Where Do I Go From Here? 3

A New Life Without Shame

Text: Romans 6:1-14

Introduction

Over 3,000 had turned away from their unbelief and publicly confessed Christ as their Savior by faith. These same people began their authentic Christ-like life with an attitude of shamelessness. What next step put them on track to live a life without shame about their new found faith in Jesus Christ? The answer…BAPTISM! This is exactly what we see with the first century Christians.

This first step along with many others becomes more than a step of not being ashamed. These steps become powerful moments of reflection to assure you of your identity in Christ. They play a huge role in your future following of Jesus.

The question for you today is this: Does the Bible declare my current life being lived in a shameful way of Jesus Christ or with a love that is greater than all other interests and excuses?

Psalm 119:6 “Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.” Romans 10:11 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

It is time to quit using your past upbringing, religious connections, fear of judgement hinder you from talking YOUR NEXT STEP of love for Jesus.

1) There Is Proper Authority

A. All authority is found in Jesus

Turn to Matthew 28:16–20 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

For anything, any freedom, any judgement, any reward to be authentic, it must be based on proper authority.

This command of the full commission came from the one who has the authority to give it.

The impact of the whole commission is very dear to Jesus’ heart…that includes believers baptism.

All of this was made possible by Jesus finishing His mission!

Who exactly was given this great commission?

ANS — His church

B. Jesus has commissioned His church to baptize all believers

We have already discussed what constitutes an authentic New Testament church.

Correct teaching about the full person of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Correct teaching about God’s plan of providing salvation and how someone receives that salvation.

Faithful practice of the two ordinances.

Taking the gospel across the globe.

Anyone who provides a biblical testimony of faith in Jesus SHOULD NEVER be denied baptism.

Even if that means they are not yet ready to join our church.

While joining our church is approved by majority vote of our membership, BAPTISM is a command…NO VOTE NEEDED FOR THAT!

The Eunuch Philip led to faith in Jesus had no need for a vote from those in Jerusalem. All he needed was his valid baptism from Jerusalem to administer to baptism.

1 Peter 3:21“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

However, baptism is the prerequisite of joining a New Testament church body. WHY WOULD YOU RETRACT FROM THAT?

2) There Is A Powerful Message

A. What is the basic definition of Believer baptism?

Define: It is a ritual act of obedience to Jesus Christ that portrays the new identity the believer has received at the moment of placing a trusting faith in Jesus Christ.

B. The message of believer baptism

a. You “were baptized into His death”

It is a baptism symbolizing Jesus’ death that you claimed the moment you believed on Jesus.

It could be said, “You are baptized in the name of the one who died our death”

Or as Paul put it, “You were baptized into His death.”

(v6-7)What a powerful reminder of a reality you get to live in every day; SIN HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF IT’S POWER!

My baptism declares to me this reality Jesus put to my account when I trusted Christ as Savior.

(v8-10)Jesus died ONCE for sin and to sin!

WHY ON EARTH would you want to deny yourself such an experience that reminds you of such a blessing from Jesus???

b. You “were baptized into His resurrection”

Question — What took place when Jesus resurrected?

Jesus’ victory of death is equal to you who are believers being SET FREE FROM SIN’S BONDAGE!

Resurrection says, “I am beyond death’s control!”

“In Christ” you are set free!

(v8) “we shall live with Him”

This particular “living” is talking about the life we are able to live on earth.

Galatians 2:20 “20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

(v9) Your baptism affirms in your mind that you can live outside the tyranny of death!

Sin is a tyrannical king that makes demands on his subjects.

Jesus’ death broke sin reign!

Quote: “The cross was sin’s final move; the resurrection was God’s checkmate. The game is over. Sin is forever in defeat.” Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 152.

3) There Is A Perpetual Impact

Verses 11-14

A. Use your baptism as a powerful reminder that I have been given power from God to reckon myself DEAD to sin

Remember…Jesus died FOR and TO sin.

Illustration: Baptism is like the privilege of standing in the winners circle being announced the victor. The winner circle doesn’t make someone a winner, but the place where the victory is announced.

(v11) Paul is NOT SUGGESTING for you to imitate Christ when he said, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead…”

Jesus was declared dead at a particular moment on the cross.

You also entered into that moment when you placed your faith in Him.

SO……you are to take seriously the fact that “in Christ” you also died to sin.”

Quote: “Fitzmyer writes: “Ontologically united with Christ through faith and baptism, Christians must deepen their faith continually to become more and more psychologically aware of that union.” Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 153.

Turn to: 2 Peter 1:3–9 “3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

APPLICATION — When sin tries to make a powerful appeal to you, you have authority “in Christ” to deny sin.

Illustration — To say yes to sin’s appeal is like you digging up a corpse and having fellowship with it.

B. Use your baptism as a powerful reminder that you have been given a new life from God to live obediently to God

Remember…your faith in Christ positioned you outside sin’s reign over your life.

SO……you are to take seriously giving your whole life to righteous living.

This is more than not saying all those three and four letter words.

Its parents realizing their the responsible ones to make decisions for their children.

It’s taking your faith and voting unashamed at the voting booth.

It’s surrendering your thought life to God’s Spirit.

It’s living a sacrificial life.

It’s living with contentment.

It’s living out all the fruit’s of the Spirit……….

HOWEVER…it won’t be your seriousness that gets this done, but your seriousness will determine to put yourself at the disposal of God; HOLY SPIRIT.

(v14) As you look back at your baptism, understand, the moment you received Christ as Savior through faith, He placed under His grace which has made you an overcomer. OVERCOMING SIN IS ATTAINABLE!

Conclusion

There is limited time to live unashamed? Maybe today is the first time you realized your delay to follow in believer baptism is living ashamed of your Savior. In light of this, what do you want to do with the opportunity God has afforded you today?