Gail Baptism
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I can’t imagine a better way to end my last service here at Crossroads than with a baptism. In just a few minutes, I am going to have Gail come up to be baptized.
Baptism is one of the greatest joys a pastor has in ministry. Many times, we get to be a part of the salvation of an individual and then we get to follow up with a conversation about baptism.
In the last few years, we’ve been able to do quite a few baptisms. For some it was long overdue and for others it was soon after salvation. Either way, we as a church have celebrated new life with so many.
Please, church, allow this to be a regular habit here at Crossroads moving forward. Be engaged with those who need Christ, show them Christ, tell them about Christ and ask them to receive Christ.
The Gospel message is simple...let me give it to you again.
We are sinners in need of Grace - Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
God’s standard is perfection. We are all very, very short of that standard. We are all sinners.
Sin deserves death, but Jesus came as a gift -Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That word wages means what we’ve earned. As a result of our sin, we have earned eternal death. Even so, Jesus came and died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin and on the 3rd day rose again conquering death once and for all.
What Jesus did for us is a gift. A gift of eternal life instead of what we’ve earned.
We’ve all probably received a gift at some point in our lives. In order to fully receive a gift, we have to open that gift and use what is inside.
To receive gift of salvation make Jesus Lord - Romans 10:9-10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
When Gail was asked if that is something she was ready to do, she shared the most confident yes I have ever witnessed. After we prayed, she let out the biggest YEAH ever.
I know there are probably some of you who have not said yes to Jesus yet. One thing or another has held you back from accepting the gift Jesus came to give you. After we baptize Gail, I am going to ask if you would like to say yes to making Jesus the Lord of your life. Please be ready for that question if that is you...
Let’s read a quick passage about baptism...
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
When we are baptize someone, they are identifying themselves with Him in his death, burial and resurrection.
When the person goes under the water we identify with his death and burial and then when raised out of the water, we identify with Jesus resurrection and we are raised to new life in Christ.
Gail would you come up...
Gail starting coming to Crossroads when she was invited to Thanksgiving dinner several years ago. She never stopped coming.
I’ve asked her several times over the years if she had been baptized and she told me yes, but when I pressed her further, she told me she didn’t remember because she was just an infant. I asked her if she wanted to and she always just shook her head no.
After I had the privilege of seeing her say yes to Jesus, it was very quick yes to being baptized as well.
Gail, I want to encourage you from Hebrews 12...
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
