One Who is Mightier
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Good Morning Church and Happy Palm Sunday.
Please turn your Bibles to Mark chapter 1.
We will be focusing our study this morning on the verses 4-8.
Today’s message is about:
John the Baptist
The Baptism of Forgiveness
Jesus
And the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we dive into the text, please join me in prayer...
Heavenly Father...
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In the Name of Jesus.
Amen.
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
Before we get to our text, let us consider this...
Let us consider this...A young lady one day was speeding through a small Georgia town. She was traveling 70 mph in a 55 mph speed zone. The police pulled her over and wrote her a ticket that would cost her $100. She didn’t have the money to pay it and ended up having to go to court over the ticket.In the courtroom, the judge said, “You were found guilty of going 70 miles an hour in a 55 mile speed zone. You have to pay $100.”The young lady said, “I’m guilty, but I can’t pay it. I don’t have $100.”“Well, if you don’t pay the ticket, we’ll have to lock you up for the weekend.”“I can’t pay the ticket, but I don’t want to go to jail. Can you please just have mercy on me?”The judge matter-of-factly replied, “I can’t change the law. The law says that you’ve got to pay $100, or you must spend the weekend in jail. Those are the rules, and I can’t change the rules.”Starting to tear up she spoke in a small voice. “Isn’t there something you can do? I can’t pay it, but I don’t want to get locked up. Have mercy on me.”The judge looked down on her, pushed his chair back from the bench, zipped down his robe, and took it off. He went over to the side, picked up his jacket, and put it on. He walked down and stood beside the girl, reached in his wallet, and brought out a hundred-dollar bill. He put the $100 bill on the bench, took off his jacket, then went over and picked up his robe. He zipped his robe and got back behind his bench.“Young lady, you’ve been found guilty of going 70 miles an hour in a 55-mile-per-hour speed zone. The law is the law. I can’t change it; the law says you must pay $100 or spend the weekend in jail. Ah! But I see somebody else has already paid the price.”God saw us speeding down the highway of sin. He came down, died on the cross, and paid the price that you and I could not pay. He picked up the tab, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. The good news of the gospel is that a bill we could not pay has already been paid. It has been paid by God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. Today, we will start our study in the Gospel of Mark and go through an account that records that very Good News.Before we get to our text, let’s look at the background.
Noah’s message from the steps going up to the Ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you!”
Noah’s message from the steps going up to the Ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you!”
Noah’s message from the steps going up to the Ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you!”
Amos was not confronted by the high priest of Israel for proclaiming, “Confession is possession!”
Amos was not confronted by the high priest of Israel for proclaiming, “Confession is possession!”
Jeremiah was not put into the pit for preaching, “I’m O.K., you’re O.K.!”
Jeremiah was not put into the pit for preaching, “I’m O.K., you’re O.K.!”
Daniel was not put into the lion’s den for telling people, “Possibility thinking will move mountains!”
Daniel was not put into the lion’s den for telling people, “Possibility thinking will move mountains!”
John the Baptist was not forced to preach in the wilderness and eventually beheaded because he preached, “Smile, God loves you!”
John the Baptist was not forced to preach in the wilderness and eventually beheaded because he preached, “Smile, God loves you!”
The two prophets of the tribulation will not be killed for preaching, “God is in his heaven and all is right with the world!”
The two prophets of the tribulation will not be killed for preaching, “God is in his heaven and all is right with the world!”
Instead, what was the message of all these men of God? Simple, one word: “Repent!”
Instead, what was the message of all these men of God? Simple, one word: “Repent!”
