That wonderful hymn really is the sermon. Nonetheless, here I stand in front of you. Amazing love, how can it be that thou, my God, would die for me? You know, there's an expression that I've been hearing more and more lately. I hear it at The grocery store, when Pam lets me go there, not very often. I heard it from my kids over the weekend as they were discussing the latest news reports. Another terrible terrorist attack in France. Turmoil in Turkey. And people are saying more and more, what is wrong with this world? Somebody was saying that to me just this morning before we began our worship time. It just seems like things are moving so quickly in the wrong direction. Have you noticed that? What is wrong with this world? Well, the Bible really gives us from cover to cover the answer to that question. What is wrong with this world is that it is alienated from the God who created it. That's what's wrong with this world. And we who are believers, we who are followers of Christ, do well to remember that that is the root cause, the root ailment of what we see happening in the world around us. People are alienated from God. And we believers are those who have been touched by the good news. How many of you know the gospel is good news? It's the best news ever. Christians are those who have been touched by the good news of God's gracious willingness to befriend sinners like us. And to declare us righteous. To indwell us by his spirit. To bring us into his family. To begin a work of actually making us righteous. And to guarantee us heaven. and its perfection for all eternity. Are you glad for this? It's okay if you act glad for this from time to time. And all of that to say that the gospel, though we know the word means good news, is much, much better news than most of our lives reflect day by day. In fact, scripture tells us this, the gospel means that sinners may, by faith, be immersed in Jesus Christ. Think of that. As a believer, do you think of yourself that way, immersed in Jesus Christ? And as Christians, we're meant to always think of our relationship with Jesus this way. And I'm sure the idea of immersion is on my mind because in three weeks, give or take, our church will gladly go down to the Spokane River, where the water has warmed, and immerse believers in the water there. And when we do so, we will not only be doing so in obedience to our Savior, Jesus, but we will see that those baptisms actually illustrate what is meant in scripture by our being immersed in Jesus Christ. And we want to be clear on this. Water baptism is not the immersion in Christ, but it is a wonderful picture Of the immersion that the believer has in Jesus Christ. Let me let me just say that so that we're clear on that in a different way. Baptism water baptism pictures declares celebrates. A sinner's immersion in Christ. Have you been immersed in Christ? Do you know what that is? In Romans Chapter 6. I forgot to ask you to turn there, sorry. Romans chapter six. Beginning in verse three. The Holy Spirit makes this plain to us through the words of Paul to the Romans. Who says, do you not know? That as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus. were baptized into his death. Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. And whenever you get to a couple of verses and you see words repeated as they are here, that's kind of a cue to pay very close attention. The repeated words here, baptized or baptism, remind us that we who are trusting in Jesus have been immersed into his death and into his life. And this word that is transliterated as baptism, it's sort of a made up word in the English, doesn't refer to the immersion itself. It refers also to the effects of the immersion. You see the difference? What are the effects of we sinners being immersed in Jesus Christ? What miracle of God has occurred And we need to settle on this, friends, because we live in a world that is continually asking, what is wrong with this world? And the believer steps into this world by God's grace and says, what on earth has happened to us? Let us tell you about it. What has happened to us? We who are immersed in Christ. What is water baptism depicting and declaring to others? Picture a blacksmith. You got that image now? A blacksmith. These are people who work with hot iron. And he places that hot iron in water. And that iron is tempered as it is plunged into that water. And it's forever changed by its very nature. And so it is for sinners who are born from above. who are born of the Spirit of God. Have you been born of the Spirit? Well, if you have, the glad news of the gospel is that you have been forever changed by your very nature through this immersion in Jesus Christ. All who are immersed in Jesus are changed in their nature. Paul insists on this in Romans 6. It isn't just that a person becomes a church member in the sense that he or she physically starts going to a building with a cross on it. The very nature of a person who is immersed in Christ, which is a work of the Spirit of God, is changed. And it's too marvelous for words, really. But the Spirit of God has moved Paul to put it to words for us, for our benefit, for our encouragement. We're meant to be refreshed by these words here in Romans 6. Notice in verse 3 that to be immersed in Christ is to be immersed into His death. Into His death. As many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. What in the world is that about? Well, let's begin with Jesus. Who is Jesus? Jesus is eternal God. Who took on humanity? Flesh, blood, bone. And he became just like us. Do you realize that when you pray? And your prayers are directed at this Jesus, who is the one mediator between God and man. You pray to the one perfect man who is God, who totally understands your humanity. He became just like us, the scripture says. And he came so that he might represent us before God. And please be attentive to this. Because this is the message God intends for us to convey to all of our friends and neighbors who are asking this