As a quick recap of the first two parts:
Part one was:
God keeps His Promises
God finishes the job
Jesus is always thinking about us
Part two of the series was:
Future Continuous
and we dug into Luke 1:37
Today we are wrapping up the series “Gods Word does not return void” titled: “SALVATION AND THE 3 BAPTISMS”
I has been my prayer that todays’ Word causes you to crack open your bible, dig into Gods Word and see passages with new eyes!
Today we will be in the second chapter of Ephesians and the second chapter of Acts.
I’d like us to look at 4 questions around salvation:
Why do we receive salvation?
What does salvation save us from?
How do we receive salvation?
What is the result of salvation? In other words, “what next? Or what now?”
The first three, as Christians we should have an understanding of, but we’ll look at these briefly.
The last one, has been kind of a biggie for me over the last several months and last few weeks in particular.
Why do we receive salvation?
It is found in John 3:16 in red letters “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
What does salvation save us from?
2 Thessalonians tells us in chapter 1 verses 7-9:
“and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.”
I don’t know about you, but that right there alone, gives me incentive to know and obey God!
How do we receive salvation?
Paul writes in Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
I’ve told our kids over the years that just because something is simple, doesn’t mean it is easy. But this is simple and easy. Confess and believe! As humans we seem to want to complicate EVERYTHING!
We receive salvation by confessing and believing.
What is the result of salvation?
Let’s us go to Ephesians chapter 2. Let’s honor God by standing while we read verses 1-10.
Read from my bible, then cover verse by verse.
Read verse, then say “we were dead, He made us alive”.
Read NLT verse, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil-the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God” then say “Paul tells us a little later in Ephesians 6 how we protect ourselves by putting on the Armor of God.”
Read v.3 then say “keyword “all”.
Read v 4 then say “I love this explanation of mercy” – Not receiving what we deserve.
But God not giving us what we deserve, because of His great love with which He loved us.
Read v 5. Then say “grace is receiving what we don’t deserve”.
Read v 6 then say -We were raised from the dead along with Christ. You may need to chew on that one a little later.
Read v 7 “exceeding riches of His grace”
Read v 8 “for by grace you have been saved through faith”
Read v 9 “not of works lest anyone should boast”. David Jeremiah- we’d all be boasting and trying to “one-up” each other, instead of glorying God.
Read v 10. For us to glean the value of verse 10, I felt we needed to read verses 1-9 to get here! This is so big, it’s huge, it’s even hugely
We do not receive salvation by our good works, we receive salvation for good words. In other words Paul is telling us we receive salvation so we can do good works!
So, when we receive salvation, as Christians if it hasn’t changed us, then we haven’t become Christians ordained for good works!
As Pastor Jeff says “I was aiming for your heart right there, not your toes”!
So, the “what next” or “what now” after salvation is that we set our hearts that we should walk in the good works that God prepared for us beforehand.
Let’s move to Acts chapter 2:
Several weeks ago I read a familiar scripture with new eyes.
Before we go there, just a quick side story. As many of you know, my beginning to understand or even acknowledge the Holy Spirit is something fairly new to me. Only within the last 5 years or so. So, I still find myself “stumbling” over scripture that includes the Holy Spirit in the verse.
Let’s look at Acts 2: 37-39
Now, this is immediately after Peter gives this amazing Holy Spirit filled sermon in verses 14-36. If you need caffeine in the morning, read Acts 2:14-36!
Read vs 37-39 from my bible.
Here’s the part I have literally skimmed over for whatever reason:
“And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
In verses 17-21 Peter is quoting Joel 2:28-32. This is the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. And we see once again that “Gods’ Word does not return void”.
Peter tells us three things in v. 38:
Repent
Be baptized
Receive the Holy Spirit
Let’s look at the 3 baptisms:
Lately, I find myself spending a lot of time in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
I’m understanding this to mean that the Holy Spirit baptizes us in Jesus.
As I stated at the beginning of this message, I have prayed todays word causes you to take a deeper dig.
So, as Christians there’s one baptism we all experience: the Holy Spirit baptizes us in Jesus.
Now let’s look at another baptism found in Matthew 3:11.
This teaches us of a second baptism
This event is found in all four gospels. This is John the Baptist speaking
“I indeed baptize you with the water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Let’s look at another baptism found in Matthew 28:19:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us, as disciples the authority to baptize.
This is a third baptism: Baptism in water. Which we will be doing today! It’s important that we realize that when a person has a water baptism, that a preacher is not required. The only requirement is the person be a disciple of Christ!
What do y’all say we wrap this up, because we’ve got a baptism today!
Let’s look at Acts 2:38 once again:
“Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
-Repent, receive salvation
And be baptized: with water
With Jesus Christ
And with the Holy Spirit
-Pastor Jeff will you close us out today?
