Water Baptism - Part 2

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ saying I'm glad that I did meet any of you; I distinction.

There's no question there's a distinction so it's what is water baptism is clearly a ceremony versus immersed in water. Are there other baptisms in the Scripture. Yes, I Holy Spirit putting ourselves in the body of Christ in which the history comes out of Judaism, the proselytes and requesting them standing widely back joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt fellowship among words, the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana going pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world NetMeeting see this Scripture immersion is so complete that where I Christ is never the Scripture say Christ in you the hope of glory. So I'm here and so is Christ your here and so is price because he's a nice but where he is. So on my pulses to the Ephesians and Ephesians 2 were seated in the heavenly's negative Nam seated here. Yes in Christ are seated in heavenly's because he is seated in heavenly but it goes bigger than that. Once you're immersed in Christ is not only that he is where I am and I am where here's but I also am where he watched. That's the identity and when he was on the cross. Guess it was on the cross me see when he was crucified. I was crucified and you were crucified when he was buried. I was buried in you were married, and when he was raised the dead. So was II have a new life. I am a new creature in Christ so pulses. Why, then, what I want to send. I'm dead to sin. I pay percent that's what happened spiritually when a person comes to a saving knowledge of Christ. Water baptism is just a picture I symbol of that dying buried rising again I'll say it after the 10 o'clock service were baptizing to people say when I put them under buried with Christ in his death raised to the newness of life. That's the symbol that didn't do it, it's already been done.

It's just the symbol people have always been exactly say the same way somehow. It isn't as interesting that Jesus gave the church only to ordinances. The Lord's table. Do this in remembrance of me and water baptism, and whether the church we made them both sacraments just the opposite.

Know this is the only way you can go to heaven you have to do these sacraments in order to get to heaven know there ordinances. He said these are things a picture something else and we said no, no, no, we have to earn this we have to do it ourselves.

So we took the Lord's table and baptism and we made him essential to salvation and of which there are clearly not at all. And Scripture turn with me to first Peter chapter 3, first Peter chapter 3 verse 21. I want to see what Peter wrote.

It's important Peter says in verse 21 corresponding to that baptism now saves you immersion in Christ now saves you, but he realizes just how dense we are and what we do with something like that and so he continues, he said corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flash what you mean not water not talking about water. You see that's important to understand were not talking about water is not not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That's what saved you. Peter is as clear as could be. Water baptism doesn't save anybody. He's never said it did. In fact, he says here, it clearly doesn't save anybody flip in jail or Paul and Silas are in the jail. There's an earthquake. They could've escaped.

They didn't, he would lost his life. He didn't have to worry about that. So he said that what must I do to be saved and when they say you gotta find water.

And if you don't get baptized, you're going to go to. They didn't say that is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. That's the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now that's the spiritual reality that I'm talking about here there is the baptism of the true baptism of the Spirit of God, which occurs when he put our faith in Christ. Maybe the best way to put it out would be this I have this. The wedding ring okay that's my wedding ring so if you have a wedding ring. It means you're married right doesn't know could I have a wedding ring and not be married right. I could have a wedding ring and not be married because this is where you know there's not this is a symbol you see one marries me is the covenant relationship I have with my wife. I said I do she said she does and we were married we made a covenant with each other just like when you came to Christ and the ring is the symbol behind that, that's exactly what water baptism is water baptism is the symbol of your covenant relationship with God through your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. What is water baptism.

It's just simply a ceremony in which a person is immersed in water. Are there baptisms without water.

Yes fire judgment from God the Holy Spirit and being in Christ are all spiritual baptisms. The third question is what is the history of baptisms. Why did they ever occur to history, is strictly bit from the Old Testament from the Jews. The Jews came up with a system by which, when a Gentile wanted to be a follower of God and become Jewish. The Jews would put them through a three-step process as Gentile proselytes to be able to become Jewish. The first step was called the Mellott then affect women but did affect men immensely. The Miller is circumcision so if you're Gentile and you want to become Jewish.

The first step for the man as he has to be circumcised. That's the first step. That's the sign behind Abraham. So that was the first step you did. The second is called the Tabula and the Tabula means your baptized there were immersed in water.

They are baptized in the third step that they had to do was called the core band and that is an animal sacrifice has to occur. Now, when, although skirt, a Gentile who was not part of the covenant community abatement could become Jewish.