question more and more. What is the matter with this world? Why did God send Jesus to represent us? A cynical person might ask, well, why do I need someone to represent me before God? Do you realize that the alternative is to one day represent yourself before God? Think of that. One day, Almighty God will call you into His holy presence, and He will call upon you to give account of every thought, every word, every deed in your entire life. He's going to judge your life. And what is his standard? A person might ask, well, does God grade on a curve? Do you know that many today are banking on the false belief that God grades on a curve? As long as you're better than that dirt bag next to you, not here, don't look around, No. We understand, I trust, that the scripture tells us that our God is holy. Heaven is a perfect place and therefore requires that it be populated by perfect people. Some of you have already been to Silverwood theme park. Anybody been to Silverwood? Only two people want to admit to this. There's a worker standing at every roller coaster in Ferris Wheel. Have you noticed this? I don't know why, but these workers are always like eight years old. I think if something bad happened, I don't know. It doesn't give you a lot of confidence. But she's standing there, this worker, he's standing there with a yardstick. And all of these poor families that have been waiting in line on hot summer days for an hour, maybe two hours for the roller coaster or the Ferris wheel, all the little kids have to stand next to this yardstick to see if they measure up. And my Silverwood days are over. Praise God. But, no, I like Silverwood. But, I mean, just the standing in line part. And I remember. the look on parents' faces when they found out that the youngest kid didn't measure up. How many of you know that the yardstick that God uses on our day of judgment is the measure of perfection, the measure of holiness. And there's not a person in this room who measures up. Without perfection, without holiness, sinlessness, there is no possible admittance into fellowship with God, into the certainty of heaven. This is the judgment the scriptures speak of. Have you heard this before? See, that's the thing of it, is we hear this again and again and again, and yet when we meet people all throughout our community, We find that even among people who have heard this again and again and again, there's a great deal of ambiguity about it. I spent some time with a precious lady last week who is in that late season of life during which people are inclined to think more and more of this day of meeting, if you will, with God. And she said, you know, I've really tried to live a good life. And I really think God will at least let me sneak in under the door. And here's the thing, heaven's door is opened wide only for perfect people, only for holy people. And the law of God, you think of the Ten Commandments, the law of God is what? Hey, don't lie, don't steal. Don't covet, don't worship anything or anyone besides God, who alone is worthy of our worship. The law of God shows us that we're not perfect. And you can no sooner reach God, reach heaven on your own, than you can reach Mars on your own, just by jumping up as high as you can jump. Let me just say, for the sake of clarity, that hell will be filled with pretty good people by human measure. Lots of pretty good people. Lots of people who by our measure were better than the dirt bag next to them. And God's measure for heaven is not pretty good. There's no sneaking in under the door, you see. And that's why God sent his son into this world. That's what we've been singing about. That's why God the Father sent God the eternal son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn us. The scripture is very clear on that, in Jesus' own words. For God so loved. Boy, wouldn't that be a cool vibe for the world to pick up from God's children? For God so hated the world. For God was so disgusted with the world. You know, for God so loved the world that He gave, He took the first step. His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish. You see, that's the key. Jesus didn't come to condemn the world. He stepped into a world as our representative, a world already condemned. And this Jesus offers to be your representative before God. Represent yourself before God. You will not measure up and trust in Jesus. And what happens? Well, this is what Romans six is all about. See. This is what is illustrated in baptism by immersion, this immersion in Christ, what what glories then belong to the one who trusts in Jesus. as her representative? What benefits belong to the one who is clinging to Christ alone as his perfection? Well, as I mentioned earlier, Jesus, the man who is God, never sinned. He lived among sinners like us. Get this. What happens when you hang out with irritating sinners? What's interesting to me is that when I hang out with people who are apart from the Lord, I go in there with the intention, perhaps, of being an influence, and what I find is that sometimes I'm the one influenced by them. Jesus came into our world full of sin and alienation from God, rebellion against God. He never sinned. He never sinned. His every thought and word and deed pleased the Father. And yet, despite His perfection, despite the beauty of His holiness, He went to Calvary's cross and died that gruesome, bloody death. And any man who trusts in Christ, trusts in His holiness, Any woman who clings to Christ alone as her perfection, that's who Paul is referring to here, friends, when he says, all who believe are baptized into his death. He offers his perfect life and his sin-atoning death as our substitute. Verse 10 of this same chapter, if you want to look at that in your Bible, says Jesus died to sin once for all. This is the death that I have been baptized into as a believer, so I need to know what this means. The Bible tells us that the wages, the consequence of any sin, any sin at all, is death, not merely physical death. We're all going