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
Mark is one of the of the synoptic gospels along with Matthew and Luke.The synoptic gospels include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording. They stand in contrast to John; whose content is largely distinct.The Gospel of Mark was written for Roman Gentiles.Mark is most likely the oldest of the gospels and many believe both Matthew and Luke use Mark’s account as a reference.95% of Mark is found in Matthew’s gospel account.Mark’s gospel is most likely an account heavily based on Peter’s eyewitness account as Mark was a disciple of Peter.An interesting note is where each of the Gospels begin.Matthew - Starts with a genealogy to show Jesus is a decedent of David and fits the prophecy of the Messiah.Luke - Starts at the birth of Jesus to show he is both man and God and shows His birth fits the prophecies.John - Starts before Creation, an eternity past to show that Jesus is God.Mark - Starts at the beginning of Jesus’ three-year ministry and cuts right to the chase.Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark does not contain an account of Jesus’ birth. So, rather than emphasizing the events leading up to Jesus’ public ministry in terms of his genealogy and family roots (as do Matthew and Luke) or in terms of its theological foundation (as does John), Mark focuses on its actual beginning.The “beginning” is identified with the ministry of John the Baptist and with the Old Testament prophecies announcing John’s coming and making way for The Way, Jesus.The text we are going to focus on, , will bring our attention to three points:The GospelThe CallThe NewsOur text reads:
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
Baptism of Forgiveness
Baptism of Forgiveness
Verses 4-6: John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
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NASB9517 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
We can’t live in sin and have a relationship with God.Scripture makes that very clear.
A Type of Elijah
A Type of Elijah
NASB958 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
We are all sinners.None is perfect but Christ.But practicing sin; that is sinning as a habit; that is the sign of those who are of the devil.So, we are to both repent and believe in the gospel message.
Verse 5: And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
NASB9515 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
It is imperative to realize that since Adam and Eve fell, we have all followed their footsteps and are sinners.We are not, as some suppose, only victims.No, we are rebels; we are traitors; we are criminals.We desperately need a Savior.Without whom we would just be running toward a road straight to Hell.But Jesus is that Savior that we desperately need.He volunteered to take our debt for all those who place their trust in Him.Placing that trust in Him requires the belief that Jesus came, died on the cross, was raised from the dead by His Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit.This belief is not just a head knowledge but a heart knowledge which means we must believe this in our heart.That means we genuinely turn from our wicked lifestyle.That means we surrender our desires to Him.That means we surrender our everything to Him for we know His ways are better than our ways.That genuine belief in Him means all our sins: past, present and future are washed away.Now that is Good News of Jesus.That is the Gospel.This brings us to our next point:
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The Call
The Call
A Type of Ellijah
A Type of Ellijah
NASB951 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.
This verse is also an echo to :
NASB9520 “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Verse 6: John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
Note the the word “angel” can also translate to mean “messenger.”The references from Exodus and Malachi serve to interpret the text from Isaiah which is found in the following verse.Important to note here too is that allusions and quotations from Isaiah are dominate the gospel of Mark and we will see this as we continue our study on this Gospel. Thus, even though Malachi is cited first before Isaiah, it functions to explain Isaiah. The “messenger” from Malachi’s account refers to Elijah but here “My messenger” refers to John who was a type of Elijah.It is often assumed that Elijah, whom Mark here identifies with John the Baptizer, would be the forerunner of the Messiah. But in pre-Christian Jewish texts preserved in the Old Testament and intertestamental literature Elijah prefigures not the Messiah but the appearance of God himself. This fact considerably elevates the importance of this Old Testament quotation. John was the divinely-promised messenger, sent to prepare the way for Jesus. In ancient times, a king’s envoys would travel ahead of him, making sure the roads were safe and fit for him to travel on, as well as announcing his arrival.What we see in this passage is applicable to us today.You see, God calls and sends out his people into the world.All believers are called to share the good news of the gospel, though some are specially commissioned by God, confirmed by the church and compelled by the gospel message to missionary service. As believers, we are not left alone to complete this essential task.The ability for us to have the boldness to share the gospel in this hostel world is found in the promise of and the power in the Holy Spirit
8 They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
NASB958 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Without so much as a conjunction following the Old Testament quotation we find in the previous verses (and covered in last week’s message), John the Baptizer appears in verse 4.
This immediacy of John’s introduction identifies him as the messenger of preparation for Jesus.
The description of John in the following 4 verses are more calculated, focused, and defined than the picture of John in the other Gospels.
Here Mark doesn’t cover the wondrous circumstances of John’s birth as found in Luke.
Here Mark doesn’t cover John’s thunderous challenge to the dominant Pharisaic and Sadducean schools of Judaism.
Here Mark doesn’t cover John’s call for social reform.
