Baptismal Message

So fine.

Give me a b c d.

in the cross in the cross be my glory ever.

Meet you in the precious and Wonderful Name of Jesus this morning. The one who was willing to go to the cross. that we Define salvation and have the opportunity we have to be here this morning, praise God.

A child of God how wonderful is it to be a child of God? This morning. We're again witness sing seven young people who have decided to be a child of God.

What does it mean to be a child of God? How do I? We become a child of God.

And how do we remain a child of God?

What does it take to be saved? Do we only believe? Or do we only need to confess something?

Or maybe we just need to be baptized.

What does It mean to be saved.

Turn with me to John 3. I love the couch here. John chapter 3 proof eyewear. Nicodemus is coming to Jesus. And we see this educated this Pharisee who is among the rulers. to know the answers He is wanting to know really Jesus, who are you

I want to ask you to stand as we read these verses what you stand with me John 3 verse 3 through 5.

Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him. How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be boring? Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the spirit you cannot enter into the kingdom of God Amen. You may be seated.

But you know of God and Nicodemus is like well, what do you mean? How can we be born again? What does the new birth mean? and she just goes on to further explain here and he says except a man be born of water and of the spirit. He cannot enter the kingdom of God.

water and of the spirit

and I find it intriguing how Jesus uses the simple or the basic things of life things that people understand things that people see and know about to explain the death of of meaning that we find here in Scripture.

the new birth

how many of us here were born? I think we all were.

We were born once for sure. Otherwise, I don't think we would be here.

And Jesus uses this picture and explaining the need for us to enter into the spiritual Kingdom the kingdom of God. We must be born into the kingdom of God.

I would like to bring out in this new birth experience the importance of baptism.

honestly think of a natural family

and we think of parents that have a child for have children.

And as I think of this I can't help but think of my two sons. Add being a part of their entrance into this world.

The second one faster than the Midwife did and I was single-handed. So happen to know a lot.

The time after that I would like to make an analogy here to compare a few things to help us remember or to help make it clear or or understand better what takes place also in our spiritual life, and I know it doesn't totally meet up in every way but I think we can see something beautiful here as well.

I am thinking of four specific things the time in the world the birth. What happens after the birth of the washing of a child? I believe every one of us here was washed after we were born.

And the need to be fed and nourished after that in order to grow these four things.

The time in the womb the bus the washing and the growth after birth. I like to make the comparison here this morning of the time in the world to the spiritual to the time when when we are are facing conviction and decision. We need to make a decision will I believe in Jesus Christ, or will I not Will I take this step? And when will I take it?

a time of preparation for breath but then when we make that decision we are born we believe in Jesus Christ. We repent of our sins we are born into the kingdom of God.

And as it is a part of every birth, there's a washing that happens. The newborn needs to be cleansed and symbolically. I believe we can we can like him that to our baptism. It is something that is a part of our first experience or that follows our birthday experience as we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. It is something that is that is a public expression of something that has taken place within us are ready.

As sweet as we already heard mentioned in 1st Peter 3:21, it it's exit. It's not the the matter of washing off the dirt of our bodies, but it's a it's an answer of a clean conscience. We have made things right with God and because of that we want to obey him and steal that in baptism.

And then the nurturing the feeding, I would like to like him to that of discipleship to growing in the knowledge of God and to applying his truth to our lives.

and when we think of a baptism I believe it is important because of what the scriptures tell us to not totally disconnect it from our Salvation. Although we believe.

That we are saved by believing this is yet a Commandment that will follow if we see if we continue to seek after God. Open with me to ask 2 verse 38.

Acts 2 verse 38 tells us and here we see a 30lb reading 37 and 38. We see Jesus preaching and the day of Pentecost and he's coming here and the people are understanding that they need to do something and the beginning and verse 37 now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and other words, they were convicted of their sin and send them to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles better brother. And what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

and be baptized 1st Corinthians 3 21 and 22

the white figure whereunto even baptism 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 who has gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God angels and authorities and Powers being made subject unto him. We see here not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.

We see obedience. We see the answer of a cleanse conscience. We have taken the conviction the sin that we know it's in our lives. We have said God this is who I am. I am. Sorry. All returns are these things I want to believe in you you are the answer.

And we do that publicly through baptism as you are doing this morning.

I got a friend. I have a friend.

