1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:03,720 Hey, everybody. This is Pastor John Ewart from 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,920 Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,119 Thank you so much for tuning in to our podcast. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,320 You're going to hear from God today as we share from his word 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,080 about important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:22,800 according to the Bible. Well, good morning, Inglewood. 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:26,680 Yeah, I've been all right this morning. 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:29,720 That's good. Appreciate you. 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,600 Thanks for being here. If you're a guest today, we have 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,760 proud that you're here. And if you want to turn in your 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,880 Bibles to Romans 6, we'll spend most of our time there, although 12 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,440 we'll be in a couple of places because of the nature of the 13 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,400 message. Let me take a couple of minutes 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,760 to just say thank you. I know that as we have 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,480 reorganized some of the spots for some of our small groups. 16 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:55,000 Appreciate your patience and endurance and willingness to do 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,160 that. It's going to put us in a good 18 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,640 spot for growth as well as a better spot for some of our 19 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:02,840 children's ministry. Speaking of children's ministry, 20 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,720 I do hope that you look on the front of your worship guide and 21 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,000 if you at all have an interest or feel called or could possibly 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,800 help and your church member here, there are tables in the 23 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,960 lobby for you to sign up to. Take a turn. 24 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,920 Everybody takes a turn. Nobody has to take a turn too 25 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,160 often, and we can share the load a little bit with our children's 26 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,960 ministry, which is growing. And Speaking of children's 27 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:29,360 ministry, let me just begin. We're going to do this over the 28 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,040 next few weeks. I want to introduce somebody 29 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,400 special to you. They're not physically here yet. 30 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,800 They'll be here on August 31st. But we have called and hired a 31 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,400 new children's ministry director. 32 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:45,280 Her name is Laura Klontz, excuse me, and she has incredible 33 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,480 experience and comes with incredible recommendations. 34 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,320 I know several the churches where she has served. 35 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,400 This is a very experienced called person who's been working 36 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,360 in children's ministry for many years and we appreciate her 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,840 willingness to listen to God and for God to call her to be with 38 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,120 us. I'm very excited about her. 39 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,560 Let me just read a little portion of something she said. 40 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,160 She says I'm committed to helping parents and children 41 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,720 know, love, and follow Jesus. With a passion for discipleship 42 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,600 and family ministry, I strive to serve and lead families to 43 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,720 understand what it means to have a personal relationship with 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,920 Jesus and to live that out every day. 45 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,720 I aspire to use the gifts that God has given me to serve the 46 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,440 entire church for His glory. My hope is that through 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,360 meaningful relationships and intentional ministry, I can 48 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,920 partner with the family so that they all may all know, love, and 49 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:35,800 follow Jesus. Next couple weeks we'll get some 50 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,440 photographs and some information about her and then she'll be 51 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,520 here on the 31st to meet you personally. 52 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,840 But we're extremely excited, going to bring stability and 53 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,080 leadership to our children's ministry, which is growing and 54 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,520 we're very excited about. Also hope you'll come back 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,000 Wednesday night. I know many of you are and I 56 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,600 appreciate the kind words you share about that series that 57 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,400 have called Core Training. This Wednesday night I'm going 58 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,200 to talk about what do we really believe about Jesus and why does 59 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,440 that matter in this world in which we live? 60 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,080 Why would I believe about Jesus is so significant? 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,920 It should be kind of a understood thing, but how do I 62 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:13,200 articulate that to a world that doesn't necessarily believe that 63 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,360 about him? And so this Wednesday night will 64 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,160 be a big deal and keep coming to connect groups. 65 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,760 If you're not in one yet, please do so. 66 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,600 And you're going to be hearing a word called reach. 67 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,520 So just stay tuned for reach and we'll be talking a whole lot 68 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,560 more about that down the road. I heard that a couple of the 69 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,160 rooms were packed this morning, so I'm excited about that. 70 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,880 I like packed rooms. So I appreciate that. 71 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,160 Now, some of you aren't old enough to even know this name. 72 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,320 Others of you will be very familiar. 73 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:47,560 He's he was a fellow Oklahoman and would be referred to, I 74 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,120 guess, as an American humorist. But a man named Will Rogers once 75 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:52,560 said this. He said, even if you're on the 76 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,720 right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. 77 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,880 And so I'm very thankful, Englewood, that you're willing 78 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,920 to move into this new normal because frankly, there, and I 79 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,560 even experienced it this week, I was teaching a doctoral seminar 80 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,040 at the seminary and had pastors and some churches that that just 81 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,040 weren't as healthy and they weren't growing, weren't 82 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,079 reaching people. And too many and too many 83 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:20,800 churches in our world today are drinking from empty wells and 84 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,480 then wondering why they're still thirsty. 