WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.800 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:21.920 Here we go. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.879 Well, good morning again, everyone. 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.359 It's great to be here with all of you this morning, 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:35.519 as we've just taken of the bread and the cup together. 00:00:35.519 --> 00:00:39.600 Just what a wonderful time for us to remember Jesus, 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:40.920 and as Christ says, 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:43.840 do this in remembrance of me. 00:00:44.239 --> 00:00:47.799 This last Sunday, we were celebrating 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:50.799 the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.399 that Jesus is risen. 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:56.480 When we come to celebrate that time of Easter, 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:59.919 it's not just a one-time event for us to celebrate. 00:00:59.919 --> 00:01:04.039 It is something for us to continue to celebrate, 00:01:04.039 --> 00:01:06.280 something that we take to heart, 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:09.519 and it's something that we live out. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:11.399 It's a great encouragement 00:01:11.399 --> 00:01:15.719 that you will always hear the gospel message. 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:19.079 And I pray that every single one of you here today 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:23.120 will come to believe in the Lord and to be saved. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.719 For there is such power in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.680 the name that we worship and the God that we serve. 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:32.080 In believing in the Lord, 00:01:32.080 --> 00:01:34.920 it is recognizing that Jesus Christ, 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:37.120 that he was born in the manger, 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:39.920 that he had his earthly ministry, 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.600 that he performed many miracles, 00:01:42.600 --> 00:01:46.320 turning water into wine and healing the sick, 00:01:46.320 --> 00:01:48.159 walking on water. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:51.080 That would have been a wonderful thing to see. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:53.519 All of his miracles, his teachings, 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.799 and the fulfillment of prophecy, 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:57.679 that he was crucified and died, 00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:00.319 and on the third day he rose again. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.759 This is the significance of the Christian faith 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:05.640 that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:08.199 And like what I mentioned on Easter, 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:12.479 do you know of any other person who has risen from the dead? 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.000 You can think of an actor or a politician, right? 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.520 Or somebody, well, unfortunately, no. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:24.040 Because Jesus Christ is the one who conquered sin and death. 00:02:24.040 --> 00:02:27.560 And the impact of the resurrection affects all of us 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:28.800 who believe in him. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.080 And so today we're gonna have this message 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.920 that transitions from the sacred journey, 00:02:33.920 --> 00:02:35.800 if you remember that series, right? 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.439 Sacred journey from death to life 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:40.480 into our next sermon series. 00:02:40.480 --> 00:02:44.240 So this is kind of that middle sermon between. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:47.080 There is such an importance in believing in the Lord 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:49.680 and knowing that we are saved. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.320 There's such importance in knowing 00:02:51.320 --> 00:02:54.480 that we are a new creation in Christ. 00:02:54.480 --> 00:02:56.520 Upon believing in the Lord, 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.480 we are called to be baptized. 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:00.880 For in believing in Christ, 00:03:00.880 --> 00:03:03.640 there is the internal decision, right? 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:04.840 Believing in the Lord. 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:08.000 It's a personal decision that you make. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.760 And it has eternal consequences. 00:03:10.760 --> 00:03:13.480 And baptism is the public proclamation 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:15.760 or the external proclamation 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.599 and telling the world that you believe in Jesus Christ. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:21.560 But before we go any further, 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.560 I would like for us to take a time to pray. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:28.919 Let us go to the Lord before we go further into this message. 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:31.719 And let us ask God to be with us, 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.639 to reveal truth to us and to motivate us to act. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:35.959 Let's pray together. 00:03:35.959 --> 00:03:38.840 And Father, we thank you for bringing us all here today 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:41.079 as the body of Christ. 00:03:41.079 --> 00:03:44.199 We thank you for our brothers and sisters 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:48.359 that are here today and may we be hungry for your word. 00:03:48.359 --> 00:03:50.839 May we be hungry for truth. 00:03:50.839 --> 00:03:53.239 And we pray that you bless this time today 00:03:53.239 --> 00:03:57.560 as we open your word and we turn to the pages of scripture. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.599 It is amazing how we're already in this month of April, 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.519 one week after Resurrection Sunday. 00:04:04.519 --> 00:04:07.560 And we ask that you can help us take to heart 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:16.800 what it means to have new life and new beginnings in this gospel message proclaimed. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:22.360 May we come to understand that the foundation of Christianity is believing in you. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:28.519 For your son, Jesus Christ, is the way, the truth and the life. 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:32.000 May we be called upon that salvation to be baptized 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:35.720 and follow in the footsteps of Christ by being disciples 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:38.280 and being a student of the word, 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:42.360 having that childlike curiosity for who you are. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:46.360 And may we be motivated to take to heart the message this morning 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:51.960 but also to live it out to be doers of the word. 00:04:51.960 --> 00:04:53.840 May you mold us. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:55.280 May you bless us. 00:04:55.280 --> 00:04:57.120 May you lead and guide us. 00:04:58.400 --> 00:05:00.160 We thank you Father. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:01.840 We thank you so much. 00:05:01.840 --> 00:05:03.360 Be with us this morning. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:08.120 It is in the name of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lords of Lords. 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.199 We say together, Amen. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.520 Amen. 00:05:11.520 --> 00:05:13.680 Let us begin with our first scripture reading, 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.040 which we're going to open the Word of God together. 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:21.800 It's going to be on the screen here, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 17 through 19, 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:44.639 which is going to be on page 1148. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:47.240 All right, are we all there? 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:52.519 All right, let us read together from verse 17 to verse 19. 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:59.680 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:02.120 The old has passed away. 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.560 Behold, the new has come. 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:11.160 And this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:15.639 and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:20.879 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.919 not counting their trespasses against them 00:06:23.919 --> 00:06:29.360 and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:33.599 And so in reading these first set of passages, 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:39.800 it's speaking of transformation that happens when someone becomes a Christian. 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:45.879 I pray that we all realize that when we believe in the Lord, our lives will never be the same. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:47.040 Do you believe in the Lord? 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:52.639 That is the question that you must ask for anyone who doesn't. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.519 What a path you can be on to believe in him. 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:01.080 You know, one of the things that we have seen with Easter and the Resurrection Sunday 00:07:01.080 --> 00:07:04.639 is understanding that Christ sacrificed himself. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:08.600 And it goes to show that God keeps his promises. 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:14.000 Jesus Christ so much spoke about what it means to believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.920 Just think of John 3.16. 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:21.040 Whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.280 And in verses like these, like the 2 Corinthians passage, 00:07:24.280 --> 00:07:30.000 we see that our old self passes away and that we are a new creation. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.280 And this is one of the significant things about being a Christian. 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:39.279 In order to see the kingdom of God, we must be born again, 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:43.000 just as mentioned in John 3.3. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:49.519 It's just like how Christ says in the Gospel of John that we must be born again. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:53.279 What powerful words and it can be confusing to some people. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:08:00.279 And I want to take a slight detour to help us understand this 2 Corinthians passage. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:06.479 I want us to turn to John 3.3. It's going to be on the screen here. 00:08:06.479 --> 00:08:12.359 And it says, this is the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus, right? 00:08:12.359 --> 00:08:14.359 So Jesus answered him, 00:08:14.359 --> 00:08:20.199 Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he what? 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.439 He cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.359 So then Nicodemus said to him, 00:08:24.359 --> 00:08:26.639 How can a man be born when he is old? 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.559 That's a good question, right? 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:33.159 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.919 Jesus answered, Truly, truly I say to you, 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:40.639 unless one is born of water and the spirit, 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.440 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.759 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:51.039 and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:54.440 Do not marvel that I have said to you, you must be born again. 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:56.519 So Christ saying like, don't overthink it, right? 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:58.279 Don't get confused about what's going on. 00:08:58.279 --> 00:08:59.919 But yet when you're reading this, you're like, 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:02.079 wait, what are you trying to say here, Jesus? 00:09:02.079 --> 00:09:05.559 So there is that aspect to that. 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:09.240 And in terms of being born again, it's believing in the Lord, right? 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:14.360 It's placing your faith and placing your trust in Jesus Christ. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:19.279 There is also the aspect that's being mentioned of being born of the spirit. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.120 And that is being part of, 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:25.839 it's connected to the second Corinthians passage of being a new creation, right? 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.560 If you're born again, being a new creation. 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:32.360 It's important to note that there are two births that are being mentioned here, 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:33.680 and I want to make it very clear. 00:09:33.680 --> 00:09:35.879 So I want to go ahead and put this chart up here. 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:38.320 You'll see it in your notes as well. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:44.280 When you see in John chapter three, you see there's two births here. 00:09:44.280 --> 00:09:49.680 Born of birth of water and born of the spirit. 