Baptism Jesus Said So: How to Fulfill Righteousness sermon notes video audio. This thought brings us to these questions we should all ask. “Why should I be baptized in water if I’ve already become a disciple of Jesus Christ?” Answer: Jesus said so. “But, if the blood of Jesus cleansed me from my sin, why should I be baptized in water?” Answer: Jesus said so. “But, isn’t baptism in water simply an archaic act? Jesus said we are to be baptized in water. Jesus said so.
by Delbert Young
Baptism Jesus Said So: How to Fulfill Righteousness
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Baptism Jesus Said So: How to Fulfill Righteousness
Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, 2 Kings 5:1, 2 Kings 5:11, 2 Kings 5:14, Acts 22:16, Colossians 2:12-13, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 3:13-15
We’ve taken three weeks to discuss Baptism In Water. From the feedback I’ve received, it’s been a meaningful study for us all. We will conclude today with our second baptism service in three weeks.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to me. THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We investigated last time how baptizing in the name of Jesus is baptizing “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I wanted to look at a few more relevant thoughts from this passage as we conclude our series.
How much authority was given to Jesus? All authority! Jesus begins the “Great Commission” to his church by directing attention to who he is and stating his absolute authority. He is the ultimate authority. Jesus is in supreme and unrivaled authority over everything and everyone everywhere (Eph 1; Eph 5).
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
If Jesus has all authority, how much authority does this leave the devil? None! The devil can only do what the Lord allows him. How much authority does this leave me or you? The same answer. And we don’t like it sometimes, e.g., Russia with Putin, Iran with Ahmadinejad, etc.
Jesus said, “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
This thought brings us to these questions we should all ask. “Why should I be baptized in water if I’ve already become a disciple of Jesus Christ?” Answer: Jesus said so. “But, if the blood of Jesus cleansed me from my sin, why should I be baptized in water?” Answer: Jesus said so.
“But, isn’t baptism in water simply an archaic act? Haven’t we progressed beyond archaic acts in the church today?” Answer: It doesn’t matter if you think it’s archaic. Jesus said so. Jesus said to do it. “But, do I really need to be immersed in water? I mean, come on!” Answer: Yes, you do. Jesus said so. Jesus said, “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” and baptism is a command. So, the reason we baptize and are baptized is Jesus said so.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
It is a command, but I’ve learned that as it was with me, it is with most. The Spirit of God moves us to desire baptism in water, especially when we understand it. There is a love for our Lord Jesus that causes us to do what he wants. This love and this desire will lead us to obedience, and there are always blessings attached to obedience. Then why do some church people not desire to be baptized in water?
Acts 2:41 THOSE WHO ACCEPTED his message WERE BAPTIZED, and about three thousand were added to their number THAT DAY.
The New Testament has no concept of an unbaptized disciple. If we accept the message, we are baptized in water. Linked together intricately are salvation and water baptism throughout the Bible. Baptized immediately that day were all three thousand who accepted the message of Jesus being Lord and Savior. Not only are we to baptize. We are to be baptized in water immediately.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
Again, why do some church people avoid baptism in water? I have five suggestions.
Many are simply ill-informed when it comes to baptism in water.
They were ill-taught or never taught what the experience of baptism in water means and does. So, they simply think it doesn’t matter.
Some allow pride to control them.
They’ve gone years without baptism for whatever reasons and now do not want anyone to know they have not been baptized. Many of these love the Lord and have served him for years but have never submitted to baptism in water. There are other areas of pride also.
Some are simply indifferent.
Indifference and apathy control many in the church. They simply do not feel baptism in water is necessary or at all important. They’re neither for nor against baptism in water. They’re merely indifferent.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
There are those who are in defiance.
These simply refuse to obey the commandment to be baptized in water. Sometimes, these struggle in other areas. Perhaps sin or addiction has control of them. Some are simply defiant to the word of God.
There are those who are not “saved.”
They never came to Christ as Lord and Savior and never submitted their lives.
So, if you are not baptized, you fit into one of these five categories: ill-informed, pride, indifferent, defiance, or lost. I can’t think of any other reason a person in the church would not be baptized in water.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
An old drunk staggered by a baptismal service on a Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeded to walk down into the water and stood next to the Preacher. The minister turned and noticed the old drunk and said, “Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?” The drunk said, “Yes, Preacher. I sure am.” The minister then dunked the fellow under the water and pulled him back up. “Have you found Jesus?” the preacher asked. “No, I didn’t!” said the drunk. The preacher dunked him under for a bit longer, brought him up, and said, “Now, brother, have you found Jesus?” “No, I didn’t Preacher.
