Getting in

Matthew 28:16-20

(Baptism and Obedience)(Baptism and Obedience)

Tupperware “evangelism”

● ● What a simple ritual…getting dunked! I What a simple ritual…getting dunked! I can do that!can do that!

● ● A human dips me in the river…God does A human dips me in the river…God does his work of grace…I rise to walk in a brand his work of grace…I rise to walk in a brand new life!new life!

● ● Here is where I put my signature on the Here is where I put my signature on the New Covenant, as Jesus signed it at the New Covenant, as Jesus signed it at the cross.cross.

● ● Once in Christ I’m to obey him too. That’s Once in Christ I’m to obey him too. That’s what a disciple does…follows and obeys.what a disciple does…follows and obeys.

What can you expect will happen if you get baptized as a What can you expect will happen if you get baptized as a believer?believer?

• Jesus: Jesus: Make disciples, baptizing them. (Today’s text)Make disciples, baptizing them. (Today’s text)

• Peter: Peter: Repent and be baptized, washing away your sins. Acts 2:38Repent and be baptized, washing away your sins. Acts 2:38

• Jesus: Jesus: Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Mark Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:1616:16

• Ananias to Saul: Ananias to Saul: Get up and be baptized, washing away your sins. Get up and be baptized, washing away your sins. Acts 22:16Acts 22:16

• Peter:Peter: Baptism now saves us, not the removal of filth from the Baptism now saves us, not the removal of filth from the flesh, but as a pledge.flesh, but as a pledge.

IT IS BEST TO LET THE BIBLE IT IS BEST TO LET THE BIBLE EXPLAIN BAPTISMEXPLAIN BAPTISM

WE DON’T DEFINE BAPTISM BY WE DON’T DEFINE BAPTISM BY READING ALL OF THE VERSES READING ALL OF THE VERSES ABOUT GRACE AND BELIEVINGABOUT GRACE AND BELIEVING

I listened to my father. I listened to my father. (Listening represents (Listening represents hearing, taking words to heart and obeying.)hearing, taking words to heart and obeying.)

I went to the doctor and now I am feeling better. I went to the doctor and now I am feeling better. (I talked to the doctor, followed his orders and (I talked to the doctor, followed his orders and took the medicine he prescribed.)took the medicine he prescribed.)

This is called Synecdoche. This is called Synecdoche. When we use a ‘part’ of a process to ‘represent’ When we use a ‘part’ of a process to ‘represent’ the entire process.the entire process.

Sometimes one word is Sometimes one word is used to represent an used to represent an

entire process. entire process.

But if we use the part to But if we use the part to define the entire process, that define the entire process, that

is is distortion.distortion.

BelieveBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. be saved. ConfessConfess me before others and I’ll confess you me before others and I’ll confess you before my Father in heaven.before my Father in heaven. Unless you Unless you repentrepent you shall all perish. you shall all perish. Follow me.Follow me.

ONE WORD ONE WORD IS IS OFTEN USED TO OFTEN USED TO REPRESENT THE REPRESENT THE

ENTIRE ENTIRE PROCESSPROCESS OF OF BECOMING A BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.CHRISTIAN.

No one word No one word captures captures the entire process of the entire process of

becoming a disciple of becoming a disciple of Jesus. It can only Jesus. It can only

represent the represent the processprocess..

An act of remembering An act of remembering what the trully important what the trully important

matters of life are.matters of life are.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

HearHear the Jesus Story. the Jesus Story. Romans 10:17Romans 10:17

BelievingBelieving that Jesus is who he claimed to be. that Jesus is who he claimed to be. Acts 16:31Acts 16:31

ConfessingConfessing our belief in Christ. our belief in Christ. Matthew 10:32Matthew 10:32

RepentingRepenting of our old ways. of our old ways. Luke 13:3Luke 13:3

Getting baptized Getting baptized as a pledge, thereby receiving the as a pledge, thereby receiving the benefits of the New Covenant…including the Holy benefits of the New Covenant…including the Holy Spirit, Eternal Life, Forgiveness and becoming a Spirit, Eternal Life, Forgiveness and becoming a Partner in Kingdom work. Partner in Kingdom work. First Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38 First Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38

THERE ARE CRUCIAL ELEMENTS IN THERE ARE CRUCIAL ELEMENTS IN BECOMING A DISCIPLE OF JESUSBECOMING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

OUR DUTY REGARDING NEW OUR DUTY REGARDING NEW BELIEVERS: BELIEVERS: “TEACH THEM TO OBEY “TEACH THEM TO OBEY ALL ALL

I HAVE COMMANDED YOU”I HAVE COMMANDED YOU”

While we were yet While we were yet sinners Christ died sinners Christ died for us.for us.

There is therefore There is therefore now no now no condemnation for condemnation for those who are in those who are in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus.

If anyone is in Christ If anyone is in Christ they are a new they are a new creation.creation.

Jesus accepts us Jesus accepts us as we areas we are

We proclaim him, admonishing and We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone…so that we may teaching everyone…so that we may present everyone complete in Christ. present everyone complete in Christ. Colossians 1:28Colossians 1:28

Let us leave the elementary teachings Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity… about Christ and go on to maturity… Hebrews 6:1Hebrews 6:1

But he expects us to grow, mature But he expects us to grow, mature and become more like Himand become more like Him

FaithfulnessFaithfulness means more than means more than keeping faith.keeping faith.

FaithfulnessFaithfulness is a term used to is a term used to describe one who has kept his trust, describe one who has kept his trust, fulfilled his word and performed the fulfilled his word and performed the ministry assigned.ministry assigned.

THE DUTY, JOB, SERVICE, WORK OF A THE DUTY, JOB, SERVICE, WORK OF A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE IS TO HELP FAITHFUL DISCIPLE IS TO HELP

OTHERS BECOME DISCIPLES TOO.OTHERS BECOME DISCIPLES TOO.

Jesus entrusted Jesus entrusted the Gospel to the church …the Gospel to the church …Christians.Christians.It is his only plan It is his only plan for calling the world to for calling the world to himself.himself.To be considered faithful To be considered faithful to God, believers must to God, believers must help others put their feet on the Jesus Trail and help others put their feet on the Jesus Trail and assist them in ‘growing up’ in Christ.assist them in ‘growing up’ in Christ.

SUMMARY:SUMMARY:

PRAYER & PRAISE

● ● What a simple ritual…getting dunked! I What a simple ritual…getting dunked! I can do that!can do that!

● ● A human dips me in the river. God does A human dips me in the river. God does his work of grace. his work of grace. I rise to walk in a brand I rise to walk in a brand new life!new life!

● ● Here is where Here is where I put my signature on the I put my signature on the New CovenantNew Covenant, as Jesus signed it at the , as Jesus signed it at the cross.cross.

● ● Once in Christ I’m to obey him too. Once in Christ I’m to obey him too. That’s That’s what a disciple does: follows and obeys.what a disciple does: follows and obeys.