41 then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day
they were added unto them about three thousand souls. I just want to
bring to your attention just want to take out of that straight away is that
those that gladly received the word were baptized. Okay baptism is a something
that we ought to be glad about something that we ought to rejoice about these
people that heard the gospel were glad to be saved were rejoicing and then what
did they do they were baptized one of the things you're going to notice
immediately from the scriptures is that as soon as someone is saved they are
baptized right and and it should be a time of glad rejoicing a time you know
that this is why I wanted to get out here today to celebrate the baptisms
that are going to be done we want to rejoice we want to be glad with the
people getting baptized and it ought to be a time of rejoicing the rain is not
going to let us down the rain is not going to put a damper on the day we're
going to be glad as we see the baptisms take place okay but some of the things I
just want to point out is the question is where did baptisms begin right what
was the origin of baptism because we don't see baptisms in the Old Testament
okay obviously in the New Testament John chapter 1 verse 6 to 7 it says there was
a man sent from God okay we're talking about John the Baptist here a man sent
from God why was he known as John the Baptist because he was the first to
start the baptism you know he started to baptize people he was known as the
Baptist and the reason why we're a Baptist Church by the way is because we
continue that same practice that we saw from John the Baptist we're a Baptist
Church we baptize people okay but he was sent by God this isn't something he just
decided to do this was something that God had for his ministry sent by God and
then in John chapter 1 verse 32 to 33 it says this is after John the Baptist
baptized Jesus it says here that John bear record saying I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him speaking about Jesus
and I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water okay so not only
was John sent for a ministry but he was sent by the father to baptize with water
that was his task that was his job the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt
see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizes
with the Holy Ghost so in the baptism of Jesus we see the Trinity take place
there we see Jesus going into the water we see the Holy Spirit descending like a
dove and we see even the Father having spoken to John the Baptist says hey the one
that you see that you know that the Spirit descend upon that's the one that
I've sent that's that that's the Messiah and it was John the Baptist's
job not just to baptize believers but surprising to him he was to baptize
Jesus Christ and so obviously you know those that teach that baptism is
required for salvation it's it's or to wash away your sins immediately just the
fact that Jesus was baptized shows you that baptism does not wash away sins
because Jesus had no sins to be washed off right but Jesus Christ came remember
he came as a man he came to set an example for us okay and so we ought to
follow in his steps we ought to follow in his steps and so Jesus came showing
us the example of baptism in obedience to the Father okay and also to to to
just justify is probably the wrong word but I'll just say that to justify the
the ministry of John Baptist because that was the occasion that John was
waiting for was where he was baptized in all these thousands of people at the
river but he was waiting for the Messiah to come to be baptized to that to be
baptized so what does baptism represent okay obviously we're here at the lake
because because we're not just going to sprinkle someone we're getting sprinkled
right now in the rain that's not why we've come here okay but what does
baptism represent obviously we dunk someone into the water we immerse them
into the water what does that represent Romans 6 chapter 1 to 6 says what shall
we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound you know just
because we're saved and it's not by cleaning up our life just because we're
saved and it's not by repenting of our sins does that mean we should continue
sinning the Bible says you know God forbid how shall we that are there to
sin live any longer therein no you're not that's that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death okay so baptism
is an is a representation or is an image of being baptized into his death okay
therefore we are buried by him with baptized baptism into his death the
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so
even so we also should walk in units of life and so baptism just does represent
his death but it represents his resurrection okay and his resurrection
that's that likeness is also as we ought to walk in units of life okay so not
only are we identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ but when we
are baptized and that's the first step of obedience okay in the scriptures
we'll see that people got baptized immediately after they were saved
because it's that first step of obedience it's that first step of what
walking in units of life okay so yes it represents a definitely on resurrection
but he represents hey I'm going to walk in the newness of life I'm going to walk
in the spirit I'm going to do what I can to follow the Lord and obey his
commandments then it says in verse 5 4 if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection
knowing this that our man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be
destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin okay so the moment you're saved
is the moment that your body of sin was destroyed okay as far as God is concerned
that body has been destroyed the moment we're sinned because we have the new man
we've been regenerated we've been born of the Spirit we're a new creature okay
but when we do the baptism we are just publicly demonstrating that that has
