WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.720 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:15.519 Well, today we're talking about water and wine. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:16.559 Water and wine. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:19.519 And we're talking about baptism and communion. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:23.519 You know, Jesus never asked his disciples to remember his birth. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:32.079 We do it, we throw up a huge party every Christmas season, but he did instruct them to remember his death and resurrection. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:34.399 And he left two sacred practices. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:42.079 Depending on your background, if you grew up in the church, you may have heard these called ordinances or sacraments. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:47.359 They're sacred practices for the church that are both memorial and mysterious in nature. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.119 Baptism and communion. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.560 And we want to talk about what is baptism and communion all about. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:54.399 It's what we do when we gather. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:02.399 Who should take part in these sacred practices and how do they actually play a vital role in your faith and in following Jesus? 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:19.680 And depending on maybe your background, maybe you've been around church for a long time, these can kind of feel rote or mundane practices, or maybe you're new to church and they feel like some kind of old tradition, or you don't really know what they're all about. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:21.359 So we want to talk about them. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.120 You know, my wife and I, we were talking about them this last week. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:36.239 I was asking her because she got baptized at a church in Chicago, but had an experience that kind of turned her off to baptism when she was uh just graduated college. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:47.599 She started walking with Jesus, she would say, uh her freshman year of college, and there's a whole series of events that led to uh that moment where she just, you know, her faith just really became her own. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:02:06.480 And um, I mean, God did some incredible things through her college career, and after that, she was uh, you know, in her college season, was at Campus Crusade for Christ and loved it, and then went on to do what they call a stint or a year-long missions trip with uh Campus Crusade to plant a crew movement in Sweden. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:18.000 Now, one of the churches she was talking to to help support her, uh, you know, on their side, they took baptism very seriously, but it felt strict and stringent. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:25.599 And she met with this older lady that just uh said, Well, in order for us to support you, you need to be baptized. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:32.479 But it wasn't a conversation, it wasn't an invitation, it felt like, you know, um, oh, how do you say it? 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:41.439 It felt like, you know, like these hoops that you had to jump through, or like there was this attachment, like in order to get money, I need to be baptized. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:50.879 And it was just like kind of weird, and uh just really in that moment didn't help her like draw her into like this incredibly powerful sacred practice. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:03:14.960 And it was a few years later at a church in Chicago where I was um uh drumming at and helping lead worship in their college, I shared a little bit earlier in the series, where they had a spontaneous baptismal uh service, and we're gonna have one next week, and some of you are gonna say yes in that moment and step forward into the waters of baptism, and that's when she was drawn and really stepped into the waters of baptism there. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.039 And so for some, that's kind of where you're at. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:29.439 Maybe you have a background, and you're like, this has always been kind of something that I don't really understand or get, or what does it all mean, or maybe you even had an experience where the way it was presented, maybe it just turned you off. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:41.360 My hope is that uh just like that moment uh at that church in Chicago, this would be one of those moments for you where you go, like, oh, I get it, the lights go on, and I understand the power and the significance of it. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:51.680 So, in our time, because we talk a lot about communion and we do that regularly in our services, I'm gonna spend the majority of our time talking about baptism. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.000 What exactly is baptism? 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:55.520 Who should get baptized? 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.840 You know, why I should get baptized? 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.319 Um, do you get baptized more than once? 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.599 You know, do I have to reach a certain level, right? 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:05.919 Uh to be able to get baptized? 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:11.039 Like, is there like, you know, these steps in the Christian life that I have to somehow attain? 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:18.319 And to begin the conversation, I want to take you to a wilderness revival service in Matthew chapter three. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:23.759 And so go ahead, get your fingers there, you know, turn to Matthew chapter three in your Bible. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:37.279 Uh, this wilderness revival service, and to set the stage and the context, the people of Israel had not heard a word from God through a prophet for just about 400 years. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:41.680 And then all of a sudden, there's this wild man in the wilderness. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.160 His name was John the, anybody else know? 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:45.759 The Baptist, yeah. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:49.199 His name was John the Baptist simply because he baptized people. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:49.920 That's what he did. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.639 He baptized people in the Jordan River. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:56.639 Now, John was like a prophet at all of old in the Old Testament. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.160 He wore the clothes of a prophet. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:06.720 He wore these camel, extremely uncomfortable camel hair uh, you know, clothes, and that was not in vogue, by the way, in the day. