WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.299 I've got to set up a prop. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:10.640 These are the waters of baptism. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:10.640 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.280 Calm down the days to it. 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:33.200 Here's the question. 00:00:34.259 --> 00:00:37.500 What would it take for you to reschedule something on that day? 00:00:37.980 --> 00:00:38.939 At that time? 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:39.920 What would it take? 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:46.480 And I'm guessing it would take something important and likely something good. 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:52.299 We've got a baptism coming up in just over a month. 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:56.420 It's Sunday, March 29th, 4 p.m. 00:00:56.980 --> 00:00:59.859 Please, please get it on your calendar. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:01.560 And I'm going to make a case. 00:01:01.700 --> 00:01:06.760 If you've got something planned today for that date, you should reschedule. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:15.060 It also occurred to me that not everyone in the room may know what the New Testament says about baptism 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:18.359 and why get baptism. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:26.079 Why is baptism so important and good that you'd reschedule your lives around it? 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:30.400 You might be saying, I'm not even a Christian. 00:01:30.539 --> 00:01:32.840 Why would I even get baptized? 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:40.400 If you were to become a Christian, soon thereafter, you would need to be baptized. 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:42.880 So just kind of some truth in advertising. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:46.619 Or maybe you're here and you're like, I'm a Christian. 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:49.960 I even remember when I was baptized. 00:01:49.960 --> 00:01:51.840 It still means so much to me. 00:01:51.880 --> 00:01:52.660 I remember that. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:55.660 And you're like, do I really need to listen now? 00:01:55.659 --> 00:01:58.119 Yes, you do. 00:01:59.119 --> 00:02:06.239 Because you need to be able to give some reasons to people you love, to other Christians for 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:08.500 why they should get baptized. 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:14.919 Whether that is a friend or a co-worker or a child or a grandchild. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:19.859 Now here's another little bit delicate one. 00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:25.079 I'm a Christian. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:31.919 But when I was baptized, I don't think I was a Christian. 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:35.599 I was an infant. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:37.159 I was a child. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:38.479 I was a young adult. 00:02:39.619 --> 00:02:44.339 And the church that we were part of at that time, or my parents, were really insistent on that. 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:45.819 They meant well for me. 00:02:46.420 --> 00:02:51.300 But when I reflect back on those days and where I'm at right now, I wasn't a Christian. 00:02:51.480 --> 00:02:52.740 I didn't put my faith in Christ. 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:54.580 I hadn't turned from my sin and turned to Christ. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:58.500 So you're asking, well, do I need to be baptized again? 00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:01.920 Do I need to be re-baptized? 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.500 And here's the case I'm going to make. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:05.360 You don't need to be re-baptized. 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:06.939 You need to be baptized. 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:14.719 I was baptized soon after I believed in Jesus. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:15.900 This is another situation. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.520 But I walked away from the faith for years. 00:03:21.359 --> 00:03:24.099 Should I get baptized again to rededicate my life? 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:24.579 Nope. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:26.819 You don't need to do that either. 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:31.019 I fall into that camp. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:36.340 And the baptism with which you were baptized, that still stands. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:43.699 You know, baptism is important and good, but it raises some questions, doesn't it? 00:03:44.579 --> 00:03:51.299 So what's going to follow, I'm going to give you four biblical reasons of why I get baptized. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:59.180 And as we go through those reasons, I'm going to kind of address some of the questions that I've raised along the way. 00:03:59.540 --> 00:04:07.219 Our problem as an evangelical church in the States is not that we take baptism too seriously. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:11.439 Our problem is that we don't take baptism serious enough. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:16.900 So here's reason number one of why get baptized. 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:19.660 The pattern of baptism. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:23.800 If you would open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 3. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:27.760 In your pew Bible, it's on page 961. 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:36.879 The question I want to answer right now, is there a normal pattern in the New Testament of people being baptized? 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.560 And the answer is yes. 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:40.540 And it starts with Jesus. 00:04:41.340 --> 00:04:45.500 So in Matthew chapter 3, Jesus himself is baptized. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:50.139 John the Baptist is baptizing with a baptism of repentance. 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:53.600 And Jesus goes out to him to be baptized. 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.939 Listen to what Matthew writes. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.060 This is 3.13 through 17. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:02.259 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:07.500 John would have prevented him saying, I need to be baptized by you and you come to me. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:14.480 But Jesus answered him, let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:16.980 Then John the Baptist consented. 00:05:17.100 --> 00:05:20.300 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:22.319 And behold, the heavens were opened to him. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:26.139 And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:31.319 And behold, a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:35.000 This is Jesus' public start of his ministry. 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:39.779 Jesus is going public with his teaching ministry at this point. 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:45.099 But it also provides us a model, an example to follow. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:50.959 Now you might, those people who are pretty sharp in the room, you might be thinking, wait, time out. 00:05:52.099 --> 00:05:55.399 Why is Jesus getting baptized for a baptism of repentance? 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:59.479 Because we know Jesus never sinned. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.099 Why would he need to do that? 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:09.319 Well, I'm not sure what all it means, but Jesus says to fulfill all righteousness. 00:06:10.539 --> 00:06:17.680 And so I take that to mean as at least setting an example for anyone who would call on him as Savior and Lord and follow him. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:26.280 What we see here is the beginning of a pattern with Jesus himself being baptized. 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:34.220 So if you become a Christian and you want to follow Jesus, you will begin by following him in baptism. 00:06:34.220 --> 00:06:37.940 Now there's more of a pattern we see in the book of Acts. 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:39.400 A-C-T-S. 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:47.680 Acts follows the gospel of John and it's the authorized history of how the early church started and expanded. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:58.340 In Acts 1-8, Jesus tells his disciples in Jerusalem that they need to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in Jerusalem. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:05.579 And then out to Judea and then further out to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:13.219 And so the book of Acts follows that pattern from Acts 1 to Acts 28. 00:07:14.099 --> 00:07:23.779 And so as we see as the book of Acts unfolds, various people are hearing the gospel preached and they're responding in repentance and faith. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:26.459 And then soon after they are baptized. 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:39.019 And so we see this being applied to men and women, boys and girls, rich and poor, ethnicities of all sorts, Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, and then all sorts of different Gentiles. 00:07:39.019 --> 00:07:43.560 People with different education levels, different positions of influence. 00:07:44.219 --> 00:07:54.959 As the gospel is proclaimed, as it's going out to the ends of the earth, the gospel is proclaimed, people respond in repentance and faith. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.959 And then they are baptized. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:02.779 They're not baptized first and then they become Christians. 00:08:03.579 --> 00:08:08.779 No, they become Christians first in repentance and faith and then are baptized. 00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:10.740 It's a normalized sequence. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:17.659 Gospel proclaimed, gospel heard, gospel responded to in repentance and faith, and then they're baptized. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:21.859 Which we'll come to find out, it's a little picture of the gospel. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:25.240 We see this in Acts chapter 2. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.259 Peter preaches this sermon. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.199 Over 3,000 people hear the gospel. 00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:32.279 They respond. 00:08:32.680 --> 00:08:33.840 And they're like, what do we do? 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:34.879 We're caught to the heart. 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:36.560 And he says, repent and believe. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:39.539 And that day, 3,000 people were baptized. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.240 Acts chapter 8. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:42.980 Philip is in Samaria. 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:45.259 And he preaches the gospel. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.720 Men and women respond. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:48.039 And they're immediately baptized. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:51.480 Acts chapter 8. 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.579 Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:56.279 Acts chapter 16. 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:59.699 Paul and Silas, they're having this worship service. 00:08:59.939 --> 00:09:00.879 In jail. 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.939 There's this huge earthquake. 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:05.860 The jailer runs out. 00:09:06.219 --> 00:09:10.959 The Philippian jailer runs out thinking that all of these prisoners are gone and he's going to die. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:14.840 And Paul and Silas is like, don't, don't, we're still here. 00:09:16.160 --> 00:09:19.259 And then he, they lead him to Christ. 