Get Ready

I want to welcome all of our campuses this weekend across the triangle, but a special greeting want to send out to our college students on most of whom, as I mentioned are getting back after the home for the summer mission trips or internships we have missed you guys. We are definitely a different church without the presence here are there so many things that you add to our church. There are a couple of things that are not impacted when you are not here. One of them is the offering, not bitter about that. I'm just saying. The other is our parking is another example of a Lance Michaels who is our Chapel Hill campus pastor said his Enochian figured out.

He said college student from a leaf of the summary said little literally in one weekend, our tenants dropped by 700 people figures in a parking lot looks exactly the same if everything I figured it out.

As I watched them come back.

He said because they average about 150 people per car so those two things are not impacted but everything else is. And so we are really glad that you you're here if you got Bible college student or otherwise, I'd like you to take it out and open it to Matthew chapter 3, I always hope that you have your Bible with you on the weekend. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament where in chapter 3. Matthew is this kind of symbolizes us this very week this week on Monday. We are crossing over officially from the Old Testament into the New Testament and are through the Bible reading plan for the year. For those you that started off really well in January read the whole Bible with a single fell off from somewhere in Leviticus 1 February. Like I told you you would, it's time for you to slip back onto the bus and act like you been here the whole time we won't judge you… Read the New Testament together. If you're new to our church will read the Bible through for the year and we would love for you to just this bookmarks are that social media will let you know how to do it, but where I'm preaching I'm loosely along with the things that were reading that week I preach them on the weekends.

Will this work her way to the New Testament so you can join back up today today today in Matthew three were to jump into the story of a rather strange figure who was sent by God ahead of Jesus in order to prepare everybody for the coming of Jesus. This guy was sent to prepare the way he captured the attention of the entire nation of Israel, in part because he was so odd I just got back most of you know from being overseas with my family where everyone regarded me and my family to be a little odd little things that we in our country take for granted they find weird like wanting ice in our drinks seem weird to me but it seemed weird to them, even when I ate at McDonald's and I'm typically not a McDonald's regular, but you'd be surprised how good those golden arches of capitalism look after you been overseas for a while in vectors on my pictures as I was on the way back home. But even there at McDonald's when I ordered a Diet Coke. They gave it to me with one cube of ice in it and so I asked the guy the counter very politely. Could I have some more ice you look to me. It was a very strange look on his face and so I said it more slowly and loudly, because that's always the way that people understand things and then he disappeared the back I get to go talk to the manager in a few minutes later he emerges with tongs and one more cube of ice like he's holding a national treasure, and so they thought or customs are true. They thought that we talked strange in London were people obviously speak English, they would tell me that I needed to speak more slowly because they couldn't understand my accent and I'm like my accent.

I got no accent no longer the accident in South Africa. They were, they mostly speaking was also, I learned that they use different words for things and we do. In other words we use your common way that you just can't use their for example, a dinner one night I said that I needed a napkin and my South African hosting for me said I don't think that means what you think it means napkin here in our dialect means adult diaper and so it's not typically the kind of thing you asked for in the middle of a meal at another meal, a South African guy said man is that I can't wait to get home and take a nice long deuce why would you tell me that I don't care produce in their dialect. It means nap had me going to take a nap so later when I was talking with our missionary.

There how one of his South African colleagues as he was going home says a man I'll hit you with a tinkle later. What is it tinkle like phone call that's her word for phone call so I told her missionary. Have you ever had a tinkle in the middle one of your dues, sorry for the potty humor but when you're from a different culture.

You seem strange John the Baptist Matthew China chapter 3 is is going to seem strange, but for different reasons. These onstream for cultural reasons, as if he's from a different country. He's a Jew that sent the Jews, but his ministry and his lifestyle are so odd that gets everybody's attention and that is by design. God designed that because he wanted to show Israel what they needed to do in order to receive Jesus, you see. Maybe you've asked that very question. How exactly do you receive Jesus, you're like you, not for Christians talk about that boy does that mean on the day does it mean that you come to church a lot. Is there a certain level of morality that you obtain. If so, how much is enough how much of those things you have to do in order to qualify as a Christian.