Instead, Mark restricts his portrait of John with a single motif.
Mark presents John as the fulfiller of Elijah’s climactic role as the forerunner of “one more powerful” and whose sandals he is unworthy to untie.
We can also observe from this passage the distinctive mark of John’s ministry.
This being his baptism which differed from the ritual Jewish washings in that it was a one-time act.
You see, the Jews performed a similar one-time washing of Gentile proselytes, symbolizing their embracing of the true faith.
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That fact that Jews would participate in such a rite was shocking and a startling admission.
We should look to the example of the Prophet Isaiah who showed great courage and willingness to serve when he said:
It was an admission that they, although members of God’s covenant people, needed to come to God through repentance and faith just like Gentiles.
Additionally, it seems that John’s baptism recalls and revives God’s foundational covenant with Israel at Sinai in which the entire people were summoned to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.
This had been the unique and peculiar ideal of all Israel from its inception, and not just of the priesthood descended from Aaron.
And how did Isreal show they accepted this covenant?
The Israelites signified acceptance of their covenant relationship with God by washing their clothes and purifying themselves before entering into the covenant at Sinai.
We see this explained in which says:
10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
Such washing symbolized the moral and spiritual transformation necessary to enter into covenant relationship with God.
The same correlation should be seen between baptism and this event in the wilderness.
The summons to be baptized in the Jordan meant that Israel must come once more to the wilderness where they previously made their covenant with God .
As Israel long ago had been separated from Egypt by a pilgrimage through the waters of the Red Sea, the nation is exhorted again to experience separation.
In a sense, the people are called to a second exodus (traveling from their homes and coming to the wilderness to be baptised) in preparation for a new covenant with God.
Both John’s call to repentance and his baptism are seen as aspects of the prophetic tradition which expected the final salvation of God to be unveiled in the wilderness.
The key to understanding John’s baptism is that it is proclaimed, which means that it is an action of God as opposed to mere human actions.
It is both a divine gift and a divine opportunity that is realized through repentance.
John’s message, like that of the prophets in the Old Testament, consisted first of a call to repentance.
The Greek word translated “repentance” literally means change of mind, but its New Testament meaning has been greatly influenced by that of several Old Testament words so that it refers to returning to God and changing one’s whole course of life.
John’s message, like that of the prophets, consisted first of a call to repentance. The Greek word translated “repentance” literally means change of mind, but its New Testament meaning has been greatly influenced by that of several Old Testament words so that it refers to returning to God and changing one’s whole course of life. The word translated “forgiveness” means sending away or remission.
The word translated “forgiveness” means sending away or remission.
John’s ministry was to call Israel to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
Baptism did not produce repentance, but was its result.
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8 They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
So, this was far more than a mere change of mind or remorse, repentance involves a turning from sin to God which results in righteous living.
To confess one’s sins, as they were being baptized, is to agree with God about them.
Scripture is clear, John baptized no one who did not confess and repent of his sins.
You must have the understanding that you have sinned and the humility to admit it and seek to turn away from a life of sin.
We see this clearly displayed:
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;
9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
In other words, John prepares the way by calling people to repentance and turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness of sins.
Repentance had to precede baptism, and thus baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather was a sign indicating that one had truly repented.
Genuine repentance is a work of God in the human heart as seen in :
18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
Furthermore, John was the culmination of Old Testament history and prophecy as well as the beginning of the historical record of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Luke says in his gospel in chapter 16, verse 16:
vJesus designated John as the greatest man who had lived until his time ().
NASB958 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
And Jesus designated John as the greatest man who had lived until His time when he said in :
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
You see church, John’s notoriety, as Mark’s description indicates, was widespread and impressive as we saw in verse 5 of our text, which reads:
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
So, John’s attraction and influence, in other words, were history making.
John the Baptist was a big deal.
He was a household name.
By today’s standards he would be trending and have a huge following on social media.
However, John’s intention was not to gain popularity but to initiate a movement of repentance and reform in Israel to prepare for “the one more powerful” to come as recorded in Luke 1:17:
17 “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And this brings us to our next point:
A Greater Baptizer
A Greater Baptizer
This leads to our final point:
The News
The News
Verse 7: And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
Verse 3: THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’ ”This verse is a citation of :
NASB953 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
This description of Jesus anticipates the compact one verse parable found in .