already taken place in our life okay so just those two things what does baptism
represent number one it represents a public identification identifying with
the death bearing of resurrection of Christ but number two it represents that
first step of obedience walking in units of life publicly showing the church hey
I'm going to strive to walk in the Lord I'm going to strive to grow in the Lord
I'm going to strive to learn more to have the wisdom of God that's found in
the Bible I'm going to walk in the spirit so it's those two things that
baptism represents now what about the method of baptism method of how should
we baptize okay what is the correct way well we spoke we already mentioned that
baptism is a picture of the burial right so that should immediately tell you how
baptism should take place okay but just for further clarification in Colossians
chapter 2 verse 12 the Bible says buried with him in baptism so the baptism is a
burial okay buried with him in baptism wherein also you were risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God who have raised him from the dead
okay so always pay attention to those being buried being raised that's what
baptism represents and so immediately should come to mind that those that pour
or those that sprinkle usually little children and that's what that's what
they call baptism you immediately just know that's incorrect right because how
do we bury people when someone passes away we put them in the grave what are
we doing where we're burying them in the dirt we're burying them in the earth are
we not their whole body is going to the into that earth Jesus Christ in his
grave the stone was covered okay his whole body was covered when he was
buried when Jesus Christ was buried okay so baptism ought to represent a burial
okay so in what way does pouring or sprinkling represent burial it doesn't
right when you've got a body and it gets buried do we just sprinkle dirt on it
and done that's it we're done you know do we just pour a little bit of dirt on
top of that body and we're done no that body is completely immersed six feet
under normally if you have the traditional burial in the cemetery and
that's what baptism ought to represent but water represents the dirt or the
earth and so your whole body should be covered completely and brought back up
out of that dirt so that's the that's the method of baptism another one here
in Matthew 3 13 the Bible says then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto
John to be baptized of him but John forbade him saying I have need to be
baptized of thee and cometh down to me and Jesus answering said unto him
suffer it be so now for that's become of us to fulfill all righteousness and he
suffered him and Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the
water pay attention to those words and went up straightway out of the water so
where was Jesus Christ when he was baptized if he came out of the water
that would mean he was in the water right he was in the water they didn't
just come to the lake to the shore and just sprinkle a little bit of water on
Jesus Christ he was in the water which meant he had to come out of the water
okay and lo the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and lightning upon him and lo a voice from heaven
saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased so again the fact that
he came out of the water represents means that he was in the water and you
don't need to go into the water to be sprinkled okay you don't need to go into
the water just to be a little bit poured you can do that anywhere any little bit
of water will satisfy those things so the facts that they went into the water
will only make logical sense if they were completely immersed into the water
okay John 3 23 and John also was baptized in Enon near to Salem because
there was much water there and they came and were baptized so the Bible tells us
there's a reason why John went to this letter to this river because there was
much water there okay get that into your mind there was much water there and
that's why we've come here because there's much water here okay if you're
going to sprinkle someone you're going to pour water upon them you don't need
much water okay you just need a cup of water you need a little bit of water so
it only makes sense again if you're going to immerse someone in baptism you
need a place of much water to do it okay and so it should be so obvious and I
said this in my very first sermon on our first day of our first Sunday is that
even in the Greek you know that word baptism means immersion okay the Greeks
who read the New Testament in the original language they knew what it
meant okay and that's why the Roman Catholic Church had that split with the
Greek Orthodox Church one of the issues being over the topic of baptism because
they knew what they were doing were wrong sprinkling children but again they
still got it wrong because they're immersing children and and by the way
another thing they do wrong is when they immerse children I don't know if
you know this but they do it like three times they do it like they do once twice
and three times and the way they think about it is well you know I'm baptized
in the name of the the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit right but
what does baptism represents it represents the burial death burial and
resurrection of Christ how many times did Jesus die three times no just once
right so you just do the baptism once and you're done with okay so while the
Greek Orthodox kind of got it right that it's immersion late they still messed it
up they're doing it three times and they still messed it up it's not for children
but we're going to that shortly well it's not for babies I should say we're
going to that shortly so the next question is well when should we be
baptized when is the best time to be baptized and the answer is immediately
or as soon as possible as soon as possible acts 836 and as they went on