00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:54.360 And then Jesus reiterates that by talking about being born of flesh 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.960 and being born of spirit. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:02.039 So what it's talking about, it's kind of this repetition, so to speak, 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:05.399 of the physical birth that happens, right? 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:09.000 When the water breaks, when someone is born into the earth, 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.200 would be being born of the flesh. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.560 And then of course, you see being born of the spirit, 00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:20.399 which is the spiritual birth, which is being born again. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.039 And we're looking at the context here. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:26.000 We can see that Christ is talking about being born of water 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.839 and being born of the flesh, right? 00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:33.159 So there's the spiritual birth, which is spiritual rebirth, 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.399 being born again. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.759 And all of this helps us with our understanding 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:44.559 of the second Corinthians passage of being a new creation. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:46.639 We don't go back into the womb, right? 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.759 Like what Nicodemus was saying. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:54.759 Rather, the former self has passed away and the new self is here. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.720 It is by faith that we are saved. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:01.000 And this leads us to our understanding of that next verse 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:04.799 in the second Corinthians passage, verse 18. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:10.319 It's speaking about how Christ reconciled us to himself. 00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:16.039 To be reconciled is talking about change or an exchange that is happening. 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:19.759 In other words, it's speaking about how Christ paid for our sins 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:22.959 by sacrificing himself on the cross. 00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:25.879 In other words, Jesus paid it all, right? 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:30.519 Just like that song some of you may know, Jesus paid it all. 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:34.360 And when this verse is speaking about the ministry of reconciliation, 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:39.519 it is talking about the service or the relief or the divine favor 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:41.159 or the atonement. 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:44.240 In other words, the sacrifice that Christ gives us 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.759 restores us to the Lord. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:52.560 It all comes down to speaking of God's grace for us. 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:57.200 And this leads us to that final verse in second Corinthians, the verse 19, 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.560 which is talking about again the exchange that is happening. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:03.720 That Christ took upon the sins of the world, right? 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:09.240 And that Christ is sacrificing himself for us. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.759 And that is true love, right? 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:17.759 Just like John 3.16, for God so loved the world. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.879 We thank God for that. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:21.919 Thank you, God, for sending your son. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:25.120 And it certainly seems like there's repetition in those verses, 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:29.720 but the point that is being driven home is that Christ died for our sins. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:34.279 And there is not a sin that is going to be held against you. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.279 Hallelujah, right? 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:39.279 Knowing that Christ paid for all of our sins 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.159 and that nothing can separate us from the Lord. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.399 Does that give you a ticket to sin? 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:47.559 Does that give you a ticket to ride? Absolutely not. 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.559 It means that in being a new creation, 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:52.079 you're focusing on the things of God, 00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:56.199 the things that are higher instead of the things that are lower. 00:12:56.199 --> 00:13:01.600 And God gives us this amazing and this inexhaustible grace for us. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.720 Because God's grace, it covers our sins. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:08.879 What we need to do is to believe in Him. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:12.480 And just like I've mentioned before, when we talk about repentance, 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:17.399 it is the changing your mind about who the Lord is, right? 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:21.679 Changing your mind to come to believe in the Lord. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:24.039 One and done. 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:27.200 It is finished on the cross. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:31.159 And as we are going to our next section of Scripture, 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.519 believing in the Lord is the beginning. 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.120 It is not the end of your life. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.440 It is the beginning of your life in Christ. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:42.519 And that is a call for excitement, 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:44.639 a call for encouragement here, 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:49.799 knowing that I am safe and I am secure in the arms of the Father. 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:52.399 It is living out the gospel in your life 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:55.679 or living in the resurrection. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:59.080 When you know that you are secure in the arms of God, 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.879 shouldn't that be motivation? 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.440 Shouldn't that be encouragement for you on how you live your life 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.760 and the things that you say and the things that you do 00:14:07.760 --> 00:14:09.800 and how you interact with people? 