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:22.660 He believes in the Lord Jesus and he's saved. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.519 It turns out that Paul and Silas go to the jailer's home. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.220 They clean him up and his whole household believes. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:33.100 And all of them are baptized on that very day. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:35.080 Baptized at once. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:37.020 Acts 18. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:38.100 Corinth. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.160 Crispus. 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.500 Hears the gospel and is immediately baptized. 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:44.240 So all I want to show you here is there is a pattern. 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:49.520 In the New Testament, especially in Acts, starting with Jesus. 00:09:50.520 --> 00:09:54.600 There's a pattern of baptism in the New Testament. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:01.600 And it goes gospel proclaimed, gospel heard, gospel responded to repentance and faith. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.000 And then baptism. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:07.480 Which now brings us to the second reason. 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:09.580 The first reason, there's a pattern. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:14.200 The second reason, the command of baptism. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:20.480 If you would open up, turn to Matthew chapter 28, 18 through 19. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.240 It's in the back. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:27.000 It's the very last chapter of Matthew. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:27.100 Matthew. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.279 It's on page 993 of your pew Bible. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:40.399 So Jesus has been raised from the dead. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:43.159 He's gathered his disciples in Galilee. 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.639 And he commissions them. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:48.980 He starts by saying, all authority in heaven and earth have been given to me. 00:10:49.219 --> 00:10:52.860 That's a claim to him being king of kings and lord of lords. 00:10:54.059 --> 00:11:00.000 And then he tells them, go therefore, make disciples of all nations. 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:03.839 Take the gospel to all people. 00:11:04.579 --> 00:11:06.959 Proclaim the gospel of what I have done. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:09.720 My death and resurrection to all. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:14.280 And as they're going and proclaiming, they are to baptize. 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:17.519 Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.620 And teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:28.519 And so they are to be baptizing and teaching those who respond in repentance and faith. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:32.079 Now, let me ask you this. 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:39.259 Is Jesus giving his disciples an option? 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:45.240 If you guys feel like it, go. 00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:53.740 And if you go and you've got time, would you consider baptizing people who respond? 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:58.820 And those people who may respond, if you've got time to go, 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:03.860 would you consider maybe teaching them all that I commanded? 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:08.560 This is not an option. 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:12.220 This is commission. 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:13.220 This is command. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:17.480 This is what the church should be doing as we proclaim Christ. 00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:18.799 And people respond. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.960 We baptize them. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:23.139 We teach them. 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:32.940 Baptism is when a new believer goes public with their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.919 Let me just clarify something. 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.799 So we're not, I don't want anybody mishearing me. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:45.259 Baptism isn't a command we obey in order to become a Christian, to be saved. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.919 That's flipped. 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.120 When we get saved. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.539 When we get saved. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:55.039 When we believe in what Jesus has done for us. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:58.679 Then we get baptized out of obedience. 00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:02.459 It is the sign of our salvation. 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:07.699 It's the pattern in Acts. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:13.199 So the church is to baptize anyone who, upon hearing the gospel, 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.300 repents and believes. 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:15.900 And believes. 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:22.700 So in Acts 2, Peter preaches this phenomenal sermon, one of the best sermons ever preached. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.360 It's all about Jesus Christ. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:29.399 And then thousands of Jews who are in Jerusalem at that moment say, 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.240 what do we do? 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.580 How do we respond? 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:37.440 Verse 31 and verse 38, Peter says, repent and be baptized every one of you. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:41.000 And in your ear, you're like, why did he leave out believe? 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:45.779 Why didn't he say, repent and believe and be baptized? 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:46.139 Baptized. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:51.500 Well, think about that repent as just shorthand for conversion. 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.860 Just shorthand. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:57.379 He's just saying, turn from your sin, turn to Christ, and then be baptized. 00:13:58.059 --> 00:14:03.860 And that is further kind of confirmed in verse 41, where Luke says, 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:09.699 and those who received his word were baptized, all 3,000. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.799 Could you imagine that? 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:15.679 March 29th, 2026, we have 3,000 people signed up to be baptized. 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:17.579 That would be crazy. 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:25.500 That would be crazy just to try to baptize 3,000 people with all sorts of space and water available. 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.459 Could you imagine that? 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.379 What I just want you to see here is, 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:35.839 Peter doesn't make baptism optional for those 3,000 who believe. 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:37.779 It's a step of obedience. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:42.620 It's a necessary step for those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:48.779 Our problem is that we don't take baptism. 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:50.819 We don't take baptism too seriously. 00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:53.279 Did I just say that right? 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.879 We don't take it seriously enough. 00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:59.519 If you're a non-Christian in the room, 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:06.360 you need to be converted before you're baptized. 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:07.860 You need to become a Christian. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:11.200 And then after you become a Christian, 00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:13.440 you're baptized. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:16.500 So it's what's coming. 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.419 It's good. 00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:23.980 This raises a rather delicate issue. 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.120 Here's the question. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:30.879 Were you genuinely saved when you were baptized? 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.299 Maybe you were an infant. 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.679 Maybe you were a child, 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.360 a young adult. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:41.360 And you've come to realize that you were not a Christian when that happened. 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:47.620 Do you know what you call it when a non-Christian is baptized? 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.080 Do you know what you call that? 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.980 A false baptism. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.100 That's not a baptism. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:16:00.300 If a non-Christian is baptized, 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.580 that is not an actual baptism. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:06.779 And I'm going to spell that out for the next point a little bit. 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.100 But for now, 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:11.240 we just need to say it's a false baptism. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.840 However well intended, 00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.920 it did not actually reflect 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:20.820 what was actually going on spiritually within that person. 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:23.220 It wasn't a baptism. 00:16:24.020 --> 00:16:27.060 And so if you were not a Christian when you were baptized, 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:29.160 you don't need to be re-baptized. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.740 You need to be truly baptized. 00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:33.340 That's your next step. 00:16:33.680 --> 00:16:35.580 That's going to require some humility. 00:16:36.760 --> 00:16:37.860 But that's okay. 00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:40.260 You're going to obey the command. 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.920 You're going to live in reality. 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:43.440 It's going to, 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.200 reality will then reflect, 00:16:46.060 --> 00:16:48.560 your baptism will reflect what the reality is. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:51.279 And if this is where you're at, 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:53.039 you've got an opportunity coming up 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:54.559 at the end of next month. 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.079 So this is the second reason, 00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:58.000 the command of baptism. 00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.179 It's commanded. 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.239 The third reason 00:17:01.239 --> 00:17:04.839 is the symbol of baptism. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:07.379 And this is going to help you understand 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:11.319 why we need to avoid false baptisms. 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:16.059 Because a baptism is incredibly significant 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:18.440 in what it symbolizes, 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:20.579 what it points to. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.399 So the symbol of baptism, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.859 and I'd like you to turn to the book of Romans, 00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:28.059 chapter six, one through five. 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:30.919 It's on page 1120 of your pew Bible. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.319 But let me just start by saying, 00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:38.019 baptism is a little parable. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:42.480 Better yet, baptism, 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.599 someone's baptism, 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:46.940 is a lived parable. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:51.160 A lived parable of what happens 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:53.259 the moment of your conversion. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:56.319 And what happens at the moment of your conversion 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.779 is something supernatural. 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:02.379 When you believed in Jesus Christ, 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:04.819 at that moment you believed, 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.339 the scriptures tell us, 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.559 and we're going to see it right here, 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:11.000 you were united to Christ 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.559 in his death and his resurrection, 00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:15.399 and it changes everything. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:19.099 So looking at Romans chapter six, 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:23.559 one through four, 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:25.259 and then verse five 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:28.059 is where you start hearing union language. 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.839 What shall we say then? 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:32.000 Are we to continue in sin 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.059 that grace may abound? 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.339 By no means. 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:40.240 How can we who died to sin still live in it? 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.579 What is he talking about? 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.740 We who died to sin. 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.339 Do you not know that all of us 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:50.619 who've been baptized into Christ Jesus 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:53.279 were baptized into his death? 00:18:53.459 --> 00:18:55.599 What does he mean by baptism? 00:18:55.599 --> 00:19:00.819 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.719 in order that, 00:19:02.419 --> 00:19:04.399 just as Christ was raised from the dead 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:05.339 by the glory of the Father, 00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:07.099 we too might walk in newness of life. 00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:09.079 Verse five is the explainer. 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:12.839 For if we have been united with him 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.819 in a death like his, 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:15.480 that's what baptism points to, 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:18.659 we shall certainly be united with him 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:20.199 in a resurrection like his. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.460 That's what baptism points to. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.880 Baptism is a lived parable. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.860 It's an act. 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.840 It's acting out publicly 00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:36.559 what has taken place within you spiritually. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:42.359 And this is where I'm coming down to the prop. 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.799 The waters of baptism. 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.799 Let's say we're, 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:51.379 it's March 29th. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.480 It's not, 00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:56.299 we baptize indoors in a horse trough. 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:57.899 FYI. 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.800 But it's gonna have full of water. 00:20:01.800 --> 00:20:02.880 And so at that point, 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:04.700 I'm gonna ask one of the baptism, 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:06.160 baptism candidates, 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.360 someone who wants to be baptized, 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.460 hey, come on out. 00:20:08.540 --> 00:20:09.220 So they come out 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.759 and I ask them two questions. 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.680 I ask them, 00:20:12.040 --> 00:20:14.280 have you put your faith in Jesus Christ alone 00:20:14.280 --> 00:20:15.780 for the forgiveness of your sins 00:20:15.780 --> 00:20:17.340 and the promise of eternal life? 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:18.480 Yes, 00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:19.720 they say, 00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:21.200 from their toes. 00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:23.180 And then I ask them, 00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:25.240 is it your intent 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:28.680 to follow Jesus all of your life, 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.759 no matter what, 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.539 for the rest of your days? 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.160 And they say, 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.720 yes. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.279 And then what I say is, 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.539 well, 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.720 based upon your public profession of faith, 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.120 I mean, 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.240 it takes guts 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.200 to say that in front of a room full of people. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:45.480 Based upon your public profession of faith, 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.900 I baptized you 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.880 in the name of the Father 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.039 and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.620 right from Matthew 28. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.079 And then you'll hear me say this. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.839 I'll be holding them 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.119 and I'll say this. 00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.639 As they're going down, 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.240 I'll say, 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:02.059 united with Christ in his death, 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:03.039 splash. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.599 They're under the water. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.699 Did you hear what just happened? 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.679 So they're already united with Christ 00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.740 in his death and resurrection. 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.939 That happened at their conversion. 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.500 But when I'm putting them in the water, 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.139 that's what I'm saying 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.619 because that's what it symbolizes. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:17.639 So united with Christ in his death, 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.579 splash. 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:21.419 The joke is five minutes later, 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:24.120 I pull them out of the water 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:26.279 and when they're coming out of the water, 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.480 you'll hear me say, 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.420 they'll hear me say, 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:30.160 and raised with Christ 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.440 to newness of life. 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:35.080 So what baptism symbolizes 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:37.660 is our union with Christ. 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:40.160 They are going public 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.279 with saying, 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.660 I've been united with Christ 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:44.160 in his death and resurrection. 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:48.140 It's a little gospel proclamation 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.900 lived out in them. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.620 Is that pretty cool? 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:52.159 Well, that's pretty cool. 00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.539 And that's why 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.879 we've got to be very careful 00:21:56.879 --> 00:21:57.699 and thoughtful 00:21:57.699 --> 00:21:59.099 in whom we baptize. 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:01.199 What they're saying is, 00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:03.619 I was once in the domain of darkness, 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.899 but now I've been transferred 00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:08.239 into the kingdom of the beloved son 00:22:08.239 --> 00:22:09.799 because I've been united with Christ 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.919 in his death, 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:12.339 in his resurrection. 00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:15.699 And so that's what each person 00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:16.519 is saying, 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.319 will be saying, 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.559 think about it like this. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.940 Think of our baptism service 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.440 at the end of March 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.980 and then the baptism service, 00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.639 Lord willing, 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.399 if you should tarry, 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.379 we do in the future. 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:31.379 They're a series of one act plays. 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.179 Again and again, 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.599 people saying, 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.480 lived parables, 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.700 I've been united with Christ 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.700 in his death and resurrection. 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:43.600 That's how I've been saved. 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.319 It's incredibly meaningful. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.480 And if you're the person 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.140 being baptized, 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.500 you'll never forget it. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.980 Here's what this means for us. 