Go Therefore, and Baptize Them
Church of God Seventh Day Meridian, ID
November 4, 2000
INTRODUCTION
Greetings
Review what we covered last week
Matthew 28:18-20
Review high points
Jesus is with us, each of us, He is here to help us
Saw the order of what he said:
Teach the Good News to all.(make disciples), baptize, teach them everything
We all teach
Jesus as model, balance of gifts
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
PREACH THE GOOD NEWS
Who do we present it to?
Spurgeon “A man is never so "fit for believing" as when, in himself, he is most unfit. It is unfitness, not fitness that is really required. What is fitness for being washed? Filth, and filth alone. What is fitness for receiving alms? Poverty, abject need. What is fitness for receiving pardon? Guilt, and only guilt. If you are guilty, if you are black, if you are foul, you have all the fitness that is required. So come and in Jesus Christ find all that meets your greatest and most urgent need.”
Presenting the Gospel
Address two components:
1)Man has a need of salvation
2)God fills this need
Man’s need (condition of man):
1. Guilt of Man
We are sinners, and our guilty
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
2. Depravity of Man
We are not only sinners, but sinful creatures
Mark 7:21-23
3. Alienation of Man
Because we are sinners, and sinful in nature, and God is holy, we are separated from, or alienated from God. Alienation is two sided:
a)sinner towards God
Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
b)God toward sinner (God hates sin)
4. Judgement of Man
Because God is a just and righteous God, He must judge sin
Penalty for sin is death
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
5. Helplessness of Man
On his own, man can do nothing to change his condition
(1) he is guilty, and can do nothing to cancel his guilt
(2) he is in a state of depravity, and can do nothing to recover
(3) he is alienated from God, and can do nothing to reconcile
(4) he is in a state of judgement, and can do nothing to avoid that judgement
God’s provision: Salvation
Message is that we are in this condition, but God has provided a way to reverse it: salvation is.
1. Salvation is provided by the love of God
Familiar with John 3:16
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2. Mediator of this salvation is Jesus Christ
Speaking of Jesus, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said in Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
3. What is the content of salvation, how does it meet our needs?
For our guilt, it provides forgiveness, cleansing, and justification
Paul, speaking at a synagogue in Antioch, said of Jesus, in Acts 13:38-39a: “(38) Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified…”
For our depravity, it provides regeneration
2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
For our alienation, it provides reconciliation
Colossians 1:19-21
To meet our judgement unto death, it provides the gift of eternal life
John 5: 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life
4. This salvation is provided by grace, by the blood of Jesus, and by faith
John 20: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
BAPTIZE THEM
Once you do this, believe in Jesus, have faith in him, and accept his salvation, then as Peter said “Repent and be baptized”
What is baptism, briefly it the verb means “to cover wholly with a fluid”
To baptize could translate as “to immerse”
Why do we baptize
Jesus was baptized Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism symbolic Romans 6: 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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.
Significant of remission of sins Acts 22:16/Acts 2:38
When Ananias spoke to Paul (Saul) he said “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
MARRIAGE
Baptism symbolic, same as wedding
Break down three parts as wedding
Preach Jesus (meet and fall in love)
Baptism (wedding)
Teach (marriage): we will get into next week
Many people believe, you have to clean up so many things, look at baptism as an end, but, just like the wedding, its at the beginning of the journey, after the commitment
BAPTISM AS PART OF MATTHEW 28
Baptize people, no requirement that it be done by a pastor (commission to all)
In fact, if you bring someone to Jesus, baptize them
Church recognizes baptisms (as long as by immersion)
As long as they understand what baptism is, and its significance, do it
If you have been saved, if you know Jesus, then you should know why, and you should be able to relate that, your testimony is an excellent way to begin
If you have been baptized, you know what it means, you understand its significance and its meaning. If you bring someone to Christ, you will know better than anyone else if they understand its meaning and are ready
Philip and Ethiopian eunuch
Elders and pastor open
CONCLUSION
Handouts available in back
Not bound by this format, or other one in back
Altar call, baptismal call