00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:15.560 Isn't that motivation knowing that you are secure under God's grace? 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:18.400 Wouldn't that be motivation to tell your friends and your family 00:14:18.400 --> 00:14:22.000 that Jesus lives or telling in your testimony? 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.360 How many of you are the same person that you were 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.120 when you first became a Christian? 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.720 You don't have to raise your hand, right? 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:33.520 Because when you first become a Christian, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.439 you're placed on the path where God works in and through you. 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:39.439 Are you going to listen to God or are you not? 00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:42.679 And if you are the same as you were when you first became a Christian, 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:45.399 and I hope you're a brand new Christian, right? 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.240 There should be a path of change that happens, right? 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.480 Just like how I've been talking about before, 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.240 Metanoia, right? Or Metanoeo, 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:56.000 to change your mind that God changes your mind, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.960 He transforms you. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:02.279 It is wonderful for us to think about. 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:05.879 It is encouragement for you to live your life 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:10.759 in such a way that honors the Lord and that glorifies God. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:14.839 Be on a path of continued sanctification. 00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:17.000 We are justified in faith, 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.439 and we have this continual sanctification 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:23.679 in our spiritual walk with the Lord. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.879 And as we begin in our faith journey in Christ, 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:31.120 like I said, there's that idea of repentance changing your mind. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:34.360 How do you see God? Do you see Him as a cool teacher? 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:36.799 Or some hipster with long hair, right? 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.639 Some of us have. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:43.279 But having that change of mind is seeing that Christ is more than just a great teacher, 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.440 seeing Him as more than just a prophet, 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:50.480 seeing Him more as just a cool hipster that you would see in Portland, Oregon, right? 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.120 It's much more than that. 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:55.320 It is knowing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:58.799 That's much greater than just seeing Him as just a teacher. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.120 I mean, we've got lots of teachers here, don't we? 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.719 Or people who have been teachers, right? 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:04.959 Teachers are cool, right? 00:16:04.959 --> 00:16:08.159 But Jesus is kind of the greatest teacher ever, right? 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.759 He's much more than a teacher. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:15.719 He's the Savior of the world, the Son of the living God. 00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:18.919 That's just part of the changing of our mind, right? 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:22.079 And doesn't God continue to change our mind, though? 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:26.479 Into knowing more about Him and knowing more about His Word? 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.920 How many of you have read the same passage before and you've seen that, 00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:36.120 hey, this speaks to me very differently than it did when I first read it? 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:40.759 Or this speaks to me in a time of, this spoke to me in a time of crisis. 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.240 But now I really know the meaning. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.240 That's one of the wonderful things about Scripture. 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:48.320 Let's go ahead and turn to that next verse in Scripture. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.159 It's Acts chapter 2, verse 38, where Peter said to them, 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:57.199 repent and what, go to sleep, no, repent and be baptized. 00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:59.600 Every one of you, I got to keep you on your toes here, right? 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.600 And the name of Jesus Christ for the what? 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:06.440 Forgiveness of your sins and you will receive, this is important here, 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.279 receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, right? 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:13.359 How critical, how important is that to know? 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.480 And on the surface of reading this passage, it would appear, right? 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.279 You got to change your mind, right? 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:22.559 Metanoia, change your mind about who the Lord is, right? 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.960 There's that repentance. 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.799 That's when you're coming to believe in the Lord. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:31.160 And then there is this idea of being baptized. 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:35.559 Change your mind about who Jesus is and be baptized, right? 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:41.359 So you have the belief and then you have the baptism that happens after that. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:45.639 The way to truly understand this in terms of the consistency of Scripture 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.400 is to understand first and foremost. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.160 Repentance leads us to believe in the Lord, right? 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:57.960 It makes us come to understand that Christ is our Savior and Lord, right? 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:00.680 Because Christ died on the cross for our sins 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:05.360 and because of our repentance comes belief and through belief, right? 