Matters of Membership

Today is a very exciting day for our church. In fact, this season is a time a great excitement and joy for our church. Today, we celebrate the joys a 3 young people pledging themselves to the Lord in baptism. But not only that, in a month or so to come, we will be welcoming potentially up to 7 people into membership of our church. It is a good time to be part of the Lord’s church.

And yet, as I think about these exciting events, I am aware that we all can be excited for something that we may not really have a proper understanding for of why. Why should we be excited for these? What do these things even mean? Are they even that important?

There are alot of false ideas when it comes to baptism and membership in the church. Some think it’s all about boasting numbers (more popularity, more success, more money. I’ve literally heard people in churches we’ve attended say bigger numbers means more money… and more money means better things we can do with that money as if thinking the church is merely a business to sell our brand.…) But we are not a business, nor are we chiefly concerned with money, nor are we just trying to sell something superficial.

Some equate membership and baptism with special favor and blessing from God. If you do these things, do is going to pour over you even more blessings and special favor. If you have been in our Sunday school class, you’ve heard of the in proper ways that people have gone forward to be baptized.

“I just know that God is calling me to be a warrior for his animal kingdom, I just know I cannot do it without God.”

“I hope that my baptism tonight will cause some positive influences in my life, positive things in my life, and open up future opportunities in my life.

“I want to be baptized so I can purify my sense of being”.

“I wanna get closer with God and closer with Jesus”

So why then do we get baptized, why then should we consider membership.

Since we have so many people engaging with these and how often we forget or even misunderstand them, this month, before we return to the book of Colossians after about of year off, take a break from our time in the Gospel of Mark, we will in the next 5 weeks be opening up the scriptures to talk about and address into these important matters. Matters of Membership. And it starts with baptism. Baptism and Membership are inseparably linked as we will discuss these things today. In fact, baptism is where church membership begins.

So to help us understand why we celebrate these things and to wrap our heads around their importance, we will go back to the very beginning, where centuries ago, baptism and membership began.

Acts 2 is where it all started. Now for those paying attention, we have already seen that baptism was apart of the Jewish background before this event in Acts two took place. But this is a different kind of baptism then we talked about there at the beginning of Jesus ministry. This is where we see the beginnings of the church.

Acts 2 describes that time directly after the Lord had died and rose again and ascended to heaven. There He had left his disciples, his apostles and instructed them to carry on the mission that He started. As the text begins, Peter and the other disciples waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit, to empower their ministries. Having received Him, His divine empowerment, these men are able to do things in that moment that only God could produce. Speaking in languages they’ve never learned and a sound like a mighty rushing wind. The stage was set and all eyes from all regions of the word, gathered there Jerusalem to hear the Word of God.

Peter then stood in that moment and lifted up his voice and proclaimed these words. Words that still instruct us today.

As you skim thru this text, you’ll notice very clearly towards the end of Peters sermon… the first mention of baptism.

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And you’ll notice that they indeed followed his instructions to be baptized.

Acts 2:41 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

But what I want everyone here to notice, is that before baptism can ever be considered. There is a requirement that must be met. A prerequisite. And we will look at that in this text.

I. Prerequisite of Baptism

A. Knowing Jesus - v.22

Notice that before Peter ever mentions anything about baptism, what He first wants everyone to take to think about. What does Peter draw their minds to. The first and most essential matter of His sermon.

Acts 2:22 ESV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Jesus of Nazareth…

People in that time who are hearing Peter’s sermon knew of Jesus… some in the crowd may have seen Him or heard Him speak. Most all of them were likely to have known the tales of His mighty deeds and the miracles He performed.… the truly astonishing things that He did..… like feeding thousands with a few mere fish and bread, casting out legions of demons, walking on water, calmly stormy seas, healing the lame, the blind, mute, and the deaf and even bringing people back to life… just as was prophesied in the writings of old. These things are what those in that day would have heard. They would have known of Jesus and His deeds. But not everyone agreed on who He was. A carpenter’s son, a prophet, a heretic, etc… who He was, a debate, a controversial one at that amongst many who lived in that day.