The preacher, in disgust, dunked him again, holding the man under for at least thirty seconds. Bringing him out of the water, he said in a harsh tone, “Friend, are you sure you haven’t found Jesus?” The old drunk wiped his eyes and said to the preacher, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?”
Sometimes we’re only dunked and come up still looking for Jesus.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
In the movie Forest Gump, Lieutenant Dan asks Forest if he’s found Jesus. Forest replies he didn’t know Jesus was lost. As we’ve said throughout our series, your salvation is not about you finding Jesus and adding him to your life. Your salvation is Jesus adding you to his death, burial, and resurrection, all displayed through the solemn act of water baptism.
What are the blessings of baptism in water? Are there any? Certainly, there are.
The blessings coming with obedience
2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, BUT HE HAD LEPROSY.
Naaman had everything – power, authority, wealth, respect, etc. —but he had leprosy. He heard about a prophet who could heal him, so he found Elisha. Elisha instructed Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
Naaman was angry. He thought God would miraculously heal him by Elisha waving his hand over the spot, but no. The Bible says Naaman went off in a rage because it was the muddy Jordan River he was to wash in, not some beautiful river. Finally, those who loved Naaman convinced him to obey God’s word.
2 Kings 5:14 So he went down and dipped himself IN THE JORDAN seven times, AS THE MAN OF GOD HAD TOLD HIM, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
It wasn’t the Jordan River that brought Naaman’s miracle. It was Naaman’s obedience that brought him his miracle. God will always bless us when we are obedient to his word. Jesus commanded us to baptize and be baptized in water. What blessing, maybe a miracle, do you need? What leprosy, perhaps, do you need to be cleansed from you? Your obedience could very well bring your miracle.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
Cleansing of Sin
Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, BE BAPTIZED AND WASH YOUR SINS AWAY, calling on his name.
A man who was at the time called Saul of Tarsus encountered the Lord on his way to Damascus to persecute disciples. The Lord sent a disciple named Ananias to Saul to baptize Saul. There is something profoundly cleansing about baptism in water. I know we repent. I know the blood of Jesus cleanses us, but there is also a washing of your sins away, only displayed in baptism in water.
Colossians 2:12-13 Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When YOU WERE DEAD IN YOUR SINS and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. HE FORGAVE US ALL OUR SINS
In the amazing supernatural act of water baptism, you were shown as buried with Jesus when you were dead in your sins. But God forgave you your sins and circumcised your heart, cutting away your sinful nature. Now, you don’t have to sin. Sin does not have dominion over you (Rom 6:14). Yes, there is repentance. Yes, there is the blood of Christ, but there is also a supernatural cleansing of sins only displayed in baptism in water.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
Opening of heaven, an anointing/presence of the Spirit, hearing God and acknowledgment by God
Matthew 3:16-17 AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, he went up out of the water. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, and he saw the SPIRIT OF GOD descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a VOICE FROM HEAVEN said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Baptism in water opens heaven. We experience fresh access to God, and God to us. A spiritual awakening takes place in baptism in water. A very noticeable fresh anointing of the Spirit comes upon us as the Spirit descends upon us. We hear heaven as never before. God acknowledges that we are his children. Father God says, “I am well pleased.”
Fulfillment of righteousness
Matthew 3:13-15 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Then John consented.
Baptism in water fulfills righteousness. John didn’t understand why Jesus wanted to be baptized. If anyone didn’t need baptism in water, it was Jesus. Jesus being baptized tells us much.
Baptism Jesus Said So sermon notes and audio
What about you?
Have you fulfilled righteousness? Do you need baptism in water? Baptism in water is the right thing to do. Baptism in water is a command by our Lord. If you’ve accepted his message, you are to be baptized, and the sooner, the better. If you are not baptized in water, were you ill-informed, prideful, indifferent, defiant, or lost?
You can have the blessings of baptism in water. There are blessings of baptism: 1) obedience and cleansing from leprosy; 2) the blessing of cleansing and freedom from sin; 3) the blessings of an open heaven, fresh presence, hearing of God, and acknowledgment by him; and 4) the blessing of fulfilling righteousness.
Baptism in water is the right thing to do. What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized…! JESUS SAID SO!
Baptism Jesus Said So: How to Fulfill Righteousness
Baptism Jesus Said So: How to Fulfill Righteousness
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