Elements City Church
All great moments of connection have actions of celebration. Tonight we gather to celebrate people professing their faith in Jesus through following him in baptism. A public display of allegiance and affection for Christ. An act of obedience that Christ modeled and called us to do and an ordinance of the church from the beginning. Baptism is worship. Baptism is a declaration we can not save ourselves. Baptism is our pledge to rest in the life, death and resurrection of Christ alone. Baptism is worth celebrating!!
We all mark special days and decisions in unique ways and with special practices. Whether it’s an anniversary, a wedding, a graduation, a promotion or other occasions.
Tonight, we lean into the practice of baptism. The beauty of baptism is what I want us to lean into for a few minutes and then we’ll worship our mighty God as we celebrate baptisms in the midst of song tonight
THINK BACK:
How did Jesus commence His ministry?
(His baptism by John) *see Matthew 3:13-17
How did Jesus conclude His Ministry?
-(His commissioning of his disciples to baptize future followers).
*see Matthew 28:18-20
Baptism is unnecessary to go to heaven == but it is a big deal.
This is a holy event. Baptism is not to be taken lightly. It’s a willing plunge of the body and soul into the promises and power of Christ.
*Christians participate in 2 God-ordained sacraments that celebrate what God has done for us: communion and baptism.
Baptism is the initial and immediate step of obedience by one who has declared his faith in Christ to others. So important was this step that, as far as we know, every single convert in the New Testament was baptized. With the exception of the thief on the cross, there is no other example of an unbaptized believer…
Baptism is an act of worship
Baptism is a reminder that we cannot save ourselves
3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. -Romans 6:3-6
When Jesus offered up his life, the Scriptures declare that God chose to take all the sins of the world, every one of our sins - past, present and future, and laid it on Jesus at his death. And he was crucified and he died. Three days Jesus conquered over death and he rose again.
God says to every one of us: You're in trouble and you cannot fix your problem.
If you will come to terms with the fact that you're in trouble and that you're on death row, I will allow you to claim my Son's death for yourself; so that when you die, I attribute the righteousness of his death to you so that your sins, although they are still a part of you, I do not see and they have been made right not by the works which you have done but by the work my Son has done for you.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Baptism publicly announces that we are not ashamed of Christ
It’s declaring that you choose him, as you live securely in the fact that He chose you first.
We love because he first loved us. -1 John 4:19
Baptism is a picture of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and us trusting in Him for our salvation and renewal.
It’s like a wedding ring = an outward sign of an internal commitment made.
Baptism is one of the ordinances Jesus modeled to us and asks us to do, as we follow Him. It does send a message to the Church family - of your personal decision and now your purposeful direction in faith as you follow Jesus. It is not a ritual for salvation, but it is an act of obedience Jesus asks us to do - to declare our allegiance to him before others. (Acts 2:32, 8:12, 8:36; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Galatians 3:23-29).
Tonight we worship our Great God who is still in the business of transforming lives with his grace, rescue and redemption. We celebrate people going public with their faith in Jesus!
Whether you joined us on-site or online, thanks for being with us tonight!
May you have a blessed week ahead friends.
Join us next week as we launch a new series in the Sermon on the Mount for the summer months. (read Matthew chapters 5-7)
Check out the Elements app for upcoming events, and we look forward to gathering again next weekend.