to the time in our service when those who are participating in the children's portion of our service are released to do so. You can follow Miss Rita on in to the back. And the rest of us, before we have our baptisms, we're going to have a very specific teaching on baptisms. You know, we enjoy here verse-by-verse exposition of the scriptures, meaning that we pick a book and we plod through it verse-by-verse, allowing God to teach us through his word exactly what he wants us to understand. But there are also occasions where we sort of go through in a very intentional way teaching particular doctrines that we see in the church that are helpful for us to understand. And so as we have this Sunday to have baptisms and celebrate God's grace to us, we wanted to talk about baptisms. And as you can tell there, the message is titled, Clearing the Muddy Water. Sort of tongue in cheek there, They're unfortunately mixed in with the wonderful teaching on baptism, what it should be, one of the ordinances given to us by Jesus. One is communion and the other is baptism. Unfortunately, sort of mixed into those doctrines, are some false teaching out there. And hope to spend some time in the scriptures. It'll be sort of selected scriptures. So, you know, turn quickly or write quickly. I'll try to make sure I give those references. But as we think about baptism in particular, we are practicing and celebrating an expression about what we believe about Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has accomplished through his death, burial and resurrection. These beautiful symbols, both communion and baptism of our faith have unfortunately, like I've mentioned, been twisted for many years by those who would seek to teach falsely and lead many astray. There are some who have taught that water baptism is necessary for salvation, meaning if you don't get dumped, you ain't going to heaven. And we would have a problem with that. And we'll sort of unpack why we have a problem with that. And we certainly don't want to denigrate the importance of obedience in immersion into water as a public profession of the inward reality of our faith that God has given us. Put another way, these false teachers teach that water baptism actually saves us and without being placed into water, one cannot be saved. Often this false teaching is called baptismal regeneration. Because they teach that water baptism causes the regeneration of spiritual rebirth during the act of water baptism. So in this teaching, it would be that this individual does not have saving faith, they're not born again, though they're very interested in Jesus, they come up, they step into the water, they go down as an unbeliever and they come up as a believer. And this is their teaching. And we would reject that. There are some texts, a group of texts that these folks would misuse in an attempt to teach this wrong view of baptismal regeneration. One of them is Mark 16, verse 16. This is what it says. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. You hear that verse and you go, Okay, I mean, I understand why they might teach that. How about this one, Acts 22 verse 16. And now, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. You go, ooh, the case is mounting. How about this, John 3 verse 5. And Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. It's not looking good, Pastor Alvin, I don't know what you're gonna do with this. This last one, and we'll look at some of these in detail, this one in particular. Often in these churches that would teach baptismal regeneration, in the fronts of the church or sort of on a table that they have in front, they'll have a very crafty woodworker in the church will get a router, and they will route in this really nice piece of wood, Acts 2.38, and it's there like, they love this verse, Acts 2.38, it's like, oh man, you know, if they believed in tattoos, they'd probably get that one, right? And this is what, Acts 2.38 says, and Peter said to them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. There it is. I mean, Peter's teaching, they would say, you need to repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and then you'll be forgiven of your sins. But is that what's going on? Let's look at that text. One of the things we like to say around here and just sort of remind ourself is that the death nail to false teaching is context. Context is king. anyone comes to you with one verse, like they wanna show you this one verse that teaches this thing, that sounds not right, read the verses before and after. Context is king. And as we look at Acts 2, in fact, for a number of years, I had a ministry in Southern California where we, our college group would go on to some of the local area college campuses, and there was a group there called the International Christian Churches Movement, L.A. Church of Christ, another one, they teach these false doctrines of baptismal regeneration. And as they presented this text in this sort of, their understanding that water baptism saves, My favorite thing to do was to ask, who was speaking? So, oh, well, it says Peter. Who is he speaking to and what was the context? Ah, most did not know. Well, let's look there. Acts 2, look there at the heading that you should see above verse 14, Peter's sermon at Pentecost. So he's preaching this sermon. And I want to draw our attention to verse 22 as we sort of lead up in the context to understand what's going on here. Peter says this in verse 22, Acts 2. Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know, this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." Full stop. Peter was not a seeker-sensitive preacher, right? very much he was getting in the kitchen of these men of Israel. And he was letting them know that number one, they were not understanding things rightly. If you remember the lead up of Pentecost, right? The spirit is coming upon the apostles and the disciples in this totally new way. And they begin speaking in languages that were formerly unknown to them, but they're speaking these languages. Those who were not believers and followers of Christ were watching this and they're like, these people are drunk. And they are corrected, but they demonstrate that they actually are not followers of Christ, these men of Israel that Peter is preaching to, that they are not in unity with the disciples and the apostles. And it's challenging them. You crucified Jesus by the hands of lawless man. And then he goes on, 24. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before him for he is at my right hand. that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. My flesh also will dwell in hope for you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One see corruption. And you made known to me the paths of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence. He goes on, brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day. He's sort of addressing what was this wrong view of David where they really sort of worshiped and idealized David. He says, this is ultimately not about David. This is about the Messiah who has raised from the dead. Verse 30, being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would not see one of his descendants, that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, He, speaking of David, foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. He is tying together for them the Old Testament scriptures, the Torah, that they have totally missed, and he's connecting it to the Messiah, who is the fulfillment of all those things, the chief cornerstone that they've rejected. And he's laying it on them, and he's calling them to repentance. Verse 32, this Jesus God raised up, and that we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. He's talking about Pentecost and the tongues, which is an affirmation of the message and the messenger, right? It's affirming God's message. 34, for David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament, which is Psalm 110 verse one, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. And boy, he doubles down here. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him, talking about Jesus, both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified. Woo, talk about uncomfy. How do they respond? Remember we said Acts 2.38 is this sort of very famous verse of those who teach a baptismal regeneration position, that the waters save. They hear this message, this message that Peter preaches, which is gospel clarity. This is like, full-on fifth-year Jesus gospel-centered, like, awesome sermon, calling them to repentance. He preaches the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He preaches that Jesus is the Messiah. He preaches that he is the conquering one. He preaches that they are accountable for their sin and what they have specifically been complicit in the death of Jesus, not only physically, but actually spiritually because of their sin. And he lays it on their shoulders and he calls them to repentance and points to Jesus. This is like textbook gospel sermon, like do that, young preacher. You wanna preach Christ? Look at this. Acts 2.37 gives us an insight as to where these men of Israel were at spiritually as a result of the power of the gospel preached by Peter. Remember what Paul says in Romans 1, right? He says, verse 16, he says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it's the power of God unto salvation. Actually preaching the gospel, the person and work of Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection, is the power of God for salvation. It actually has supernatural power in the heart to change lives, to change minds, to bring about life from stony hearts and regenerate somebody. That's where regeneration happens, through the preaching of the gospel. And notice how they respond, verse 37. Now, when they heard this, they were cut To the heart. For those of you that know Jesus Christ in a saving way this morning, do you remember? Do you remember when the gospel, when the word of God cut you to a heart? And by his grace, he moved you from a place that it was just some information Maybe you were rejecting it, maybe you were quasi-interested, and he moved you from that place to the place that you are now, where the gospel, the person and work of Jesus Christ is the most beautiful, glorious news you ever heard, and you were cut to the heart. You were convicted of your own sins, and you knew that God was holy, that you were a sinner in need of a Savior, and by God's grace, You repented of your sins and you place your faith in the only hope there is given, in the person and work and name of Jesus. There's no other name given among men by which we must be saved. You're cut to