Good morning. Glad to see everybody out this morning. This Lord's Day. What a pleasure it is to gather in the house of our Lord. To sing his praises. To have the confidence in our heart to sing what we just sang I know whom I have believed in. And I am persuaded that he is able, not me, he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Our Lord will not lose not one of his children. Rest, have your confidence and your hope in Christ and Christ alone. This morning we'll be going over question 100. What means by which God speaks, grows and sanctifies his children. the ordinances of baptism, and also the Lord's table. And we've been looking at baptism, and we'll go further this morning in that. And our question this morning is, what is baptism? Our answer being, baptism is a holy ordinance, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit signifies our engrafting into Christ. and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace and our engagement to be the Lord's. It's almost like a marriage ceremony, like husbands here when you married your wife or wife when you married your husbands. Y'all had already decided to marry each other. The husband asked for the wife's hand in marriage. She agreed. Y'all went and y'all got a license. You got everything legal. And then the wedding day happened. Everything was already in order. Everything was already set. Everything was already correct. But a ceremony happened to where you could come before all your friends and family and declare your love for one another. Baptism is somewhat a picture like that. For us as believers to stand before other believers in the church and say, I identify myself with Christ publicly. What a beautiful, beautiful thing to look at there. Let's pray. Father, we thank you this morning for the opportunity to come in your house, to open your word, Lord, and be taught by you. I pray that you'd help me, Father, that it would all be you and none of me. Lord, help us to hear what you have for us this morning, Father, that there be any in here, Father, that do not know you. I pray that you would reveal yourself to him today, and anybody listening as well, Father. Bless us and keep us safe this morning. In Christ's name we do pray and ask. Amen. I'd like to read a little something to you. Most of you have heard of John Piper. This is an excerpt from Bethlehem Baptist Church's elders' affirmation of faith. In order to be an elder in his church, you have to hold to this principle. And it says this, we believe that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord by which those who have repented and come to faith express their union with Christ in his death and resurrection. By being immersed in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, it is a sign of belonging to the new people of God, the true Israel. and an emblem of death to the old life of unbelief and purification from the pollution of sin." I thought that was a very, very good definition of what baptism is, and I wanted to share that with you. This morning, I want to go over four points with you. If you would, turn in your Bible to Matthew 28 and 19. Very familiar passage. the Great Commission. And the first point I'd like you to see this morning is that baptism identifies us with the total salvific work of the Godhead. We know that Jesus Christ died for our sin, but he's not the only one that's involved in our salvation. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit play a role in salvation of God's elect. The scripture here says that, go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. All three, and that's purposeful. There's no salvation without the Trinity. When we call on their name, we depend on them and honor them and say that this act is because of them and by them and for them. This isn't something that we just ask in a magic incantation or something like that. This is something that God does. When we're being baptized, we're being baptized by the authority of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Specific things that each one of them does, the work of the Trinity. Let's look at the Father. The Father predestinates us, and He calls us to Christ. We know that the Scripture teaches that that predestination and that calling has been from the foundation of the world. It's not something that God learns in time or makes a decision based on the way we react. We know in Romans chapter nine, it talks about Jacob and Esau. It says that God chose Jacob before they were born, before any of them did anything good or evil, so that election might stand. Not of them who runneth or him who willeth, but God. who show with mercy. It is the predestination and election of the Father. Number one. Number two, the Son. The Son came into this world, lived a perfect life, sacrificed himself on a cross, lived without sin. What you cannot do. That blessed man, in Psalm chapter one, blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in this law, he will meditate day and night. You name me one man in the Bible that did that aside of Jesus Christ. Came, live a perfect life. died a sinner's death, not only lived the life that you could not live to where he could bring you to God, but died the death that you deserved to pay the penalty of your sin. That is the work of the Son and the redemption of God's elect. Does it stop there? No, it doesn't. So critical the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is actually the one that brings dead men to life. He regenerates. He sanctifies us by the Word. He applies the finished work of Christ to believers. So, this thing of baptism, just think of this. When we baptize, Jesus said, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It's more than just an incantation. There is deep truth of each one of the Godhead, critical in the salvation of God's elect. Secondly this morning, we want to look at baptism expresses our union with Christ in his death and resurrection. We are unified to Christ in his death and resurrection. Look at Romans 6. Romans chapter six verses three through five. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death. that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also in the likeness of his resurrection. How does this take place? Does this take place by us showing up to church, keeping the law, Or is this the promise, the blessed hope that we have, that at that last day when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ shall rise and this mortal will put on immortality. That's the unity that we have, that the promise that he gave us, that when that trumpet sounds, we will receive life everlasting. this body of sin gone. That's the hope of the resurrection. Galatians chapter three, let's look at a couple verses there. Galatians chapter three. Let's read 27 through 29. For as many of you has been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. What does it mean to put on Christ? I'd like you to think about that for a moment. For as many of you has been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Your hope is in Christ. You look to Christ for everything. You look to Him for your redemption. You look to Him for your provision. You look to, I know whom I have believed and I'm persuaded He is able to keep that which I have committed. You have put on Christ, you look to Christ for all things. Verse 28, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. So we see here Old Testament saints and New Testament saints. There's no difference. There's no Jewish nation that has more favor with God now and a Gentile nation that doesn't. There's no more Jew. There's no more Greek. There's no more male, female, bond, slave, for we are all one in Christ. And if ye be Christ, then you are what? Abraham's seed. Who was Abraham? Abraham was called out of the Ur of the Chaldeans and found favor with God and God saved him. Was he a Jew at that time? No, he was a Gentile. Circumcision didn't come until after. That's why the Scripture teaches us that He is the Father both of the circumcision and the uncircumcision. And then Christ was the seed. The seed that was promised to Abraham that His descendants would be as the stars of the heaven and the sands of the sea. Paul tells us in Galatians that that seed was Christ. Not Isaac. Isaac was a type and shadow of Christ that would come. There's one people of God. Not two. There's not lesser Christians and more superior Christians just because they have a bloodline lineage. The only blood that we're concerned about is the blood that was shed on Calvary. Not the blood of a nation. Not nationalism. But Christ. And Christ alone. As you can see here in these passages, baptism is a picture, an outward sign of an inward change. We are heirs according to the promise of eternal life. Resurrection from the dead. Look at Titus 2 for a moment. Titus 2 verses 11-14. Paul tells Titus right here, he says, for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present age. For what reason? Why should we do this? Looking for that blessed hope. in the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. What are we looking forward to, brothers and sisters? What is our blessed hope? The returning of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. And what happens when he shows up again? Resurrection. The dead in Christ shall rise first. And those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up with him and so shall we live with the Lord forever. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. As you can see, brothers and sisters, our baptism, this blessed hope that we have, the things that we believe, this ties to our eschatology. What we're looking forward to that great day in the appearing of Christ and the resurrection from the dead. Let's look at Philippians 3 here for a moment. I'd like you to see this. Philippians 3. This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture, the third chapter of Philippians. Paul gives his pedigree in this chapter. He talks about himself being a Hebrew of Hebrews. As concerning the law, blameless. Studied under Gamaliel. He had the best education. He was a Jew of Jew. Perfect in keeping the traditions of his fathers. But when it came to Christ, he said this, but for all these things I count but loss. His pedigree, his war room, his trophies, he counted it but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ. And he said this right here in verse 10. that I may know Him. That's why he gave all that stuff up. He had no confidence in that. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering being made conformable unto His death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. What was Paul's blessed hope? What was Paul looking forward to? Resurrection from the dead. The picture of His baptism. Being buried with Him and being raised to newness of life. A truth that will happen to each one of us that is a believer one day. We will be resurrected. And we'll put on a new body. A perfect body. No more sin. No more strife. No more tears. And so we will ever be with the Lord. Does your heart long for that day? I know mine does. Paul's hope was in his union with Christ. Baptism is a picture of our union to Christ in His death and burial and resurrection. As He died, so we died. to sin and to the old man. And so as he was raised from the dead, so shall we be as well. Thirdly, this morning, I want to show you that baptism is an expression of our faith. Turn to Colossians 2, if you would. Colossians 2. Look at verses 10-12. And if any of you brothers or sisters struggle in your faith thinking that you don't measure up, thinking that you're not good enough, thinking that God is upset with you all the time because you're not perfect, I want you to hear these words. and ye are complete in him. I say it again, you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also you are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, and putting off the body of sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. What is he talking about here? Look at the next verse. buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." You can see here, faith. Hebrews 11, one says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for. but things not yet seen. Our hope is for something in the future that we cannot see and have not seen yet, but faith that God gave to us, we believe that that promise is true and we will receive it one day. Ephesians chapter one, let's look there, a couple verses in Ephesians. Ephesians chapter one. Verse 15 through 20. We'll see here a prayer that Paul had for the Ephesian church. And this applies to us as well, brethren. Wherefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. and this is what he prayed for, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the same. Think about the hope of his calling. What is this hope? What are these riches of the glory of the inheritance and the saints? Hope. Riches, glory. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places? this power that raised Christ from the dead. This is the hope that he's talking about. Turn over to chapter 2 right here. Look at verses 6 and 7. He speaks of the same thing right here. He says, "...and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So as Christ is seated at the right hand of God right now above all power and principality, we're joint heirs with Christ and He's saying the same thing as we are seated with Him. Now, a present truth that we have not yet received. But that's the hope. That's the hope of what we receive in the resurrection. Not that we have the power that Christ has and authority, but as we mentioned at the beginning, I told you to think about this, we have put on Christ. So what Christ has, so do we have. Not by what we do, but what he has done for us. This inheritance, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, the scripture teaches us. As we can see here, baptism is an outward expression of faith. The change that has happened inside of us, and if it is an expression of faith, it can only be for believers, not for unbelievers or infants. This baptism, this outward expression of an inward change, as we've said over the last couple of weeks. Fourth of this morning, I want to see that baptism is a sign of church membership, and we could see some examples in the scriptures that show that before people were received into the fellowship, this outward profession of their faith and baptism was a norm. Look at Acts chapter two. Acts chapter two, verse 41. Peter had just got finished preaching on the day of Pentecost. And this was a response of those who had heard the word and received it. And it says, then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day they were added unto them about 3,000 souls. So we see a principle here, preaching, believing, baptism, added to the church. Look at Acts chapter eight. See another example. Acts 8, verse 12. Kind of the same scenario here. Philip was preaching. It says, but when they believed Philip's preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. In the Old Testament, a sign of baptism was circumcision, but circumcision was only for men. Now with baptism, it's a sign both for men and women. As we read earlier, there's no more Jew, there's no more Greek, there's no more male, there's no more female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. Mark chapter 16. Brother Randy will be here a year and a half. Maybe not that long. The last couple verses of the whole book, so it'll be a while before he gets there. So I'm not treading on his territory right now. Mark 16, look at verse 15. Kind of the same synopsis of Matthew 28, 19. And he said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. But he that believeth not shall be damned. So you see, baptism happens after belief. If you're baptized but don't believe, you can infer from the scripture here that you're damned. There's no salvation. There's no such thing as baptism or regeneration. We believe as Baptists that baptism is a believer's baptism. belief, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross is a prerequisite to baptism. That's what we believe. As Baptists, we believe that baptism is a matter of obedience. from the command in Matthew 28, 19. We also believe that only believers are united to Christ and his body. Therefore, only believers who are trusting Christ for salvation and submitting to all his commands and teaching, including baptism, should be received in the church membership. I know this may sound harsh, but if we have a believer that comes in here but refuses to be baptized we would have to fence the table from them, the Lord's Supper, and we'd also have to fence membership for them because they are outwardly saying, I don't want to be obedient to the commands of Christ. So that's how church membership kind of works in context with baptism. There has to be a looking into a person's life. To me, church membership is a serious thing. When you come and you ask for membership, you're making a covenant with these brothers and sisters that's saying, to the Lord returns, I've got your back and you've got mine. If I fall sick, you will care for me. If you fall sick, I will care for you. We have made covenant relation with one another. So therefore, to me, that's serious business. And if someone wants to come in and become a member of our church, I think that clearly needs to be stated to them. It's not something that we take haphazardly. This is, I mean, we believe in a universal church, absolutely. But the local church, we're in covenant with one another. We love one another. We care for one another. If one of us is down, if the toe's broken, the whole body's hobbling. So we're gonna take care of the toe. If the head's hurting, we got no direction, we're gonna take care of the head. We take care of one another. That's how the body of Christ It's supposed to work. Let's finish with a verse this morning, Ezekiel chapter 36. Ezekiel chapter 36 verse 24 through 27. And this is a great picture of what God does in the salvation of his children. Chapter 36 verse 24. For I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean. This circumcision made without hands. Of all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. And a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Sounds like the Lord did all the work there. What a great God we have. One that would look upon A sinful creation that rebelled against Him. And to have compassion upon rebels. And before the foundations of the world, an agreement made with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father said, look, I'll predestinate them. I'll call them. I'll draw them to you, Lord Jesus. And Jesus said, Father, I'll go to that earth. I'll put on the likeness of sinful flesh. I'll be abused by them. I'll live a perfect life. I won't sin. I'll die the death that they deserve. And the Holy Spirit said, I'll leave the throne room of heaven and I'll go live inside of them. And I'll apply the work of Christ that you did toward them. And I'll bring them forth to the end. I'll make them persevere. So we can spend eternity with this creation that we love so much. I can only imagine in my own heart, oppressed through Himself to save a sinner. Purple Mountain Majesties, all the beauty that we see in there, all the creation that He did, I think it's minute compared to the power that He has to express to save a sinner. Do not take lightly your salvation. It cost Him such a great price. And if you don't know him this morning, if you hear his voice, come to him. Matthew 11, 28, come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest for your souls. Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light, and you will find rest for your souls. Amen. It's dismissed. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your word, Father. I pray that you could do something with what I said this morning, Father. I know you can. Only you could open blind eyes, Father, and deaf ears. We pray, Lord, that you would be magnified in this place this morning. Be with our brother Randy as he preaches in the next sermon. Father, let your word come forth with power. Let the gospel be proclaimed, Lord. Let your saints be edified. And let the lost be convinced of their sin and their need for a savior. Be with our brother Jimmy and our sister Kim as they're traveling to see their children. Father, I pray that you would bless that trip, Father. that you would edify them in it, and you'd bring them back to us safe, Father. We give you all the glory and praise. In Christ's name, we do ask it. Amen.