27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
Jesus refers to himself as the only one powerful enough to bind the strong one, Satan.
According to a metaphor of the day, John thought himself unworthy to untie the sandals of the Coming One.
Beloved, John saying that he was not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of Jesus’ sandals is a powerful expression.
is quoted by all four Gospels with reference to John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus (; ; ; ).In the quotation, several of the pronouns and “the way for the LORD” refer to God the Father. Mark, however, applies these texts with reference to Jesus. This indicates that John the Baaptist is not simply the herald of the Messiah but of God himself, appearing in Jesus of Nazareth.So, this is the groundwork that will define and characterize Jesus’ bearing throughout the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus unpretentiously but authoritatively unites His way with the Father’s way, His work with the Father’s work, His person with the Father’s person.The gospel is understandable only as the completion of something that God began in the history of Israel. This excludes the possibility of Christians either dismissing or diminishing the importance of the Old Testament, or of attempting to “purge” the gospel of its Jewish origins and context.You can not unhitch yourself from the Old Testament and claim to follow the teachings in the New Testament.Additionally, this verse has embodied what it means to evangelize.Evangelism focuses on the proclaiming of the good news of the coming of the kingdom of God in Christ, including the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both Old and New Testaments instruct believers to spread this vital good news.
In biblical times, this was considered one of the most menial tasks a slave could perform.
The loosing of sandals and washing of feet were duties of slaves.
But not just any slave.
This was reserved only for Gentile slaves in first-century Judaism.
It was a task that a Jewish person simply was not even supposed to do.
By this, John vividly expressed his humility.
He understood that his ministry was to point others to Jesus as recorded in :
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
And we saw this was true in as recorded later in John’s gospel in chapter 4, verses 1 and 2 which says:
1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),
NASB952 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),
Note here that Jesus does not participate in this baptism but as we will see in our message during our last point, Jesus does baptize...
He baptises with the Holy Spirit.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1
And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
In fact, John, his disciples, and Jesus’ disciples may be baptizing those who repent with the baptism of repentance, but Jesus is the one who cleanses them as it says in :
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29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
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30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
and as Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel in 26:28:
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
And finally, we will take a look at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
NASB9519 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
The preaching and teaching of the gospel should overtake us and drive us to share this Good News.
Verse 8: “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
NASB9516 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
This spreading of the Gospel is a huge responsibility and blessing.
That is an extraordinary declaration.
Why?
NASB957 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Because, in the Old Testament the bestowal of the Spirit belongs exclusively to God.
John’s declaration, according to Mark, transfers the bestowal of the Spirit to Jesus, once again indicating that, as the Greater One, Jesus will come in the power and at the prerogative of God.
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The spiritual power of the messianic baptism will thus supersede the symbol of water in human baptism.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place when a person comes to faith in Christ.
17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
This Baptism of the Holy Spirit was prophesied in the Old Testament as we see in :
NASB9514 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
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3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
And in :
28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
After the Holy Spirit first came down during Pentecost, we see Peter giving crowds instruction on how to receive the Holy Spirit as recorded in :
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Again, we must have the ability to know right and wrong.
We must repent and turn from our life of wickedness
This only happens when we are Born Again.
28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
As Jesus said in His conversation with Nicodemus in :
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit coming down on those who genuinely believe in the gospel is clearly recorded in :
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
We are also certain that this new birth is only made possible by the Grace of God.
He must be the one to soften our stone hearts.
reads:
8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
Once God calls us by name; once he awakens us; we find ourselves in fellowship with Him and all those who also put their trust in Him.
No matter your ethnicity, nationality, your gender or your denominations, tells us we are one. The verse reads:
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
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5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
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38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
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15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
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8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
So, as we start to conclude this message, let us consider this:
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
A minister was seeking to explain the significance of baptism to a new convert.
He was gesturing as he talked and noticed that as he was using his hand its shadow fell on the ground.
So he said to the convert, “Do you see the shadow of my hand on the sand?
Now this is just a shadow.