Then John the Baptist showed up and John decided them to do something very different. I'm going to make an ass Jews to be baptized and it's like turn with me to Matthew chapter 3 Ms. get a picture that Matthew chapter 3 in verse one to Matthew three says now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and he was saying.

Here's his message. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He said, for this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready for the way of the Lord make his paths straight.

John is an unusual man.

Notice the next verse now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist and his food were locusts and honey he was a Nazirite he didn't cut his hair. He is some of the wild man of the wilderness, but he's asking something here of the Jews that they would've did not understand especially the leaders you don't baptized Jews Johnson you're going to have to do it now Messiah's coming and notice what John's messages, repent you see repentance has nothing to do with being baptized. Baptism is the symbol that you did repent. Repentance occurs in the human heart just like Faith does for us. Repentance occurs in human heart. Now everyone not to John and they said I we repent and we were baptized by you, and it says that Jerusalem was going out to him, all Judea and all the district around the Jordan and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River and they confess their sins we want the Messiah to come. We repent of our sins, but once so many many so many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, you brood of vipers who warn beautifully in the wrap account to Vegas want to be part popular with the people and I said were out here with we go through this Johnson you can go through this. You brood of vipers unless you repent, you can do this just to go minor thinking go through a symbol and it's going to make me two things. Okay, he said.

Therefore, you better bear the fruit in keeping with repentance. In verse eight. What I'm doing here is not about water. What I'm doing here is by your heart, and he says and do not suppose that you can see yourselves what were still okay because we have Abraham as our father for I say to you that from the stones. God is able to raise up the children of Abraham being up being a blood Jew doesn't mean much God can take stones in tournament, the sons of Abraham that has nothing to do with it. That's what he says don't notice that he says the axes are regulated through the tree. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down any strong in the fire, he said, but for me is that as for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he was coming after me is mightier and I am not fit to remove his sandals will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. If you're a believer or with fire. If you're not, he will immerse everybody. You see, Christ will make sure everybody identifies with him. You will either get my spirit you'll get my judgment. That's why positive Libyans. Remember, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Everyone is going to have to identify with Jesus Christ. Everyone is going to be baptized by Jesus Christ, either by the spirit of God by the judgment of God.

That's what he says. He said his winnowing fork is in his hand will thoroughly clean the threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn and he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. He's directing that to the scribes and Pharisees then Jesus arrived in Galilee at the Jordan and coming to John, to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him and said I wait, wait, wait, I have need to be baptized by you, why would why he so would you come to me. CP was baptizing sinners like you repent to get ready for the Messiah, the Messiah comes, the son of God in John's as I can baptize you.

You should baptize me, the son of God. I can ask you repent, you have nothing to repent of. Why would I baptize you see that's what John says and Jesus said permitted at this time for in this way it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness and many permitted see what Jesus was saying was this John, you're the voice of God in all people understanding that righteousness comes through the repentance and they have the symbol of it to water baptism and what I want to identify with that. I want identify what I am. You see, I am fall. I am following in baptism. Here the show that I am part of the righteousness of God and also allows Jesus to identify which centers the baptism of Jesus is not like any of these other people and Jesus baptism is not like any of ours. I hear often people so we need to follow Jesus and baptism are baptism is not like Jesus. We baptized because we are sinners saved by grace.

They baptize because they had faith and repentance of their sin and they had water.

Jesus had neither of those Jesus's baptism was to identify himself with the righteousness that God was bringing to the nation Israel at the time. That's what happened.

And so that's what he did know what's interesting about this is that Jesus then becomes the standard of righteousness. And again it's always the reality of the heart and really never having to do with salvation in verse 20 is 114 Miss McCall said he's and I'm glad that I baptized none of you know is Paul saying I'm glad that I did meet any of you to Christ that's on my portal is, but I'm glad I didn't baptize any this distinction between being baptized in water being saved okay. There's no question there's a distinction. So it's what is water baptism is clearly a ceremony I were persons immersed in water. Are there other baptisms in the Scripture yes fire the Holy Spirit in ourselves in the body of Christ.

What's the history it comes out of Judaism for proselytes and the real question comes down to what we baptize.

Go with me to Matthew chapter 28 Matthew chapter 28 the last words of Matthew.

This section is called the great commission. I've said this many times in the past is why we exist. Every single thing that we do as a church we will do infinitely better in heaven. Everything you'll sing better. Thank the Lord for that, you know, but I made our worship, our fellowship, everything will be much better in heaven except one thing we can't win the lost.