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.160 Our problem 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.180 is not 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:00.420 that we take baptism too seriously. 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.880 Our problem is that 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.980 we don't take baptism 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.400 serious enough. 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:08.300 And have you ever wondered, 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:09.060 well, 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:09.840 why is that? 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.880 I think 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.519 there's this fear 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:14.660 among Protestants 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.920 of confusing 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:18.480 a salvation by faith 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.240 with a salvation by works. 00:23:20.780 --> 00:23:22.240 And so we're a little reluctant 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.400 to talk about baptism 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:25.640 as a command 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:27.300 and as extremely important. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.860 And the way we resolve that 00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:31.160 is not to stop talking 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.200 about baptism, 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.940 but it's actually 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.519 to talk about the sequence 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.539 to make clear, 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:37.840 no, 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.180 you're, 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.680 you're, 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.000 you're, 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.720 you're saved first, 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.860 then you're baptized. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:44.299 We don't diminish 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.059 the importance 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.279 of these things. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.019 Are you starting 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.220 to feel the weight, 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:55.120 the theological weight 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.840 of the symbol 00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.900 of baptism? 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.940 This is a lived out 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.580 parable 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:05.400 and it's making, 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:08.080 making a huge claim. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.460 There's, 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.480 people are saying, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.500 apart from Christ, 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:15.420 I was dead to God 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.320 and alive to sin, 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.860 but now that I've been 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.860 united to Christ, 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.660 I'm dead to sin 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.500 and alive to God, 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.940 all by his grace. 00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.160 Now, 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.640 when you see someone 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.480 then baptized, 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:27.740 baptized, 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.599 there's a very 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:32.440 appropriate expectation. 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.360 It's a New Testament 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.140 expectation. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.400 It's not being judgy. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.180 It's just following 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.220 where the New Testament 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.740 goes. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.420 Because if someone 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.860 is truly united 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.599 with Christ 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.700 in his death 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.660 and his resurrection, 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.039 one would then 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.860 expect 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:51.940 that that person, 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.360 their desires for God 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.500 are going to increase. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:56.680 their cravings 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.519 for God's word 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.299 and to obey 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.220 their God's word 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.640 is going to increase. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.119 Their love 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:03.440 for God's people 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.119 and the lost 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.180 is going to increase. 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.220 Their commitment 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.079 to advance 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.819 the kingdom 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.519 is going to increase. 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.740 It's a very powerful moment. 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.980 When someone is baptized, 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.359 that's not the moment 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.200 they've been saved. 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.840 that's the moment 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:22.819 they've gone public. 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:26.319 And it's worth celebrating. 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.180 Now, 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.039 there's two mistakes 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.819 we must avoid. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:31.940 And parents, 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.779 I'd really like you 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.340 to pay attention 00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:34.080 carefully now. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.680 Because, 00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.779 because parents, 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.960 if you're raising children, 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:39.539 you are, 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.980 you are on the front lines. 00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.120 God bless you. 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.259 And, 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.259 and if you have children 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.120 who are expressing 00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.900 an interest 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.259 in, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.559 in the things of God 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.960 and even being baptized, 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:50.660 it puts you in a position 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.299 where you need 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.200 to make some decisions. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.960 You need to be 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.920 shepherding your children 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.740 very well. 00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:57.140 And so, 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.000 there's two mistakes 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.980 we must avoid 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.759 and here they are. 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.720 Mistake number one, 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.680 we baptize people 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.279 too early, 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:04.880 too quickly. 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.000 We, 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.200 we, 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.279 we baptize people 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:09.460 with a false baptism 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:11.059 because they're not 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.759 genuinely saved. 00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:14.000 Just because 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.100 someone wants 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.940 to be baptized 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:17.940 does not mean 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:19.019 that they should 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.740 be baptized. 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.660 What, 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.559 what we need 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.559 to be listening for 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.299 is what's called 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.200 a credible 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.039 profession 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.000 of faith. 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.400 Has this 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.120 person, 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:32.039 however old 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.700 they are, 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.120 have they 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.200 recognized 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.039 their sinfulness 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:37.400 and their 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.519 desperate need 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.039 in the one 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.440 and only 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.820 Savior, 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.640 Jesus Christ? 00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:43.180 Are they able 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.080 to communicate 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:45.480 that at any level? 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:49.400 now, 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.779 for parents, 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:51.900 I've been there, 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.820 the challenge 00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.279 is, 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.559 you're kind of like, 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.000 I don't quite 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.799 know. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.820 Well, 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.940 the church 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.660 can really help 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.779 and the church 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.680 can help in two ways, 00:27:04.820 --> 00:27:05.539 both informally 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.140 and formally, 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.559 informally 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.660 and formally. 