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WHY YOU MUST BE BAPTIZED (3)

April 15, 2001 AM

Sermon Outline

Acts 2:37,38

INTRO: On the past two Lords day mornings we have considered the must of baptism. In the first study we laid the Biblical foundation for our subject: sin, Gods desire, the word (gospel), obedient faith and real, life changing repentance were lesson points. In the second lesson we looked at Biblical texts which give us information about the why of baptism. This morning we will continue that point for a bit before looking at some objections which some might have to baptism.

I. YOU MUST BE BAPTIZED

A. In order to be in the body of Christ

1. 1 Cor 12:18 here is a Biblical fact

2. but does the Bible say anything about when, how or where God does this?

3. and certainly most would agree that we must be in the body of Christ to be saved in eternity - right?

4. 1 Cor 12:13 ... baptized into one body ...!

5. if you desire to be in the body, then, you must be baptized

6. Col 1:18 here is another significant fact - the body and the church are one and the same; so, baptism is into the church

7. note Acts 2:47 the saved are in the church

B. In order to be owned by Father, Son and Holy Spirit

1. Mt 28:19 baptizing them into the name of ...

2. the words into the name of have reference to coming into the ownership of ... coming into the influence of

3. baptism is the place of the title transfer!

4. without baptism, then, we are still in the name of someone other than the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

5. keep in mind Col 1:12,13 ... from ... into ...

6. if you desire to be owned by God, you must be baptized

C. In order to be born again

1. Jno 3:3-5 except a man be born of water ...

2. clearly, Jesus is referring to baptism

3. Titus 3:5 and 1 Pet 1:23 the role of both baptism and the word (remember, hearing the word leads to faith)

4. new birth must - as physical birth - occur in Gods appointed ... otherwise, there is no birth

5. if you desire to be born again, you must be baptized

II. DO YOU HAVE A REASON NOT TO BE BAPTIZED?

A. I thought we are saved by faith only

1. never minimize role of faith, belief

2. however, the only time the words faith only are joined in scripture they are preceded by not (Jas 2:24)

3. so, repentance, baptism have their roles in saving us

4. recall Acts 6:7 and expression obedient to the faith - note, then, Acts 10:48 commanded - in baptism one is obedient to the faith

B. I dont know enough

1. I truly appreciate such honesty, humility

2. and I have no formula telling when is enough

3. in scripture there are examples of people who are bing baptized upon believing in God and on Jesus - Acts 16:30-34

4. if you believe in God, in Jesus and will resolve to be guided by Gods will, I suggest you know enough ... then, you must continue learning (1 Pet 2:2)

C. I was baptized when I was a baby

1. a couple of things occur to me

a. the requirement of faith

b. no Biblical example

c. no Biblical need - sin isnt present in infants

d. baptism is immersion

2. I respect sincere parents for their actions - but we need to go to the word for instruction and example

3. in the word we find believing, penitent people, who have confessed their faith, being baptized

4. so, I would sincerely counsel you to be baptized in keeping with the Biblical pattern

CLOSE: Can you think of a reason why you should not be baptized? If you can, please share it with me when we are dismissed. If you cant, why not come now!

Cecil A. Hutson

15 April 2001

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)