Sermon Notes
22 October 2006
Morning Worship
IT MATTERS WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT BAPTISM
Mark 16:15,16
15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
Introduction:
a. Religious discussion always seems to have in some element of tension and controversy
b. Perhaps that is why there are those folks who choose never to talk about politics and religion!
c. Safe subjects like the weather are topics in which we rarely find ourselves with tension
D. Even in the time of Christ, there was controversy surrounding Him and what He taught!
I THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION:
A. This is one of the points of “controversy” surrounding the subject:
1. many (most) groups claiming “Christian roots” practice baptism
2. but for the vast majority of them it is not taught as “essential”
3. among these groups, salvation “comes” at the point of belief
B. What does the New Testament teach?
1. Mark 16:16 - belief + baptism = saved
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
2.
I Peter 3:21 - “baptism doth also now save us”
21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
3. yes, belief in Jesus is absolutely necessary ... but it is clear that
baptism is, too
C. Think about this from another standpoint:
1.
Acts 2:38 - if baptism is necessary for remission of sins, can a person
be saved before his sins are remitted ... saved, but still under
condemnation?
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
2.
Galatians 3:27 - if one is baptized into Christ, can one be saved before
he is in Christ?
27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3. such texts as these certainly clarify baptism’s necessity
II THAT IT IS FOR BELIEVERS:
A. Here is another point of “controversy” for many:
1. Why? because infants are baptized - unbelieving infants
2. Now, about the idea that infants inherit Adam’s guilt
3. But let us take a look at a couple of texts:
20
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of
the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the
wicked shall be upon him.
&
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:
no ambiguity here ...
just plain language
B. What does the New Testament say?
1.
Mark 16:16 - here is that “belief” again - infants cannot be believers
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
2.
Romans 10:17 - faith (belief) is the result of hearing the word of come
and coming to a reasoned conclusion based on it - infants simply cannot do
this
17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
3. One who does not believe may be dunked ... but he is not baptized
4. Infants neither have the need for nor the possibility of baptism
III THAT IT IS IMMERSION IN WATER:
A. here is a point of contention/division:
1. Many “baptize” by sprinkling water on babies
2. Others insist that N. T. baptism must be immersion
3. And some are just indifferent about it saying it’s only a symbol anyway
B. What does the New Testament say?
1. First, the word “baptize” is defined “to dip, to plunge, to immerse” - in
scripture the idea of “sprinkle” is just never found
2.
Romans 6:3,4 - baptism is in likeness of Jesus death, burial,
resurrection
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.
3. if following the N.T. pattern in such matters is necessary (and it is),
immersion must be the baptism we practice
IV. THAT BAPTISM IS THE “POINT OF ENTRY” INTO THE BODY:
A.
Acts 2:47 notes that the Lord adds the saved to the body:
47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to
the church daily such as should be saved.
1. What do we know about those of whom Luke wrote?
2. >From
v.
41 we know that they had been baptized
41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
3. >From
v.
38 we know that they were penitent people who believed that Jesus is the
Christ (v. 37)
37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
B.
Galatians 3:26,27
26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
and
13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1. These passages clearly (no ambiguity) tell us that when one is baptized
he is baptized into Christ ... into the body
2. Can one be saved apart from the body ... apart from Christ? no
3. Yes, it is the Lord Who adds the saved ... but the point at which that
adding takes place is baptism ... and it is the same for all
Conclusion:
a. it really does matter what you believe about baptism
b. Indeed, what you believe about it will determine the action you take
c. What we believe about baptism must, must be based on New Testament
teaching ... not on feelings, traditions, decisions of church councils
d. If you have never been baptized in keeping with the things we have
discussed, we would desire you will choose to do so this morning!
Abraham and GOD’S PROMISES to him
Genesis 12:1-7
1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
Acts
7:3
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25
Gal
3:8
4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their
substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in
Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land
of Canaan they came.
6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain
of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Introduction:
a. After God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden, He intervened in several other major events He destroyed the world with water, but saved Noah and seven others
8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
b. He also confused the common language of man at the tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1-9
1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a
plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them
thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may
reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad
upon the face of the whole earth.
5
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of
men builded.
6
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one
language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from
them, which they have imagined to do.
7
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not
understand one another's speech.
8
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the
earth: and they left off to build the city.
9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there
confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter
them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
c. Finally, God spoke to Abraham
1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
Acts
7:3
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25
Gal
3:8
4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their
substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in
Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land
of Canaan they came.
6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain
of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
the son of an idol-worshipper who became the "friend of God"
2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your
fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the
father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
James 3:23
I. Promises Made To Abraham:
A. God promised Abram that He would lead him to a foreign LAND and give it
to his descendents
1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
Acts
7:3
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25
Gal
3:8
4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their
substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in
Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land
of Canaan they came.