85 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,240 And I appreciate the fact that we can thrive on God's Word 86 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:28,800 here. So too many churches are also 87 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,720 idly sitting by reactively hoping something different 88 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,200 happens, which it just will not. And then too many people live 89 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,720 next to too many church buildings and never hear the 90 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,760 gospel. So we want to change all that 91 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,200 here. And I'm so thankful for you 92 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:47,440 because our God, our God is not a God of low risk, generic 93 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,560 visions for his church. He has great plans and we 94 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,320 continue to see that happen. Just wait. 95 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,000 In a couple of weeks, we're going to have new member 96 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,080 presentation. There's going to be a whole 97 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,560 bunch of people coming. And so I'm so thankful for what 98 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,160 God is doing for us. You might know the name Annie 99 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,520 Armstrong. She worked tirelessly to 100 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,920 champion the cause of of Southern Baptist missions and 101 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,440 missionaries over the years. She once said this. 102 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,680 She said the future lies all before us. 103 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,920 Shall it only be a slight advance upon what we usually do? 104 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,320 Ought it not be a bound, a leap forward to altitudes of endeavor 105 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:28,480 and success undreamed of before? I believe God has a great plan, 106 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,000 and we must feed fully upon his Word and drink richly from his 107 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,760 will. And that's the only way we will 108 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,720 be filled. That's the only way we're going 109 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,200 to be satisfied. So it's time for us to continue 110 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:40,640 to move forward in that new normal. 111 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,040 Fully commit to being to the true disciples God wants us to 112 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,320 be, to live out the Church's vision, to fulfill the King's 113 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,920 mission. And then I just invite you to 114 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,760 come be the Church or the King's Bride as the Church. 115 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,000 So I've been asking a series of very foundational questions. 116 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,800 And I appreciated the comment after the first service from a 117 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,080 couple people. One is they had never actually 118 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,200 heard a sermon about what I'm going to preach about today, 119 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,760 which was interesting to me. And then secondly, I heard a 120 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,000 member who'd been a believer for a long time say, you know, even 121 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,440 though for some of us who've been believers a long time, we 122 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,040 ought to know this, it's good for us to be reminded. 123 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,280 But the other thing I want you to be able to share with others 124 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:26,160 what I'm trying to share with you and this whole series is 125 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,440 actually an intro to a the next sermon series where we're going 126 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,200 to talk very specifically about what does it mean to be a 127 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,240 disciple? Who makes disciples, who makes 128 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,360 disciples? What does it really mean to be a 129 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,000 disciple of Jesus Christ In our fall series, which will last for 130 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,000 quite a while. So I'm just asking a few 131 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,640 questions. Couple weeks ago I asked the 132 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,480 simple question of why do I need to be saved? 133 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,760 And I talked about salvation and the assurance of salvation. 134 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,720 If you weren't here, I'd go back and listen to that. 135 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,880 If you know somebody who isn't saved, it would be a great thing 136 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,240 for them to hear. And then I asked you, why do we 137 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,120 need the church? And we talked about that and 138 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,520 that's important for us. And then this morning I want to 139 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,480 ask you a different question. This is a question very 140 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,080 important to what you and your family ought to know. 141 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:12,480 The answer Why be baptized? Why should I be baptized? 142 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,040 What's baptism really all about? We see it. 143 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,480 Maybe you've been baptized, maybe you've not been baptized. 144 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,520 What do I need to know? There were actually some folks 145 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,000 that we've seen come to know the Lord in the last couple of 146 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,360 weeks, and one of them was a big discussion this last week in my 147 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,000 office about this very subject matter and they were in the 148 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,080 first service. It was really important for them 149 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,080 to hear this and for some of you it might be important or, or 150 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,080 maybe you know somebody who needs to be baptized and this 151 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,360 would be helpful to you to share with them. 152 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,120 So this will be important for us believers. 153 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,120 Baptism is one of the ordinances, and I'm going to 154 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,120 describe that weird word in a minute that we practice here at 155 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,000 Inglewood. And, and I've shared with you 156 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,320 before when we observed the Lord's Supper before, there's a 157 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,720 big difference between a sacrament and an ordinance. 158 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,160 And some of you may come from a background that practice 159 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,920 sacraments, but but the difference is this. 160 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:05,480 A sacrament is a ritual in which it's believed believe that God's 161 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,000 grace is dispensed when you observe it. 162 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,000 In other words, it's believed that it will help you receive 163 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,720 God's grace and and even salvation. 164 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,120 So Sacramento theology, don't let those big words throw you is 165 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:23,000 therefore the belief system that salvation comes at least in part 166 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:28,640 through these works and, and, and they would then be necessary 167 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,799 for you to be fully saved or for you to continue to be saved. 168 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,200 But here at Inglewood, we do not believe in practicing 169 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,280 sacraments. We believe the Bible clearly 170 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,880 teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not the 171 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,200 result of works. In fact, the well known passage 172 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,520 that we would share often here, but it's worth repeating as 173 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,320 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9. 