their way they came unto a certain water and the eunuch said see here is water
what doth hinder me to be baptized so this eunuch if you know the story met
with Philip and he had questions about the Bible he didn't understand what he
was reading Philip explained the gospel to him he and he must have explained
baptism otherwise this eunuch would be asking what's that you know wouldn't be
asking about baptism right because it's not in the book it's not in the Old
Testament he was reading the Old Testament what does hinder me to be
baptized and Philip said if they'll believe us with all thine heart thou
mayest so first of all what's the gospel if they'll believe us it's faith on
Christ and if you do that thou mayest okay you're allowed to be baptized once
you believe on Christ once you've put your faith on Christ that's the only
criteria of baptism someone that's saved someone that's believed on Christ
is eligible for biblical baptism okay they don't need to go through a 12-week
course on the fundamentals of the faith all they need to know is salvation by
grace through faith and not it works that's all they need to know they don't
need to go through you know be at their life ought to be analyzed okay because
remember what does baptism represent it represents the newness of life and what
I find sometimes some pastors will say well I'm not going to baptize this
person until I see a pattern of good works in their life but hold on baptism
is the first step all right of the newness of life so why are you asking
something from them when they haven't done step number one right it's
ridiculous and then the other criteria is that some people say well if children
get baptized you'll see some pastors say well I won't baptize them till they're a
certain age you know if they're 10 or 12 or 15 or whatever age they have but
that's in disobedience to the screen I'll get into that later on but what we
see in scriptures is that as soon as someone believes they are baptized if
they'll believe us with all thine heart thou mayest and he answered and said I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God he didn't say I believe Jesus Christ
is the Father it's like Jesus Christ is the Spirit I said Jesus Christ is the
Son of God and he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went both into
the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him again if it's sprinkling
why would you need to go into the water okay we go into the water because it
represents the death burial and resurrection of Christ and when they
would come out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the
eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing and he had one thing I
forgot to mention is that my preferred method of baptism not just the immersion
but is going backwards because when you bury someone you bury them on their back
right so it's backwards so you know first of all when you stand up that's
the crucifixion Christ was crucified on the cross that's when you're standing in
the water then when you're buried you're going back buried right and then raised
in his resurrection back up again okay now if you've been baptized and you know
I think Alice it was telling me he knew someone that was got that got baptized
like head first like that way I mean look as long as you know he was immersed
I'm not saying that's an invalid baptism it's it's it's unusual it's strange but
I wouldn't go head first I mean what if you give him concussion head first like
that some people might have been baptized just by like kneeling into the
water you know and having their head completely covered and they brought up
again I don't think any of that's invalid as long as you're being baptized
by immersion and you're a believer that's fine some people do that like
some people kind of do that kneeling and down if they don't have a lot of water
they might like have a bathtub or something so they don't have the room to
put a whole body backward and back so you know it's fine as long as you're
being immersed the same way that a burial immerses that dead body but yeah
we're talking about being baptized as soon as possible or immediately act 16
verse 14 and a certain woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the city of
Thyatira which worshiped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened and she
attended unto the things which was spoken of Paul and when she was baptized
and her household she was sought us saying if we have judged me to the
faithful if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come into my house
and abide there and she constrained us so we see this example of Lydia in
Thyatira when she heard the preaching of Paul when she you know she was already
someone that worshiped God I believe she was really saved as far as the Old
Testament she probably didn't know yet of Jesus Christ but she came Paul came
preaching Jesus Christ and of course those were that was saved in the Old
Testament would have automatically received Christ the Savior right because
they were already saved under the Old Testament a way which was still looking
at Christ but when she heard that heard about baptism she was baptized
immediately we see that okay acts 18 verse 7 and he departed thence and
entered into a certain man's house named justice one that worshiped God again
this is another person that worshiped God like Lydia did I believe this person
was already saved but he worshiped God whose house joined hard to the synagogue
and Christmas the chief ruler of the synagogue I'm sorry this now talking
about Christmas we're talking about different person and Christmas the chief
ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house and many of the
Corinthians here in believed and were baptized okay so they believe they hear
the Word of God they trust Jesus as a Savior and they're baptized okay now
also this takes place another one in acts 812 in Samaria it says and when
they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and
