Sunday, May 19, 2019 - “Saved By Grace” At Baptism!
Introduction:
WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR CHRIST TO DIE?
SAVED BY GRACE, AT BAPTISM. It is a biblical teaching comes from the Lord.
But a sincere people believe God gives this “new birth” before baptism and that baptism is simply an “outward sign” of one already becoming a Christian. So many people believe that as soon as one’s believes and asks Jesus to be their Savior, they are automatically forgiven.
The Bible says our forgiveness, our being born again is given through faith, BUT, this does not mean “as soon as one believes they become a Christian.” In fact, the Biblical teaching is clearly otherwise. Forgiveness happens THROUGH faith, but it happens AT baptism.
Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him THROUGH FAITH in the working of God. Who raised Him from the dead. Col. 2:12
Through this passage we’ll learn that the grace of God is not only compatible, but it is also consistent with water baptism. We’ll learn that God’s grace is seen most clearly in the action of immersion.
Grace is divine favor, bestowed in the redemptive gift of Christ, independent of any inherent righteous worth resident in rebellious humanity.
Grace has been defined as the “gratuitous lovingkindness of the Lord”
John 1:17 where it says, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
The Old Testament is about Law and the New Testament is about Grace.
To accomplish this purpose we will be covering three areas of baptism as revealed in Scripture:
I. BAPTISM IS GOD’S PROMISE. (to any enjoying the occasion of FORGIVES at the Baptism) The command was given by the owner of the Kingdom. You might say bro. Roger without baptism no salvation? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- Heard grace defined = “all of God’s promises to give us salvation freely.”
- this is exactly what baptism is - God’s promise - “Meet Me here and I’ll apply My Son’s blood.”
A. God Give Us Something. Any command of Jesus there’s always be a promise to receive on the recipient. Like the bible THE BIBLE WILL GIVE ITS RICHES TO THOSE WHO WILL NOT DIG. John Pipper
Mark 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Here’s the Point : God makes this PROMISE - meet Me in your baptism day and I will forgive you of your sins and give you My Spirit.
B. Think of Baptism More as a Promise.
> Baptism (along with faith) are not elements of law; instead, they are promises of God.
> Not saying baptism isn’t a command - faith is a command! Baptism Is a Promise!-
Baptism is a covenant-or a promise-that you make with God. When you get baptized, you promise to serve Him and follow His commandments to the best of your abilities.
Illustration: take a sinner who is lost in their sin because they’re under the law. You approach this person loaded down with commandments they can’t keep and you say, “Here’s one more command you have to keep to be saved. You have to be baptized.” Don’t you see? By doing this you simply are adding more law. Sinner doesn’t need another law; instead, they need promise!
In presenting baptism don’t say, “You’d better be baptized or you’re lost.” Don’t you see, they’re already lost. Not being baptized isn’t going to add to their lostness. They Need Promise
- what baptism is = promise unmatched by anything the world has to offer.
Thus, there is nothing more characteristic of God’s grace than the act of baptism. This is where God promises to meet the sinner and give salvation by grace through faith!
II BAPTISM IS GOD’S WORK. Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him THROUGH FAITH in the working of God. Who raised Him from the dead. Col. 2:12
A. Grace Come From God’s Work. What does it mean? Nothing to add, Jesus death that His work be done for the salvation of the world. To make it clear, we are not saved by work, BUT IN THE OTHERHANDS, WE ARE SAVED BY WORK
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
We Are Saved BY CHRIST Grace all that God does to save us, all HIS WORKS! In that sense and that sense alone, we are saved by works. Does this include baptism? Yes!
Baptism Actually focuses Attention on His works and Not Man’s Works!
This is why baptism is GRACE = it focuses not on what we do, but on what God does. It is His work!!
Baptism is required to enter Heaven
Jesus taught that we need to be baptized to return to live in God’s presence after this life is over.
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”
John 3:5
Baptism is being “born of the water.” It makes it possible for us to be made clean from our sins, which is necessary for us to return to God.
III. BAPTISM IS To EXERCISE Your FAITH. Where the faith coming from? Romans 10:17. Anyone who believe in Jesus needs to prove that-In Baptism. Like apostle Paul after all of his past persecution for the Christians- He heard the voice of Christ in Damascus and got blind- the voices says Acts 9:4 SAUL, SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME? Saul said 5WHO ARE YOU LORD?
Acts 9:18 was baptized.
Man’s work and God’s grace just don’t Mix and Match
A. Faith Grasps the Promises of God.
At baptism it’s the empty hand of faith that reaches out to grasp the promise of God!
Not a work in response to a command; instead, it is faith in response to God’s promise!
Conclusion:
If I were to tell you that all present here today who will meet me out front here at 12 noon - meet me there at 12 noon and I will give you a $1,000.00 bill. Now, if I gave you reason and proof that I was generous and wealthy enough to do this, would you be there?!
This is the whole picture of baptism. God makes a promise that is so great only grace could accomplish it.
He promises to meet us in/at Christian baptism and at that precise moment, not before or after, give us His grace. Thus, baptism does not contradict grace; instead, it enhances it!
Thus, we conclude that we are saved BY grace, but when and where? We are saved BY grace, THROUGH faith, AT baptism! This is God’s promise, let this be our faith!