August 26 Sermon Synopsis

What does any of this Jesus stuff have to do with us?

A Jew from the beginning of the first century in a remote province of the Roman Empire, he lived a common life, nothing notable, living according to the customs of his people.

He started a movement (but history tells us that there were many movements at the time), he only led the group for about 3 years, and his followers took over for him.

He began his movement with a common practice called “baptism.”

He was convicted of trumped up charges in a “kangaroo court” that only sought to calm the political situation. He received the death penalty; was crucified as a criminal (a common practice) for political insurrection (King of the Jews).

His followers believed that he rose from the dead, and kept the movement going.

What does it have to do with us?
The answer, of course, is “everything.”

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus brings us close to God and makes possible eternal life. In Jesus, our sins are forgiven. That is a free gift – made possible through the sacrificial giving of Jesus’ life.

We can’t earn it, we can’t work for it, we can’t “do” anything to receive it, except “receive it.” That’s what we call grace – that great feeling we have when we are forgiven.

Have you ever been forgiven for something you knew you should be punished for? It’s a great feeling!

Some of the early Christians, it seems, liked that feeling so much, that they were tempted to sin just so they could feel forgiven. The Apostle Paul tells them, “Do you think you should go on sinning so that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1)

Of course, the answer is no. The sin in our lives should be dead. Our sin died with Christ and was buried and stayed in the grave when Jesus rose from the dead. We go through Baptism as a symbol that our sins are dead and we are alive with Jesus.

Perhaps you heard the story …
A little boy saw a baptism service for the first time.
“Why are they doing that, Momma?”
“They’re being baptized to show that they believe in Jesus and are going to heaven.”
Later that day, the boy became interested in the eternal salvation of his cats.
He filled up a large bucket in the yard and proceeded to “baptize” the cats. The little kittens submitted to immersion pretty well. The young cats were a bit more work, but he got them under the water. The larger cats he could only sprinkle, but that was okay. Finally, the old tom cat put up a big fight, it struggled, it clawed and finally it got away.
The boy went into the house, all scratched up. His mother saw him and asked, “What happened to you?”

“I got just about all them cat’s saved, but that old tom cat’s gonna stay an atheist.”

Fortunately, our salvation doesn’t depend on baptism. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward condition. It demonstrates our decision to accept Jesus, ask forgiveness for our sins and make every effort to live like Jesus would want us to.

Baptism is a decision that each person needs to make. Nobody can make it for you (and force you into the bucket – like baptizing a cat – I’m sure those cats didn’t want anything to do with baptism). Baptism is a personal decision.

We have 9 candidates for Baptism. It’s great to see young people who have given their lives to Christ and want to give their testimony and be baptized to show everyone their faith. This is a public profession of their faith; they are not ashamed of the Gospel.

Baptism by water, may wash off some dirt (the pond may add some dirt). It’s not a process that will clean us in any physical way. But the act of Baptism is a symbol that we have been cleaned inside, a cleaning that only Christ can give. Baptism doesn’t “save” us, but it is a public symbol and witness that we are forgiven, “saved,” clean.

BAPTISM TELLS THE GOSPEL STORY
In Baptism we identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:3-4: “Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.”

1. Down in the water (or covered with the water), the old life is buried.
Our baptism shows that our sins have died on the cross with Christ.

It’s a funeral service for our sins.

It’s natural to mourn when someone close to us dies. It’s okay to be sad at a funeral service. Grieving is a natural part of our existence. Our sinful nature is something very close to us, but our sins are something we should be glad to bury. We’ll miss them, but they’re gone – hopefully for good.

Sin is dead as far as we’re concerned. Don’t mourn that loss.

2. Coming out of the water (or the water passes, taking the contaminants with it), we rise leaving our sins washed away. (Mel’s Pond must be full of sins)

As Jesus rose from the grave, we raise out of the water – proclaiming our resurrection life, our new life, our eternal life.

Verse 8 tells us, “If we die with Christ, we also believe that we will live with him!”

We proclaim that we want to live in the new life with our Savior.

We also proclaim that we live in eternal life, the life that begins when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

PART OF A BAPTIZED BODY
Through Baptism, we proclaim our intention to be part of the church, the family of God, “Christ’s living body in this world.”

The Apostle Paul wrote much about “the body of Christ” – the church.
“We were baptized to form one body through one spirit.”

Christ wants everyone to be part of his body.

How do we become part of Christ’s body?
Believe, repent, confess your sins, and receive Christ.

Jesus must have a body that is clean, not so much on the outside, but certainly on the inside.

THIS IS OUR NEW LIFE – Alive to Christ.
Christ makes us feel alive

We have Christ in our life and we are a part of Christ’s body.

Are you still mourning the death of your sins?
Let them go.

Let Jesus make you alive – truly alive. He came to bring us life, and to bring it in abundance.

“Count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God”