Or maybe you thought bisphenol Rob would like to know God I'm interested in that but I'm just not interested in getting involved in organized religion.

Maybe you're thinking that you like you looking at me and you like him and no offense to you, but I just don't trust organized religion but I'm interested in knowing God or maybe Sam interested in God but I just don't see with the big deal is about Jesus.

John is going to point to John is Jesus's cousin by the way, John the Baptist is going to point you toward the answer to all of those questions.

Matthew chapter 3 verse one in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and his message was pretty simple. Repent, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight. Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey those details are included because that's what John may John seem so odd now the wild honey.

Didn't sound too bad, but the locusts just out of curiosity, how many of you at all of our campuses. Hmmm you you have had Lucas before even raising I that's a good number, and in this audience. Am I actually have had the months on a mission trip to a rural part of China not so bad if the fry that he taste like chicken time back about your picture just so you would be blessed by that. There you are there. I skewered up for you if you dip them in caramel sauce for my John and I think that for the wild honey was about as you dip them in there to cover the days.

The worst part on by far is when their legs get stuck in your teeth. It takes flossing to a new level. I was to say that, but these things or not strange to Jews because they were gross missing grossed out. There were gross to Jews. They were strange because they revealed that John was not part of the aristocracy. You see, most religious leaders back then were part of the aristocracy. They all live in Jerusalem. They had degrees that were nice close they drive nice chariots and they were fairly wealthy, but obviously John wasn't but it was something about John that was really odd to them come in it that is that he reminded them of someone that they heard about but never met. That was somebody in their history, who had the reputation of having the same kind of persona as this. This Grizzly Adams kind of persona and I was a prophet named Elijah, and so as they listen to John. They thought he sounds like Elijah. We always heard sounded and see that was these prophecies in the Old Testament. Several of them that said that before the Messiah came, that Elijah would precede him. You see one there in Matthew Isaiah says the voice of one crying in the wilderness. That's about Elijah in Malachi 45 which we read yesterday a Bible reading plan. The prophet says Elijah is going to come before the Messiah comes, and so they thought.

Maybe this is. Maybe this is Elijah reincarnate heat dresses like Elijah to talk like Elijah, he preaches. Like Elijah, he smells like Elijah. This has to be him and so he got their attention. Verse five. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan going out to him and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Right will spend a few minutes talking about John's message. First, I want you to note the simplicity of John's message you can summarize it. Really, in one word repent.

All repent really means is turn away from your sin that was basically his whole sermon you were taking notes on the apostle order on and on, John the Baptist, you would not need to download his transcript from the Internet you would just write down one word for 1.

Repent and after a while you like okay John got .1. Once you move on to point number two and John would say I don't really have a point number two all I really have is .1 and he was able. John and I came up one of those learn a little something. I'm here to learn and John would say that you better get serious about repenting because the problem is not that you need to know something new. The problem is you're not doing what you already know the problem for most of us is not that we don't know enough.

The problem for most of us is that we are not obedient to the things that we do know. You see, evidently, most of the people listening to John did not need to be told what to repent of. That's why there's no less than here they already knew what they needed to repent of the vast majority of people today do not need to be told they already know what area of your life right now is not under the full authority of God. Are you obeying him as he first in your finances. A first in your heart is the first in your relationships is the first with your time are you obeying him. In the area of sexuality there is anything that he has forsaken that you have not forbidden. Is there any area of your life, you doesn't have Lordship over any habit that you have, you know, is not pleasing to him. If so, you don't need to come here and take notes. You need to repent that.

Here's what you learn from John.got nothing else to say to you until you do not already move on to point everything you need a pointer you .1.

Do you understand how wicked it is to know that God wants you to do something and then to choose the opposite.

Need I remind you that the entire human race was plunged into darkness and death not because of some morally depraved at but because they knew that God wanted them not to eat of the forbidden tree and they did it anyway.

What was so bad about that one act I didn't like stomp on puppies on the way to the tree or skewer Angels with Java. Note all they did was eat of the fruit to God told him not to.

Why was it so bad. Numbers 25 you got a story is really disturbing to be quite honest Jan God just give the law of Israel were losses not to work on the Sabbath with his God is real, he knows that's the law. But the need some things for the house so he goes out he gathers up a bunch of sticks in defiance of the law, not some morally innocuous act right. He's not hurt anybody's gathering. Six.