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.839 And he even ate the um the food of the poor. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:19.600 He he lived off a locust and honey, and then he preached this uh a sermon and message of repentance, preparing the way for one who would come. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:25.920 See, John understood his role, that he was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:36.959 And so what he would do is he would go, he's out in the wilderness, and literally hundreds and thousands of people would be drawn out, you know, to see and to hear him preach. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:47.759 Uh, one commentator said this that not since the days of Ezra, remember in one year that we talked about Ezra and Nehemiah and that revival service that happened then? 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:56.480 Not since those days had Israel seen such a revival, and maybe it was even greater than the days of Ezra. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:59.680 And so you're seeing thousands of people flock out. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:06.480 He's preaching this message of repentance, which by the way, repentance doesn't mean to be sorry or even to be sad. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.120 Repentance means to turn around. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:15.680 It's like you see somebody walking the wrong direction, and you go, hey, it's this way. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:21.120 And repentance means that person literally turned around and went a new direction. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.560 That's what repentance is. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.720 And John is saying, the king, the Messiah is arriving. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:28.959 And hey, hello, repent. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.720 The way you're direct, the way you're living your life, the direction you're headed is in the wrong direction. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.319 Turn around so that you can see and embrace the kingdom and what Jesus is coming to do. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:47.040 And he would say, he said this, he said, There's one coming, because he understood my role, I'm to prepare the way. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:51.920 There's one coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:59.360 See, I baptize with water, but there's one who's coming who's gonna baptize with the Holy Spirit. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:05.120 And this is where we pick up our story in Matthew chapter 3, verse 13. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:06.800 Begins this way. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:11.519 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.800 But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.879 And do you come to me? 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:26.240 John's going, like, listen, remember, I've been preaching about one who's gonna come and baptize with, you know, the Holy Spirit and with fire. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:28.319 I just got the water thing going on. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:30.240 I need your baptism. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:31.759 Hello, thank you very much. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:35.199 And then Jesus says, Let it be so now. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:40.480 It is proper for us to do this, to fulfill all righteousness. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:50.160 If you're taking notes and maybe circle that word righteousness in your Bible, uh, for Matthew, righteousness means walking in the ways of God. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:56.720 It's just a very simple following the ways of God, living out his will in his life. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:02.720 So he's saying, to live in the ways of God and his calling, I need to step into this. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:04.720 And so John consented. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:23.759 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came, he went up out of the water, and at that moment heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, alighting on him, and a voice from heaven saying, This is my son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.040 Now, why did Jesus need to get baptized? 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.240 You ever wonder that? 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:32.559 I mean, John is in this wilderness, he's preaching preaching a baptism of repentance. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.039 Now, here's something kind of interesting. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:41.600 Um, to the Jewish people, they were familiar with baptism, but it wasn't anything they partook in. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:47.600 See, baptism was for Gentiles who are converting, for outsiders who converted. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:59.279 Jewish people, they would undergo ceremonial cleansing, and that's something they would do for themselves to get uh ceremonially clean for worship in the temple, but they would never be baptized. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:07.360 And then John's doing something shockingly new in the wilderness, and he's baptizing Jewish people, saying there's a new work that God is doing. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:14.240 And what he's doing is he's ushering in a new kingdom, and your heritage won't get you into it. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:20.799 You have to turn directions, and Jesus shows up, and he steps into those waters. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:23.360 Why did Jesus get baptized? 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.080 A few things. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:32.000 One, Jesus got baptized to identify with those he came to save, to lead the way. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:42.799 He got baptized to authenticate John's ministry and work, that he was indeed the one who had prepared the way for the Messiah. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:48.399 He also got baptized to inaugurate uh his public ministry. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:56.080 And you remember the voice of God declaring, This is my son, whom I love, whom I'm well pleased. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.519 And we often miss the significance of that. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:08.000 Uh that's actually two Old Testament um uh sayings, one from Psalm 2 and one from Isaiah 42. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:15.759 In Psalm 2, it talks about the coming king who is gonna reign and restore and make things right. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.200 In Psalm 2, it says the coming king, this is the Son of God. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:26.879 And this is this proclamation, this public proclamation that this is the sovereign coming Messiah, king. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:48.320 And then something so interesting that the people in that day did not put together was whom I'm well pleased, whom I love comes from Isaiah 42, when Isaiah begins to talk about the suffering servant that reaches its final climactic conclusion in Isaiah 53, when he'll be led like a sheep into the slaughter. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:53.360 Or he'll take upon the people the iniquities of them all. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:11:05.600 And he have this incredible, powerful moment, this inauguration of the sovereign king is also at the same time the suffering servant who will take the sins of people away. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:16.559 And he got baptized to allude to and foreshadow the way he would go and pass through death and raise to new life, to bring new life to all of us. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:22.000 And so let's spend some time talking about the baptism. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.519 What is the significance of baptism? 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:41.360 And I want to take some time here to for us to really understand the significance of what uh the Jewish audience would have understand passing through the waters when they were coming out to uh be baptized by John. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:53.840 See, passing through the waters throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, has been symbolic of God's redemptive activity on earth, his restoration and creative process. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.080 Flip over to Genesis. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:02.399 And if you're kind of new to the Bible, you just go straight to the beginning and then you just kind of flip a couple pages. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:03.919 Genesis is the very first book. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.799 Genesis 1, 1 begins this way. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:10.480 It says, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:14.960 Verse 2, now the earth was formless and void or empty. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.279 Literally, it means it was wild and waste. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:25.440 Before God's creative work took place, there was there was just chaos, wildness and waste and emptiness. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.159 Darkness was over the surface of the deep. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:33.440 And then it goes on and it says, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:54.320 Like before God's creative activity took place, saying there is this wild and chaotic uh wasteland and this deep water of chaos, and the spirit hovers over, and what the spirit of God always does is he brings beauty from the chaos, he brings restoration and creation. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:13:00.720 And so you see in Genesis 1, 2, the Spirit of God bringing creation out of the wild and the waste. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.799 And then this theme is drawn throughout the Old Testament. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.799 And so we'll fast forward to the Exodus event with Moses. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:19.360 And Moses is liberating Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, and they're being chased by the Egyptians, and they come to the Red Sea. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:32.320 And again, there's the same words that are happening in Genesis where there's this wild, chaotic, deep water, and God splits the water to lead them through to safety, and he delivers them. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:43.120 The Moses in the liberation of Israel, and then you fast forward to Joshua, who then leads the people of Israel into the promised land. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:46.000 And they had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:48.960 This group wasn't there at the Red Sea. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.679 That generation had all passed away. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:14:02.559 And to remind them of God's redemptive activity and what he does as they come to the Jordan River, the same river where John is baptizing. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:09.759 It says, and it's the same words of the wild and the waste and the chaotic deep are all there. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:14.159 And then God stops up the Jordan and they enter on dry land. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:23.600 And then Isaiah and Isaiah chapter 11, speaking of the Messiah, the one who would come, who would bring restoration. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:33.440 He begins to connect it to the water chaos and how he's going to bring uh rescue and life. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:48.879 And so to the original hearers, passing through the waters is symbolic of God's redemptive activity, the spirit at creation, Moses into liberation, Joshua entering the promised land, Isaiah promised rescue from the Messiah. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:57.840 Jesus came to bring the new creation, freedom, liberation, freedom from bondage, to enter into his rest. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:00.960 He came to rescue you and me. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:13.759 In fact, Tim Mackey says it this way: baptism is the reenactment of what it means to be rescued through the waters of death in order to enter a new creation of life. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:20.320 This is the significance of what baptism means when we talk about entering into the waters. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.559 And so then, what exactly is baptism? 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.360 For some, you're like, Ryan, you're talking all about the significance. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.000 I don't even know what it is. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.840 Well, the Greek word for baptism is baptismo. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.480 You want to say that? 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.279 That's kind of fun to say. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.720 Baptismo, go for it. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.399 Yeah, we're in Greek class now. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.120 Thank you very much. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.039 Uh say it again, baptismo. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.559 Fantastic. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:42.159 You're all Greek scholars at this point. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.279 Very well done. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:48.879 It literally just means to be submerged, to dip, uh, to go underwater. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:54.159 This is why every baptism that we see in the New Testament, they are fully submerged. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.279 This is why when we baptize, we go underwater. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:02.960 And baptism is a symbolic act declaring your standing in Christ Jesus. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:13.440 It is a sacred act, a powerful picture of how the Spirit of God works to bring life, renewal, and freedom out of the chaos through the finished work of Jesus. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:18.879 The Apostle Paul would say that this way in Romans chapter 6, verse 1. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.639 He says, What shall we say then? 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.759 Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.720 By no means. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.799 We are those who have died to sin. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.320 How can we live in it any longer? 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:34.320 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:45.200 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead, through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:45.679 All right. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.799 So what is he meaning there? 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.759 What are we talking about? 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.679 The picture of baptism is this. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:59.120 And when you see people next week getting into the water, this is literally what the picture is is that you are dying to your old self, you're being identified and literally counted dead with Christ. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:04.640 You go under the water, and then you're being brought out of the water to new life in Christ. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:10.480 In fact, so baptism first is a picture and illustrates Christ's death and resurrection. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:16.559 And here's the powerful truth of the gospel is the gospel doesn't just say that Christ died for you. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.599 Yes, that's true. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:21.279 The gospel says that you then died with Christ. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.200 That's different. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.599 That you are united with him. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:37.519 And so that your old life has then been put to death in Christ, and that you have been raised out of the water just as Christ has been raised to new life. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:40.960 And so it is a symbol of my new life in Christ. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.640 See, you have union with Christ. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.440 Think about this. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:51.200 When God the Father looks at you, he doesn't see you. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.000 He sees Jesus. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:04.079 In fact, the way technically to say it, the way theologians say it is the imputed or placed upon righteousness of Christ is upon you. 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:09.440 So everything that is true of Jesus is now true of you because you have union with him. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.200 He has covered you. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.799 You are in Christ, and Christ is in you. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:26.000 And so now, because he died, the Spirit of God then comes inside of you and brings you to new life just as he was resurrected to new life. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:33.759 And so you remember that saying, um, maybe you've said it, and it's okay if you have, but um, yeah, I'm just a sinner saved by grace, you know. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.200 I'm just a sinner. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:39.440 Well, the truth is you're not anymore. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:43.680 The truth of scripture is that you're a saint. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.640 I'm looking at a bunch of saints. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:54.000 I mean, what if you just started on Sunday, you know, um you just greet people, hello, saint. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.799 You know, like, what's up, holy one? 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.599 Like when God sees you, just think about this. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.480 This is amazing. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.640 Like, he sees Holy One, daughter, son of the King Most High. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:08.240 He sees Jesus and His righteousness placed upon you. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.200 That is who you are. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.559 And yes, do you sin? 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:13.759 Absolutely, we do, but that is not your identity. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:26.880 Your identity is you are a saint, holy one of Christ, because what he did and baptism reminds us of that union with him in his death and resurrection to life. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:31.200 And then it is a pledge of good conscience towards God. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:36.319 What you're doing is you're not saying, from this day forward, I'm gonna live a perfect life. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.599 You can't do that. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:45.279 In fact, for some people have they've been um really discouraged because they thought, man, I'm gonna get baptized and then I'm gonna live this perfect life. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.279 Well, that's not that's not how it works. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:53.440 What it is, is this day I'm making a commitment to follow after Jesus all the days of my life. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.480 That's it. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.640 I'm making this public declaration. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:02.160 This I'm committing to follow after Jesus all the days of my life, the best I know how. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.759 I'm gonna run after you. 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:08.480 And yes, I'm gonna stumble, I'm gonna fall, and he's gonna pick me up. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:14.880 It's this public declaration, it's a good uh or a pledge of good conscience towards God. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:21.519 The best illustration I could think of uh when thinking talking about baptism is the the wedding ceremony. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:30.160 And we talk about the wedding ceremony, it is this ceremony, it's public, and it's something mystical is actually happening as well. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:39.920 Uh, because a man and a woman are standing up front and they're pledging to one another, and yet at the same time it's this ceremony before God and other people, but something's happening. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000 Scripture tells us that the two are becoming one flesh. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:46.960 I remember our wedding ceremony. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:21:01.119 Um so when my wife got back from Sweden after that year away, uh we were dating for an entire year, and and by the way, we didn't have MySpace, which I know doesn't exist anymore, uh, Facebook, Instagram. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.880 I didn't have a cell phone. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:14.480 I remember using prepaid phone call cards, you know, and having the phone in my you know dorm room and dial in and then sitting out in the hallway so my roommate wouldn't hear me talking to my wife for a year, you know. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:18.880 So the minute she got back from Sweden, I popped the question. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.480 I was like, I'm not letting this girl get out of my sight ever again. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:24.640 I'm wild about her, still am. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:33.039 And then we planned a wedding three months later, because by the way, when you know she's the right one, when you know he's the right one, just get it done, all right? 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.720 Just get it done. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:47.279 And so three months later, we got married and we stood at the altar and we're saying, and my dad was the pastor and in our thing, our wedding, and I mean, I just was this blubbering fool, by the way. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:50.799 I just cried snot every it's just it was bad. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:59.759 And and in that moment, we're making this declaration of our love and our commitments, and yet something else is happening. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.000 Is that there is this union that is happening, scripture tells us. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:13.839 And the picture for us is baptism is this public declaration, this ceremony, and there is something that has already happened. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:23.440 Baptism is this outward expression of the inward reality of what the Spirit of God has already done in your life. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.799 And so what is baptism? 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:29.039 A symbolic act declaring your standing in Christ. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:31.519 Well, why do we get baptized? 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:37.839 Well, we started with Matthew chapter 3, then let's go to the end of the book, Matthew chapter 28. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:42.559 Matthew chapter 3 inaugurated Jesus' ministry. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:48.640 Matthew 28 is really his ending or completing his ministry on earth. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.960 It's right before he ascends into heaven. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.160 He's resurrected. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:57.920 He's been with the disciples for over 40 days, teaching them, and he's about to ascend to the Father. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.640 And these are his final words, final words. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.640 We know it as the Great Commission. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:06.160 And he says this all authority has been given to me. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:09.680 I am that sovereign king. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:17.119 And my resurrection has defeated sin, death, and Satan once and for all. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.680 By the way, every single one of us. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:27.759 A disciple is just an apprentice. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:37.039 A disciple is one who is simply following in the ways of Jesus, and we're called to help other people simply follow in the ways of Jesus. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.960 It says, go and make disciples. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.039 And what's the first thing that he says in how we're to go and make disciples? 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.880 Not all at once, please. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.880 Baptizing. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:57.359 See, I think a lot of us think baptizing or baptism is like step two, three, or four in our discipleship process. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.519 And Jesus puts it as step one. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:05.440 He says, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:10.319 Like baptism is this public identification into the community of Christ. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.920 It's saying, I'm part of the family. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:13.599 It's going public with your faith. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:18.960 And he says, that's just the step where we do, you know, hey, I'm I'm in. 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:23.680 And then it says, teaching them to obey all that I've commanded you. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:31.759 See, when I said yes to my wife, and I said yes at the altar, I in that moment had an identity change. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:33.359 I became a husband. 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.960 I said yes in that moment. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.079 Here's the problem. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:38.720 I had no idea how to be a husband. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:41.839 I am one, I don't know how to be one. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:46.160 And I'm it's taking I'm we're 19 years this December. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:49.440 I'm still learning how to be a husband, right? 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:52.640 See, and that's so much of our Christian walk. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:57.200 The minute you step into your relationship with Jesus, you have an identity change. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:01.680 You are a new creation, you are a saint, a son, a daughter of the King Most High. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:06.960 And then you learn how to live out what's already true of you. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.119 And so why do we get baptized? 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.880 Well, first, we're just simply following the example of Jesus, right? 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:17.440 Jesus got baptized, and if we're following, we're disciples, we're gonna follow in his ways. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.519 He got baptized, so we're gonna follow his example. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:22.880 Secondly, we're gonna obey his command. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:27.759 He said this is the first step in responding to the gospel for us. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:31.200 And so we're gonna get baptized simply out of obedience of what he said. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:37.920 And then finally, it's a public, uh, we publicly identify as a follower of Jesus. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:26:04.720 And it's interesting, and we've talked about this throughout the series, believers who are in closed countries where it is illegal to be a Christian, or in countries where they experience extreme persecution, the minute they get baptized, many of them get disowned by their family, and for some, then uh they have really a bounty on their head. 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:19.759 It is this incredibly serious thing for them of like, no, we're doing this, and we know that it's saying no to our old life and yes to Jesus, and he saved me, he changed me, and he is so much greater and so much better. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:23.519 It's I how could I not say yes? 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:33.680 You know, the interesting thing about baptism too is for some, um, your process and your journey with Jesus, it's been gradual, hasn't it? 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:36.160 For some, you know, like it was a point in time. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.519 I and like I have that. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:48.960 I remember when I was a kid, um, I remember sitting in my mom's, you know, really brown, you know, 70s chair, um, big soft, cushiony chair, and asking my mom, mom, I want to know Jesus, would you lead me? 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.640 Like I have that point in time. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:53.200 But for others, it's gradual. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:27:01.599 And you've been here and you've been hearing the teachings of God's word, and all of a sudden you realize, I actually believe that. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:12.079 And baptism acts as that marker for us of that significant moment where we're going public with our faith, and that you look back on. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:18.720 In fact, our um our teaching team, we just began to share stories of when we got baptized. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.839 Everyone could remember that moment and they're talking about it. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.759 It's so fun to kind of kick that around. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:29.839 And I remember I got baptized, I got came to know Jesus when I was like four, and then I got baptized when I was five. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:34.880 My parents were trying to dissuade me from getting baptized, and they're like, no, you're too young. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:39.359 You need to, I'm like, no, I need to get baptized because kids can get it, right? 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.559 And it's significant. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:49.920 I was remembering this, I remember I was too short in the baptismal, I couldn't see over to the edge, so they got me a chair to stand in it to be baptized in that moment. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.839 And so, why do we get baptized? 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:57.599 To follow in the example of Jesus, to obey Jesus' commands, and publicly identify as followers of Jesus. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:00.160 Well, who then should be baptized? 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:03.759 Every person who has placed their faith in Jesus. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:17.519 You know, when the Apostle Paul talks about baptism, he talks about it in the past tense, because in his day it was the assumption that whoever was a believer had already been baptized. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:21.839 Peter now preaches the very first sermon of the church at Pentecost. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:25.680 Tongues of fire come down, they're anointed with the Holy Spirit of God. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.200 He preaches this message. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.880 It sounds a whole lot like John. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:31.359 Repent and be baptized who? 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:33.279 Every one of you. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.480 Not some of you. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:48.799 If you're gonna repent, be baptized, every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sin, and you'll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the promises for you and your children, for those who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:54.880 And those who accepted this message were baptized, about 3,000 were added to their number daily. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.720 Who should be baptized? 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:58.000 Every single person. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:03.039 This is not just for some Christians, or that you kind of reach a certain level, right? 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:07.440 Hey, I gotta get to this kind of level, and then I can get baptized. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:17.279 In the early church, and this is part of some of the confusion of why we struggle with the is baptism part of salvation, and we'll talk about that in a second. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:23.279 In the early church, baptism and being saved happen together. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:28.960 And so you repented, you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and you're baptized. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.400 And you'll see that over and over. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:36.480 And that's why when you're reading the text, you're uh often you'll see, you know, there's two separate baptisms going on. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.319 There's the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:46.640 The minute you put your trust in Jesus Christ, that's the baptism that John said that Jesus was going to do, the Spirit of God comes inside of you. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:48.720 He awakens you to new life. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.480 It's literally called regeneration. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:54.319 You are brought from death to life spiritually in Christ. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:56.480 It is incredible, it's amazing. 00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:02.640 And if you've yet to step into a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to experience new life. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:06.240 He doesn't want to resurrect and, you know, or make your old life better. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:08.960 He wants to resurrect a brand new life. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:14.880 And then there's that public identification of water baptism, and those happen together. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:31.920 Now, what happened was uh there was some waves of persecution that took place in the early church later on, and some followers of Christ uh they denied the faith, and then once the persecution was over, they wanted to return to the faith. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:35.599 You can only imagine how difficult that would have been for some of these early churches. 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:47.920 Is like there's a group of people that endured persecution, they lost loved ones, they lost property, and they underwent beatings, and then those that denied the faith then wanted to return to the faith. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:50.880 It was a very challenging time for the church, honestly. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:31:00.319 And and through that, they began to wrestle with okay, maybe there needs to be more of a process to discern are they truly, you know, a believer. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:07.119 And so they began to put some steps in the way or some processes for people before they got baptized. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:12.160 And then it got kind of extreme during the medieval time, and you can read all about that some other day. 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:16.720 Um, but where you put even perhaps years before people would get baptized. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:21.839 But here's the reality is scripturally, who should be baptized? 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:30.000 Every single person who's placed their faith in Jesus, and you don't have to have like reach some particular level. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.400 And by the way, here's good news. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:38.160 Maybe you're you've been a Christian for a long time and you've never been baptized, and you're like, well, it must be too late for me. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:41.119 I kind of missed my my window. 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.880 Sucks to be you. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:48.559 No, no, you it's never too late to get baptized at all. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:55.599 And so the question that we started to answer a little bit is do I have to be baptized in order to be saved? 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:57.359 And the answer is absolutely not. 00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:01.599 Baptism does not save you, only faith in Christ Jesus does. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:06.319 The apostle Paul would say it this way: for it's by grace you've been saved through faith, and this not of yourself. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:11.440 It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:22.000 The confusion came because baptism and placing your trust in Jesus happened simultaneously, and so it began to be, you know, a little bit of like, oh, baptism saves you. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:22.799 No, no, no, no. 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:27.920 This Holy Spirit of God coming into your life, you calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:31.359 Only those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:37.359 Baptism is that outward sign of the inward reality of what He has done in you. 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:40.720 And so, when do you get baptized? 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:45.519 Well, the reality is, as soon as you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.720 That's it. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:49.279 You don't need a class. 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:56.720 We hold a class, and the reason is a lot of people don't really even know what baptism is about, and we want to make sure you know what it's about. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:02.640 But maybe today you're just feeling the stirring of the Spirit and saying yes to Jesus, you can get baptized. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:07.920 Next week we're gonna have baptisms and we're gonna have spontaneous baptisms as well. 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:10.240 And you can say yes now. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:20.079 Uh, you in fact, there's as soon as you've accepted Jesus as your savior, uh is the best time uh to get baptized. 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:27.359 In fact, I like how uh John Mark Comer said it there is no better way to respond to the gospel but to get into the waters of baptism. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.559 Isn't that good? 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:38.319 Now, a couple questions uh about baptism, and then we're gonna shift to communion and close our time with communion. 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:43.519 I I said shift to communion, you're like, wait a second, does he have another sermon about communion? 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.279 I I just felt the shift in the room. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:47.680 You're like, hang on, Ingram, it's hot in here. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.720 It's hot. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:52.160 Um I got you, I saw it. 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.319 We'll close with communion. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:54.720 How's that? 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.359 You good with me? 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.160 You still with me? 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:57.039 All right. 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.640 A couple things. 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:11.920 For those, some of you grew up and you were maybe baptized as a baby, and there's some of this tension of like, am I wrestling with, am I somehow, you know, denying what my parents did? 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.920 And that's significant and meaningful. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.679 Yes, absolutely it is. 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:17.760 It thousand percent is. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:26.159 Baptism as a baby is what your parents and your that particular faith tradition said of their heart's desire for you. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:30.320 It's beautiful, it's wonderful, and praise God if that's you. 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:35.119 We do baby dedications, it's just different, we uh, but similar meaning. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:53.440 And yet at the same time, then the completion of that for you is as an adult saying, you know what, I say yes to Jesus, and I am gonna step into the waters of baptism myself to be able to go, you know, I am now uh cognitively able to say yes to my Savior. 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:57.360 And so, yeah, if you've been baptized as a baby, wonderful, we celebrate that. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:05.199 And we'd say at the same time uh that there is the importance of as a believer saying yes and stepping into the waters as well. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:08.559 A second question is what if I walked away from God? 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:10.719 Do I need to get baptized again? 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:12.400 You know, do we do this every few years? 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:14.800 Is this like how I recommit my life? 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:22.800 Um, when awakening was a college ministry at Westgate, we'd do these baptism services and we'd do spontaneous baptisms. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.400 And it was awesome, it was powerful. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:35.039 There's like a few hundred college students, and you know, people would be coming forward, and one guy gets in the water with me, and I go, I ask him, Hey man, why do you want to get baptized? 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:45.440 And he's like, Well, actually, I was baptized uh a couple months ago by me, and I totally forgot. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:48.320 That's like a terrible pastor move right there. 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:57.119 And we're standing in the water in front of everybody, and I he's like, and honestly, I just fell away after that day, and I just feel like I want to recommit. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.599 And it's this really powerful moment. 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:04.639 I was like, buddy, you actually don't need to get baptized again. 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:13.920 But what we can do in this moment is you can bring who you are to Jesus and invite him to do a fresh work today. 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:28.800 And so we spent time in front of everyone praying together, and where he uh allowed his heart before God and to confess and to bring all that he was and allowing God to do a fresh new work. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:31.119 And so, do you need to be baptized over and over again? 00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.800 Absolutely not. 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.880 No, not in the least. 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:44.480 And so baptism is this public declaration and standing of what has happened, like the wedding ceremony up front. 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:55.599 It is this uh, you know, um public um representation of what has happened inward for you, then communion. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:37:00.159 If baptism is like the wedding ceremony, communion is like the wedding ring. 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:07.199 Communion is in the wedding ring, the wedding ring reminds me consistently of the commitment that I made to my wife. 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:13.360 The ring is always here to remind me of, yeah, I said yes to her. 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:35.679 It reminds me of the wedding day, it reminds me of of all the things that we've said and cherished over the years, and we partake in communion in much the same way as something that we do consistently, regularly, to remind us of what Jesus has done for us, to center our hearts and our lives back on Jesus. 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:44.320 And the way the Apostle Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 6, he said it this way: For I receive from the Lord what I also pass on to you. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:54.000 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you. 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:57.119 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:03.280 In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:06.719 Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:12.320 For whenever you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:15.280 So we get baptized once, we take communion consistently. 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:17.679 Here, we do it at least every month. 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:42.719 And to remember, to remind ourselves of what Jesus has done, to remind ourselves that he is our first love, to remind ourselves that he has done the work so we no longer need to work our way to him, that you're fully forgiven and redeemed, to remind yourself that you're a saint, learning how to be a saint. 00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:46.880 That's why we partake in communion together. 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:52.079 And then he goes on and gives us some instructions about how we're to take it. 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:56.239 And I want us to really apply his words. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:07.840 He said, So then, whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, in a casual manner, will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.199 So, what would we do? 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:13.760 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat the bread and drink the cup. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:20.559 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:30.000 See, these are just symbols reminding us, just like my ring, of the work that Jesus did and accomplished. 00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:38.960 And before we partake in these symbolic acts, the sacred moments, we're gonna stop and examine. 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:50.239 Shamina's gonna sing a song, and I want you just to stop and go, Heavenly Father, is there anything in me that's not of you? 00:39:52.079 --> 00:40:05.599 Before I step and remind myself of your body broken for me, your blood poured out, the new covenant that I might be free and forgiven. 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:10.239 Is there things in me that I just need to confess to bring to you? 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:15.039 Your forgiveness flows freely, your grace pours unconditionally. 00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:25.440 So I just want to take a moment, would you allow those songs just to wash over you, and then we're gonna partake in the elements all together in just a second. 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:34.639 But would you take time to examine your heart and life and bring to him, and he'll meet you there, and he'll forgive you and wash you clean. 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:39.360 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:44.559 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:47.039 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:53.119 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.