to face that, but but eternal death. Eternal separation from God, who is holy, and Jesus has declared. Through his death and resurrection, listen, you've no hope of representing yourself before God. Let me be your substitute. Trust in me. Trust that my perfection has been substituted for your, I suppose the nicest word we could use is imperfection, your sin. And the condemnation you deserve, the law of God shows you this. The condemnation you deserve, Jesus says, I take that upon myself in my death at Calvary. Do you believe this? And all who so believe, Paul says, have been what baptized into his death, immersed in the death of Christ. Now, I mentioned the word benefits, what what then are the are the benefits of this immersion? Well, they're they're immeasurable, really. And they're precious and they're powerful, and there are also benefits that you and I tend to forget. And our lives bear evidence of our forgetfulness. I know mine does. Just as water cleanses us from filth. So our immersion into Christ cleanses us from guilt, shame, sin. The entire record of my sin, the entire record of your sin. We who believe in Christ is erased through this immersion in Jesus. Colossians 2 makes this crystal clear. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, Jesus has made alive together with him. Having forgiven all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. In Christ, guilt is gone because the debt is completely and permanently paid in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. And Satan will accuse us still. Have you noticed this? You have an enemy. I have an enemy, the enemy of souls, Satan, who is pleased to continually bring to our remembrance our fallenness, our sinfulness. Who are you to say you're a Christian? I mean, just look at your yesterday. Look at your last week. He's pleased to do that. Satan will constantly remind us of some debt owed to God. And the thing that I have noticed in my own mental warfare, spiritual warfare, is that the record Satan brings to my remembrance is mostly accurate. It's not made up stuff. It turns out I really am a sinner. But because we're immersed in Christ, think of what this means. You just let him take that complaint to Jesus, see. But let him take that debt to Jesus. He won't do that. Why? Well, because he knows it's been paid. See, see, that debt is gone. For all who are immersed in Christ, this is what it means to be saved, to be a Christian, I'm trusting in Jesus, not myself to reconcile me to God. And I'm immersed into Christ, his life and death, Paul says, and then he says his resurrection as well. And here's something we want to settle on. And again, there are many who are familiar with the gospel. who are not familiar with the implications of the gospel. And so, here is something that we need to settle on, and Romans 6 makes this plain. Salvation is not a transaction by which we are made right with God, given a name tag, if you will, that says Christian on it, which becomes relevant only when we face God on that day of judgment. We can't think of our salvation that way. That is not the gospel. The gospel is that salvation is a work of the Spirit of God, and those who are born of the Spirit of God have been immersed into Jesus Christ. So a Christian is not merely a justified believer. A Christian is someone who has actually entered into a vital and personal union with Jesus. Remember that word baptized speaks of the effect of the immersion. What happens when we're immersed in Jesus? Well, like water surrounds the baptized believer. And you'll notice when we go down to the river on August 7th, to celebrate immersion in Christ. Every bit of those believers being baptized is going to get wet. We make sure of it. I mean, there's a couple people in the water just in case, you know. Why? Not a square inch of them will be dry. And it's a wonderful thing because it pictures to us that there is absolutely no part of us as redeemed people that has not been touched by the grace of God and forever changed. You see, justification through Christ cannot exist apart from relational union with Christ. That is a false gospel. If we were to say that, it could happen. It can happen. Romans 6 makes this very clear. Let me simplify that. There is no such thing as a Christian, a saved person, who is not a friend of Jesus in practice. If I'm a friend of God by position, then I am also a friend of Jesus in practice. Are you a friend of Jesus? Is He dear to you? Do you desire Him and find that you're satisfied in Him? This is what it is to be immersed in Christ. And this is true because salvation, again, as I mentioned, is a work of the Spirit of God. Paul has already said to the Romans, listen, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God to salvation for all who believe. He powerfully brings us sinners Relationally into his family, into friendship with Jesus. Like that hot iron, immersed in water. Has its nature changed by that immersion? So it is for the person immersed in Jesus Christ. Has this change begun in you? Have you been immersed in Jesus? Are you a friend of Jesus in practice? There's something more even to this baptized into his death. When you're immersed in Christ, when I am immersed in Christ, Christ's death is applied not only to our sins, but to our very nature. That sinful, disobedient, God-opposing self is changed. It isn't just that Christ has died, but through our trust in him, there's a sense in which that old life of separateness from God, alienation from God, has also ended. A new life has begun. Baptism is a celebration of new life having begun through faith in Christ. If new life has not begun, then the old life has not ended. You see, Paul says this to the Corinthians. He said, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Notice the language of immersion in Christ. If anyone is in Christ. It's the same as that used in Romans 6. Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, you see. This is Paul's meaning when he says, just as Christ was raised from the dead, verse 4 of Romans 6, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Immersion in Christ means that it is now possible for us to walk in God's ways. to understand and obey the word of God. It delights us to do so, though we do not do so perfectly. It delights us to do so because the power of sin to control our lives has been defeated. It's been broken, that power of the sin nature through this wonderful immersion into Christ. Here's another way you might look at that. I am free. You who believe are free from sin's dominion, just as Christ is free from sin's dominion. That's how attached we are to Jesus. And you say, well, good heavens, I still sometimes sin. Any of you sometimes sin? If you're shaking your head, no, you're sinning right now. That settles that. But here's the thing. I may sin now, but I must choose to do so because I have a new nature, the nature of Jesus into whom I have been immersed that lets me know that is not his nature. I can, and as Paul says, walk in newness of life, the life that is reflective of Christ's life. This is why in our studies of the pastoral letters in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, there was so much emphasis on holiness. Why? Well, because our witness in the world that is in rebellion against God, is to be a testimony of this newness of life. Not a one-time transaction where we put a get-out-of-hell-free card in our wallet or in our purse and store it there for that day we all know is coming. But know that this new life is the powerful testimony of the believer. Listen, look at verses five and six of Romans six. For if we have been united together in the likeness of Jesus' death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him. that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. And the enemy is quick to attack us on this point. And so we've a need to always see our salvation in this light. You must think of yourself and I must think of myself, we who are believers, as no longer slaves to sin. See, a person might carry on in life and say, well, you know, yes, I know that I've got a critical spirit, and I sometimes swear like a sailor. That's really not fair to sailors. I mean, I think the other branches probably struggle with that, too. And they'll say, well, but that's just who I am. No, no, no, no, listen. That may be who you are, naturally. But that isn't who you are in Christ, you see. You are not a slave to sin. You're choosing to sin. How do I know that? Because I do it. You're no longer a slave to sin, Paul says, you're a slave to God. Yet you're a slave to righteousness, meaning what you have a new nature that wants to please God. That desires to walk in his ways, however imperfectly you may do so. You gladly walk in God's ways because you've been given a new heart, a new nature. That thrills. To live step by step with Jesus. That's why, by the way, we always ask those who are being baptized two questions. And the questions go something like this. They're not scripted, really, but they are simple. Are you trusting in Christ alone as your Savior? His perfection you trust in, not yours. His sin-bearing sacrifice on that cross, you're trusting in Him alone. And they'll answer that question. Is it your desire to follow Him in obedience the rest of your life? They'll answer that question. Both questions reflect this blessed reality. of immersion in Jesus. By faith, we're completely immersed in his death and his new resurrection life. I remember many years ago, I think I've told you this story before, but as you know, it's very difficult to get new material. That's true, anyway. But I remember many, many years ago going to a leper colony outside of Delhi, India. And it was a sad, sad thing. There's a picture on the wall somewhere here of my daughter there with some of the lepers and others on our team. And their bodies are ravaged by this terrible disease. And it's interesting that some of them have, because they've been given these beautiful, colorful garments that are common in India and elsewhere in Asia, just brilliant, colorful garments. And some of them are able to kind of cover up, as it were, so that you wouldn't really know that they were dying from leprosy. And I think of that in light of the scripture telling us that we are those who have been clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. But do you realize that when you're immersed in Christ, it's actually better news than even that? Imagine someone not only clothing one of those lepers in a beautiful garment, a sari or something like that that would cover, but to actually cure the leprosy. See, it's not just beauty on the outside. There's a health and wellness from the inside out. You see, that's what Christ does for us as we trust in him. That we're not only clothed in His righteousness, but Christ loves us enough to actually impart His beauty to us. He places the robe of His righteousness on us as a covering, but He heals us from the inside out. Are you being healed as a sinner? Are you being healed by Jesus? Because this is what He does. The sin nature is being killed off. And giving way to his nature, he's begun that powerful work of imprinting the beauty of his holiness, his righteousness. Upon us. And this is always true. For those who are immersed in Christ. Listen to how Peter declared this, this is one of the very first gospel declarations were given in scripture, this is from Acts three. Peter sums it up this way, God raised up his servant Jesus and sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. Isn't that wonderful? Jesus has come not only to save us from hell, but to further bless us, to further bless you with power, with enablement, to turn from the sin and iniquity that hinders relationship with God. Jesus does this. So how do I apply this wonderful truth to my own heart? Well, the scripture is telling me that I'm free to live in holiness, just as Jesus is free to live in holiness. That's how attached I am to Jesus as a believer. This is what