174 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,280 And it says for by grace you have been saved through faith 175 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,800 and this is not your own doing. It's the gift of God, not as a 176 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,720 result of works that so that no one may boast. 177 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,560 And I again, I shared it at length about this a couple of 178 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:08,400 Sundays ago about how salvation really works. 179 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,040 Very important for you to hear that. 180 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,440 And so at Inglewood we actually observed 2 ordinances. 181 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,920 So what's this word ordinance mean, right. 182 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,720 It wouldn't be a word that we would actually use very much. 183 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,720 We might actually use it more in military terms. 184 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,720 So an ordinance is an act of obedience that believers observe 185 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,000 to accomplish at least two things. 186 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:37,040 There we go first. First, to fulfill command of 187 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:41,640 Christ. Secondly, to share or proclaim a 188 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:46,680 testimony of what Jesus Christ has already done in our hearts 189 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:48,720 and lives, and I'm going to say that lie in the lot. 190 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,920 And so these are visual symbols of his grace. 191 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,880 They describe and testify of what Jesus did for us through 192 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,800 his life, his death on the cross and his resurrection. 193 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,440 So these visual representations of the gospel that we share 194 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:10,760 together are not so that we might be saved or even that 195 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,080 somehow we might maintain our salvation, but we observe them. 196 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,880 So we might proclaim that we're already saved. 197 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,480 So these are things we do after salvation. 198 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,560 Those of us who are saved, we are so appreciative of Jesus 199 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:25,080 Christ and what He's done for us. 200 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,680 We want to proclaim that. We want to testify about our 201 00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:32,280 salvation in Him. And as I mentioned, we observe 2 202 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,680 ordinances at Inglewood, the public confession of baptism and 203 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,760 the corporate body sharing together in what we call the 204 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:41,200 Lord's Supper. We're going to share in the 205 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,720 Lord's Supper in just a few weeks, so be prepared for that. 206 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,960 But neither baptism nor the Lord's Supper save us. 207 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,520 That's not what they're designed for. 208 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:53,920 These are acts of obedience, acts of testimony in which those 209 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,840 who are already saved proclaim the gospel to a unified body. 210 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,520 So there's, you're never going to see a private baptism. 211 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,240 We're not going to have a secret baptism service on a Saturday 212 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,240 afternoon when nobody's here. We're always going to be 213 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,320 observing these ordinances in front of the entire church to 214 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,880 where everybody can see them and everybody can witness them, 215 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,160 right? So baptism then is this public 216 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,600 profession of faith to share to the entire church, to proclaim 217 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:27,160 to the world. So why be baptized, right? 218 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,040 Well, there's several reasons why baptism is so important as a 219 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,360 first step. It's a first step of obedience. 220 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,720 It's a first step of discipleship after somebody's 221 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,400 saved, after your personal conversion. 222 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,280 So the first thing is baptism is a proclamation of a command. 223 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,440 Jesus gave us an example to follow. 224 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,760 Matthew chapter 3 is one place where it's where it's written. 225 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,840 He says this. Then Jesus came from Galilee to 226 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,600 the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 227 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,800 John would have prevented him saying, I need to be baptized by 228 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,680 you and do you come to me. But Jesus answered him, let it 229 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:04,360 be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all 230 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,480 righteousness. Then he consented, and when 231 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,600 Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water and 232 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,040 behold, the heavens were open to him, and he saw the Spirit of 233 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,640 God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 234 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,200 And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved son, 235 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,560 with whom I'm well pleased. So Jesus believed it was 236 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:29,160 important. He believed it was necessary to 237 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,640 go through this public proclamation of who he was and 238 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,320 why he was sent and who sent him. 239 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:41,920 So he publicly identifies with his mission through baptism. 240 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,840 He begins his public ministry that way as well. 241 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:49,840 And if we seek to be like him, we we too should seek to obey 242 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,120 and proclaim our identity in Him. 243 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,600 And baptism gives us that opportunity and that privilege. 244 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,600 We get to say, this is who I am. I'm publicly identifying as a 245 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,720 Christian, as a person who follows Jesus Christ. 246 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:08,920 And baptism is also then this public obedience to a command. 247 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:14,000 So, so listen, we are to be baptized after we're saved, but 248 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,120 we're also supposed to baptize others. 