Sermon Central
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Baptized Into Christ Series
Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Apr 8, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: To establish when one has been baptized into Christ, he was baptized into His death so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and he might rise to walk in a new life having been justified from sin.
a. Therefore, Paul was not discussing our faith, but “the faith of the gospel” that he preached unto the believers in Rome and elsewhere! It is,
b. Our faith and obedience to “the faith” (the gospel) that saves us, Philippians 1:27. See Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 1:23-24. Priests were “obedient to the faith,” Acts 6:7.
c. The Gentiles also were “obedient to the faith of the gospel of Christ,” Romans 1:5; Romans 1:16-18; Romans 15:18-19. It is,
d. Not our faith in the works of law or human merit, Acts 13:38-39; Ephesians 2:8-9.
e. It is our faith and obedience to the gospel of Christ that saves us and all others who would believe and be obedient to God’s terms of salvation. [Men and brethren, what shall we do?]
NOTE: We will return to this point at the end of this lesson. Stay with me, please! Now consider,
5. Israel’s failure. Paul also inscribed Israel’s failure to keep the Law of Moses. He penned: “What shall we say then? The Gentiles, followed not after righteousness, have attained the righteousness, even the righteousness of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offense: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed,” Romans 9:30-33; Romans 3:28-31. Observe,
a. David wrote of it in Psalms 118:22.
b. Isaiah penned regarding this “stone of stumbling,” Isaiah 28:16.
c. Peter wrote concerning this rejected stone, 1 Peter 2:6-8; Acts 4:8-14.
d. Paul mentions this stone that “we shall not be ashamed,” Romans 10:11-13.
Now, let’s consider point two in this lesson.
II BAPTIZED INTO HIS BURIAL
A. Baptism is a burial. He penned: “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,” Romans 6:4. The sinner is with Him in baptism. Some may find fault in this statement, yet it is true.
1. In this act of obedience, the believer is conjoined with Christ in baptism or a burial, like Christ was after dying for the world's sins. Baptism typifies (represents) our death to the sins of the “old man.” He discusses the old man next.
2. Yes, you were with Him while yet in your sins! Paul's Letter to Ephesus, we find these words:
a. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love where He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved:)”
b. “And hath raised us together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
c. “That in the ages to come He might show he exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus:”
d. “For by grace are you saved through (the) faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
e. “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
f. “For we are His workmanship (Masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:4-10; Ephesians 1:13-14.