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.120 Informally, 00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:11.299 let's say that 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.140 you have a child 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.779 that's expressing, 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.600 they're 13 years old 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.180 and they're expressing 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.640 an interest 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.220 in being baptized. 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.160 that's good 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.079 that they're interested 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.460 in that. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.120 Informally, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.019 go to some 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.680 of your friends, 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.200 go to some 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.640 of your brothers 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.100 and sisters 00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:24.539 in the Lord 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.140 who know you 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.980 and know your family. 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.720 They know your children 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.339 and you're like, 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:29.660 hey, 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.259 so-and-so 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.120 has expressed interest 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.559 in being baptized 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:36.019 and I can go 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.400 either way. 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.259 I want to err 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.200 on saying yes, 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:39.299 but I'm not sure. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.420 What do you think? 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.100 Get their input. 00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.279 Let's do it. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.879 Let's do this together. 00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:47.899 Now, 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.539 that's the informal 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.240 side of things. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.279 The formal side 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.679 of things 00:27:51.679 --> 00:27:52.339 is this. 00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:54.159 Every person 00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.319 who wants to be baptized 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.199 here at Christ the King Church, 00:27:57.679 --> 00:27:59.039 they complete 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.639 a Bible study 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.659 on baptism 00:28:01.659 --> 00:28:03.059 in which they 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.419 write their testimony. 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.619 They got to make 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.719 their conversion clear. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:08.799 And then after 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.880 doing that, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.440 they meet with 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.200 one of the pastors 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.880 who walks through 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.440 with them 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.779 to be listening 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.539 for a credible 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.600 profession of faith. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.220 Now, 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.059 we're doing this 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.779 all together 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.819 in order to 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.539 avoid this 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.440 first mistake 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:24.940 of being 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.640 a premature 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.900 false baptism. 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.380 We don't want 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:27.819 to do that. 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:28.740 Do I have an amen? 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.779 We do want to do it. 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.480 We don't want 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:32.880 to do that. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.300 But we also 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:36.780 don't want to make 00:28:36.780 --> 00:28:37.860 the second mistake. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.340 And the second mistake 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.960 is this. 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.760 We baptize people 00:28:42.760 --> 00:28:43.280 too late. 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.900 We withhold 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:48.320 this good, 00:28:48.760 --> 00:28:49.300 important, 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.640 and commanded 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.260 step. 00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:52.980 And we 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.460 hold it back 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.140 because of some 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.280 kind of 00:28:56.280 --> 00:28:58.840 unsubstantiated 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.360 fear. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:02.719 And so, 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:03.599 if there are 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.959 sufficient grounds, 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:06.199 we want to be 00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:07.179 able to 00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:08.699 say yes. 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.299 So, 00:29:12.639 --> 00:29:13.240 what this 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.139 means is this. 00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.740 A lot of people, 00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:18.139 a lot of Christians, 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:18.879 they're like, 00:29:18.959 --> 00:29:20.339 tell me an age. 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.019 Give me an age. 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.240 Please just 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.919 say 00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:27.179 that you have 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:27.920 to be 45 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:29.220 before you 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.440 can be 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:29.779 baptized. 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.580 Now, 00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:34.420 the thing 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.000 about having 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.740 an age 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.380 is that 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:36.740 it can 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.460 be helpful 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:37.900 in some 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.240 degree, 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.560 but 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:40.779 it boils 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.160 down to 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.480 being not 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:41.980 really quite 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.340 helpful. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.680 The harder 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.299 way is the 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.820 better way. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:46.660 You know 00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:46.820 what the 00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.220 harder way 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.460 is? 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.140 You enter 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.539 into 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.200 conversations 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.740 with your 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.100 children. 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.160 You actually 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.200 explore 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:55.340 their desire 00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:55.840 of whether 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:56.039 or not 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.480 they want 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:56.819 to, 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.680 that they're 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.180 actually 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.680 saved, 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:58.980 and why 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.339 they want 00:29:59.339 --> 00:29:59.559 to be 00:29:59.559 --> 00:29:59.900 baptized. 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.680 What we're 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.200 looking for 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.860 is the 00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.980 Goldilocks 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.720 moment. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.660 Remember 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.299 Goldilocks? 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.799 The bowls 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.420 of porridge. 00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.519 First bowl 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.460 was too 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.940 cold, 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.799 and the 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.259 next bowl 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.599 was too 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:16.980 hot, 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.519 and then 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.680 the next 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:18.940 bowl, 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.299 the third 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.480 bowl, 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:19.980 was just 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.299 right. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.500 We don't 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.779 want to 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.339 baptize 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:22.900 too early. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.259 We don't 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:23.519 want to 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.000 baptize 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.460 too late. 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:24.880 We want 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:26.540 to baptize 00:30:26.540 --> 00:30:27.280 just right. 