He was a sincere young man. He loved his Bible. He read it more Faithfully than I did. I'm sure.

He was very interested in evangelism and missions. He love life had a vibrant love for Jesus.

In his teenage years.

He tried to find direction where to go, but he he lived a little in indecision. He came to our Bible school. She came to a church many times you had an interest in our church. Is from another church background? He adopted many of our values and beliefs. He personalized them. But year after year went by.

And you did not make this stuff for baptism. He had at one point been a part of of the baptismal class and his church.

But was discouraged with it because many of the other young people in the class were not sincere. And so he dropped out rather than going ahead with and insincere bunch.

And I was just in decision on this matter continued. nearly 10 years past

the last fall as I was talking with him about the subject again wondering when he's going to take that stuff.

And I'm discussing. I thought of the fact that you know, and I made this observation to him I said You know the last number of years it seems that you're you haven't growing spiritually you sort of stagnated.

And he recognized that. He should have done something sooner. He should have decided.

And as we continue discussion, he said that yeah, he's planning to to move ahead and and within a few months, he did actually move ahead with the Houston and became baptized in his church.

What's the question?

Where would you have been today had he feel fulfilled all righteousness then?

She loves the Lord but really what kept him back. How does that affect his Christian growth?

And another question I had was or is is how long can we put off a clear command of Jesus Christ and remain sick? And I don't have the answer for that but it's something for us to consider it especially for you. Women and young ladies who have not yet made that step.

What we say the water does not save us yet. We know it is a clear command of Jesus Christ.

John 3:5 again, we see Jesus saying except you be born of water and of the spirit. You cannot enter the kingdom of God. So then we may ask her. Why don't we just quickly baptized there?

Let us consider for a bit the significance of baptism.

acts 2:41

we see the the the multitude is coming and being baptized versus 41 and 42 and here it says then they that gladly received. His word were baptized in the same day were added on to them about three thousand souls and they continued steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers. They became a part of the body.

And they continued in the apostles Doctrine or in their teaching. and fellowship faithfulness was required from them. They became a part of a larger body a body which held them accountable and it says also in Breaking of bread and prayers.

I'm also like to look at 1st Corinthians 12:13.

Where's says for by one Spirit? Are we all baptized into one body? Whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit. And here it is speaking of our spiritual baptism. If we are baptized simply with water, but have not. The spirit if we have if it's the spirit of God is Not dwelling in us the Bible tells us that we are none of his.

So we must have the spirit in US. And I believe we we see that as we repent and turn to the Lord. But it says here that we are baptized into one body. So we become a part of the body.

We are members one of another.

And the body is to be maintained pure and holy as a speaks of in Ephesians 5:27. Where Jesus wants to presented them to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, but that it would be holy and without blemish. So, how do we do that?

There was once a man who came to our church a middle-aged man a very sincere man. Guitar has quite a number of children. Most of them were adopted or

turn of the Lord there then he had moved and come to Romania living Lake close to us and have we got you to attend our church and had interest to be coming up on the bus.

So I believe from what I remember he apply for membership in the time of instruction improving again, and he continued to attack.

One of our ministers but a message on marriage divorce remarriage.

And after that message, he was very very tall. And she he said something to my father civil. What do I do?

And then his history came out he had. He or his wife had divorced him. I think his wife had divorced him back before he had ever become a Christian. And when he had entered the church there and in Moldova, they permitted him to remarry because that was before his new birth experience.

And now he had his second wife while his first wife still living.

And was caring for this large number of children.

And he wondered what should he do now? Well the Brethren explain the word of God and and what the options were.

Be counted the cost and thought it to great.

But had we not had some time approving.

and would have simply received him an right away. What would we have brought in our mist?

Would we have been maintaining a good conscience would he have had a good conscience as a speak 7th and 1st Peter 3:21?

And Hebrews 3 12 and 13.

Tell us to take a deep breath and let there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the Living God, but exhort one another daily while it is called to let any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. My friends my dear brothers and sisters. We must exhort one another we must encourage one another daily lest. We be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin that is around us and that wants to penetrate. And we also must take heed. Lester develop in any of us and evil heart of unbelief John hate Envoy

hardly a year past

and that man I just told you about. Was swiftly taken from this life. Well when he pulled out in front of a car with a scooter.

And I had to wonder.

How long would he have had to bear this suffering of separation?

