WEBVTT 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.199 Okay, we're church full of first this morning. 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:17.440 I've got a microphone because uh some people were struggling to hear what was going on, so we've got a microphone uh this morning. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:41.759 Um and um I'm gonna uh talk uh in the series of uh foundational uh teachings that we started right back at the beginning, where we're just talking through what is it as a church that we believe and and how does that help us as as Christians to walk in truth uh with Jesus. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:50.960 Is it it will we hope? 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.359 That's work I worked before. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.920 Do I need to restart? 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:29.359 It should just go, shouldn't it? 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:42.879 Okay. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:48.640 There we go. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:49.920 Fabulous. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.480 So yeah, we're talking about baptism, uh, baptism in water. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:58.400 So we I think we already talked about baptism in the spirit, or is that coming? 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:01.280 Yeah, you did baptism in spirit, didn't you? 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:03.519 So this is baptism in water. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:11.439 Um and uh I want to start with reminding us of the Great Commission. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:29.039 Uh so Jesus was with the disciples uh as he ascended into heaven, and he said this so the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus told them to go, and when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:36.319 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:54.639 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:14.080 So this is Jesus, his command to the disciples as he left them to go to be with uh the Father in heaven, was to uh take the authority that he had been given and go and make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:20.479 So that is the essence, isn't it, of what Jesus had has commanded us to do. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:24.639 So we better know what baptism is then, hadn't we? 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:37.840 So the Greek word baptizo means to dip, plunge, immerse or submerge, and it comes from the root word bapto, which means to dip into a fluid. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:49.199 And in ancient Greek outside of the Bible, um, it described everyday actions like sinking a ship or dyeing cloth by fully soaking it. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:57.680 And the core meanings is to immerse or submerge, to completely cover or plunge something into water or another liquid. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:18.399 Uh, it also had that meaning of washing or cleansing, uh, to purify or bathe through the application of water, or it could also refer to being fully overwhelmed, completely caught up, consumed or flooded by an experience, an influence or suffering. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:25.360 And so I think you know what this word is talking about is is being immersed in water. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:41.199 And and so as we examine uh New Testament passages, we'll see that this description of baptism is invariably referring to believers who heard the message and believed and were baptized. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:54.879 And so our position as a church would be that we would want to have a believer's baptism, so we believe in adult baptism where somebody has declared their faith in Jesus and then we baptize them. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:14.399 Um and you know, we understand where uh the church in the past has has had uh empathy, if you like, for lots of infant mortality in in days gone by and the comfort that christening would provide to parents who who might have lost a child. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:21.920 But we do believe that biblically baptism was always something which followed a declaration of faith. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:26.560 They believed, they received the message, and they were baptized. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.160 So, how important is it? 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:39.519 Well, as we've just started off with, Jesus included that in his great commission to the church, to his disciples, as we just read at the start. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:44.800 It was really an expectation for all new believers in the church. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:52.560 Uh, in at Pentecost there were 3,000 new believers, and Peter had a clear instruction for them in Acts 2. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:06:04.240 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:13.360 The promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:20.480 With many other words, he warned them and he pleaded with them, save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:29.360 And those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.879 What a glorious day. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:39.680 What a glorious day! It'd be nice, wouldn't it, if we had some mass baptisms uh here in Worksworth. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:50.879 So, one other example, um this is Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:57.439 Uh, Philip, if you remember, ran up to the chariot of the eunuch as he was travelling home. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:09.600 Uh and uh and he was reading Isaiah, and he he asked Philip, Tell me please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else? 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:16.240 And Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:22.800 And as they travelled along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:26.079 What can stand in the way of my being baptized? 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:33.519 And he gave orders to stop the chariot, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:42.879 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:48.160 So again, it's a story, isn't it, that refers to going down into the water. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:54.480 It was a body of water that they came to, it wasn't a water bottle that he fished out from his backpack. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:04.480 Um, but yeah, wonderful that the the spirit had instructed Philip to go and talk with this uh believer. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.959 I wanted to talk about Cornelius and his household because they were the first Gentile believers. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:31.680 It's fortunate that we can inherit that that blessing of uh Paul coming, uh Peter sorry coming to uh Cornelius' household and seeing the work of the Holy Spirit in that in that family, in that household. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:37.279 And while he was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the message. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:47.360 And the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles, even on Gentiles. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.200 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:09:01.600 And Peter said, Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water, they've received the Holy Spirit just as we have. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:08.639 And so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and then they asked him to stay for a few days. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:25.759 So, as an example, the first Gentiles who received the Holy Spirit and were baptized in Jesus' name, and then one more um example, this is Paul talking about his encounter with Jesus. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:39.039 So after he met Jesus on the road, if you remember his sight was blinded by the light uh of Jesus, and this is his description of what happened after that. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:46.159 He said that uh Ananias came and stood beside me, saying, Brother Saul, receive your sight. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.919 And at that very moment I was able to see him. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:10:01.840 Then he said, The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the righteous one and to hear words from his mouth. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:07.600 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:17.039 And now, what you're waiting for, get up and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:28.879 So again, um clear instructions following his his belief, his his revelation of Jesus, and that's what happens to each one of us, right? 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:40.159 For each one of us, the Holy Spirit comes and reveals Jesus to us, reveals our need for Jesus, reveals our need to have our sins washed away. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:45.360 Okay, so why? 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.200 Why is it so important? 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:54.720 And we've referred already to the washing, the washing away of our sins, but not just simply with water. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:11.919 Um don't know whether Ray was uh was reading from Revelation 7 earlier on, but uh there's a passage in Revelation that uh that talks about um those who are dressed in white, the multitudes. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:25.360 After this I looked, and before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:36.960 They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:48.879 And all the angels were standing around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, Amen. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:57.360 Praise and glory, and wisdom, and thanks, and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:58.320 Amen. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:04.480 And one of the elders asked me, These in white robes, who are they and where did they come from? 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.039 And I answered, Sir, you know. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:12.159 And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:17.120 They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.159 And that's the glory of our salvation, isn't it? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:28.559 That we have had our dirty robes washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:37.679 So we can stand before the throne and praise our God without without feeling that shame. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:51.519 As we're baptized, we put on Christ, we become a new creation, a child of God. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:57.919 And Galatians 3 talks about this clothing uh with Christ. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:02.799 So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:08.399 For all of you who are baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:15.200 So as we baptized, as we're baptized, we're we put on Christ, we're clothed with him. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:18.080 So when God looks at us, he sees his son. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.399 What a wonder that is. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:27.759 There's neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you're all one in Christ Jesus. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:36.000 If you belong to Christ, then you're Abraham's seed and you and heirs according to the promise. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:46.080 So that's another of the joys, if you like, of uh baptism that we can put on Christ. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.639 I think trying to get some work. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.840 Yes. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:09.440 Another part of baptism is the symbolism of death of being associated with Christ's death and his resurrection. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:28.720 Um and it it it reminds us that we're our old slave to sin is buried with Christ, and our new body is raised to life in Christ, and we're free to choose a path that's less focused on me and more focused on loving Jesus and others. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.679 And we read about that in Romans 6. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:40.000 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:54.320 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead, through through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:05.039 For if we've been united with him in death, like his, in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:14.399 For we know that our old self was crucified with him, so that the body ruled by sin may be done away with. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:21.679 That we no longer be slaves to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:30.559 So that's again the beauty of the symbol, if you like, symbolism of baptism, that as we go down into the water, we're buried with Christ. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:37.519 Our old self has died, and we're raised to newness of life in Christ Jesus. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:44.879 Another reason why it's important is testimony. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:52.480 So it's a testimony, it's an opportunity for testimony to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit in us. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:59.679 It's an opportunity to share our faith with our family and friends who do not yet believe. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:15.360 And again, quoting from Revelation, um I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:21.120 For the accuser of our brothers and sisters who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:27.519 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:33.679 So testimony is important in the spiritual battle that we're all engaged with. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:43.279 Um and and baptism is a way of us declaring our faith in Jesus to those who might yet not know him. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:17:02.159 Um I don't know how many of you picked up on this, but uh the BBC had a little news item about hundreds of people gathering on the south coast on on a beach to see um, I think it was probably about a hundred people being baptized thereabouts. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.759 Um so this mass baptism made the news. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:20.720 Um I I don't know how many people have seen it, maybe 20% of adults in this country now know that this young lady has given her life to Jesus and was baptized in the sea. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:35.359 So we might not make BBC news with our baptism, but for those who witness it, our testimony to the difference Jesus has made in our life can be very moving. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:41.680 We can start them thinking about what does it really mean to be a Christian, to follow Jesus? 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:50.640 Big question Is baptism essential for salvation? 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.839 And I guess our answer is no, right? 