00:30:28.780 --> 00:30:29.180 When a 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:29.600 person, 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.200 when they 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.340 have a 00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:31.660 credible 00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.120 profession 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.620 of faith, 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:32.940 and they're 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.380 starting to 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:33.780 demonstrate 00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:34.520 some things 00:30:34.520 --> 00:30:34.820 that are 00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.600 only attributed 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.000 to the 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.360 Spirit of 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:36.640 God, 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.580 that's the 00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:40.260 sweet spot. 00:30:41.340 --> 00:30:42.060 And that 00:30:42.060 --> 00:30:42.600 doesn't mean 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:42.960 it's the 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.440 same age 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.100 for everybody. 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.240 You may 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.740 even have 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.660 seven children 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:46.940 in your 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.200 home, 00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:47.940 and you 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.460 have an 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.140 array of 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.780 times when 00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:50.140 your children 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.660 were baptized, 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:50.700 baptized, 00:30:51.040 --> 00:30:51.880 because you've 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.720 been like 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.000 a good 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.519 parent, 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.960 paying attention 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.400 to each 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:55.680 one. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.900 So these 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:59.040 two mistakes 00:30:59.040 --> 00:30:59.620 we must 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.040 avoid, 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.620 and we're 00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:00.840 going to 00:31:00.840 --> 00:31:01.500 avoid them 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.580 by seeking 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:02.960 God's 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.340 word, 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:05.019 trusting in 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.820 kind of the 00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:06.279 wisdom that 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.540 he can 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.100 provide, 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.360 and seeking 00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:08.920 help in 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.440 that as 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.680 well. 00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:10.460 It will 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:10.940 strengthen 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.040 our church, 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.880 and it will 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.380 help us to 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:14.940 avoid false 00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.540 baptisms, 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.480 and help us 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.100 to celebrate 00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:17.820 genuine 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.460 baptisms. 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:21.100 Remember, 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:21.700 this is a 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.019 symbol, 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:24.680 and it's 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.380 a symbol of 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.900 incredible 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.500 significance, 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:26.880 that we're 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.299 talking about 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:27.779 people being 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.519 united with 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:28.940 Christ, 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.620 and his 00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:29.980 death, 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.579 and his 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.059 resurrection, 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.600 and we 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:31.880 want to 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.180 take the 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:32.440 right, 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.940 appropriate 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.700 steps to 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.340 that end, 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.039 but we're 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.319 not going to 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.799 be ruled by 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.120 fear. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.640 We're going 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.259 to be 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.660 walking by 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.539 faith. 00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:43.880 So that's 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.960 the third 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.880 reason of 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.519 why get 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:47.920 baptized, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.240 the symbol 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.940 of baptism. 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.620 The fourth 00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:53.720 reason is 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.680 the PSA 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.300 of baptism. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.800 The PSA. 00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.320 Do you 00:31:59.320 --> 00:31:59.580 know what a 00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.140 public service 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.840 announcement is? 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.700 A public 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.500 service announcement 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.180 will both 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.480 warn and 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.060 help. 00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:07.420 Back in 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:07.820 the day, 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:11.019 before there 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.440 were streaming 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.019 services, 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.460 you would tune 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.779 into the 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.200 10 o'clock 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.620 news during 00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:15.060 the summertime, 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:15.740 and one of 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.180 the anchors 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:16.720 would say, 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.799 it's 10 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.120 p.m., 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.279 do you 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.460 know where 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:18.759 your children 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.019 are? 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.039 It's a 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.500 public service 00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:20.880 announcement. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.779 Because the 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.480 warning is, 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:26.039 warning of the 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.600 dangers that 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:28.480 befall unsupervised 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.240 kids during the 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.059 summertime late at 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.279 night. 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.660 Not that anyone in 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.620 the room was up 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:33.740 to no good in the 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.360 summertime when they 00:32:34.360 --> 00:32:34.740 were a kid. 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.620 But it also 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.720 helps remind 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.500 parents to care 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.259 for their kids. 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:46.420 baptism is a 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.599 public service 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.759 announcement of 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.440 a different 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.039 kind. 00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.259 Who's it 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.539 for? 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.960 It starts with 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.440 the one being 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.019 baptized. 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:55.819 How so? 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.680 Well, in 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.299 Matthew chapter 00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.099 10, verses 00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.940 32 through 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:02.940 33, Jesus 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.920 says something 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:06.379 that is 00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.119 incredibly 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.680 helpful. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:09.980 in where 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.160 baptism becomes 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.200 a way to 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:12.860 apply it. 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.799 So Matthew 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.620 chapter 10, 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.600 32 through 00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:19.620 33, page 00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.660 969 of 00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:20.980 your pew 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.360 Bible. 