Israel brings them up before God's of God which we do a got to stoning, stoning for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. What was so evil, sin does not get its wickedness. Listen to this sin does not get its wickedness by the depravity of the act. Sin derives its wickedness from the one whose authority you throw off when you committed. Do you understand how wicked it is to know that God wants something and to deliberately go the other direction.

You realize what that is very and Samuel for single 15th to rebel to know what God want to do the opposite is like the sin of witchcraft, which means if there is an area of your life that you know is not pleasing to God in your like I just don't feel like dealing with that.

God says you might as well be worshiping Satan because that's how I see those things.

The problem is not that we need to learn about the new things a problem in every age is that we just need to repent and come to Jesus in the areas we know are not not under his control.

Second, note the tone of John's message simplicity was repent. The tone was what we call apocalyptic repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Apocalyptic just means it concerns the end of the world, but usually when you talk that way that makes people think you're crazy. You see God you know that with a bumper sticker or teacher. This is the end is near you easy think now that the guy would like to know I wanted to influence my family babysit my children. That's not what you think.

But it may people listen to John because they believed it, and there's nothing that will get somebody's attention like actually believing the end is near, right right and they always say there's two ways to get people back in church.

One is to do a series on the end times. The other is to do a series on sex is always made me wonder if I could come up with a series on what kinds of sites we will have in the end times. If we can make attendance to the roof but the thing is I don't really know when the ends go to be here and I can't tell you it's if it's going to be next week. But what I do know what I do know is that Jesus said for us to live ready that there's always an apocalyptic, edge to the gospel because there two things that can happen at any moment that none of us know. I am very aware that this very day one of two things might happen to you. That would essentially mean the end was near. One is it Jesus could return decision to come like a thief in the night thing about these come in in the night is little title make appointments.

I don't show up. They don't send a courtesy call this call when you're not expecting it. Jesus that ultimately when I come. That's what is going to be like to find a generation of sleeping and I want to show up and are not to be ready.

That can happen before I in the sermon. The other thing that can happen with with you not known his death. Death comes a surprise to most people. Sometimes not come up. You are more my last thought that I'll have is when I was a few years ago I was speaking at a student event on the weekend. Not our student of Abbott's another win and it was a kid there that sat on the first rice that literally right there took copious notes, hold, talk, talk about the assurance of salvation he could no that you were to go to heaven Craighead athletic. That afternoon, got into an accident and died what it's always made me realize as I stand in front of 10,000 people a weekend. There's a real good chance that for somebody. This is the last chance you can have to hear and understand who Jesus is and actually respond and when you begin to grasp that it suddenly makes the message like John's take on greater urgency. I wish that I can carry the authority to John Kerry in making realize that you are playing with things that really can play with because you just don't know that it really could be over this weekend for you and what it means to start to live with wisdom is to think about that day. That last day to start to live today.

The way that you know you want to live when you get there before Moses prayed. Psalm 90 verse 12. Lord, teach us to think about death so that we might know how to live. The only way however live correctly.

Today is when I think about what I'm gonna wish I would live like when I was there, even if death doesn't take you by surprise, even if it didn't come in the form of accident you notice as you get older. How much faster life seems to go. I mean I'm like I was in college. It is in the house of the night one of said memos last year just flew by, you ain't got no idea. I mean it's like every year we are the years, literally getting shorter. Sometime the rotation of the earth houses happen as fast right me for lead him in the mirror the other day one, 43, here's all. How did this happen to me. Not you have 40 Ultima life on my comp I don't feel $43.43.

She was like no you still at 43 but now you don't look 43 more. I told know it just seems like you suddenly arrive at a place we look back on life is in the rearview mirror your that phrase only one life to live will soon be Passover was done for Christ will last you begin to live today in light of what you know is coming and that is the end and it got people's attention and they thought about their lives in the present from a glimpse in the future. The tone was apocalyptic. Number three. Notice the response. Baptism. Baptism was not completely unknown in those days thought people think John invented the bad Chisholm like John I got oh I got an idea, but it's not your baptism section pretty common in Jewish life, but it was always used in one or two ways. The first way. It was a part of the conversion process. Listen when Gentile became a Jew and Gentile non-G1, Jew, dated three things personal circumcision, which had to reduce the mail convert potential pool to dramatically estimate the final thing about this. Nobody spontaneous baptisms are. Oh, you have the of the tile tentacle is also spontaneous circumcision. We got all you need.