249 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,960 Listen to the Great Commission in Matthew 28, it says go 250 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,400 therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them 251 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,920 in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 252 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,800 So when you hear us baptize up here, you'll see, you'll hear 253 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,360 them say I'm baptizing you in the name of the Father, the Son, 254 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:35,720 and the Holy Spirit. So we are to do that. 255 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:40,240 Part of our responsibility in going to share the gospel, going 256 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,160 to the nations, is to make disciples who make disciples who 257 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,800 make disciples and then baptize them. 258 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,920 This public identification is very significant because it 259 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:54,480 helps the new convert to draw a line in the sand and to say I'm 260 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,920 beginning my new life. I'm beginning my new walk with 261 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,600 Jesus. Now the water doesn't do that, 262 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,240 but they're identifying with that. 263 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,920 Or remember what Peter did back in the book of Acts that we've 264 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,240 studied earlier this year in Acts 10, it says, and he 265 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:12,360 commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 266 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,520 Then they asked him to remain for some days. 267 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,680 Or again, Peter on the day of Pentecost earlier in the book in 268 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:21,720 Acts chapter 2, he says, so those who received his word were 269 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,960 baptized and there were added that day about 3000 souls. 270 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:32,080 So we rejoice, we look forward, we and we, we, we. 271 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:36,680 We want the opportunity to be baptized, to fulfill an 272 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:41,240 expectation, to follow an example, to fulfill command, and 273 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,000 to identify with and follow Christ's example as well as the 274 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,160 example of the early church and the apostles. 275 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,760 It's a big deal. So through baptism we're 276 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,720 declaring what He means to us and what He has done in our 277 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,520 lives. But note the order. 278 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,880 They personally believed in Jesus Christ as our Lord and 279 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,520 Savior, and then they were baptized. 280 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:06,280 So baptism is a public declaration of that belief and 281 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,080 faith commitment because of what it proclaims. 282 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,360 But that's not all. Let's look at a few more things 283 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,680 that baptism proclaims. Baptism is also, secondly, a 284 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,800 proclamation of the cross. This is where I finally got to 285 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,200 Romans 6. So when I baptize somebody 286 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,800 personally, I almost always quote a couple of verses out of 287 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,720 Romans 6. I'll get to those in a minute, 288 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,680 but let's hear some others. Romans 63. 289 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,000 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into 290 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,880 Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 291 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,880 We know in verses 6 and 7, Romans 6/6 and seven, we know 292 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,720 that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body 293 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,880 of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no 294 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,880 longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been 295 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:55,320 set free from sin. So we only practice because we 296 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,120 believe this is what the Bible indicates. 297 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,320 We we practice what we would call believers baptism. 298 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,000 So it's for those who have already been saved. 299 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,480 It's a public proclamation of our belief and what Jesus did 300 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,520 for us on the cross. Now remember man has 2 great 301 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,000 problems. All of us. 302 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,560 We have a problem with sin, got a problem with death. 303 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,800 So, so the cross takes care of our sin if we believe and, and 304 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,640 the resurrection helps us with death if we believe, it's a 305 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,800 shows our victory over death. So we believe only those who 306 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,880 have understood this gospel and personally trusted in Christ as 307 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,600 their Lord and Savior should be baptized. 308 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,880 Therefore, you would never see us baptizing babies. 309 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,200 So even though we certainly love these little ones and we love 310 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,800 their families and we want to lift them up and pray for them. 311 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,320 We pray that they're going to reach that time in their life 312 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,160 when they personally trust in Christ first, before they would 313 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,760 ever consider or we would ever consider baptism. 314 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,920 True salvation first, then baptism. 315 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:05,040 But baptism is more. Baptism is also a proclamation 316 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,560 of covering. Look at verses four and five. 317 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,240 It says we were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, 318 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,079 in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the 319 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:18,839 glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 320 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,160 This is the verse I often would quote. 321 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,079 We're buried with Christ and risen to new life in him when I 322 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:27,960 baptize somebody. For if we have been united with 323 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,680 him in a death like this, we will certainly be united with 324 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:36,440 him in a resurrection like this or a few verses later, verses 8 325 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,400 through 11. Now if we have, if we have died 326 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,240 with Christ, we believe that we also live with him. 327 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,400 We know that Christ being raised from the dead, will never die 328 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,680 again. Death no longer has dominion 329 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,320 over him for the death he died, He died to sin once for all, but 330 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,040 the life he lives, he lives to God. 331 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,080 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive 332 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,000 to God in Christ Jesus. So when we're saved by Christ, 333 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,280 we are covered by what his death on the cross and His 334 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,360 resurrection from the grave produce for us. 335 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:14,080 We're covered by the payment of his blood sacrifice that he made 336 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,320 perfectly, and he's the only one who could to pay for our sin. 337 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,920 And so we are redeemed. We are purchased back. 338 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:26,760 We are bought back, so death no longer has dominion over us 339 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,760 because it no longer has dominion over him. 340 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,280 And so the old person who was under the penalty of sin and 341 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:39,040 faced eternal death has been buried with him and raised to a 342 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,600 new life. And baptism symbolizes this 343 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,320 picture. So when we were were baptized, 344 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,120 we're telling the world, this is what Christ has done for me. 345 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,840 He, he was crucified, he was buried and he rose again. 