it is to be immersed in Jesus Christ. When we're immersed in Christ, the scripture says we're married to him spiritually. He takes us as his bride. And one purpose of marriage, as you know, is to live together. And Jesus does this by his spirit. The spirit indwells us. He lives within us. He lives with us, if you will, and we live with him. And so a person who might be wondering about his attachment to Jesus, her immersion into Christ, might simply ask, do I live with Jesus? Is he in my thoughts? The way a husband has his wife in his thoughts, the way a wife has her husband in her thoughts. And for love's sake, do I enjoy Communion with him. Do I do I feed on and meditate on his word? Do I worship him, you see? A wife desires to be in the presence of her husband and a husband, his wife. They mutually desire to please one another. If that is not true, then those who look by say, gosh, there's something wrong with this marriage. That's not the way it's supposed to be, you see. And friends, there's no greater pleasure than a life lived married to Jesus. He's pleased to dwell in us. and it pleases us to live with him. This is baptism into Christ. So Paul here is writing to Roman believers. He's encouraging them, and by extension, the Lord is using these words to encourage us, I hope. He says, if we've been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. You know, it was a common custom among the Romans for a husband to bring his new bride home, and he would give her the keys to his house. Now, in our culture, we would just say, well, that seems like a good thing to do, right? But this was kind of a big deal, and it was a symbolic thing. It symbolized that all of his treasures and the comforts of his home were hers. And this is Paul's meaning here in verses five and six of Romans six. When you're immersed in Christ, he gives to you, his bride, the keys, as it were, to a heavenly home prepared for you. It's yours. And one day you will see this home as it really is, just as you will see Jesus as he really is. Do you believe this? And you see, believing this has tremendous bearing on the way you and I live life. It has tremendous bearing on the way we respond to those who might come to us every once in a while and say, what's wrong with this world? Certainly, we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, says Paul. Jesus has risen. He's risen and is alive to live forever. And all who are immersed in Christ share a part. In this eternal life. Do you realize the Bible says that Jesus, the man who is God, one day will rule quite literally over this earth? Think of that. An earthly kingdom where righteousness reigns. It's all backward now. And all who are immersed in Christ. participate in this rule, participate in this reign of King Jesus. And I pray that thought refreshes your heart today. And friend, if you're here today wondering how this refreshing truth can be yours, in other words, can be true to you, you know, a person might be thinking, you know, the beauty of this immersion into Jesus, I want that. If it isn't true for everybody, how can it be true for me as it is so many others in this room? Well, the good news has always urged the same response. The response is what? Well, Acts 3 again says this, repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Have times of refreshing come to you, friend, from the presence of the Lord? In all of his gospel travels, Paul said he preached what he preached repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. When the Spirit of God has awakened our dead, sinful hearts, allowing us to see our perilous condition before God, when the Spirit of God has given us life, spiritual life, has immersed us in Christ, we give evidence that we're born again, just like a baby being born cries or does other stuff, and I'll leave it at that. But you know what I'm saying, there's evidence of life First evidence of new life is what? Repentance toward God. God, I'm a sinner. I'm done pretending otherwise. And I am hopelessly separated from you and your holiness. God, everything you are, I am not. But I'm putting my faith, my trust. in the one man who is God, who is perfect, Jesus Christ. Friend, if you've not responded by faith in Christ, repentance toward God, don't delay. What a wonderful picture. water baptism is of our union with Christ, our immersion in Jesus Christ. If you are saved and you have not yet taken this very basic step of obedience, let me just encourage you, you have time to do that. Just get in touch with one of the elders here at our church. We would be pleased to meet with you and discuss with you how you can take that step of obedience. And for all of us, let me just encourage us as a church, this is sort of family time, okay? When we go down to the Spokane River, it's family time. And if you're part of the family of God, this local expression of the family of God, and you come, please come prepared to rejoice that our God, The author of our salvation is mighty to save because he's done that for you. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for the hope that we have in your son, Jesus. And Lord, I pray that this hope that can only be found in Jesus is shared in every heart in this room. But Lord, if there be a heart that is apart from you. God, I ask that as your son has been lifted up. You would draw such hearts to yourself, Lord, that you would do that miracle of saving souls or that you would do that miracle of imparting spiritual life. That you would immerse into Jesus. And Lord, I pray that you would move among the hearts of the redeemed to rejoice day by day in the standing that we have in Christ. Lord, that when we run into people who shake their heads and shrug their shoulders and frown their lips and say, what is wrong with this world? We can tell them. And we can tell them that there is hope because you are redeeming this world one heart at a time through the work of your son. Lord, let us be bold messengers. Of this good news, we pray in Christ's name, amen.