Manages Vicodin them into I drive your money on how to do that but they did circumcision number two you memorize some sections of the Torah and then number three is you are baptized showing that you believe your Gentile life and entering into this new life as a Jew, while the second kind of baptism was baptisms that Jews put themselves through is a ritual purification when the one offer a sacrifice. John's baptism is clearly not either of those it's directed Jews, not Gentiles, so it's not about Gentiles becoming Jews, but is also more than just a ritual cleansing because of the baptism of repentance. He is talking as if Jews need to be converted and need to repent. We Gentiles and I was completely unheard of to them. Verse seven when he saw many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming to his baptism, all the religious people started to come because that's what religious people to they find out what Coolidge things are happening in the religious world so they go to the religious things and the advent of the religious resume looks out there and there's all these fat Sadducees and Pharisees and Johnsons of them. You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come not up on his secret church school nomenclature verse eight bear fruit. Therefore, in keeping with repentance.

Do not presume to say to yourself, we got Abraham as our father for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.

In other words, stop hiding behind religion and quit telling yourself I'm a Jew I'm a church elder. I give with the church I'm to be okay. I've gone to this ritual because I'm not talking. He says about some the means to changing your behavior, consummate some of them need to change at your very roots listen to this. I know exactly where I'm at. I'm in the South. Religion is the cover-up for true repentance always religion is always a great substitute for true repentance. It is religion that keeps most people like the Pharisees and Sadducees from dealing with repentance. One the most revolutionary stories of Jesus told involves two sons. Very few people understand the story as illustrated by what we call it we call the story of the prodigal son not singular but is actually two sons and their the first sign is the prodigal runs away and he you the way you think he takes the money goes righteous living frat parties and smoking weed prostitutes and conveys who lives on Franklin Street, there's that went okay and that's what we know about, but there's a second side in Jesus a story and Jesus make sure to point out that this son while he stayed home and didn't run away in rebellion. This son stayed outside the house. That's Jesus's way of showing that even though he's around the home. He's not in fellowship with God. And this son is furious at the grace that the father shows the returning prodigal which Jesus says shows that he doesn't understand that he also is a recipient of grace.

This second son think that he deserves the father's possessions and his blindness to his own desperate need for grace make him proud and bitter and judgmental and shows that he's every bit is separated from the father has a son who went out and certainly would prostitutes. There are two ways to be separated from God here this one is by defying the laws of God like a rebel. That's the first prodigal, but the second is in thinking your good enough to earn the father's approval and never dealing with the core issues of your heart and failing to recognize the grace that you need to be accepted by God.

Religion keeps a lot of people from ever dealing with the root problem in their heart which is that they love themselves more than they love God, you have described it before like this on you got a guy who gives a mistress. One day a week only on Saturday. Now you you I will mail your your your wife is upset with you. You not a very good husband and he says you know what you're right so I'm gonna really be a better husband on Sunday through Friday is not deal with his mistress. He just cannot bring her flowers and take her to dinner on Sunday.

The Friday near Libra. The problem is not that you're not a good enough husband not busy enough Sunday to Friday. The problem is you have a heart that is divided in your faithful to things. Basically, Jesus says the religious people. Your problem is not that you're not religiously busy of you will need another ritual you need some is going to go down to the core of who you are because you think you're good enough to earn God's favor. You think he owes you and you think that just another ritual and somehow you're going to to prove your place before God stop doing your damnable good works and actually repent and cling to God's grace because it's the only hope that you have asked why John is so harsh with them. Listen in the South you got to hear this religion is going to delude more people out of repentance and send them to help them. Rebellion ever will because it keeps you from understanding your need for grace and keeps you from dealing with the core of your heart to now verse 11. John begins to show you the significance of his baptism. Now that he's prepared the way now finishing the significance of his baptism, verse 11, I baptize you with water for repentance. But there's more money coming after me, that's mightier than I or sandals are not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and and with fire. John says that his baptism in other words, is symbolic of something greater baptism. The real baptism happens not in water like John was baptizing with the real baptism. He says can happen in the Holy Spirit and that makes listen to this that makes the place of John's baptism really significant.