346 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,760 And, and we also testified this the same thing that happened to 347 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:00,600 the old lost me. I too was put to death, buried 348 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,600 with him and risen to new life in him. 349 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:09,120 So this is one of the reasons why we baptized by immersion. 350 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,240 So what's the big deal about immersion? 351 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,400 Why not just sprinkle? Why not just poor? 352 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:15,920 What's the big deal? Why does it matter? 353 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:20,680 Well, first of all, it's important because of the imagery 354 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,040 I've been sharing with you and how it is presented. 355 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,960 When we lower someone into the water, we are symbolizing the 356 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:33,800 death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as well as of our old 357 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,280 lost lives. This is what Jesus did for me, 358 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,720 and this is what has happened to me. 359 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:44,400 We are also symbolizing the complete covering that salvation 360 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,280 has already brought to the person. 361 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,840 God the Father no longer sees our sin. 362 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,960 God sees the righteousness of God the Son as our sin is laid 363 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,840 on Him and His righteousness is laid on us in salvation. 364 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,400 In fact, as I shared a couple of weeks ago, 2nd Corinthians 521 365 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,800 says. For our sake, He made him to be 366 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:09,200 sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the 367 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,480 righteousness of God. Now, the water doesn't do that. 368 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,480 That's not magic water up there. That's just tap water. 369 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,680 That's just good old, good old Rocky Mount tap water, right? 370 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,520 That's all that is. But it symbolizes that gracious 371 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,120 act. It's symbolizes that an 372 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:28,680 immersion symbolizes it perfectly. 373 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,040 But but even more clear than that is the fact that our our 374 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,400 English word baptize comes from a Greek word baptizo. 375 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:43,920 And baptisma baptizo cannot, does not and cannot mean to 376 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,360 sprinkle or pour. That's not the word for that in 377 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:50,520 the original language. The word baptizo means to 378 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:55,840 submerge or to completely cover. So I wish we translated the 379 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:00,360 original Greek and used words like immerse or submerge or 380 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:03,800 completely cover rather than transliterating, which is what 381 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,040 it's called, where you take a word and you kind of switch it 382 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:09,480 around and make a new word in a different language because the 383 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:10,840 meaning would be much clearer to us. 384 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,480 The word baptiso was used when a ship sunk to the bottom of the 385 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,920 ocean was covered by the sea. The word baptiso is used when in 386 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,160 the dye, the cloth dyeing industry. 387 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,320 So you take a white piece of cloth, totally submerged it in 388 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,240 the black dye to where it's completely covered, completely 389 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,680 soaked up the dye, completely black in a new color. 390 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,760 See. And so it's the word that's used 391 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,080 throughout the New Testament. No other word is used. 392 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,080 And so Jesus was immersed by John the Baptist. 393 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,720 No matter what you might see in a movie, Jesus was dunked. 394 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:44,680 He dunked him. He didn't sprinkle on him. 395 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,000 And that wouldn't be the word they were used used. 396 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,320 So we're actually commanded to go and make disciples and 397 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,960 immerse them. That would be a little more 398 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,640 literal version of the Great Commission. 399 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:01,160 We are to be immersed after we are saved to best symbolize what 400 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,720 Christ has done for us and how he has forgiven us, right? 401 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:09,560 It paints the clearest picture of what it represents. 402 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:12,480 But a Romans 6 passage isn't quite done. 403 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,560 We're close, but not quite done. We proclaim the cross, we 404 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,920 proclaim covering, but baptism also proclaims cleansing. 405 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,960 So what we see in Romans 64, we were buried therefore with him 406 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:28,880 by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised 407 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,640 from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in 408 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:39,640 newness of life. Or later on in verse 12, Let not 409 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,840 sin therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its 410 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,760 passions. Do not present your members to 411 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,320 sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present 412 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,160 yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to 413 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,960 life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 414 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,200 For sin will no will have no dominion over you, since you are 415 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,200 not under the law, but under grace. 416 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,080 And as I've shared multiple times, because I'm trying to 417 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:09,400 drive the point home, obviously the physical element of water up 418 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,640 there does not save the Sinner, but it helps us to express this 419 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:18,120 external testimony to the work which the Holy Spirit has 420 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:21,440 already done in our lives. So once again, immersion best 421 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,240 symbolizes the truth that we are completely covered, but we're 422 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,680 also completely forgiven. We're completely cleansed of our 423 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,800 sin penalty when we are saved, right? 424 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,960 That complete covering the water symbolizes the complete 425 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:39,000 cleansing power of God's grace, of the complete forgiveness 426 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,440 Jesus brings when we trust in Him for salvation. 