The hand is the real thing.
And when you came to Jesus, when you believed in Jesus, that was the real baptism.
You were joined to him, and what happened to him also happened to you.
Jesus was alive, then he died and was buried, and then he rose from the dead.
That is what happened to you when you believed in him.”
He pointed to the shadow on the sand and said, “When you go down in the water and are raised up again, that is a picture of what has already happened.”
Water baptism is a picture, a symbol to teach us what happened to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus.
Another way to look at Baptism is like this:
Baptism is like a wedding ring: they both symbolize transactions.
A wedding ring symbolizes marriage, just as baptism symbolizes salvation.
Wearing a wedding ring does not make you married any more than being baptized makes you saved.
To extend the parallel, if a person, does not wear a wedding ring you can almost assume that the person is not married.
So it was in New Testament times.
If a person was not baptized, you could probably assume that he or she was not a believer.
On this we must be clear: baptism is a symbol of salvation and only a symbol.
But, like a wedding ring, it is such an effective symbol that it should never be taken for granted.
Closing of Service
Closing of Service
As our time together is about to end, please consider the Scripture that was shared today.
Be reminded of what God’s Word says in :
He was gesturing as he talked and noticed that as he was using his hand its shadow fell on the ground.
So he said to the convert, “Do you see the shadow of my hand on the sand?
Now this is just a shadow.
The hand is the real thing.
And when you came to Jesus, when you believed in Jesus, that was the real baptism.
You were joined to him, and what happened to him also happened to you.
Jesus was alive, then he died and was buried, and then he rose from the dead.
That is what happened to you when you believed in him.”
He pointed to the shadow on the sand and said, “When you go down in the water and are raised up again, that is a picture of what has already happened.”
Water baptism is a picture, a symbol to teach us what happened to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus.
A minister was seeking to explain the significance of baptism to a new convert. He was gesturing as he talked and noticed that as he was using his hand its shadow fell on the ground. So he said to the convert, “Do you see the shadow of my hand on the sand? Now this is just a shadow. The hand is the real thing. And when you came to Jesus, when you believed in Jesus, that was the real baptism. You were joined to him, and what happened to him also happened to you. Jesus was alive, then he died and was buried, and then he rose from the dead. That is what happened to you when you believed in him.” He pointed to the shadow on the sand and said, “When you go down in the water and are raised up again, that is a picture of what has already happened.” Water baptism is a picture, a symbol to teach us what happened to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus.49
Another way to look at Baptism is like this:
Baptism is like a wedding ring: they both symbolize transactions.
Baptism is like a wedding ring: they both symbolize transactions. A wedding ring symbolizes marriage, just as baptism symbolizes salvation. Wearing a wedding ring does not make you married any more than being baptized makes you saved. To extend the parallel, if a person, especially a woman, does not wear a wedding ring you can almost always assume that the person is not married.
A wedding ring symbolizes marriage, just as baptism symbolizes salvation.
Wearing a wedding ring does not make you married any more than being baptized makes you saved.
To extend the parallel, if a person, does not wear a wedding ring you can almost assume that the person is not married.
So it was in New Testament times. If a person was not baptized, you could probably assume that he or she was not a believer. On this we must be clear: baptism is a symbol of salvation and only a symbol. But, like a wedding ring, it is such an effective symbol that it should never be taken for granted.
So it was in New Testament times.
If a person was not baptized, you could probably assume that he or she was not a believer.
On this we must be clear: baptism is a symbol of salvation and only a symbol.
But, like a wedding ring, it is such an effective symbol that it should never be taken for granted.
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8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Believers, Followers of the Way, we have the same power in us that raised Jesus from the dead as it says in :
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
So, let us live lives in accordance to His will.
So let us use this power and go out and preach the Word faithfully.
So, let us use this power and go out and preach the Word faithfully.
This is a power
49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
For those of you who feel weak and powerless.
These is a good chance you have never known Him.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
That you are attempting to go through life like a car without any fuel.
It is impossible to please God or be in right standing with Him unless you first surrender to Him.
So if you don’t know Him, repent.
Forsake your life of sin and put your trust in Him.
All the Glory to God.
Amen.