You see the Jordan River it 222 ways you described the Jordan River on the edge of the wilderness. The Jordan River was the boundary between the wilderness and Israel. The Jordan River was the place where Joshua after the children of Israel had wandered in sin for 40 years in the wilderness, the Jordan River was the place they crossed over to go into the promised land. It was the place where they figured it was speaking left the wilderness of sin, to live in the faith and obedience of the promised land of Israel and to what John says is the real baptism is when you leave the wilderness of Sam for the promised land of faith and obedience in the only way that you can do that is not to a baptism like this. The only way you can do that is through the fire of the Holy Spirit, which is why you need a Messiah who can give you the Holy Spirit, not somebody that could just take you through a religious ritual so verse 13 enter Jesus.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John. Now, in order to be baptized by him and John recognizes them and their cousins. After all, and John that Wohl you can do that just to Jesus. This is a baptism watch of repentance in order to have a baptism of repentance. You gotta have something to repent of Jesus is perfect. How would Jesus undergo with integrity. A baptism of repentance if he had nothing to repent of certain will what is Jesus answer the gun verse, verse 15 Jesus answered and let it be so. Now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness will Jesus has righteousness it needs to be fulfilled. I thought Jesus was righteous Bee Gees we left heaven to be like was righteous and that he needed. Top it off, and he lost a little bit need at a backup that he was always fully righteous. He was never anything less than 100% righteous was he mean I need to fulfill righteousness. So John consented.

Jesus was baptized immediately went up from the water bowl, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming to rest on him to hold a voice from heaven said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased to see it as a whole gospel right there. What type what's happening. Jesus let me know if that Jesus does need to fulfill his righteousness yet he's been baptized in repentance and he's been baptized fulfill righteousness, even though you need to repent. He doesn't need to become a more righteous, why is he doing those things because he is beginning listen to this, his ministry of substitution. You see, Jesus is going to live the life that we are supposed to live in and die the death that we are condemned to die is true that Jesus did not need to repent. But we did so Jesus does it perfectly in our place so that he can continue to live in our place so that when he dies, he's actually going to bear the condemnation that we bore you live a life are supposed to live and die the death recommended I see is almost as if you think of it this way.

Imagine all these people standing around the shore of John's baptism and they all are wanting to repent and be baptized imaginable that a name tag on in the name tag says hi I'm JD I'm a sinner and everybody's got their own name and then I'm a sinner below and Jesus has a name tag on it says hi I'm Jesus on righteous Jesus from the back of the crowd begins the walk-through, but as he does. He begins to take on people's name tag and means to put them all over his chest and he walks down into the water and he gets baptize confessing, not his sin but there's and then Jesus you see is going to go to La Crosse where Paul is going to say in second Corinthians that God is going to make him who knew no sin to become sin for us to Jesus is going to be beaten with a cat of nine tails of that leaves his back, flayed open it lacerate his skin is going to be beaten to where you can't even recognize him is your ripped out. I think a crown of thorns and shove it down on his face so that is his face is so disfigured.

People can even recognize him who know him. When people are new to Christianity there like that's disgusting. What we say in response is. That's the point you're saying is disgusting and Jesus actually became your sin on the cross, he became your sin. We say that Jesus did not merely die for us.

He died instead of us. He took our place so watch when Jesus gets out of the water and the father looked at him and says this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, because Jesus repented and died for me.

I can actually take that accolade and applied to me because we traded places so now the father looked at me and says this is JD. He is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Not because I live in a way that deserves that because Jesus lived for me. He died for me and all that was mine became his and all that was his became mine the gospel and its court substitution Jesus in my place.

This this is what separates Christianity from every other religious message in the world.

Every other religious message as a prophet gives you a list of things to do do this. Say this rub this touch that don't touch that, and if you do these things. Medial often enough and well enough, God will accept you list may differ, but the content is essentially the same.