427 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,520 Every part of us is saved. He thoroughly washes us. 428 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,480 It is complete and thorough salvation. 429 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,080 Every sin is covered. Every sin is forgiven when we 430 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,520 are saved. And so we recognize that 431 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,280 following the Lord in baptism is an act of obedience. 432 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,680 It's an act of testimony to the Amazing Grace and the complete 433 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,160 forgiveness He brings to us. So it's a privilege. 434 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,240 It's an honor to be able to share such a testimony to the 435 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:15,680 church and to the world. In fact, let's observe this 436 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,920 right now in action as we see the obedience from some and hear 437 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,880 these testimonies in baptism. Pastor Gene's going to come and 438 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,240 he's going to share some testimonies with us and we're 439 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,760 going to see baptism in action right now. 440 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,240 Well Church, during the 9:15 service, we had two that came 441 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,400 forward in baptism and I'm going to share the testimonies with 442 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,720 you and we can celebrate what the God has done in their lives. 443 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,160 The first one was Cooper Ames and this was Cooper's testimony 444 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,040 In the first service. He said I needed Christ because 445 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,160 I was lost. I placed value in worldly 446 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,800 possessions. I was never fulfilled 447 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,040 spiritually which caused me to live a life of sin. 448 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,480 I grew up believing in Jesus but never took the steps to accept 449 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:11,080 Him as my Lord and Savior. I saw how my family was changed 450 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:12,800 through the acceptance of Christ. 451 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,880 Seeing how my sister and my cousins accepted the Lord and 452 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,040 how they were changed by Him encouraged me to pray that the 453 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:22,920 same changes could be made in me. 454 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,480 I joined Bible study groups and I joined church groups during my 455 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,560 time at Purdue and in Savannah and I felt this calling to 456 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:36,280 accept the Lord as my Savior. I began to find peace and prayer 457 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:40,240 and discussing God's words with other believers and I knew that 458 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:45,280 my next step was baptism. Being saved by Christ means I 459 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:49,360 will not look to share the Word of God with those that they can 460 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:52,000 be with others so that they can be saved as well. 461 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,880 I will no longer concern myself with the worries of the world. 462 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:59,320 I would live a life to glorify God. 463 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,120 By being baptized, I'm telling the world that Christ will work 464 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:07,160 through me. I will live to glory, bring 465 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,400 glory to God and spread the word so that others can be saved like 466 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,160 myself. Christ is the answer to any 467 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,760 issue maybe having. Praise the Lord, That's Cooper's 468 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:26,560 testimony. Our second baptism we had during 469 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:31,120 our 915 service was Holly Phelps, and this was Holly's 470 00:26:31,120 --> 00:26:34,520 testimony. She said my life before Christ 471 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,760 was painful and lonely. I felt like I didn't belong 472 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,720 anywhere. No matter how hard I tried to 473 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:46,200 fit in with the crowd, no matter how good I was at sports and no 474 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,080 matter what I did, it just wasn't good enough. 475 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,760 I smiled on the outside, but on the inside I felt lost and 476 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:58,960 completely alone. I wanted so badly to feel like I 477 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,560 had a place in this world, but I didn't and I truly believed I 478 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,360 never would. Everything changed one night on 479 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:10,560 the floor of my bedroom when I was 16 years old. 480 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,920 I broke down and I cried out to God. 481 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,120 I can't do this anymore, Lord, I don't belong. 482 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,840 I've tried. And in that moment I heard him 483 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,440 speak to my heart. You are meant for more. 484 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,280 From that night forward, I repeated that much to myself 485 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:32,400 over and over again. He is constant. 486 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,000 He doesn't change. He loves me fully and 487 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,120 completely. Being saved means I don't have 488 00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:43,120 to walk through the fire alone. Oh, what a friend we have in 489 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:47,120 Jesus. This baptism is my declaration 490 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:51,000 that I belong to Him. That is love rescued me from the 491 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,720 deepest pain and gave me purpose. 492 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:58,520 I now belong. And that was Holly's testimony 493 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,000 this morning. Praise the Lord. 494 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:09,640 This morning at the 10:45 worship service, we have Mason 495 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,800 Tyson and this is Mason's testimony. 496 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,960 He said growing up, my mom always took me to church every 497 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,880 chance we had. That's a good mom right there. 498 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,400 She was never going to miss a good service. 499 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,920 But going to church just felt like a normal thing for me. 500 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:34,320 Though deep down I knew I'd never had a real deep connection 501 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:38,600 with Jesus. Years later in a Chapel service, 502 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,920 I felt Jesus talking and giving me the opportunity for a new 503 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:46,600 life and plans far out of my imagination. 504 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,840 I already knew my relationship in connection with God was very 505 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,600 weak and I never leaned on him for anything. 506 00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,640 So after the service I went and I talked to the pastor and to a 507 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,880 teacher and after some deep conversation hearing all the 508 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:09,840 things that God has done for us and me at that moment I gave my 509 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,640 life to Christ. Being saved has changed so many 510 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:15,560 things that I could not do alone. 511 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,120 Only with Jesus help. I have been finding my place in 512 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,640 God's Kingdom and my specific role in the Kingdom. 