Baptism August 2024

The Living Dead

I didn’t want present arguments today. I didn't want to spend a great deal of time explaining that we are sinners, and sin is that which offends God. Jesus says in Matt. 5 that he he hates a brother in his heart is a murderer at heart and guilty to the point of going to hell. Anyone that looks with lust on another person is hiding adultery in their heart Jesus said.

Sin is so serious that we read in Revelation 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” So sin, must be much more serious than we could know.

I do want to encourage you, that there is so much evidence for the resurrection of Christ, so much testimony of the accuracy of both the Old and New Testaments, that the reasons we don’t accept Christ, is a heart issue. I want to do, what I want to do we make the choice to live for death - 1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

What do I do Robert? How can I avoid this lake-of-fire? How can I experience the love and grace of a God that wants to fellowship with me?

Its simple. As the Gospel (good news) is for all.

First, we must know that Jesus said we must be born again, be new creations.

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

We must be born again because we have all sinned and cannot be innocent as we were made in the image of Adam, a fallen person.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

So I need to ADMIT that I am a sinner. To repent. To through Gods grace change my heart and mind to turn from sin and turn to Him.

Romans 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

We must BELIEVE - that jesus died and rose again from the dead and is still alive. And jesus did this for us, though we didn't deserve it.

Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Just amazing.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

We then need to Confess. To receive Jesus as our Lord and tell everyone. If you met Michael Jordan you would tell everyone. Now we need to tell them about Jesus.

Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

What about after? Well in becoming His disciples, we now need to follow after him, being obedient to His Word. And one of the things we are commanded to do, is be baptized. That is immersing in water, and being raised up again.

Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Like this baptism, it is not merely the act, but what it means - 1 Peter 3:21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. (Baptism of Spirit) And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Come let us live these new lives in Christ!

Pray - invitation, baptism testimonies, baptism.