Was it really worth?

leaving so that he could continue living as he wished.

Is there really anything too difficult and lie? That we can't too difficult to give up. in exchange for obedience to Christ

young man in young ladies here. You are about to be baptized remember this. There is nothing. Too difficult to give up for Jesus. Time on this Earth is so short. It wasn't but a few days ago. I was sitting Where You Are.

so it seems at least

and it won't be but a few days. Till I am we're brothers Samus. Our life is as a vapor. Nothing is worth holding. There is nothing more valuable than that. I mean there's nothing on this Earth that is more valuable than Jesus. Be willing to give up anything for him.

Romans 6 verses 1 through 4

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound?

God forbid how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Know you not that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life. We must be dead to sin that we can walk in the newness of life.

When we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will when we believe with all our heart we will be motivated to obedience. Obedience will come because we want to please the one who saved us.

And we are part of that obedience.

We'll be back because we love Jesus and we want to do what he says.

But as we entered this Walk of Life the spiritual Walk of Life.

We are young and are faced. And if I may say we are children in the face. We must grow in order to grow you need to eat good food.

If we do not feed on this word of God, we will not grow. If we are not fed by others, we will not go as we are. So we need to feed ourselves and we need to be fed, and this brings us to the second part of the message. Discipleship this also is an essential part of your walk with God. Yes, you have made the steps of repentance. You have chosen to go through with baptism. God bless you. But thus the road doesn't stop here. We have to continue on. Ephesians 4. Would you please turn to that with me fusions 4 verses 11 through 16

Ephesians 4 beginning with verse 11 And no tear who God has put in our midst to help us grow an okay verse 11, especially and he gave some Apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ. Do we all Come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man. I'm to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ that we has fourth be no more children tossed to and fro and carry a belt with every wind of Doctrine and by the Slate of man and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to DC but speaking the truth. in law That's something pretty important for us younger generation. When we speak the truth. It must always be with love may grow up into him and all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplier according to the effectual working and the measure of every part making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself and love this is wonderful. We who are those of us who are at the beginning of the journey. We have the opportunity to learn from those who have gone before from those who are already among the prophets evangelists of pastors the teachers. So that we are perfected. So that as it says in verse 14 that we are no longer children because at the beginning of our walk, we are children or babes in Christ as the Bible also speaks, but we are not to remain children grow just as natural children grow. We as spiritual children must also grow So that we are not tossed to and fro with every idea and fad that comes along but that we may speak the truth and love may grow up into him into Christ, which is the head.

And I love verse 16.

the last part That make it increase of the body unto edifying of itself in love. The body of Christ needs to increase within itself. More members need to be brought in. And it needs to grow and they need to develop their spiritual muscles. They need to grow in Christ Jesus that they also can fulfill the roles that are found here in verse 11 that they can also be the prophets evangelists. The pastor's the teachers for the church tomorrow.

Oh that you would grow in that race. And the knowledge of the Gospel to where you can also fulfill those responsibilities and maybe for the young ladies. You're not thinking. Well, there are too many slots here for me, but it does say teacher. God may call you someday. To be a pastor's wife. And your work there is also very important. So don't minimize your responsibility to grow you have a responsibility to grow as it may God bless you as you seek him.

And the desire here is that we can grow up. In our spiritual walk that we could exercise ourselves in spiritual things. That we might be ready. To fulfill the command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20 where you says go ye therefore and teach All Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I have commanded you and he doesn't stop there. He says lo I am with you. Always even unto the end of the world. That's why we need to grow now. We have started the journey, but let's not stop you. Let's keep growing. That we can also teach others that others can be brought into the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God can continue to grow. My friends Brothers and Sisters in Christ. We cannot. or the kingdom of God Needs people who are Willie. To go to tell others to live righteous lives here.

And I am burdened with this as well. I was just reach recently and another discussion since then heard the tremendous need of laborers in the Kingdom.

All over Mission boards are looking. their churches who have needs will we be among those who are preparing today for the workout has for us tomorrow?

Let us be born of the spirit. We must depend on God of Our Own Strength. We will not make it. But God can do anything. And remember there is nothing too great on this Earth to lay down for the sake of Jesus. May God bless.

I got him up the number 729. Y'all can't stand this song love to songs here. 729 I have decided to follow Jesus good message on our decision to follow Christ all the price all the way.

I have the sauce.