the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women okay both
men and women so baptism is for everybody male and female man and woman
and by the way one of the reasons why some of the Protestant churches and
maybe the you know Catholics and all that one of the reasons they baptized
children or baptized babies I should say is because they liken it to circumcision
and if you remember in the Old Testament on the eighth day if you were a male
Hebrew child you'd be circumcised and so they have this idea that baptism
represents circumcision whereas in the Bible baptism actually represents the
death be a resurrection of Christ right so that's why they they baptized babies
but who were circumcised was it the was it just the was it the boys and the
girls no circumcision was just for the boys right so if it pictures circumcision
in that sense then only men would be baptized do you say that but the thing
that you know that I want to take out of here is that baptism is for men and
women because it pictures the death bear and resurrection of Christ which is for
all Jesus Christ did that for the whole world and so baptism is for everybody as
long as you have believed on Christ and of course is act 16 one of our favorites
verse 30 to 33 and brought them out and said sirs what must I do to be saved and
they said be baptized no baptism is not required for salvation and they said
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved in thy house and
they spake unto him the word of the Lord and and to all that were in the house
okay and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and
was baptized he and all his straight way so here's an example of being baptized
the same hour the same hour they believed the same hour they heard the
gospel preached not just the Philippian jailer but his whole house believed on
Christ and were baptized that same hour now this was at night so I don't know
where you know same hour of the night I don't know if they were they just they
found a light I mean Dorothy if you concerned about being cold it'd be much
colder feels like nighttime but we see that taking place even even in the New
Testament they were baptized in the same hour of the night so you know I I was
saved I think I told you guys I was saved when I was four but I got baptized
when I was I think I was 21 okay I was in really early 20s I can't remember
exact how old I was I was 20 or 21 so that's like 16 or 17 years after being
saved and the reason the reason I just wasn't a baptism was not explained well
to me I didn't really understand what he meant I I was saved and I was at a
Baptist Union Church and as you know a lot of these churches don't teach like
the meat of the word it's very vague very shallow you don't really learn
anything you know but I was afraid that if I got baptized I was afraid if I got
baptized that God was going to send me as a missionary in the middle of Africa
and that's why I didn't get baptized you know my parents would say would be
asking oh you know you ready to get baptized like nah I don't want to go to
Africa I don't I don't want to go there I want to go you know you know who knows
die of hunger get eaten by a lion get get killed by the tribal people that's
what I was thinking right I was thinking God's gonna send me to Africa when all
this time he was sending me to the Sunshine Coast you know there was no
need to delay it but yeah you know that's wrong we should be baptized
immediately and to be honest with you because it represents that newness of
life I really didn't start growing I didn't mature much as a believer until I
got baptized it wasn't till I got baptized where I really started to learn
and grow in the Lord not that I didn't grow before but it was just a very slow
process it was until I got baptized and got serious where my growth started to
you know take off as a Christian yeah and I mentioned about how children can
be delayed sometimes because people want to say well so there's some concern well
you know I don't want to baptize children because what if they're not
really saved you know what it what if what if because you know it should
follow salvation but again how hard is salvation it's it's believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved so there's some concern by pastors out
there that I don't want to baptize children I'll wait till they're old
enough like the twelve where they can really understand where I can have
assurance that they really understood the gospel you know I've had an
opportunity to see them grow in the Lord then I'll baptize them and they've got
this fear of someone being baptized by accident but we see in the scriptures
there's nothing to worry about there's nothing to be fearful of you know in the
book of Acts 19 Acts 19 verse 2 to 5 we have Paul journey in and he's he comes
across these disciples and he asked the question it says here in verse number 2
he said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since he believed and they
said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost
so these guys weren't even saved they're like you know Paul's asking that you
know have you received the Holy Ghost since you've been saved since you've
been lived they're like we haven't even heard I wouldn't know we don't know what
you're talking about what's this Holy Ghost and he said unto them unto then
were you unto then what unto what then were you baptized and they said unto him
unto John's baptism so these disciples were baptized by John the Baptist okay
now John the Baptist was baptized in thousands thousands of people were
coming to him and he was baptized in thousands so it's no surprise that
amongst those thousands there are some of those that did it out of you know out
of a just oh everyone everyone else is getting baptized let's get baptized as
well you know maybe they thought it had some special spiritual power upon them
they didn't realize that they had to believe on Christ and be baptized and
then in verse 4 then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptism of
repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on him we should
come after him that is on Christ Jesus when they heard this they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus so it sounds to me they weren't even that
familiar with Jesus Christ maybe they've heard of him but they didn't recognize
that the baptism represented the death bearing resurrection of Christ they
didn't have a full understanding of what that baptism represented and so John
said how you got to believe on him they do and then they're baptized again okay
so what we learned from this and I believe God gives us these little
stories they're just to answer some of these you know heresies that get taught
you know just the things people believe falsely it's like God always has a
little story there you know to to to clarify the misunderstanding but let's
say hypothetically a child you know we believe they're saved they get baptized
and then later on we find out they really weren't saved well nothing to be
worried about you know they just get baptized again when they are saved
that's all the first time they just got a little wet they got wet that they got
they had a little swim in the river a little swim in the lake that's it and
they get saved they get baptized again what's the big deal hey at least do
things you know scripturally we see people get baptized immediately we
should encourage people to get baptized as soon as possible don't delay that
that's unbiblical because you're trying to fit something in your mind you're
trying to justify something but just do it by faith if that person says I've
believed on Christ then baptize them if you later on you find out they weren't
saved well baptize them after they get saved big deal you know I'm not
concerned about them getting baptized you know a second time I'm more
concerned as why they believe they were saved before you know when they got
baptized I'd be more concerned about that you know why you know do they hear
a false gospel being taught why do they believe incorrectly I'd be more
concerned about that because that's what their salvation is based on you know
salvation is not based on whether you get dunked in the water or not okay so
there's no fear in baptizing children okay there shouldn't be any reason to
delay baptism more than required the next point I want to bring up is that
baptism is not a requirement I already mentioned this a couple times but it's
not a requirement for salvation now the first reason for that just very easily
we've got over a hundred Bible verses that it's by faith alone you know we've
got so many scriptures John 3 16 for God to love the world that he gave his only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have
everlasting life you know Titus 1 2 in hope of eternal life which God that
cannot lie promised before the world began so eternal life is received
through faith okay we have over a hundred verses in the Bible you know if
baptism was a requirement for salvation then all these verses would be a lie
you know God is a God that cannot lie okay we have a book full of Bible
verses by faith alone on Christ's death and resurrection if anything else was
required for salvation then all those verses would be a lie okay but we know
those verses aren't a lie because God cannot lie okay in hope of eternal life
which God that cannot lie promised before the world began Ephesians 2 8
you know for by grace are you saved through faith you know it's not for by
grace are you saved through baptism and faith you know it's by faith and when I
John you know John 6 47 Jesus says verily verily what does that mean truly
truly you know I'm not lying to you says Jesus I'm telling you the truth this is
the truth I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life
now if baptism was required for salvation can Jesus say verily verily
can you say truly truly no that would make Jesus a liar okay and Jesus is not
just telling us the truth but he is the truth I am the way the truth in the life
no man cometh unto the Father but by me says Jesus Christ okay so just
immediately just all the verses that it's by faith alone all of that
reinforces the fact that baptism is not a requirement for salvation but some of
the verses that people use to teach baptismal baptismal regeneration or
salvation through baptism one of them is is acts chapter 2 and we had that we had
Calum read that for us before in verse 37 to 38 it says now when they heard
this remember the preaching that was being had to the to the Jews and when
they heard this when the Jews heard this they were pricked in their heart
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall
we do that's a really good question what shall we do okay then Peter said unto
them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost okay it's a
good question what shall we do I'm glad they asked that question they were
pricked in the hearts they realized they crucified their Messiah and now they're
like what do we do we've you know we've killed the one that God sent to save us
what do we do what shall we do is the question now before I answer that one
Matthew you might remember this will out soul winning and I brought up acts 16
verse 30 to 31 of course and brought them out and said sirs what must I do to
be saved and they said believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved in thy house so the question in acts 16 I was preaching this door to
door with Matthew to this Pentecostal guy and I got to act 16 what must I do
to be saved believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and he goes yeah but that's not
enough what about the other question just like it you know in acts 2 what
shall we do that's what we're talking about what shall we do and I had to
point out to him but hold on acts 16 is what must I do to be saved whereas in
acts 2 it's just what shall we do right there are two very different questions
though they might cover some of the similar topics like you know think about