Jesus did not give us a list of things to do, or ritual to go through Jesus gave us a story about something he has done for us. He substituted for us and he gave himself for us, so that in him I could become the righteousness of God and I can hear. I'm his beloved son in whom I am well pleased. He wore my name tag of sin so I could put on his entire righteousness.

Substitution is the core of the gospel.

It also was something that I just think so few people really get in the way that you know that you haven't gotten it is, it's never offended you deeply when you really get it. You're going to suddenly be very offended because I don't like to think of myself as needing a substitute substitute means your help I would. I prefer to think of myself as God's like Hg TV project. I'm a little fixer-upper.

The bones are good enough to pack up a few things. But you know what I don't when you say I need a substitute. That means I can even really get him again was my wife and I will sometimes go to the same home gym to work out and I want the classes that will go to his ability.

Things copartner workout. You know what part of workout is when you have a certain like reps of a certain exercise and one person does it while the other one rested and when I get tired you switch off back-and-forth. What I learned there are certain exercises that my wife is just a lot better than me at one of them is working. Murphy is Murphy is something invented by the devil for the fixation of God's people what she is a lot better at Burpee's and I am so if we're doing with his partner works out and if you like 100 Burpee's then what that means is that she does about 65 of them and I'm doing about 35 which is humiliating for me because on the man and I want to be able not just to carry my weight I want to be able to take care of my girl right, but it's usually because she's just better for me. What essentially the gospel is not Jesus saying you do what you can and I'll do the rest eBay today and you can even get off the floor. I would have to do all 100 because you were dead in your sin and you can go anywhere someone to do them all in nondescript credit you with them because I'm going to be your substitute. And when you feel that it suddenly becomes at the same time, really humiliating and totally blessed because your salvation no longer depends on you.

It's Jesus who did it in your place is the sweetest and most difficult gospel truth, but once you get it. I'm telling you everything in your life is going to change as well and people tell me they're like oh you Christians are so weak. Jesus is the crotch of Mike you will know the half of Jews not to cry Jesus if anything is a stretcher. You can even limp and have it without Jesus, leaving him to help you along. He came to say your dad I'm up here you there and I'm in Outlook credit my righteousness to you and then on a live through you, and the power of the Holy Spirit to let me in today about talking about baptism for us, for you and me what it means for us today because Jesus you see cats this is gonna take this thing from John, his cousin is to make the centerpiece of the great commission to the great commission says go make disciples, baptize them. It's can be the centerpiece of the message because it was a symbol of us were there were Gentiles and Jews norms or by years of Gentile is to be symbol of us crossing over from the wilderness of sin where we are in charge to the land. The promised land of faith and obedience were Jesus is in charge.

Paul is gonna say in the same way.

It's a symbol of us going from the death of sin to new life in Christ, therefore running 63. We are buried with him by baptism into death that just like Christ was raised from the Deb of the glory of the father, even so we also now should walk in the newness of life.

So, let me point out for quick things that we learn about baptism from John that still apply to us number one from John. We see that baptism publicly declares your repentance, baptism was a public symbol that symbolized I'm leaving the wilderness of sin in entering this promised land of obedience passing from death to life. There are many people, especially in the South who get baptized but never repent and that's revealed by the fact that they're not really living in the land of faith and obedience are still essentially the wilderness of sin because somebody commenced you. Somebody commenced you wrongly that you could accept Jesus as Savior and not surrender to him as Lord Jesus was a salad bar that you take apart you one way the part you did, but what it means to come to Jesus is across through that river, metaphorically speaking, where you say I'm leaving behind.