513 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:29,360 I've been brought so much peace and happiness that I could only 514 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,000 find through the Lord. I couldn't have asked for a 515 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,200 better future than having one with my Lord and Savior Jesus 516 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:38,760 Christ. By being baptized today, I'm 517 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:43,360 telling the world that Jesus that he died and rose for me is 518 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:48,000 the same one that wants to have a forever lasting relationship 519 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,280 with you. I'm also saying that I have 520 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:55,480 believed in Him for the forgiveness of my sins and I now 521 00:29:55,920 --> 00:30:00,600 get to live a new life with Him. I am now living a life where 522 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:05,600 everywhere I step, I am wanting to share with the world and life 523 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:14,760 of my Lord. Well, Inglewood, and my name is 524 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,800 Pastor Dylan and you just heard three incredible testimonies 525 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:19,840 about what the Lord has done in three individuals lives. 526 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:21,800 And we've got Mason here with us this morning. 527 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:25,200 Mason came to me a few weeks ago to talk about moving forward 528 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,480 with baptism. And so it's been my honor to be 529 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:28,880 able to walk through this journey with him. 530 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:33,080 But the guy standing behind me is not just my bodyguard, he is 531 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:37,600 also played a crucial role in Mason's life and faith journey. 532 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,600 This is Chris Vester, he's one of our deacons here at 533 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:41,920 Inglewood. He's a Connect group teacher 534 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,760 here at Inglewood, but he's also Mason's godfather. 535 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,000 And so it's my pleasure to be able to introduce Chris to you, 536 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:50,280 who's going to be baptizing Mason this morning. 537 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:57,200 Mason, based on your testimony and declaration of Jesus as your 538 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:02,000 Lord and Savior, it is my pleasure to baptize you in the 539 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,120 name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 540 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,640 See, I knew the sermon wasn't very good and I needed backup, 541 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:24,600 so that was fantastic. There's no better message than 542 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:26,920 when somebody does what they just did there. 543 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,600 And so we're so excited about that. 544 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,160 And then finally, I want to share one last thing with you. 545 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:37,200 We're going to go, Not only is proclam, not only is baptism, 546 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,960 but proclamation of everything I've mentioned so far, but it's 547 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,680 also this proclamation of commitment in the book of Acts. 548 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,000 These Gentile believers who first experienced the Holy 549 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:51,320 Spirit historically were baptized with water after they 550 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:53,920 had been spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit. 551 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,720 Again, in Acts 10, it says can anyone withhold water for 552 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:01,360 baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as 553 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:03,960 we have? And he commanded them to be 554 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,920 baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 555 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:08,840 Then they asked him to remain for some days, since we believe 556 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,560 a person is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the greater body of 557 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:14,000 Christ at the moment of conversion. 558 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,200 But what's interesting about baptism, it's also the doorway 559 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,360 for local church membership here at Inglewood. 560 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:25,640 So not to salvation, but but to a committed covenant 561 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:29,280 participation with a local body of believers. 562 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,800 Paul wrote to a local body of believers in Ephesus and he 563 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,400 wrote this. He said there's one body and one 564 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:39,440 spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to 565 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:44,120 your call, 1 Lord, 1 faith, one baptism, one God and Father of 566 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:46,120 all who is over all and through all and in all. 567 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,440 So to be a member here, an official church member here at 568 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:54,000 Inglewood Baptist, one must have been biblically baptized after 569 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,680 personal salvation and by immersion. 570 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,480 And so we would love the opportunity to speak to you 571 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:02,640 about this. I know there were some folks in 572 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:05,880 the first service that I was able to speak with after the 573 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,360 service, but I'd love to speak with you about the possibility 574 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:12,560 and the need of either salvation obviously first, but then maybe 575 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:15,560 you were saved at some time in your past, but you've never been 576 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,760 biblically baptized and you know you need to do that. 577 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,760 So in a moment, we're going to have an opportunity for you to 578 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,120 come. Pastors will be here. 579 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,120 There's a Next steps room right over here where we're going to 580 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:28,920 have people who love you. And you can have a more private 581 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,520 conversation in the room with some folks who just love to pray 582 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,040 with you and talk with you about that. 583 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,120 And you can go straight to that room or you can come to one of 584 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:37,920 us. So you can just come and pray at 585 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:39,840 the steps if you have other needs in your life. 586 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,480 But remember, baptism doesn't save you. 587 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,760 It symbolizes, right? It's the public declaration of 588 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:51,760 the covenant commitment which God has already worked in your 589 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:54,640 heart, right? And so it doesn't dispense 590 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:58,160 grace, It displays grace that's already been given. 591 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,240 And so being biblically baptized is something every true believer 592 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:05,720 ought to do, that they ought to do it as soon as possible after 593 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,760 conversion, right? But but as Martin Luther once 594 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:13,239 said, only God can take his word and put it in your heart. 