Woodland
Hills Church of Christ
|
|
|
Sunday, July 9, 2006 Volume 50, Issue 26 WHY BE BAPTIZED? Many times people do good things for bad reasons. This is especially true in spiritual matters. Some people do good works, but they do them "to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5). Paul even referred to some who "preached Christ" with out sincerity (Phil. 1:15-16). It is very important that in religious matters we ask ourselves; "Why am I doing this?" Following are six Bible answers for the question; "Why be baptized?" First, because Jesus commands all men everywhere to hear, believe, and be baptized. Our Lord instructed; "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. " (Mk. 16:15-16) When considering this command we should never forget that Jesus is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9). Second, because we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ in baptism. According to Romans 6:3-6, baptism pictures his death, burial and resurrection. We die to the love and practice of sin, are buried with him in water, and then arise to "walk in newness of life." Third, because it is one of the conditions for remission of sins. When the apostles preached the first gospel sermon following Christ’s resurrection, they told those who asked, "What shall we do?" to "Repent and be baptized everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:36-38). Thankfully, about 3,000 souls, "gladly received the word and were baptized" (Acts 2:41). Fourth, because it was a part of the New Testament conversions described in the book of Acts. A good study might be to look at the role of baptism in the following conversions: the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost, the Samaritans, Saul of Tarsus, the Ethiopian, Cornelius and his household, Lydia and her friends, the jailer and his household, and the Corinthians. Fifth, because we cannot be saved outside of Christ. He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn. 14:6). Salvation is in none other (Eph. 1:3). Thus Paul instructs; "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). Sixth, because baptism gives one "the answer of a good conscience toward God." (1 Pt. 3:21) In this context Peter shows how that Christian baptism is a true likeness of the deliverance of the eight souls who were saved in Noah’s day. The flood waters separated between the old world of wickedness and the new, cleansed world. Baptism marks the dividing line between the old life of sin and the new life in Christ. It is because of this change that our conscience can truly "rejoice" (Acts 8:39). See You in Bible Class Sunday,
JOIN US FOR A THE PARABLES OF JESUS Week #5 - July 12th "The Prodigal Son" (See The Bulletin Board For More Details)
ROSS RHAPSODY Vego’s
Verse:
FAMILY NEWS OUR SICK/HOMEBOUND WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS MEMORIALS NEW ADDRESS BABY BOY CRIB SHOWER OUR RECORD POWER LECTURES SERVICE GROUP ASSIGNMENTS SERVICE GROUP RETURNS SUMMER SERIES HONDURAS
A GREAT CHAPTER As one studies Matthew 16 he will find many things that make this chapter truly great. The hub of this chapter would have to be verse 18 where Jesus promises to establish that glorious institution known as the church. Following are five things around this grand event that make this chapter of God's word great. First, there is the greatest question ever asked. Jesus posed this great question in verse 13 when he asked: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" This matter is of importance because he was asking them about the fact of his incarnation. They needed to know that this one who was "equal with God" had taken "upon him the form of a servant" (Phil. 2:6-7). The answer to this greatest of all questions is essential for the salvation of our souls. The eternal fate of billions hinges on what Jesus asked nearly 2,000 years ago as he walked the coasts of Caesarea Philippi. That makes it the greatest question ever asked. Second, there is the greatest confession ever made. After Jesus asked his question, they responded by saying: "Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." But then Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter by asking them again, "But whom say ye that I am?" And then Simon Peter answered correctly in verse 16: "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." Jesus wants us to know that the answer to the greatest question ever asked if the greatest confession ever made. Paul would later affirm the same fact by writing, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2:9). The fact of "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person" (Heb. 1:3), makes this the greatest question ever asked. Third, there is the greatest blessing ever pronounced. This blessing is spelled out in verse 17 where our text goes on to say, "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Here Jesus Christ pronounced a blessing upon all of mankind. The greatest blessin we could ever ask or want is to be a member of Christ's church. And he was giving this blessing upon the confession that Peter had just made. Peter said, "You're God in the flesh." And Jesus said, "that's right, and because of it I'm going to build my church." And the blessing of the church is so important that it has been in God's plan from all eternity; "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. 3:10-11). The greatest blessing ever pronounced can be enjoyed by you if you will be baptized into Christ and as such become a member of the church he built (Acts 2:41-47). Fourth, there is the greatest assurance ever known. This assurance is that Christ will build his church, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This greatest of all assurances was realized when Jesus was resurrected from the dead. There simply was no power in the universe that could have stopped Jesus from coming forth from the dead. And this is important because if he had not been raised from the dead, the church would not have been established. Romans 1:4 also states this greatest of all assurances when it says "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Fifth, there is the greatest promise ever made. Listen to this promise from verse 19: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This lets is know when we read the words of the Bible that they did not come from the mind of men. They were already bound in heaven by the power of God. The greatest promise is that God has not left us alone to find out way. Through this word he has shown the way. And 2 Peter 1:3 says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." That is why the Bible can say in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Truly Matthew 16 is one of the greatest chapters in holy writ! See you in Bible Class Sunday,
|