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:59.759 Because salvation is by faith and not works, and that must surely include baptism. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:12.960 The thief on the cross in Luke 23, Jesus said to him, Um, he said to Jesus, Remember me when you come in your kingdom, and Jesus answered him, Truly today you'll be with me in paradise. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:23.519 He wasn't baptized, but he had faith in Jesus, he recognized who Jesus was, he accepted Jesus as king of the kingdom of heaven. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:34.000 And our justification takes place at that point of saving faith, not at the point of baptism, which might occur later. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:39.599 Um of course, not by obeying a law, not by circumcision. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:47.440 So nothing that we do affects our salvation, nothing that we do can gain salvation. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:56.240 Uh as uh as Neil is so fond of saying, it's Jesus plus nothing, Jesus plus nothing. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.960 Um that's what saves us. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:06.160 And in Galatians 2, we read, we who are Jews by birth, not sinful Gentiles. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.519 Interesting, isn't it? 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:15.599 How how Gentiles were viewed amongst early Christians, Jewish Christians. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:28.880 So we who are Jews by birth and not sinful Christian Gentiles, know that the person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:39.440 So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:46.160 Because the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:53.519 So again, it's not it's not that we have to do something in order to gain salvation. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:20:00.079 Um is that one. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.559 So should I be baptized? 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:12.480 Yes, if you want to receive from God the gift of faith, if if you have received from God the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:21.759 Yes, if you want the joy of identifying with Christ in his death and resurrection to a new life, free from slavery to sin. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:38.400 Yes, if you want to share the joy of your salvation and testify to the love of God and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and yes, if you want to be obedient to Jesus' commands. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:51.440 And I guess, you know, there might be some who who are reluctant, and it's always good to remember that if ever there was a person who didn't need to be baptized, it's Jesus. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.680 The spotless Lamb of God, pure and sinless. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:59.039 And yet he went to John to be baptized. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:06.400 And John said to him, Um I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:10.559 And Jesus replied, Let it be so now. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:14.400 It is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:35.359 And Jesus consented, and as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water, and at that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him, and a voice from heaven saying, This is my son, whom I love. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.400 With him I'm well pleased. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:46.559 And I think that's what happens for us as well as we are baptized, and we come up out of that water, and God says, This is my child. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.920 This is my child. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:54.480 I love him, I love her, and I am pleased with our obedience. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.920 Let's close with prayer. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:16.960 Lord Jesus, thank you for this ordinance that you gave to us. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:32.400 That as we believe, as we believe the message, the glorious message of your gospel of grace, we can be baptized, we can wash away those sins. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:46.720 We can associate Jesus with your death, with your burial in those waters, and with your resurrection to a new life. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:23:02.400 Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity that baptism can give for us to witness to your grace and your love. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:23.759 And Lord, we just pray, we pray that you would, Lord, bless us with many baptisms in this church, Lord, that we would see many people hearing the message, believing the message, and coming to faith in you, Lord Jesus. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:29.119 Would you reveal yourself to the people of Worksworth Town, Lord? 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:37.359 Would you, Lord, reach out and reveal yourself? 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:50.400 Thank you that your that that salvation is through that saving grace. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:55.920 That recognition of our need for a Saviour. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:13.200 And Lord, we just ask, Lord, if there's any who um who are inquire have inquiring minds that would you draw them to yourself in Jesus' name. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.039 Okay. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.039 Thank you so much. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:23.440 And of course, if anybody wants to be baptised, we will be baptising people. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.160 Thank you. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.160 That's great teaching, isn't it? 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.759 And a reminder, actually. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:40.480 Um it reminds me of my own baptism Matlock some years ago, and I love a baptism service because it's such a celebration, and we've really celebrated sand baptism and matlock and many others. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:54.640 Um, and yeah, there's a pool at Matlock that we do baptise in, but we were just discussing recently um with the sort of leader, small leadership team here about baptisms in anticipation of many to come here at Wordsworth. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:56.240 And you know, how would we do that? 00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:13.680 We don't have a pool, so um, we were just considering how that might happen because we want it to happen here in Wordsworth, so it would probably be in a some sort of pool, outside, on the terrace, maybe all of us overlooking, and so we just look forward to that day, don't we? 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:22.079 Where many are gathered to celebrate um a baptism or several baptisms, especially after the Alpha that's going to happen soon. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:29.039 Um, and if anybody here hasn't been baptized and it's stirring something up in you, do come and talk to us at the end. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:33.599 Have we got time for one more song? 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:46.400 Because the first one you did amazing was wonderful, and I think it'd be a lovely way to wrap things up today just to come together and worship one more time, and then we can have coffee and croissants and yeah, a bit of ministry. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:52.480 Don't forget also that those people wearing a lanyard, the blue lanyard are.