6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain
of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
B. God also promised Abram that He would make a great NATION of him
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
C. God promised that He would bless all the families of the earth in his SEED
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25
Gal
3:8
D. God repeated some of these promises to Abraham's son, Isaac, AND to his
grandson, Jacob
II. God Fulfilled the Nation Promise:
A. We can read through Genesis and Exodus and see that the Jewish nation
emerged from Abraham's seed
B. Abraham's grandson, Jacob (also called Israel), journeyed to Egypt during
a famine:
1. Israel had 12 sons whose families multiplied so rapidly that they
threatened the Egyptians
2. They were enslaved by the Egyptians
3. according to inspired Jewish writers, their nation was formed during this
bondage
6
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are
the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
34
Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another
nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a
mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to
all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
23
And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom
God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to
do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which
thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
4. This was just as God promised Abraham
12
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an
horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger
in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict
them four hundred years;
Acts
7:6
14
And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward
shall they come out with great substance.
Acts 7:7
C. The Israelites continued to be regarded as a unique nation, even throughout the New Testament period
22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth
God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from
God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of
thee.
D. Although other nations emerged from Abraham
20
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will
make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall
he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 19:37-38, the nation of Israel was God's chosen
37
And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the
father of the Moabites unto this day.
38
And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same
is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
III. God Fulfilled The Land Promise:
A. As we continue reading through the Old Testament, we see that Abraham's descendents received the land promised to them:
1. After the children of Israel were delivered from Egyptian bondage, they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years
2. When they reach Mt. Sinai (also called Mt. Horeb), God gave them the 10 commandments and the rest of the Law
Exodus 20
3. At Sinai, God made a unique covenant with them, one not made with their
fathers
3
The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who
are all of us here alive this day.
4. The Israelites continued to wander and were
eventually led into the promised land, beginning
with Joshua's conquest of Jericho
1
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that
the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou,
and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the
children of Israel.
3
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given
unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river
Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the
going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy
life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor
forsake thee.
Heb
13:5
Deut
31:6,
8
6
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for
an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
1
Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none
went out, and none came in.
2
And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho,
and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.
3
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns:
and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests
shall blow with the trumpets.
5
And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's
horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout
with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the
people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up
the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams'
horns before the ark of the LORD.
7
And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that
is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
8
And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven
priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD,
and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed
them.
9
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and
the rearward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the
trumpets.
10
And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make
any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth,
until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11
So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they
came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12
And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the
LORD.
13
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of
the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men
went before them; but the rearward came after the ark of the LORD, the
priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14
And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp:
so they did six days.
15
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the
dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven
times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16
And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the
trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you
the city.
17
And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the
LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the
house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18
And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make
yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp
of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19
But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated
unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
20
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came
to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people
shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people
went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the
city.
21
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman,
young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
B. Throughout the Old Testament, we can read about the land inheritance being anticipated and fulfilled
3
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with
thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath
promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
28
Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not
able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he
hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
8
And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy
fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy
fathers;
3
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art
passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God
giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy
fathers hath promised thee.
20
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their
fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and
filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and
serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
42
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with
Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will
remember the land.
43
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their
fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto
their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them;
the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the
house of Israel; all came to pass.
C. observations:
1. Abraham believed God, and this was counted as righteousness
6
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Rom
4:3
Gal
3:6
James 2:23
2. Abraham's faith led him to obey; it was not a
substitute for obedience
3. Abraham was patient
4. Abraham was faithful, even though his father
worshipped idols
IV. God Fulfilled the Seed Promise:
A. As we continue reading through the Old Testament, we fail to see the seed promise being fulfilled, even though Abraham's seed produced many notable leaders
22
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed
of Abraham? so am I.
B. As we read the New Testament, however, we see that Jesus was of Abraham's seed. However, we read that He was not merely a seed of Abraham, but was the seed - the seed of promise
16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to
seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gen
21:12
Rom
9:7
Heb
11:18
C. Jesus became the blessing of Abraham for the Gentiles
14
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
all who would belong to Him would be considered also as Abraham's seed, eligible to inherit the promise
29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise.
1. Jesus is described in this way by Paul in a sermon in Antioch
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men
of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and
exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and
with an high arm brought he them out of it.
And about the time of forty years suffered he their
manners in the wilderness.
And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of
Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of
four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them
Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty
years.
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said,
Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise
raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism
of repentance to all the people of Israel.
And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye
that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes
of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and
whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers,
because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read
every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
And though they found no cause of death in him, yet
desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him,
they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
But God raised him from the dead:
And he was seen many days of them which came up with him
from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise
which was made unto the fathers,
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm,
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise,
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm,
For David, after he had served his own generation by the
will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw
corruption:
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
2. Paul stated that the Savior, Jesus, was the offspring of David (who was a
descendant of Abraham - Matthew 1, according to promise
23
Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a
Saviour, Jesus:
3. Paul stated this again in his letter to the Romans
Romans 4
Conclusion:
a. God is faithful. He will fulfill His promises
b. God worked His plan over 1000's of years
c. he still keeps His promises
10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life.