The wilderness rhyming chart and I'm going into the place where God's in charge and that will be revealed by the fact that my life is surrendered to him. There is a large number of people in the South that have gone to baptism, but not actually repentance if your life did not radically change when you got baptized God's. It was not a baptism of repentance, you got wet in front of a bunch of people. It's a baptism of public it appears your repentance is the first thing we were number two. Baptism is by immersion baptism is by mercy. Now I'm not trying to theologically quibble and there's a lot of things we would consider more important, Christianity than this, but I want to explain to you why we do it the way we do it we submerge people when we baptize them for two reasons. One, because that's how they did in the Bible. John wasn't standing on the shore throwing water out on top of their heads. He brought them into the river had the word baptize. This is an interesting word in Greek because most were Jesus translate from Greek English, but there's a handful of words in your New Testament that they did no good English equivalent enforcement is The Greek word is, English eyes that offensive and without a basically they take some baptize one of this that Tito and the Greek and I went on fences as it is right baptize so baptize back then back and look at literature what it meant was to soak or to plunge the use. It was a muddy ground not as a Job like for real, I chose a grounding that were baptized when the ship sank that meant someone was baptized. We even have a recipe that was written down in the first century by Greek poet and position in the Condor on how to make pickles. This is why you have me as your pastor, because I look at stuff like this okay and he who in the Congress is literally, he says the first thing you do when you're making a pickle is you bad toe. The cucumber and water, which meant that bad toe means to quickly years after that you bad seed so the pickle in vinegar which regional different quickly put in vinegar and hold it down until the vinegar so solo in and it changes the constitution of the cucumber to make it a pickle is is that we pulled up, it will come out there with the spirit speaking in tongues is MMA that part up. But what it shows. This is there's a way that they thought a baptism and so will we do when we baptize you to put you on the water and to include the entire Nicene Creed and then reported not getting it, but there's a sense in which in which it's unclear what the word means it is not unclear at all.

It means put somebody under which the second thing is what it symbolizes.

It symbolizes death when you bear much to be cute but we very somebody won't sprinkle dirt in her head. You put them in the ground so we are being buried with him by baptism into death. That's why we do it by immersion. Number three we see from this story were John the baptism is not a condition of its and evidence of salvation is not a condition of salvation is an evidence of salvation.

Repentance came first.

Nowhere in the Bible is baptism made a condition of salvation, but I still meet people who like a guy get baptized will go to heaven. I can prove that's not true. In one story, one story you got Jesus and a thief on the cross right next to it and the thief on the cross. After a lifetime of sin realize that Jesus is the Messiah, he repentance is will remember me when you come in here can and what is Jesus going to hose quick and get your bucket known he that he says today, this very afternoon to be with me in paradise.

The apostle Paul said that that he will confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, that Jesus was your substitute then you will be saved because with the heart. You believe in the righteousness with the mouth you make confession and to salvation. Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Nothing about baptism anywhere in that baptism is not a condition of salvation, but it's an evidence of salvation. I often describe it to my kids and I've said this to you before to the psychos wedding ring that I wear this wedding ring.

I tell my kids symbolizes that I married your mom and I take it off.

I didn't suddenly become a married your mom if somebody else put this ring on it doesn't make them married to your mom, but this ring just shows everybody that I have a covenant with your mom in the same way.

Baptism is this public declaration that we have repented and that we have been saved by Jesus, which is why we teach people you want to do it.

After becoming a believer because Evelyn is an evidence of your repentance. If you do it before you repent and it can be an evidence of repentance you haven't done and if you do when you're an infant that's not an evidence of your repentance is an evidence of your parents repentance in your parent's faith and by the way, thank God for your parent's faith, thank God for what they wanted for you when they baptized you what we say is you should be baptize the way they are in the New Testament which is as an evidence of your salvation and not a hope for your salvation to everybody we see and ask is baptized after they believe.

Actually, 41, 3000 people believe in a baptize activate Ethiopian eunuch believes is baptize Exxon Mobil least and is baptize extend those ripples and all who believe a word and a bad time in there baptize at 1650 Lydia's heart open by God that he repulses benches baptize at 1630 flipping jailer mother to be safe, Lord Jesus Christ, you and all your household will believe they can baptize articulate many credentials and about reaching may believe, baptize now we read the verses and explain the verses where the people in the book of acts to baptize before they repent only a baptize as infants and now I'm completed with Alice. Okay, there are none. Not a single one. So what we say is yes and I'll try to make a mountain out of a mole hill but were the same as an evidence of your salvation. It one is easier baptize when you're an infant.