And yet, not much has changed. Who is Jesus continues to be a controversial debate.

And what about you today? What have you heard and seen of Jesus. Whom do you believe Him to be? An ancient teacher who lived long ago. A very good man, very moral person. Some might even call Him a radical social figure who turned the world upside down. Many separate him altogether from his teaching and “religious” aspects and think of him only as a person that lived long ago. Some (although unwise considering the amount of evidence for His existence in history and archeology) consider him a mere fairy tale. And yet still, some know Him as the Christ, the Anointed Messiah, the eternal Son of God, the creator of the universe, and the savior of world.

Who you believe Jesus to be is thee most important, most critical, most life changing questions you’ll ever answer in this life. Simple put… your eternal existence hinges on this ONE CRITICAL question and understanding.

Peter not only goes on to tell us about Jesus, but chiefly focus’ on what Jesus did. People knew Him by His miracles, and signs, and wonders.… but that is not chiefly why He came. He came for something far greater.

So let’s look at what Peter speaks on for the reason he came.

B. Knowing Why He Came - v.23-35

“To be obedient to the Father” (v.23)

Acts 2:23 ESV

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God....

Jesus came to be in complete obedience to God… and what did God’s plan involve...

“To die and rise again” (v.23)

Acts 2:23 ESV

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

God’s plan involved Jesus death but also his resurrection....

Acts 2:24 ESV

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Acts 2:29–32 ESV

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

But why did Jesus die?

Peter continues on with the truths about Jesus to this listening crowd

Acts 2:34–35 ESV

For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

“To conquer his enemies” (v.34-35)

And what were His enemies… Sin, death, the devil.

Sin was never God’s doing. He did not create the world with sin. All the ugliness of sin, it’s corruption, it’s lies, it’s choas, it’s destructive did not come from God. God is by very nature a being of order, of beauty, of peace, or perfect.… none of which comes from sin can come from God for He is so vastly different in nature to it.

Jesus when He died, He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, and He killed it there. He defeated it.

Not only did he defeat sin, but he defeated death. Death is the consequence of sin, and He conquered when He rose from the dead.

By doing both of these things, he defeated the devil schemes.

And everyone listening to this might be like, alright sweet, good riddance devil, good riddance death, good riddance sin.

Most of us wouldn’t have any problem with this thinking. But here’s the part of what Jesus did that hurts us. In fact, it was the same thing that cut the hearts of those that heard the message that Peter spoke.

“To rescue the rebel” (v.36)

So far, everything that Peters mentions is a marvelous wonder.… but now comes the accusation.

Acts 2:36 ESV

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

“Whom you crucified...”

Whom you’ve sided against and cast your lot with sin, death, and the devil. You didn’t embrace Jesus, you sought to get rid of Him.… why…

2 reasons....as the text tells us....

God proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Christ-

The term Lord means one who has absolute authority… in the Hebrew Old Testament the word is translated from the Hebrew word YAHWEH meaning the unchanging, self-existent, eternal ruler of the word. “I AM WHO I AM”. Since therefore He has always existed and brought all things into being… He has all authority. What Peter proclaims and we affirm, Jesus has absolute authority, including over us.

And that’s the second reason they sought to get rid of Him...

All mankind rebel against His authority-

The very first human beings ever created were those that rebelled against God’s authority. He said don’t eat of a certain fruit in the garden of Eden, and they thru the cunning deceitfulness of Satan’s temptations, questioned first God’s authority/direction as wise, as good, as right. And they thought they knew better than God and rebelled against Him by disobeying His one command. Since that time, every single being on this planet has rebelled against God and because of this, has been re-guarded as by as His enemy.

Colossians 1:21 NIV

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

How many crimes do you have to commit to be labeled a criminal. Just one...