the heart and you trust in Jesus. God, forgive me of my sins. Thank you that Jesus lived the perfect life that I haven't lived. Thank you that he died the death that I deserve. Thank you that in your grace, if I trust in what you have accomplished on the cross and your promises to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness by virtue of what Christ has done, I'll be forgiven and right before you. You're cut to the heart at the very core of your being. It's like, I know that this is true. I believe this. I trust in this. Cut to the heart. Oh, glory. No natural explanation can give us an answer to how that happens. It is a supernatural work of God. Cut to the heart. They move from standing off in the corner with their arms folded, maybe a rock in hand, getting ready to stone Peter, thinking this guy is a blasphemer. This guy needs to die. He's teaching things contrary to the God of the universe. And through the powerful preaching of the gospel, they're cut to the heart. And they move from being deniers, being opponents to Peter, to saying, they said this to Peter and the apostles, Brothers, what must we do? They finally are convicted that of their own complacency in the death of the Messiah that they rejected. They're cut to the heart. They have been supernaturally transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Brothers, what must we do? So Peter is answering a question that is for the very first time being asked by born-again believers. They've been born again through the preaching of the gospel. And he says, great question, brothers. Great, welcome to the kingdom, by the way. You're a born-again follower of Christ. He's changed you. He's brought regeneration through the preaching of the gospel. Great question. Peter said to them, repent. Now is repentance a one and done thing? You repent once and you never repent again? Not authentic biblical repentance. For followers of Christ, repentance is a lifelong thing that we do once into Christ and then we are saved. And then we continually repent of our sins and trust him to not only forgive us of our sins, but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1, eight and nine. So he says repent. Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They'd already received forgiveness of their sins by virtue of what? Faith in Christ. We're resting and trusting in Christ. Brothers, what must we do? Here's a way to understand this word, this phrase that's given to us for the forgiveness of sins. We can respond to something that is already in place based on the reality that it's already in place. Example, if I say to my family, let's go to my mom's house for her birthday. Is it her birthday before we go? It is. The truth and reality that it's her birthday already exists. Let's go to my mom's for her birthday, right? And in the same way, this is a response. Be baptized, every one of you, for the forgiveness of sins in response to the reality that you have been forgiven by virtue of faith in the only provision that man has any hope in, which is the gospel which Peter preached. Based on that, respond. Respond in baptism. The word baptism is a transliterated word. Now, maybe that's a new term for you, but transliteration is when you go to a language, and instead of translating the word into, say, English, right, so if we went to Spanish, the word for shoe is, Zapatos, good. So if we translate that, it's shoe, right? But if we don't, and we just decide I'm not gonna translate it, I'm just gonna use that in my sentence, and you know, sometimes those people who speak two languages, they do that, they just kind of use the word, right? It's like, oh, I'm gonna put my zapatos on. Now I said it in a very English, like you know, white guy way, right? But I sort of translate, I've transliterated zapatos. Years ago, Jenny and I lived in Japan, this was many moons ago, before the kids were born, and they had this, we jokingly called it this sort of group of words, it was Japenglish. And what they would do is they would get a Western word that they didn't have a direct translation for necessarily, and they would use it in their Japanese language, and they would just sort of like, put a Japanese spin on an English word. And so the word for purse or handbag was handbago. The Japanese word for a map or a road guide was road guide. Right, so let's not translate it, let's just sort of like put a spin on it. Something similar has happened with baptism. The Greek word is baptizo. And rather than getting into sort of some semantics and arguments about what is that? Is that a sprinkle? Is that a dunk? Well, it's a dunk, but they just took the word directly over and transliterated it and placed it in wherever we see baptizo in Greek, we see baptize or, you know, baptism, okay? So that's that transliterated. So, the literal meaning of this word baptizo is actually dip, plunge, or place into, immerse. So, we have the question. Does someone need to be placed into something in order to be saved? And the obvious answer is yes. You may go, well, wait a second, you just went through this whole thing, saying a water baptism doesn't say. Well, that's true. But baptism, being immersed into something does. The question is, what is that something? What is that something? See, we get ourself into trouble when we wrongly assume that the word baptism in the