Thank God for the faith that your parents showed in a moment you get the joyous privilege of calling them and say mom and dad what you hope for me 19 years ago 35 years ago what you hope for me is come true. And now I have repented and I belong to Jesus and I've enter the promised land of faith and obedience. I ratified, I ratified what you hope for me by joining my baptism to what you did for me so that now I publicly declared that I belong to him. I put on that ring, which leads me.

Lastly, the number four. John shows us a baptism is important.

The soul story shows us about is important people. Also I was younger with the big deal is just a ritual. What you have to go through it. It's an thing to change anything. Notice what happens to Jesus was baptized, he hears the affirmation of God.

This is my beloved son and gets filled with the spirit. He's about to go into the wilderness to be tempted. Matthew four if you read ahead is nothing on the world, repented by Satan for 40 days and this affirmation from the father is going to become the core of his strength in resisting Satan because he's going to say the father has declared over me, his love and that love and that assurance is going to give me the strength to withstand Satan to his face. Your baptism is important because it's a marker that you put in the ground when you say I have left the jurisdiction of Satan you got no more authority here because I now have crossed over the Jordan River and I'm now in the promised land of obedience to God rules you shut up Satan that's essentially what what it would wipe so important becomes as marker I have struggled with what I should do this next part because for some uses it with you. Remember from Olson and I deftly lost about when I asked the other pastors but you know what I got the mic so here we go.

Martin Luther is one of my favorite theologians 16th-century Martin Luther said that the devil every single night would come to dispute with him what he meant by that was.

He would tempt him. He would whisper discouragement in his heart lied to him. He said I thought of wrestling with Satan in my soul every night. He said I learned that there are two things that could drive away the presence of Satan. Number one he says is I say out loud to him. Satan I am baptized and I declare to him that I have left his wilderness of sin where he is jurisdiction, and I've entered into the promised land of Jesus were Jesus rules and that he could not talk to me because I'm not under his rule anymore and that drove the devil away.

That was number one is the second thing that I do as he says I pass strong gas.

He said because Satan's core sin is pride and there's nothing that shows greater disrespect for somebody than passing gas in the face. He says so Satan can handle it when I mock him that way and so I humiliate him by passing gas and that drives his presence away. You gotta admit, the logic is pretty sounds correct now there are two ways that Luther is giving you for you to wage battle against Satan.

The first is more effective and more pleasant for the people around you, then, is the second but it is important that you have this confession that you hearken back to that. You say that is this simple that I made to God and I made the people that I made my family that I made to Satan himself said, I'm leaving the wilderness of sin and I'm not going back. I'm crossing over this river and this is the land of repentance and obedience. The question have you repent and ask him even baptize that she prayed a prayer on have you really repented as you like. Showed you repented our use of your perfect are you surrendered to Jesus right now is there anything in your life you know is not in control of the Jews have yielded to him than that's what you need to do. It's what John's message is repent. Have you received Jesus as the preparation is repentance and he then received Jesus as your substitute.

The gospel is you do it right now.

Today, repent and believe. Repent and receive even baptize since looking at the repented even if you're not repented they needed in the passage of government baptize the public declaration on your seat little card notice exactly what it says I'm interested in learning more about baptism. This is not a commitment to be baptized just means you want to continue the discussion will also contact you and will tell you when the next Estimate back next baptism is will tell you when the next informational meeting is about baptism also invite you with angled starting point, which is kind of our injury and several things like this in our church. I'd love for you. If you've never been baptized is take a moment not committing to take a moment filled out the offerings by the minute you put the car in the offering must get this conversation going much about your heads if you want all of our campuses bow your heads have you repented your repented. Right now Jesus your Lord, not me. I'm leaving the wilderness of sin where I'm in control the promised land of faith and obedience where you're in control.

I receive you right now is my Savior must substitute Ray to follow you with all my heart.

Some churches you've already done that, you know you've done that you been baptized.

Right now once you let God put somebody in your heart you know needs to hear a message like that when want you just pray for them. Once you pray in the days to come for you have an opportunity to invite them with you over the next few weeks to hear messages like this one. As we discussed the walls of the life of Jesus for the next several weeks. Pray for them by name right now.I pray that of the next two weeks would see hundreds of people cross the line of faith rendered trust Jesus baptize the public declaration of uses God to reach out people around us to bring the man we pray