it like this if my kids woke up in the morning and said dad dad what must I do
because they're homeschooled what must I do for school and I'll be like well not
me but Christina will be like well you know you got your math you got your
English you got your history you must do those today right before you can go out
and play okay that's what you must do to this school but what if the kids woke up
in the morning said you know mom dad what shall we do okay is that a specific
question no it's very broad it's a very open question what shall we do I'll be
like kids read your Bible do your you know we're getting to do summarize every
chapter of the Bible they read you know have your breakfast brush your teeth do
your homeschooling do your chores I'm glad you're asking that question kids
and I'll give you everything that you should do obey your parents okay but you
can see how that's a very broad question it's a very good question but it's a
very broad question it's not a specific question whereas in acts 16 very
specifically what must I do to be saved okay so what is salvation believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ and I shall be saved now if someone came to me and said you
know as a Christian or as a new believer or someone that you know wants to be
saved and ask the question what shall we do I'd answer all these things as well
hey you know believe repent turn from your unbelief believe on Christ yeah be
baptized read your Bibles go to church pray confess your sins to the Lord you
know what more you know what shall we do is a broad question lots of things but
all those things required for salvation no right the only one is the repent turn
from your unbelief and believe on Christ so these people that use this verse to
teach baptism as a requirement for salvation are taking a very broad
question and applying it to a very specific question whereas that answer is
in acts 16 verse 30 and 31 okay that's number one number two the other thing
I'll say well hold on it says here in acts 2 verse 38 then Peter said unto
them repent so that's turning from your unbelief and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Christ of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so they
say well see to have your sins remitted of to have your sins removed from you
you have to be baptized for the remission of sins see but here's the
thing in English the word for can be used in two different ways the first way
is a pre position okay a pre position for for the purpose of that's a pre
position for the purpose of so if you read the four here in that pre position
a way of understanding this word for then yes that would be saying that to
have your sins remitted of you need to get baptized you know you need to get
baptized to have your sins taken a taken away with for taken away from because
that's the purpose of it the purpose of having baptism is to get rid of your
sins but for can also be used as a conjunction okay for God so love the
world that's a conjunction it's joining something that was there before that's
because of because of and so if we use for in the conjunction way of reading it
it will say be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ because of
the remission of sins because you've repented because you've believed on
Christ because you're saved because your sins have been remitted of then get
baptized okay so it's the way you read the four and you say well how do we know
which one it is Kevin do we just take your word for it that it's the
conjunction for and not the pre position for well no because we just compare
scriptures scriptures right acts 1043 says to him to him give all the prophets
witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission
of sins so how do we receive remission of sins whosoever believeth in him not
whosoever is baptized so we know when we go back to Acts chapters 2 to have the
remission of sins is a conjunction because of they believed they've had the
sins remitted of and because of that they can be baptized okay so they take
that passage they take those words out of context and out of the the right
grammar that it should be read in but the other one they turn to is mark
chapter 16 mark 16 verse 15 to 16 and he said unto them go into all the world
this is another part this is another passage about the Great Commission go
ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature he that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be
damned and they say see verse 16 it says he that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved and they think we have a problem with that I don't have a problem
with that I believe and I've been baptized I'm saved right many of you
have believed and have been baptized and are saved we're not saying that baptism
takes away your salvation of course not of course not he pictures what you've
believed the death be a resurrection of Christ but the second part is what
clarifies it for us but he that believeth not shall be damned so what
damns you to hell believing not okay so what's going to give you eternal life
believing okay and if you get baptized guess what you're still saved it's true
you know you could say he that believeth and goes to church shall be saved he
that believeth and reads his Bible shall be saved he that believeth and sits down
on cardboard boxes shall be saved of course it's the belief that saves you
okay but if you believe not then that'll be what damns you okay so please don't
get tricked into these people trying to take these passages and making it seem
like they've got one up you you know but it's easily explained and we believe
that if you're baptized of course you're saved why wouldn't we think you lose
your salvation after baptism you know but just to reinforce that baptism is
not a requirement thank God for the Sun thank God for the Sun but just to
reinforce and the best one to turn to is first Corinthians I'll get you to turn
there if you've got your Bibles first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 11 first