595 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:17,880 And so one of the things that that we've got to do is I pray 596 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:19,840 that he's doing that to you right now. 597 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:24,719 I tell people that they get to preach their best sermon when 598 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:26,280 they're baptized, when they're obedient. 599 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:29,719 So which one of you this morning needs to follow the Lord in 600 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,239 baptism? See, here's water. 601 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,239 What prevents you from being baptized? 602 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:40,320 Also, to shout this proclamation to share this testimony. 603 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,639 I once had the privilege when I was a missionary in the 604 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:46,120 Philippines. I had the opportunity one day to 605 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:53,080 baptize 43 people in a row and and I was pretty tired. 606 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:54,960 But I promise you we can handle it. 607 00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:58,280 If, if 50 of you come this morning needing to be baptized, 608 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,160 we'll work that out, I promise. But even if just one would come, 609 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,320 we would rejoice and be so thankful for that. 610 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:10,120 I often liken baptism to a wedding ceremony. 611 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:14,320 In both cases, you have this external moment where you're 612 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,760 reflecting this covenant thing that God has already done in 613 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,680 your heart. It's very similar. 614 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,120 And in the same way, baptism is a way for you to say I've 615 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,640 trusted in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 616 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,360 I want the church to know that, I want the world to know that. 617 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:34,320 And I want to have this moment in my own memory to, to nail 618 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:38,120 that down that I can look back upon as this time of commitment. 619 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,960 Years ago, I was in the field in the, in the Amazon way down in 620 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:50,400 the Amazon in a very, very remote place, a place where most 621 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:54,080 people would never go probably. And we were in a village there 622 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,760 with a church and, and we were sharing the gospel throughout 623 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:00,800 that village. And, and I was asked to baptize 624 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:04,360 a man, which I would never normally do as a visitor 625 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,840 someplace. But there was a man who was in 626 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:11,000 the jail and some of us had shared the gospel with him and 627 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,720 he had been saved. And he so, so desperately wanted 628 00:36:13,720 --> 00:36:16,400 to be baptized. And the only way they would let 629 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,480 him out to be baptized as if I did the baptism. 630 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,080 And so I worked with the local pastor, had the local pastor 631 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,760 there with me because I really wanted to be under the authority 632 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:28,480 of that local church. But they under guard, they 633 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:30,720 brought the man with armed guards to the river. 634 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:34,760 And in the Amazon River, I remember baptizing this man 635 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:39,040 while piranha swam around us. And and a pink river dolphin. 636 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,440 At the moment that he came out of that water, a pink river 637 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:43,480 dolphin jumped in the air behind us. 638 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:46,560 I have a worship leader who took a photo of it. 639 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:52,240 It was a precious moment. And I promise you that if you 640 00:36:52,240 --> 00:36:57,440 come, we'll remove the piranhas. We're ready to go. 641 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:03,360 No pink river dolphin, no piranhas, just a lot of just a 642 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,240 lot of testimony. So let's pray together. 643 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,240 Father, we thank you so much for the testimonies that we've heard 644 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:14,760 and seen this morning. Father, they're so powerful, so 645 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:17,480 important. And Father, just thank you that 646 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:21,720 we could witness this together. Father, I pray right now for 647 00:37:21,720 --> 00:37:25,800 those who might be here who recognize that they're not ready 648 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,360 for baptism, because first they need to trust in Jesus Christ as 649 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:32,800 their personal Lord and Savior. And I pray in just a moment when 650 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,200 we sing that they would come and, and Father, they'd go to 651 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,080 the next steps room to talk to someone in there. 652 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,280 He'll just sit down with him privately, discreetly, and share 653 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,480 with them what it means to be a believer. 654 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:47,640 They could come and talk to one of us as pastors or whatever we 655 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:50,080 can do to help them. Maybe there's some here who are 656 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:53,120 ready for baptism, though, maybe some ready for church 657 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,840 membership. And Father, I just pray that 658 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,880 they'll come, that they would come to say I'm proud of 659 00:37:59,880 --> 00:38:03,240 trusting in Christ. I want the world to know and I 660 00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:05,480 pray Father, that we could help. My mothers may just want to come 661 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:07,680 and pray. Maybe they have a friend who 662 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:09,800 needs one of those things and they just want to come and 663 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:11,960 intercede at these steps like an altar for them. 664 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:14,160 Father. So you just lead us, guide us 665 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:15,520 like you did in the first service. 666 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:19,000 Just show us what you want us to do and help us Father, to be 667 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:23,000 obedient as we worship you. So Father, bless us now in 668 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:25,880 Christ's name, Amen. So stand with me. 669 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:28,720 Worship team's going to lead us be here. 670 00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:32,680 Others will be here again. This room right there is open, 671 00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:35,280 ready to go. People would love to visit with 672 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:36,520 you in there. You don't even have to come see 673 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:37,880 one of us. You can go straight over there 674 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,560 right now and they would just love to visit with you. 675 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:44,040 If you want to come and pray, come and pray, but you come as 676 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:49,160 we sing. Thank you so much for listening 677 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:51,680 today and I also hope that you'll go to our website at 678 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:54,840 englewoodbaptist com as well as our app and find many other 679 00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:57,040 resources that will bless you and your families. 680 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:58,240 Thank you once again.