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:23.920 Just as 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.500 Jesus speaking, 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.140 so everyone 00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:26.000 who acknowledges 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.860 me before men, 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.779 I also will 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.580 acknowledge before 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.299 my Father who 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:29.779 is in heaven. 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.759 But whoever 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.860 denies me before 00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:33.080 men, I also 00:33:33.080 --> 00:33:34.700 will deny before 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.759 my Father in 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:35.940 heaven. 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.240 And what 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:38.220 baptism does, 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.019 among other 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.000 things, is it 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.539 helps a new 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.559 Christian, a new 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.600 believer, generally 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:45.880 speaking, to go 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.400 public with their 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.120 faith in Jesus 00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:49.240 Christ, to 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.299 acknowledge him 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.160 before men. 00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:52.840 Something that he 00:33:52.840 --> 00:33:53.500 delights in. 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.960 And so on the 00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.860 29th of next 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.340 month, you're 00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:00.580 going to have 00:34:00.580 --> 00:34:01.380 people being 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:02.200 baptized, and 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.559 what they're 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.420 essentially saying 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:03.920 is this, 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.380 hey, y'all, 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.680 not only have 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.000 been united 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.440 with Christ 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:07.860 in his death 00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:08.440 and resurrection, 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.740 booyah, but 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:13.000 I delight in 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.880 my King and 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.840 fear him more 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.960 than anyone in 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.559 this room. 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.579 What he 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:21.320 thinks matters 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:23.059 most, and I 00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:24.179 am glad to 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:25.079 acknowledge him 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.380 before men. 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.440 Booyah! 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:30.760 God, that 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:32.840 delights our 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.260 King. 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.240 And so this 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:38.900 PSA, man, it 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:40.380 is good for 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:40.880 those who are 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.619 being baptized, 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.480 and they'll 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.019 never forget 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.320 it. 00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:45.139 I still remember 00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.700 the day that I 00:34:45.700 --> 00:34:47.639 was baptized as a 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.900 nine-year-old in 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:50.400 the backyard of a 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.559 church member of 00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:53.099 Valley Community 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.980 Baptist Church in 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.740 Avon, Connecticut. 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:56.460 Never forget it. 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:59.420 the next group 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.039 of people that 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:02.500 benefits is the 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.000 church. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.300 Christ the King 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:05.699 Church. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.800 It's a PSA for 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:08.380 us. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.920 Not only will it 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.000 remind us of our 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.840 being united with 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:13.420 Christ and Christ's 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:13.720 death and 00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.460 resurrection, where 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.099 we're like, oh 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.539 yeah! 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:18.900 But there's this 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.440 other thing that 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:19.940 happens. 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.679 Have you heard of 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.599 acoustic resonance 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.159 before? 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.699 There's this thing 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:28.000 called Christocentric 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.719 resonance. 00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.279 Acoustic resonance 00:35:31.279 --> 00:35:31.960 is when you have 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:33.559 two grand pianos on 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.559 a stage like this, 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.219 and they're both 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:37.079 tuned, and on 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.259 one, you start 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:39.739 tapping center C or 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.500 middle C, ding, 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.059 ding, ding, ding, 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.480 ding, ding, ding, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:41.539 ding, ding, ding, 00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:43.759 ding, and the other 00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:45.520 grand piano, center C 00:35:45.520 --> 00:35:46.580 starts humming. 00:35:47.520 --> 00:35:48.120 Hmm. 00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:50.180 Because of the 00:35:50.180 --> 00:35:51.120 acoustic resonance, 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.620 the frequency, the 00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:53.480 sound frequencies 00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:55.360 going between them. 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.540 That's what 00:35:57.540 --> 00:35:58.300 Christocentric 00:35:58.300 --> 00:36:00.340 resonance is during 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:02.360 a baptism service. 00:36:02.520 --> 00:36:03.380 When someone goes 00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.180 public for their 00:36:04.180 --> 00:36:05.320 faith, they're like 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:06.280 tapping center 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:07.420 Jesus, ding, ding, 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:07.980 ding, ding, ding, 00:36:08.020 --> 00:36:08.300 ding, ding. 00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:09.940 I've been crucified 00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.820 with Christ. 00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:12.720 And for those of 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.539 us who are 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.539 genuinely born of 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.059 God in the 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:16.039 audience, we're 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:18.240 like, yes, yes! 00:36:20.600 --> 00:36:22.460 It's Christocentric 00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:23.840 resonance in the 00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.519 room during a 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.000 baptism. 00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:27.700 And that's why I 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.380 want to say, 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.120 schedule it. 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:33.080 Reschedule around 00:36:33.080 --> 00:36:33.340 it. 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.820 Come and be 00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:36.760 encouraged and 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:37.900 strengthened to 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.760 see what God is 00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:39.539 doing in brothers 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.400 and sisters in 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:40.840 Christ. 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.619 You will be 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.220 encouraged. 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.099 You will hear 00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:45.500 testimonies of 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:46.260 people coming to 00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:47.000 Christ and you're 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.380 going to be like, 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:47.920 amen! 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.860 How glorious he 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.800 uses different 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.460 means! 00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:53.000 But it's the same 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:55.639 Jesus being united 00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:57.460 to his death and 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:57.920 resurrection. 00:36:59.220 --> 00:37:00.019 Here's the other 00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.740 benefit of it. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.619 Think about this. 00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:05.400 Members of Christ 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.000 the King Church. 00:37:07.200 --> 00:37:08.059 Think about it like 00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.360 this. 00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:10.280 Let's say we see 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:11.860 someone baptized on 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.640 the 29th. 00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:14.039 And then a couple 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.700 months later, 00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:16.039 they're like, I 00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:16.640 want to become a 00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:17.360 member of Christ the 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:17.800 King Church. 