveling and he was going to Tarsus to arrest Christians. He was going there to put an end. His goal is always to put in into Christianity, but on the road to Damascus. It was as a worse drop-down saw great light. He became blind and he heard the voice of Jesus, speak to him, you know, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and Emily 's end, and then we have verse, beginning at verse eleven. Get up and go over to straight Avenue after the house of Judas for the man from Parsons and this is where Ananias is receiving the vision from God to go to help solve prices. All will be later known as he's there, praying he has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias into the house and they have the new, so he could see again, and I've protested and what you are going there to help this guy some farces is a young easement persecuting the court to charge these the galley 's been killing Christians and knees in a human help out regardless of people while they stoned Stephen, I'm not going there to help them God told Ananias Udall and your talent and his waiting because he's auditory: you're coming I so he's in L Ananias is protesting his reign of terror against your people. Jerusalem, and now he shown up here with papers from the chief priests. They give him license to do the same to us, but the master said Jesus said don't argue that argument got go. I picked him as my personal representative non-Jews and things engines and now I'm about to show him what he is in for the hard suffering that goes with this job, so I had a niacin went and found the house placed his hands on blind small and said brother Saul, the master sent me the same Jesus you saw on your way here, he said to me, so you could see again, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. No said there were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul 's eyes because she again they got to his feet and one and was baptized and set down within for a hearty meal. He was baptized, so it was an immediate thing and then on to one. This happens over and over throughout the Scriptures and then proudly one more and acts chapter ten at the house of Cornelius. Now these are the house of Cornelius is is is is a very special one here because Peter is in his house and has a vision from God about a sheet of unclean animals coming down, and God asked Peter if he is, so I can't do that because those are unclean and finally got this Peter what I clean my consider clean you considerably so. Kyle Austin is the limit and at that very moment somebody knocked at his door and he's then this guy from the house of grain aliases knocking at the door because Cornelius 's had a vision go to a certain house and Inquirer Peter to come and talk to you. So all this is going on and on. Peter now goes to the house of Cornelius and this is where beginning verse forty four, no center where these words out of peers, mouth, and the Holy Spirit came on the listeners to Cornelius and his household. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it. They couldn't believe that the death of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the outsiders, the non-Jews, but there was they heard them speaking in tongues and hard and praising God. So that was assigned that they had actually committed and given her life to Christ, at the same baptism, the ban on the day of Pentecost and all that was in place and the people from the jurors with Peter was a wow that they got the same thing we began to understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ was more than just for abandonment in the Jewish individuals, but then Peter said, do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water. This is where the Gentiles now have received the baptism is aware of the Holy Spirit, the recording of that was given to the Jews and accepted to and then those three thousand were baptized. Now that the house of Cornelius that his household was saved his household was saved, and they gave your life to Jesus Christ and Christ became a part of their life and Pierce says, how can we object to these individuals being part of the church, and there were no objections with Peter war with all the Jews that had come with Peter caused for the Jewish individual to enter a Gentile house that was a certain, that was a black mark against them. They neighbor. They were, they would have to go through a whole ritualistic cleansing because these people were unclean. Here, Peter goes into the house and finds out, God gave to the Cornelius and his whole household exactly what was given to Peter on the day of Pentecost, and all the Jews often on the hundreds way on the day of Pentecost. So what is Peter, do while they had the same thing as review all objections, so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus, so there are always those other situations do that happened in the house of Cornelius and then we have and ask chapter sixteen, Libya, the seller of purple, yellow sheet, you know, she's spoken many times in the Scriptures and in the Philippian jailer next chapter sixteen, we have all these situations in which people came to Christ and receive Christ and then immediately following the waters of baptism, so water practice. If you outward demonstration of an inward reality. The client has saved us from our sin. Water baptism is a picture that is pictured in the New Testament as the initial step of obedience and is part of the life of obedience that we follow in listening to the word of God is given to us throughout our spiritual life. Water baptism is a mark of our unity with Christ as Christ was baptized in water, so we are being baptized as unto Christ and his entire body of believers. It's like we are uniting with Christ and uniting with the church, so water baptism, then, is our personal spiritual funeral is our spiritual funeral and our spiritual resurrection. So, it signified