How many times do you have to rebel against God before being labeled a rebel. Just one...

And yet, how many of us have committed multiple violations against the perfect and righteous and good commands of God. Far too many to even name.

And because of this God the Just God of the universe cannot let sin go unpunished. He would fail to be a righteous and just God if He did so. So He must punish sin.

And anyone who has ever sinned, who has ever rebelled against God, who has ever disregarded and not cared about what God has said, will face the wrath of God.

And that’s why they were cut to the heart… that is why they were scared.

When the Lord comes back, it will be a day of great punishment for all those who openly reject Him.

And yet, this is not the end of God’s doing. If this is all God’s Word contained… we would have no reason for hope, or for joy, or for any kind of celebration…

God is not just God of RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE… He is also God of infinite love and mercy. So much greater than any of us can ever imagine.

Scripture puts it in this terms.

Romans 5:7–8 NLT

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

While we were still dead set on opposing Him, He died for us. He didn’t wait for us to get our acts together. He died while we still openly rejected Him.

He died to take our place. Our consequences, our payment, our debt for sin that we could never repay… Christ paid that for us.… because of His great love.… that we might have life. Freed from the consequences of our sin and free to live.

So if this is true, and it is, we must ask the same question as these in this passage did.

Acts 2:37–39 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

C. Knowing What to Do to be Saved - v.37-38

-Call upon the name of the Lord (faith)

Acts 2:21 ESV

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

-Repent of your sins

(acknowledgement of your need for Christ and the wrongs you have commitment. Complete change of mind about who you are as a person)

There’s only one requirement in order to be baptized. You must be saved. If that is true of your life, than you meet the criteria.

But we need to make a clarifying statement because we might read Acts 2:38- repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and think… i’ve got to be baptized otherwise I won’t have forgiveness. But is that what saves you.

See thief on the cross, or the Philippian jailer. Acts 16:25-31

Baptism does not save you. Only Christ’s work on the cross can do that. You receive that gift thru repentance and belief/or what we call faith in Jesus and all that He accomplishment in His death, burial, and resurrection to purchase your freedom.

You must be saved to be baptized but you do not need to be baptized to be saved.

II. Significance of Baptism

Why be baptized. First, we must note. That the moment of salvation is oftentimes a private matter. It’s a conversation between you and God. You don’t have to go thru a priest, pastor, or anyone else to receive salvation, although that is very helpful to direct you to the truth. The only requirement is for you to go before God, and make your confession.

There are people that get saved by just reading thru the Bible. That doesn’t excuse us from sharing it, it’s just proof that salvation can occur when no one else is in the room but that person and God.

But God does not want us to remain as private or secret Christians. The biggest problem with a private “christian”- and maybe there is really two… one if we have been saved, their is absolutely no reason to be ashamed of our salvation or our relationship with God. God would certainly not be pleased with this. Second, God is His saving power deserves the glory that your life should openly tell. To “hide” your faith robs God of the glory that is rightfully His for what He did to change a life.

And so why should we be baptized. What’s the significance?

A. Public Declaration of Identification

Identify with Jesus

“I’ve been changed by Jesus” “I Belong to Jesus

-Public matter… consider Jerusalem… Jordan River

We can see this very clearly in the symbolism that happens in baptism.

-In order to get the symbolisms right, we have to get the practice right. We believe that the Bible is pretty clear on how baptism works. The very word Baptize in its original language means to dunk or to immerse in water.

That’s why you will never once see a single example of anyone in scripture ever receiving sprinkling or pouring of water on their head as a form of baptism.

Think about what that would symbolize. If being baptized symbolizes your declaration of having Christ in your life. A water sprinkling would only suggest that He has affected just little parts of you whereas being dunked under the water symbolizes a complete take over of your body. I’ve never once seen a baptism happen where a person who was dunked in the water, came up dry. In fact, their whole body is soaked. That symbolizes the completeness of what Christ did. He owns all of us. He changes our whole person. We are a completely new life, thoroughly cleansed by His blood.