Bible always refers to water baptism. It certainly means to refer to being placed into or immersed, but into what? We have two things referred to in the New Testament when we hear this word immersed or baptized. Two primary objects are in view. The Bible speaks about being immersed into water, certainly. There are those texts that baptism or baptizo is referring to water baptism. In the context, you know that's what it's talking about. We'll look at one of those. And the second is baptized into Jesus and his saving gospel. It's the other. And I'd say by and large, the second into Jesus and his saving gospel is by and large greater than the actual water immersion texts. So first, let's look at this, we've looked at sort of water baptism, because clearly, When Peter calls the men of Israel who have repented and been born again to respond to that new birth, he calls them to be baptized in water. So that's what's in view, but then there's this other sort of immersion into Christ. In places like Romans 6.23, this is kind of a evangelism memory verse, right? The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life, where? In Christ Jesus. So this idea of being in Christ, immersed into Christ, is replete in scripture. Romans 6, sort of beginning part of 6, Paul leads up to this in pointing to being immerse into Christ. In verse one, he says in Romans six, what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means. How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ, that's the immersion into Christ. Jesus, we're baptized into his death. We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin, For no one who has died has been set free. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. This is talking about being immersed into Christ, dying to self and being united through by virtue of faith in Christ, united with Christ in his death, And just as he was resurrected, we are born again and resurrected. And that's all talking about what spiritually happens with believers who trust in Christ, who place their faith in Christ. We are spiritually dead and born again by virtue of faith in Christ. No water involved, zero. Paul in other places, Romans 8 verse 1 speaks about this. sort of being in Christ, immersed into Christ. Therefore, there is no condemnation for who, Paul? For those who are in Christ, actually in him. And we think about baptism, water baptism, ought to be this outward expression of an inward reality, an outward symbol of what spiritually God has done inwardly in our hearts. In fact, we even see this water baptism after saving faith modeled in so many places in scripture. Matthew 28, verse 19 through 20, this is a famous Great Commission verse, right? And we just slow down and we read the words and we're like, oh, well that's pretty clear. I mean, this is what Jesus says. He says go. Therefore, dump people in water and make them disciples. Does he say that? No, he doesn't. What does he say? Therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded, and behold, I will give you all as you should be in the age. So the question is, according to that verse, who do we put in the baptismal waters? disciples, followers of Christ. People who have repented of their sins, turned from their sins, and placed their faith in Christ. They're a follower of Christ, they're a disciple. As we preach the gospel and talk to people about the holiness of God, our sin, our need for a savior, and call them to repent and trust in the provision of God through the perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they become born again and disciples, followers of Jesus, We say, okay, now let's obey Jesus. One of the things he says is be baptized. As a public expression, a public declaration of what God has done spiritually in your heart. There it is. But then you still get these verses. Acts 22, verse 16. And now, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized. Wash away your sins, calling on his name. sort of a cleansing thing going on there, the washing metaphor. A couple of things are going on. Being identified with Christ and identified with his followers was so inseparably tied to being baptized in water in the early church that they were often seen as this sort of one act. Whereas someone was like these men of Israel who heard this gospel message and they're like, oh man, we need to respond to this. Or like the Ethiopian eunuch. He's like, is there anything preventing me from being baptized? They're like, oh, let's do it. So there was this like, whoa, I've been born again. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He's died to pay for my sins. I need to be united with him and united with his people. How do I do that? Okay, let's publicly profess what God has done in your heart, water baptism. That's one thing. And then there's also this idea of appealing to God, saying I want to be united with Jesus, and not only am I thankful for the salvation I have, but I want to be continually set apart and cleansed from my former life of sin and every sin past, present, and future. I want all of the benefits of being united with Christ. And that sort of being in obedience, obeying the Lord in water baptism is one of these expressions of appealing to God for the benefits of everything that is ours in Christ. has nothing to do with water, has everything to do with Jesus. Peter makes this point, and I know it's been a little while, but Peter makes this point in 1 Peter 3. Verse 21. Remember he's talking about, it's kind of a very difficult section, right, where he's talking about Noah and the flood, and he's comparing those who find salvation and deliverance from the wrath of God through the ark. Then he points to Jesus, and he's like, Jesus is the only way to be saved from this future wrath to come. And then he posits this really interesting verse that has caused some people to really question what it is they believe about baptism, but if you pay attention, it's pretty clear. 