You see, that's the why is the one that's why it's called the great commission is the one essential of the church. We are now God's plan to evangelize the world and Jesus says this in verse 18 Jesus came up and spoke to them and said all authority has been given to me in heaven on earth. There is no other. He said go therefore and make disciples of all the people groups.

Of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe that all that I commanded you. And he said hello. I'm with you always, even to the end of the age. That's the great commission.

The imperative mood and those verses in the Greek is make disciples.

That's the commandment. And he said you do that by these participles you do it by going you do it by baptizing and you do it by teaching, it's clear. Jesus Christ said I want to go and make disciples and part of the commission part of the great commission is clear, baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit identifying them in that way we get to the book of acts the church begins in acts chapter 2 in acts chapter 2. Guess what they do. He says you need to believe in and you need to be baptized.

Peter took it seriously in acts 812 same thing. Acts 1044.

Same thing. Acts 1046 to 48.

Same thing. Acts 1630 through 34 saving acts 18 in verse eight. Never wants in the book of acts is someone baptized and then they believe. Not once. It's always a believer who was baptize because it's the symbol of what happened in your heart. So when you baptize somebody. It's simple when they believe in what is that mean variety. I was baptize in my 20s because I can request my 20s I can still remember when I was a student at Dallas seminary on a very cold I think it was November very cold. I baptized two people and I didn't in a Jacuzzi at this womenfolk is a Jacuzzi was heated and I just remember the steam coming off my body. You know it's kinda cool and way but it was freezing cold.

One of them was a I'm a man, was a college student. The other one, who I remember my wife named Homer. Charles it was for and I met with both of them beforehand. I wanted to make sure I wanted to make sure they were believers. My interview with Homo. Charles was much better than my interview with a college student, he headed down he had every single aspect of this down and I talked to him about his sin. He got all that writer talk to them by the Lord he got.

I mean it was a mate he was four years old and by the way, was an empty thing know the last I knew it. He love the Lord his whole life. He did mission trips in his teens.

He still walks with the Lord tingle order for you seeing articulate his faith, so when you believe you see inwardly when that happens to identifying your baptized by the spirit of God. It's time to show the symbol. That's how that can happen you can happen any time. The last question is this water baptism then really matter because I think that's the question a lot of evangelicals are having one the I can say this, you can obey the great commission and North you can't you can't be obedient to the great commission is sick. Yet, I believe. I believe I believe two thirds of that or three force. I believe that but I don't believe in the other. You can ignore Jesus as clear as you can be about this. Secondly, baptism is the outward confession of the inward reality.

It's extremely important. You see, it's the outward confession of what happened to me. Emily is just like my ring you see I don't wear the ring because I have to.

I don't wear the ring because my wife makes me I wear the ring because I want to see.

I want to do that. I want a symbol of what happened to me. I want that symbol you see that's the whole point of water baptism, and remember in their culture. Whenever you were baptizing in particular to church or swimming pool in the early church or baptize in public.

You see, you saw people being baptized. Everybody saw them, believers and unbelievers.

Everybody you know this if you heard me say before, but when I first became pastor the church.

I called Jefferson Parish and a toll asked them if I could do all our baptisms at loving Airpark and of course they said absolutely not. Okay what I want to do that because public you see because it's probably coming to stick my stand and say who I am in public. Now we've turned into an extremely private you know and some people don't even like to be baptized in front of the church.

They just want to be baptized privately and that's okay but you will is how private you trying to make this because it's an outward expression that everyone wants to know it's a standard in which we take and lastly, simply, this baptism is an act of obedience to every Christian just an act of obedience is important to Jesus Christ one to send if it wasn't important. The thing is bother me now within our culture is it's not as important to us. We've turned it into something like an elective something I just just assist elective you can do if when you know it's fine so that article said that there were four reasons why Christians are not being baptized in our country and am you may be in different you may be profitable. We may be defined about, but after this morning, you're no longer ignorant. See you know what the word of God says baptism wonderful picture of a great spiritual reality whispering father. I don't know why the church of Jesus Christ or the United States is change so much in these last 34 years and we may want to baptism to almost be nondescript in a very sort of in different elective act. It's clear in the word of God that that was never the case. I just pray father that all of us who are your children understand that we understand what the Bible says about the understand of what it means to you father. When should I pray for spirit for our good pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you dislike the method one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called in one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly report just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver doing a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and LA.Margie at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series are looking you can search by title. Once you find the method you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening room.

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