is that it is a very significant event in our life and and it is a very important part of our life. Now, as I said, what we don't have that were not baptized in water. Yes, even across. There was& so do you have to be baptized as a requirement and well, were following Jesus is an act of obedience. It's not an act of coercion is not unlike the preacher says I got to do this route, but that are not that she when we went when we are tempted when we are tempted to fall is aware back to our old lifestyle and Paul says that forgetting those things which are behind, I press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting the things which are behind, that it's remembering I'm dead to my former life, I buried that person I'm risen to so when we are tempted. It's a way of looking at all I can say this is a line of demarcation. Never Jesus 's life prior to the baptism 's ministry began at baptism and on. So it is that what is aware that lineup means we can look at our salvation. Our declaration of forgiveness that Jesus Christ is forgiveness of our sin. That's a line of demarcation and baptism is a physical demonstration of that spiritual reality that is in the heart that we've been training and so my declaration as I stand before others and say Christ has forgiven me of my sins. I have heard Jesus in his word, say, and he commanded it to the disciples train, teach baptize. I feel the need. It is my desire to follow Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism, this water baptismal service is something wonderful. I remember when we were in Israel and we got. I got to baptize those who were with us in the Jordan River and the couple hundred other people doing the very same thing, but it was it was very and what they may have quizzed at all site is sectioned off at each little group had their own section and you have your standards. The world of bleachers. They were there were bleachers, but they were in in the bank of the river bank, and you would set that you and everyone was in our group was there and have little walkways down into the water ramps underwater and there you would be able to be in the same Jordan that same water Saint Jordan River that Jesus was in and perform the baptismal service, and that was a high water experience that it was it was a really great experience because I'm short note, just because it was ever the people who were baptized. That's where David R Mike and I got baptized David in the Jordan River. So was quite an experience. So it's a statement that I am changed with the statement that I believe that I am a follower of Christ that I'm doing as he has commanded that we he will help me in my life when I'm dead to the old ways of seeing my old nature, and I am resurrected to do. So if you've never been baptized, today's the day if you were baptized as an infant. Okay, we believe that the baptism in water is the following of an example example of what Christ is set for us and that he has forgiven us. If you are baptized as a ritual that I really didn't need anything, but now you would like to do again, that is fine. So my urge is that doors open, then you are welcome. Whether you've been baptized whether you and you just one week middle. I don't believe that you have to be baptized every year. You know the next time next year and in and out next year and now is that if it's something that you feel in your heart would like to do whether you been baptized as an infant when you've been baptized ritual weather is just the point in your life where you want to say I'm really feel it is important to me to follow Christ in the waters of baptism. I want you to know I want you to know you're free to do that today so that is kind of the nutshell of water baptism, and it is very important. Some have had some experiences are extremely popular say life-changing and others. It's just like while. That was nice. So whatever it may be to you, whatever you feel the need is, we know that our sins are forgiven because we asked Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. Okay the next block walk of obedience is that I do this as I want to follow Christ in the waters of baptism and then felt that actress John know that I was to feel that we are open to so what were going to do is in there somewhere. I now have to run home and get there. What I like what I do is if you have a swimming suit or whatever I put that on underneath, and then put a related, but it pants for the top one maybe a couple of them, but if you have your say you have your if you have your as one. That's okay. You will need a couple of pots, but just to have a top one hundred copier bathing suit, and I'm going to have swimming trunks in the top of shirt so and then we will have the service first to get a few things set up while waiting for everyone to show up and then before we need to before we do anything will have the baptismal service, and then we'll have the picnic and everybody's welcome to come the picnic and then we'll have swimming for those who would like to do so. Okay, found some good stuff you like to be baptized in water. Please see me so we don't miss you as you go home and come I so wish that thank you Lord for saving us from our sins. Thank you Lord that you are a save your thank you Lord that you died on the cross and that Lord by your blood, the Lamb of God, whose whose life what his blood in life were given for the forgiveness of our sins, we thank you Lord for saving us, forgive us, O God, and live within our hearts, Lord, and for those who, in this moment, Lord, you touch our life and perhaps Lord, you speak your heart. It is important for us to be baptized in water, we pray Lord that you speak to us in on your urging Lord your impression upon our hearts, minds that we would be baptized touch our lives in this moment, but that prompting be of your spirit to touch us and speak to us now. We pray in Jesus name and