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:18.440 Do you know what 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:18.780 you're going to be 00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:19.160 able to do? 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.099 You're going to be 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.760 able to like, yes 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.300 and amen. 00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:23.980 We did a little 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:24.680 Christocentric 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.240 resonance. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.099 I heard their 00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:27.680 testimony. 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:30.320 This is genuine. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:32.000 Of course, let's 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.860 welcome them in. 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:34.920 It has this church 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:36.820 building commitment 00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:37.680 effect. 00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:38.599 And so we're going 00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:39.360 to try to do some 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:40.840 more adjusting of 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:42.740 our practice so that 00:37:42.740 --> 00:37:44.220 this happens more. 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.680 There's one more 00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:48.340 group of people. 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:49.539 It's to non-Christians. 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:52.140 Let's say on the 29th, 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.280 those being baptized 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:54.539 bring non-Christians 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.400 into the sanctuary. 00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.300 That's great. 00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:57.280 But while they're 00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.160 watching these people 00:37:58.160 --> 00:37:59.180 baptized, they might 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:00.019 be saying, this is a 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:00.620 little strange. 00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:01.640 This is a little 00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:01.879 weird. 00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:03.900 This is kind of 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.299 some kind of 00:38:04.299 --> 00:38:05.859 spiritual right or 00:38:05.859 --> 00:38:06.839 something like that. 00:38:07.799 --> 00:38:08.599 But then they'll say 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.500 like, but I get what 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.039 they're saying. 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.679 I get that they're 00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.940 saying this baptism 00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:14.480 thing. 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.279 They're saying I'm 00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:16.539 with Jesus now and 00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:17.219 I'm with the people 00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.119 of Jesus now. 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.879 But you know what 00:38:18.879 --> 00:38:19.259 they're going to be 00:38:19.259 --> 00:38:19.819 experiencing? 00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:22.179 A lack of 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:22.859 Christocentric 00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.379 resonance. 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.259 Like, I don't get 00:38:25.259 --> 00:38:25.500 it. 00:38:27.339 --> 00:38:27.920 What's up with 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:28.199 that? 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:30.980 But that is 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:32.460 exactly what we 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:32.940 want them 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.440 asking. 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.599 What does this 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.480 person know that I 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:37.860 don't? 00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.559 Why would they do 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:41.019 this and go public 00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:41.820 like this? 00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.559 That Jesus, that's 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.280 real business to 00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:45.659 them. 00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:46.840 I wonder what that 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.500 means for me. 00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.579 And so we have an 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:51.039 opportunity to start 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:52.920 proclaiming Christ in 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:54.280 these little lived 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:56.019 parables to non-Christians 00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:57.820 and then following that 00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:59.719 to tell these non-Christians 00:38:59.719 --> 00:39:00.899 about the wrath of God 00:39:00.899 --> 00:39:02.219 to come and how 00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:04.379 Jesus alone is their 00:39:04.379 --> 00:39:06.279 only hope in face of 00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:06.639 that. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.659 Baptisms are a public 00:39:09.659 --> 00:39:10.859 service announcement. 00:39:11.399 --> 00:39:12.899 They both warn and 00:39:12.899 --> 00:39:13.319 help. 00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:15.079 They are good. 00:39:15.759 --> 00:39:16.759 So why get baptized? 00:39:18.339 --> 00:39:19.539 I've given you four 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.459 reasons this morning. 00:39:20.819 --> 00:39:22.439 Pattern, command, 00:39:22.959 --> 00:39:24.859 symbol, public service 00:39:24.859 --> 00:39:25.339 announcement. 00:39:25.340 --> 00:39:27.880 Our problem is not 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:29.440 that we take baptism 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:30.200 too seriously. 00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:31.460 Our problem is that we 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:33.300 don't take baptism 00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.780 serious enough. 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:36.000 Think about this. 00:39:36.600 --> 00:39:38.620 Baptisms reflect 00:39:38.620 --> 00:39:42.039 our Lord Jesus Christ 00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:44.700 building his church 00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:48.460 one union at a time. 00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:52.519 If you're not a Christian 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:54.059 your next step is not 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.559 baptism. 00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:56.119 It's conversion. 00:39:56.780 --> 00:39:57.800 And I'd be happy to talk 00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.619 to you about that. 00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:01.000 If you've recently become 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.179 a Christian or you've 00:40:02.179 --> 00:40:04.139 realized that your 00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:05.099 baptism when you were an 00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:06.300 infant or a child was a 00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:07.639 false baptism, don't 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.039 freak out. 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:10.280 Or you've been a 00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:11.039 Christian for a long 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.960 time and you've never 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:13.840 gotten baptized, don't 00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:14.099 flip. 00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:17.440 It's time to get 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:17.819 baptized. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.679 And so what you can do 00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.480 is you can pick up a 00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:23.239 Bible study on baptism. 00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.960 It's out there at the 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.599 Connect Center. 00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:26.539 You can grab it as you 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:26.819 go. 00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:28.980 Sign up to be baptized 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.599 and then we'll set up an 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:31.460 appointment with one of 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.039 our pastors. 00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:35.099 Christ the King Church. 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.299 Would you please get 00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:40.139 this on your schedule? 00:40:41.319 --> 00:40:43.719 We think, we trust that 00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:44.659 this is going to be 00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:45.179 good. 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:46.919 That this is going to be 00:40:46.919 --> 00:40:48.559 Christocentric resonance 00:40:48.559 --> 00:40:50.559 happening in the room at 00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:52.339 four o'clock on the 29th. 00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:54.299 You'll be encouraged. 00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:57.919 And remember, our problem 00:40:57.919 --> 00:40:59.039 is not that we take 00:40:59.039 --> 00:41:00.980 baptism too seriously. 00:41:02.419 --> 00:41:03.579 Our problem is that we 00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:04.359 don't take it seriously 00:41:04.359 --> 00:41:04.739 enough. 00:41:06.259 --> 00:41:07.199 Let's pray together. 00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:13.079 God in heaven, thank you 00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:14.199 for giving us this 00:41:14.199 --> 00:41:17.279 beautiful, beautiful 00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:19.000 rite, this beautiful 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.779 symbol. 00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:22.259 And we pray that God, 00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:24.920 you would give us more 00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:28.079 and more occasions to 00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:30.360 baptize people who have 00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:32.259 been united to Christ in 00:41:32.259 --> 00:41:33.059 his death and 00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:33.619 resurrection. 00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:36.039 And we ask that God, you 00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:37.500 would use your word now 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:40.679 to compel the brothers and 00:41:40.679 --> 00:41:41.779 the sisters in the room 00:41:41.779 --> 00:41:43.000 who need to take this 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:43.279 step. 00:41:43.359 --> 00:41:44.359 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:41:44.940 --> 00:41:45.299 Amen.