It also as points outs as scripture reveals, how we’ve been raised. Christ died, and was buried, and rose again.

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

This is the symbolism that Identifies us publically to all that we belong to Jesus and we want everyone to know it.

Identify with His People

We see this in our passage Acts 2:41

Acts 2:41 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

added to what… to the church’s list of people who have all staked their claim to Jesus.

“Being reconciled to God means being reconciled to his people...”

B. Firstfruits of Obedience

This is the very first command God has instituted in the Word following a person’s salvation. Scripture is full of places. Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Many people think that getting saved is just a matter of receiving fire insurance. A get out of jail free card. Like adding Jesus to an existing plan.

But Jesus isn’t something or someone we just add as a perk to our life as if He is one of many options that benefit us. No, remember didn’t come just to entertain us with His miracles, or merely to save us from our punishments, Christ came to be proclaimed as Lord. To return a people that would submit themselves to His sovereign authority.

The Bible is pretty clear about this. He came to save a people not just from the punishments of their sins but also to save them from the power of their sins. A sin is anything that is opposed to God’s standards of righteousness. Therefore, Christ never came to die, just so you could continue to live in sin. No He freed you from sins power and punishment for the purpose of serving and glorifying Him as Lord.

Baptism is the firstfruits of the obedience of this new life to come. It’s the first step of a lifetime of submitting yourself to Him. If Christ truly saved you, from your obedience to you sins and active rebellion against God, then His first command to be baptized shouldn’t be a problem to obey.

I really struggle with those that claim Christ is their savior and Lord but won’t submit in obedience to His first command. Your life seems to still be living in open rebellion against God.

Application:

In our flesh, the flesh that wants to sin, give up, break oaths, and so forth, let today’s baptism be a reminder to all of those that have staked their claim with Christ, let it be a reminder of their public oaths they have made to him. You’ve sided with Him not just so you can receive a ticket to heaven, but so that you might walk in obedience to Christ. That today’s baptism be an encouragement that Christ indeed continues to save. Though darkness seems to be all around us and growing by the day, God’s light is still shining forth thru the darkness and bringing about redemption. Let today’s baptism be a reminder of what our mission is. I hope that this stirs you to want to continue to see God’s work and that you would see it done thru you.

These baptism also accomplish another thing. They call out to you to pick a side. Who’s side are you on? These that have been baptized have staked their claim with Jesus. Who do you make you claim with. If it’s not in accordance with God’s Holy Word the Bible, if it doesn’t line up exactly with the way that He said it should be. You have put your hope not in him but in yourself and therefore have chosen to side against God. These that are being baptised all calling to you to join with them in following Jesus, who saved their souls and can save your soul as well. Will you join them today?

Prayer for those being Baptized:

Father in heaven, Great and Mighty God, Strong and compassionate to save, we rejoice in that saving grace that You have brought these beloved young one from kingdom of darkness and of sin into Your marvelous kingdom of light, the Kingdom of Your Beloved Son. May their baptism today be a clear testimony that Jesus is Lord, that His death and resurrection are their hope, and that Your Spirit now dwells within them. Strengthen their faith in the days ahead, guard their hearts from onslaughts of the enemy, and make their life a radiant display of Your great glory. Let their joy in Christ overflow so that many will see and believe.

I pray that even today, thru Word of God preached and the thru testimony of these young ones, that you have already begun your work of convicting lives in this room of their need for you. I pray that if there is anyone here present that has been “cut to the heart” that they would not dismiss that conviction and continue in their rebellion against you, but I pray that thru your guidance and power that they would today take that step to ask and receive the gift of salvation. I pray that you would direct them to seek out someone who could explain further how they can be saved and can join the joy and hope of these little ones in knowing the Savior of the World and being freed from their sins.

This we ask, in the powerful, saving name of Jesus, Amen.