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.720 We're saved right there. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:11.920 There is the call for you to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:19.279 It helps us with our understanding of the context and the connections of Scripture. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:22.320 In believing Him, we are saved. 00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:27.480 We're called as the next step to be baptized. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:32.800 Let us keep in mind that when you believe in Christ, 00:18:32.800 --> 00:18:35.160 I'm going to emphasize this so much here. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:37.920 It's a very personal decision. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:45.120 It's a decision that causes you have to reflect on who Jesus is to you, right? 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:51.279 It's acknowledging the death, burial and resurrection, the ministry of Christ. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:58.160 To be baptized, on the other hand, is making that public proclamation of an internal decision. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:01.880 And if you ever desire to get baptized, I'd like to talk to you. 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:05.680 You know, baptism is a wonderful, it's just a wonderful celebration. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:10.000 And it's a representation also of the death, burial and resurrection. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.960 In fact, I'm going to put that slide on here. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:17.200 What's very interesting is the representation of baptism. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:20.279 We are remembering Christ, right? 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:22.799 When you're standing in the water, it's like the death, right? 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.720 It's a representation of the death. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:28.920 When you're immersed or submerged in water, that is the burial. 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:32.240 And the rising up represents the resurrection. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:36.519 Just as mentioned, we're not going to go into those verses, but it's mentioned in your notes 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:40.920 in Romans chapter six and in Colossians chapter 12. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.200 It's very important. 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:48.640 So it's that public proclamation saying that I believe in the Lord and I want to tell my friends about it. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:51.680 I want to tell my family about that as well. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:57.480 Baptism shows a mirroring of that death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:03.039 It's so, I love how things in scripture are connected like that, right? 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:07.160 You have baptism that is pointing to the death, burial and resurrection, 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:12.279 much like how Jonah being swallowed up by the whale, right? 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:17.240 Being in the belly of the whale and being vomited out is a representation. 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:23.200 It's a connection points us to the death, burial and resurrection. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.759 And although we've gone through this sacred journey, we remember, 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:31.960 we celebrate his death, burial and resurrection. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:36.120 There is no better time for you to believe in the Lord than now. 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:42.880 If you've never been baptized and you are a believer, come talk with me sometime. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:51.319 If you have been baptized, we recognize that there is one baptism and we acknowledge one faith. 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:58.000 Just as communion is a time where we take of the bread and we drink of the cup to remember Christ, 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:05.079 baptism is done to represent the death, burial and resurrection. 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:11.200 And you know, isn't it kind of cool seeing those kind of connections with scripture, 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:14.839 the representations, the symbolism, if you will, right? 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:20.319 The scripture is full of wisdom and truth, the story of salvation, 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:24.960 the gospel narrative and prophecy and it's unlike anything else. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:32.119 It is through the connections that we find consistency and we allow for God to speak through us 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:37.319 and we should allow for God to transform our lives. 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:45.639 So much connections. It goes to show that scripture is not like any other book you've ever read, right? 00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:49.319 I mean, I know there's some really good books out there. 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:53.599 I'm going to name a couple books, right? Like The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.919 Those are some really cool books, right? You have good movies out there. 00:21:56.919 --> 00:22:00.799 But it's not as, it's not divinely inspired. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:06.399 It doesn't have the hand of God working in it and knowing that there's one reference here in Psalms, 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:10.439 it's somehow speaking in the Gospel of Matthew and why is this here? 00:22:10.439 --> 00:22:16.759 Like in Nahum where it's talking about how the Lord is slow to anger, like why was that randomly in there? 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:20.920 There's things that you find you're like, that's interesting God. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:28.400 It goes to testify to the power and the consistency of our Lord. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:36.839 And in this, knowing that scripture is living inactive, it also goes to show us or it should go to show us 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:43.640 that Christ works in and through us, much like how God has made each and every one of us, 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:47.680 that Christ is our all in all. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:52.640 I'd like to turn to one final verse and kind of give you a teaser of what's to come. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:57.960 You know, this next week we're going to be starting a series on the book of Colossians. 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:06.000 And the main verse that our series is about is that last part. Let's read this together. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:15.759 Here, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:26.960 But what? Christ is all and in all, because Christ is all that we need and is in everything. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.759 That's a very powerful verse. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:36.480 In being a believer, you are seen as a brother or sister in the eyes of God. And by believing in him, 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:40.720 you will see that Christ dwells within you. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:46.319 Christ has been with us all along since the foundation of the earth. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:51.839 And I'm reminded of how Romans speaks about how nature and the creation of the world, 00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:00.879 that how Christ was in it all, right? That you see creation that testifies to the power of our God, right? 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:07.199 Just like the heavens declare the glory of God, nature testifies to the Lord. 00:24:07.199 --> 00:24:15.119 And some of you may have even heard in the, if you read scientific journals, the God particle, 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:20.159 something that is all connected in nature. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:24.560 So much. It goes to show that the Lord has had his hand in all of this. 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:30.320 And many of you may remember the series that I gave not that long ago about Christ being the creator, 00:24:30.320 --> 00:24:36.400 the redeemer and the sustainer. And that series was based off of a Colossians passage. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:40.880 And it's connected to how we did our series in Philemon. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:45.360 So I feel that this has been, we've been going down this trajectory. 00:24:45.360 --> 00:24:49.600 And I think it's going to be a wonderful sermon series for us to do. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:56.639 So let's go to that next slide here. This will be our next sermon series over the book of Colossians, 00:24:56.639 --> 00:25:04.959 Christ, Our All in All. And it's going to be a wonderful series going into the depths of Scripture, 00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:10.480 the truth of Scripture, and explaining it in such a simplistic way for us to understand. 00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:16.319 If you have not placed your trust in the Lord, I pray that you make a decision for Christ. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:20.720 The Scriptures tell us that in believing in the Lord, we are saved. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:27.200 And upon being saved, we are safe and secure for there is nothing that can separate us from the 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:32.879 love of God. And if you are a believer and you haven't been baptized again, I'd like to come 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:40.159 talk to you about baptism. That's something that's just wonderful. And as we've gone over this passage 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:46.240 from 2 Corinthians, chapter five, verse 17 through 19, this should give us confidence in our Lord and 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:53.040 our God, that in believing the Lord, we are a new creation. It speaks of the ministry of reconciliation 00:25:53.840 --> 00:26:01.600 that God had is his active hand in giving us grace. Right? We think of forgiveness. We think of 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:07.840 atonement. We think of how Christ paid it all. And not one God's not going to hold our sins 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:11.839 against us when we believe in him. That's one of the significant things in there. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:20.240 We are a new creation. And as we have celebrated Easter, the encouragement today is that we live 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:27.679 our lives as the new creation, not focusing on the former things of this world, but focusing on 00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:33.279 the new things. Does that make sense? Being a new creation, you should focus on the old things, right? 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:42.399 No. Right? Old life, old things, right? New life, new things, right? We should focus on the things 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:50.079 of God. Let us live our lives as that new creation, focusing on the things of the Lord, living out 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:58.480 the gospel and sharing in the resurrection story with others. The power of the gospel changes lives, 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:04.319 just as the name of Jesus Christ has power. And I pray that all of you will be filled with the 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:13.279 Holy Spirit and you will be moved to act. Let your life be a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ, 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:17.759 standing in truth, but dealing in love. Let's pray together. 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:23.360 And Heavenly Father, we are grateful that we've had the chance and the opportunity 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:30.719 to open your word and to find truth in it. Let us be reminded that upon believing in you, 00:27:30.719 --> 00:27:36.479 we are that new creation. May we place our faith and our trust in you if we have it before. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:43.199 Lord, we pray that for those among us who have not made a decision for you yet, that they will be 00:27:43.199 --> 00:27:49.279 moved to make a decision for you. Let your Holy Spirit work in their minds to be changed in their 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:56.000 hearts to live and love like you. We ask for your strength and your guidance. And we'd also like 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:01.200 to pray for those who do believe in you. For the ones who haven't been baptized, may they be moved 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:09.599 to make that public proclamation that they are ready to do that. Let your Holy Spirit lead and 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:16.480 guide us as we close with this final song and as we go from the doors of this church into the community 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:25.120 and into fellowship. May our lives as the new creation, may we share in the resurrection story, 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:31.599 may we not be afraid of the gospel, but may we be a beacon of hope that shares and shines the 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:38.400 light of Jesus Christ and truth of your word to others. Let us show grace and truth to our neighbor. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:44.079 It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. Amen. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:48.079 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.319 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:28:52.319 --> 00:29:16.399 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. May God's blessings be with you.