1 Peter 3, 21, baptism, and by the way, we have to know what kind of baptism he's talking about, which corresponds to this, now saves you. And those who would teach baptism or regeneration say, see? But Peter goes on. not as removal of dirt from the body. So he's like, it's not, I'm not talking about being dunked in water. I'm not talking about being taken a bath. But what are you talking about, Peter? Thanks for asking. But as an appeal to God for a good conscience. And how does that, how does that good conscience come? Is it through water baptism? No, Peter continues. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There it is. So in that water baptism, the appeal to God is not, hey, I obeyed you when I was dumped in water. The appeal is, I obeyed you and I trusted in Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. The appeal to God for a clear conscience to be forgiven of all my sins, not because of something I've done. Well, I was baptized in water, so you have to let me in heaven. No. The appeal for a good conscience is to trust in that thing, the only thing that can pay for a good conscience, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the only hope for our sins to be washed away and forgiven. That's it. And so the appeal to God for a good conscience is paid for through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and being immersed into Christ is symbolized and pictured in the water. Over and over and over in scripture, everywhere we see salvation being talked about, it is seen in this view, that there is one requirement for salvation, It is faith alone in Jesus alone. Faith alone in Jesus alone. In Acts 16 verse 31, we read this, in response, they said, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you'll be saved. Trust in Him, put your faith and trust in Him and you'll be saved. Acts 20 verse 21, testifying both to Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme is turning from sin and trusting in Christ. John 3 verse 36, Jesus said it pretty clearly. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. There it is. Where does eternal life come from? It comes from the Son, it comes from trusting in Him. Then he goes on, whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life. No belief will not have life. But as you believe in, trust in the Son, you have eternal life. So, in closing, and then we're gonna get to some Water baptism is this beautiful, wonderful expression of the obedience that by God's grace he gives to us as we are born again. Water baptism is an outward expression of the genuine faith of born again believers who are trusting in Christ to pay for their sins. So the question is not, Have I been baptized in water so that I'm saved? That's not how it happens. The question is, am I in Christ? Have I been immersed into Christ? And I tell you what, that is not only a benefit for those who, for the first time, turn from their sins and place their faith in Christ, because you're born again, but being immersed in Christ is a lifelong blessing to you believers. our charge, our hope, our desire ought to be to see the fruit of being immersed into Christ. That's what it looks like to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The question we need to ask is, am I trusting in Jesus and his finished work on the cross as the full payment for So either live listening or listening later, those that are watching these baptisms and thinking about all of that, may the immersion that we must enjoy in Christ be at the center of our thoughts. May we give him glory and honor and thanksgiving for that supernatural work. Let me pray and then we're gonna get to dunking. Heavenly Father, we thank you. Lord, thank you for Christ. Thank you for the supernatural work that you do to draw unworthy sinners out of darkness, to cut us to the heart, to grant us repentance and give us the gift of faith, to turn from our sins and place our faith in Christ and be immersed in him. We pray that those of us who have, by your grace, enjoyed that immersion into Christ, that you would continue to place us deeper and deeper in our faith in Christ, in his work, in his gospel, in his word, that we would benefit personally and corporately from the immersion into Christ. We'll pray, Lord, just in thanksgiving for the immersion into Christ that you have granted to Madison and Tara and just their desire today to boldly proclaim their desire to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in thanksgiving for what you have done in their lives. So, Lord, as we Do this, may it be a celebration of you and what you have done and not boasting in us at all. Not to us, oh Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory. And it's in Jesus name we pray.