Raising the Bar
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Transcript
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Intro
Intro
Illus: If you were asked about certain aspects of the Christian religion could you answer them?
There is story of a pastor who sent out an e-mail to the congregation about the upcoming celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Her response might surprise us:
What do I bring?
Is there a sign up sheet?
Who do I contact to learn which food group is needed.
This shows us that there is a need for us to teach and be prepared to teach some basics of the Christian faith.
We live in a world where generations of people do not know.
Paul was up against this same problem:
Disciples who had not received the HS with their Baptism.
Progressive revelation: John prepared the way, Jesus had his ministry on earth, HS came at pentecost, Now God was using Paul to bridge the gap during this odd time between Jesus ministry and the giving of the HS
Shows us the need for Paul and the Apostles to have these special gifts during this time to be the giver of the HS in this unique situation.
problem: Having a wrong understanding about the things we practice in the Christian religion.
Doctrine
Doctrine
What happens if we have a wrong understanding of our religion and why we practice it.
God has everything set up so that we practice what we believe. There is consistency in theses, unlike the world.
Errors if we are not consistent:
We end up focusing on man rather than Jesus
Baptism - purpose
Outward sign of the inward work of the HS
application of the gospel
Covenant promises (future) that are spiritual - salvation
Sign - Represents a washing and renewal of the old man
Seal - of the future resurrection
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Baptism of John
Repentance without the gospel
HS was absent as He had not yet come.
It was half a Baptism
Application of the work of Christ by the HS
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts 10:
The Baptism we practice should not be associated with anyone other than Jesus.
Paul to the Corinthians:
What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
Our understanding of our faith and religion must be consistent, and they must be focused on Jesus or we end up focusing on men.
Illus:
We end up focusing on the practice rather than Jesus
These men were baptised for the repentance of sin and were disciples who were going about with only half of the truth
They focused on the law aspect of the plan of salvation
People were realizing they were sinners and needed a savior
Then they were baptized as if this were the answer
At the time of John it was, but Jesus shows that that is not enough
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:1-8
Jesus shows us that being born again is the focus and not the baptism.
The washing that happens is a spiritual washing that is represented by the outward sign.
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Without Jesus and a completed understanding of the gospel, then we might be left with:
Moralism - a sense that we are obeying to earn our salvation
Misapplication of the sacrament - focusing on the sacrament as if it is what saves
Illus: Baptism is a big deal in the life of a Christian. It may happen in our infancy or it may happen after we confess and believe.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is important to note that these men had no idea about the HS. That is why Paul was there to teach them and to impart the HS.
Yet, we have no excuse for ignorance.
What we have is a complete gospel - yes a conviction for our sin, and a salvation through faith in the work of Jesus
In order for us to avoid these major errors we must:
always look for Jesus Christ in all that we believe.
Not to earthly men
Not to our own work
Not even to the HS
His role is to glorify Christ
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
always practice our faith in light of the complete gospel truth.
It isn’t Baptism that saves us, it’s the work of Jesus
It isn’t our faith that saves us, its the work of Christ through faith
We should be clinging to the work of Christ
Paul explains that they should be looking at Jesus:
English Standard Version Chapter 19
4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Without Jesus folks, none of what we say or do will make any sense.
Illus:
Lord’s Supper
Institutes of the Christian Religion 17. True Office of the Sacraments
Therefore, let it be regarded as a settled principle that the sacraments have the same office as the Word of God: to offer and set forth Christ to us, and in him the treasures of heavenly grace. But they avail and profit nothing unless received in faith. eAs with wine or oil or some other liquid, no matter how much you pour out, it will flow away and disappear unless the mouth of the vessel to receive it is open; moreover, the vessel will be splashed over on the outside, but will still remain void and empty.
Calvin goes on to show that what is important in the LS, as in the baptism we just read about is the presence of the HS who brings the graces of God upon us:
Institutes of the Christian Religion 17. True Office of the Sacraments
They do not bestow any grace of themselves, but announce and tell us, and (as they are guarantees and tokens) ratify among us, athose things given us by divine bounty. The Holy Spirit (whom the sacraments do not bring indiscriminately to all men but whom the Lord exclusively bestows on his own people) is he who brings the graces of God with him, gives a place for the sacraments among us, and makes them bear fruit.
There is a spiritual presence associated with these sacraments:
This sacrament is only understood rightly when we focus on Christ and his work. And, when the graces are applied by the HS. So, we practice today that which Christ instituted concerning His work for salvation and the HS application of that grace yet again.
I invite you to come and receive that which Jesus offers to you: His body and HIs blood. Let us approach the table understanding that we come empty handed and cling only to Jesus Christ.
And, we receive these as we again put our minds on the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ, in spite of our sin, invites us to commune with him in forgiveness and grace.
Come and receive these tangible elements that reflect these spit=ritual truths as pointed out by Calvin:
Institutes of the Christian Religion 3. The Spiritual Presence of Christ
Thus, when bread is given as a symbol of Christ’s body, we must at once grasp this comparison: as bread nourishes, sustains, and keeps the life of our body, so Christ’s body is the only food to invigorate and enliven our soul. When we see wine set forth as a symbol of blood, we must reflect on the benefits which wine imparts to the body, and so realize that the same are spiritually imparted to us by Christ’s blood. These benefits are to nourish, refresh, strengthen, and gladden.13
We don’t participate in these things as ignorant men and women. We don’t come putting our faith in men or the element itself. We again put our faith in Jesus Christ and hear his words:
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:
Matt 26
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
“Which is given for you” Which is shed for you”
As we approach the table today let us think upon Jesus and His work for us. Let us consider Jesus this morning in all things. AMEN