Corinthians chapter 1 verse 11 it's a little bit hard with the wind first
Corinthians chapter 1 verse 11 it reads for it had been declared unto me of you
my brethren so Paul is right in here to the brethren to the church in
Corinthians okay now this is this is such a bad church you know if some of
these church in some of these IFB churches had the attitude they have back
then they'll say these people are definitely not saved but I just want you
to realize that Paul calls them my brethren okay because he knows they
believe the gospel we have been declared unto you my brethren by them which are
the house of Chloe that there are contentions among you okay so this
church has contentions don't be surprised when there's contention don't
be surprised where's arguments in fact it's probably a good thing sometimes
because people that are zealous and passionate guess what they're gonna get
into arguments from time to time it's okay okay contention happens okay but we
shouldn't stay arguing and fighting we should always bring trying to bring
peace among brethren anyway that's not my point but there are contentions among
you now this I say that every one of you that say if I'm of Paul and I've
Apollos and I have Cephas and I have Christ so we have some in the church
saying hey I belong I I align myself with the teachings of Paul I'm of Paul
I'm of Christ you know I'm of Apollos I'm of Cephas and by the way all these
people Paul Apollos Cephas I believe that's referring to Peter all these guys
are great men of God you know it's not like they're following some false
prophet they're actually following and listening to great men of God and then
some say I'm of Christ so are you following a man I'm following Christ you
know like I'm more holy than you are kind of this idea but all these men are
there to set an example in the church anyway you know verse 13 is Christ
divided was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the name of Paul
you know who am I did I die for you you know were you baptized in my name no in
the name of the fathering of the Son of the Holy Spirit okay and then he says in
verse 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you you know they're like oh
thank God I have nothing to do with you I didn't baptize you you know yeah it's
like Paul's as tired as contention is fighting you know he realizes it's just
a man why why do you put me up so high in a pedestal I'm so glad I didn't do
any of that you know but Christmas and Gaius so he but he baptized none of them
except Christmas and Gaius lest any should say that I have baptized in my
no name and I baptized also the household of
Stephanos besides I know not whether I baptized any other so he goes like I
baptized Christmas Gaius the household of Stephanos who knows I mean that are
maybe less than 10 people in his whole ministry maybe Paul's baptized less than
10 people okay he had other people doing the baptizing for him and then in verse
17 for Christ sent me not to baptize okay is baptism a requirement of
salvation is baptism part of the gospel for Christ sent me not to baptize but to
preach the gospel how can he breathe if baptism is part of the gospel and
remember Matthew that same guy we're talking about when he asked me well
that's that is that all the gospel is the death and resurrection of Christ
doesn't know you got more as baptism no yeah I should have turned here for I
should have turned there I didn't think about it but for Christ sent me not to
baptize but to preach the gospel so baptism is not preaching the gospel
baptism is something that comes after you've preached the gospel after
someone's believed the gospel it's not part of the gospel message it's not part
of your salvation not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ be made
of none effect okay so what I take out of that I'm not sure if this is the
correct interpretation but what I take out of that is if you have baptism as
part of the gospel as part of salvation then the cross of Christ should be made
of none effect then it hasn't had you know you haven't been saved if you're
putting baptism because that's it that's just a work you know that you ought to
do so you again you're adding kind of works or you're adding a a practice to
salvation rather than just faith alone okay now if someone says well hold on
you know the gospel that's not salvation you know you need more than the gospel
to be saved but what does Romans 1 16 say for I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ why for it is the power of God and to salvation to everyone that
believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek so salvation the power of
salvation is through the gospel to everyone that is baptized no not
baptized everyone that believeth right very clearly taught in the scriptures
and the best example the one I love the most and this one this is the one I
always use for those that teaching works or those that are teaching baptism for
salvation is obviously the feet from the cross I've already read this one in a
previous sermon but Luke 23 42 and he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when
thou comest into thy kingdom and Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee
truly I say unto thee today shall thou be with me in paradise right now this
thief on the cross all he did was put his faith on Christ Lord remember me and
Jesus is verily truly today shall thou be with me in paradise beautiful words
you know what a way to go into your death you know hearing those words
amazing like he would have been just moments away from dying and going to
hell and his eternal destiny changed like that you know he couldn't do works
he couldn't get baptized just faith on Christ promised to be in paradise with
Jesus Christ what an amazing promise I did have a couple of other things but I
think I'll leave it there thank you for being patient and thank you for you know
putting up with the weather I think you know God's come through for us so we're