Participants: Pastor Stephen Bohr
Series Code: CGC
Program Code: CGC000028
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01:12 Let's bow our heads for prayer.
01:15 Our heavenly Father, 01:17 what a joy it is to come into Your presence 01:21 to hear Your voice speaking to us 01:24 through Your holy Word. 01:27 We ask for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. 01:31 Teach us how to truly overcome 01:34 guilt and failure. 01:38 And we ask it in the precious name of Your beloved Son Jesus, 01:42 Amen. 01:44 We want to begin our study today by turning in our Bibles 01:49 to Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. 01:53 Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. 01:57 We read this verse before but now we want to read it 02:01 in a slightly different context. 02:06 Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. 02:11 We find the following words: 02:24 Now let's stop there. 02:27 "Let us make man in Our image according to Our likeness. " 02:32 How was man made originally? 02:35 He was made in the image 02:37 and likeness of God. 02:40 And by the way, if you read on in Genesis 1 and 2 02:43 you'll discover that both man and woman 02:46 were created in the image and the likeness of God. 02:52 Now notice also what we find 02:54 in Genesis chapter 1 and verse 31. 02:58 Genesis chapter 1 and verse 31. 03:02 This is the conclusion of creation 03:07 and we are going to be told what creation was like 03:11 when Jesus finished His work. 03:14 It says here in Genesis 1:31: 03:32 Everything that God made at creation was good. 03:37 There was not one taint of evil. 03:43 Every inclination of the heart of man was towards good. 03:49 He had a righteous holy nature 03:54 inclined only to good. 03:58 Now I want you to notice one further detail 04:01 as we examine the original condition of man. 04:05 Let's turn in our Bibles to Luke chapter 3 and verse 38. 04:10 Luke chapter 3 and verse 38. 04:13 This is the conclusion of the genealogy of Jesus 04:18 and we're told something here about Adam. 04:22 It says there in Luke 3 verse 38: 04:37 Very clearly Adam and Eve were created 04:42 sons and daughters of God. 04:47 And they were created good. 04:49 They were created in the image and likeness of God. 04:55 But now I want us to turn in our Bibles 04:58 to Genesis chapter 5 and let's read verses 1 to 3. 05:03 Genesis chapter 5 and verses 1 to 3. 05:08 There is a change in this passage. 05:10 By the way, this is after sin. 05:13 This is speaking about the birth of Seth, 05:16 who took the place of Abel whom Cain killed. 05:20 It says here in Genesis 5 and verse 1: 05:24 "This is the book of the genealogy of Adam 05:28 in the day that God created man. 05:32 He made him in the likeness of God. " 05:36 See, once again you have a repetition that man was made 05:38 in the likeness of God. 05:41 Verse 2: 05:42 "He created them male and female 05:45 and blessed them and called them mankind 05:50 in the day they were created. " 05:52 And now notice the difference of nuance in verse 3. 05:56 It says: 06:12 Now let me ask you: what is the difference between 06:15 Adam and Eve when they were created and Seth? 06:20 Very clearly, Adam and Eve were created in the image 06:24 and likeness of God 06:27 whereas Seth, the son of Adam 06:30 after Adam sinned, was born in the image 06:35 and likeness of his father Adam who had sinned. 06:40 There is a change in other words. 06:44 Now we need to understand that there is something wrong 06:48 with our first birth. 06:50 You see we all descend, accord- ing to the Bible, from Adam. 06:55 There's something wrong with our birth into the family of Adam. 07:01 For this reason Jesus says in John chapter 3 and verse 3: 07:18 By saying this, Jesus reveals the fact 07:21 that there is something wrong with our first birth. 07:24 There is something wrong with our birth from our mother. 07:28 And of course, our mother came from her mother 07:30 and her mother from her mother. If you go back far enough, 07:33 you end up with Adam and Eve 07:35 who sinned and transgressed against God. 07:39 So there is something wrong with our birth into Adam's family. 07:43 We're born into the image and likeness of the sinful Adam. 07:50 And by the way, the Bible makes it very clear that 07:53 there are only two families in this world. 07:55 There is the family of the first Adam... and by the way, 07:59 all of those who are born into the first Adam - whether you 08:02 like it or not - are children of the devil. 08:06 Whereas those who are born into the family of the 08:09 second Adam are children of God. 08:12 There is no middle ground. 08:13 You can't say: "I don't want to be a child of the devil 08:16 and I don't want to be a child of God. 08:18 I just want to be a child of my mother. " 08:20 It doesn't work that way. 08:21 You are either a child that is born into the family of Adam 08:25 or you are a child who is born into the family of God... 08:28 born again by a new birth. 08:32 There is something wrong - in other words - 08:35 with our first birth into the family of the sinful Adam. 08:40 We are born in his image and in his likeness 08:44 after he sinned. We are not born into this world 08:47 in the image and likeness of God. 08:50 We're born into the wrong family. 08:53 Now what do we get from this first Adam when we're born 08:57 from our mothers? Well the first thing that we get 09:00 is a sinful nature. 09:03 Notice what we find in the book of Ephesians 09:07 chapter 2 and verses 1 to 3. 09:10 Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 1 to 3. 09:15 Here the apostle Paul speaks about the condition 09:17 of those who are outside of Christ... outside the family 09:21 of Christ. It says in verse 1: 09:55 And here comes the key phrase: 10:06 By nature we are children of wrath 10:10 because we have been born into the family of the sinful Adam. 10:14 And unless we are born again we cannot see the kingdom of God; 10:19 we cannot enter the kingdom of God. 10:22 Notice also Psalm 51 and verse 5. 10:27 Psalm 51 and verse 5. 10:30 It tells us a little bit about what we inherit 10:33 from the sinful Adam. We inherit a sinful nature. 10:37 Notice Psalm 51 and let's read verse 5. 10:42 By the way, this is the Psalm where David is repenting 10:45 for the sin of adultery and the sin of murder. 10:49 It says there in Psalm 51 and verse 5: 11:03 According to the Bible we are born in sin. 11:07 We are born with a sinful nature. 11:10 We are born with a nature bent to evil. 11:13 In other words, we are born slanted towards evil. 11:18 We are born with a selfish nature. 11:21 We are born selfish. 11:23 If you don't think that we're born selfish, 11:26 just look at a little baby. 11:29 There's nothing more selfish in the world than a little baby 11:32 because in the world there is no one except for him 11:37 or for her. Little baby grows up... 11:40 two years old... they haven't reached the age 11:43 of accountability where they really understand yet 11:46 the consequences of their actions and the reasons 11:49 for their actions, and you know that they start 11:52 fighting over a toy. Why? 11:55 Because they have a selfish nature. 11:59 Because we are born with a selfish, sinful nature 12:02 slanted towards evil. 12:05 And then of course we grow up and we get married 12:07 and we start having marital discord and fights 12:11 because each one of us wants our own way. 12:15 In other words, we receive from Adam by nature selfishness. 12:21 And with this nature we cannot perform good. 12:25 Now listen to what I'm going to say. 12:27 We receive from Adam 12:30 a sinful nature. 12:31 In other words, we are born 12:33 in sin... singular. 12:35 But that sinful nature or that birth into sin 12:39 leads us to commit sins... plural. 12:44 In other words, our condition of sinfulness - our sinful 12:48 nature - leads us to commit sinful acts. 12:53 In other words, with our sinful nature with which we are born 12:57 we cannot perform the good. 13:00 It is impossible unless we are born again. 13:03 That's the reason why with our first birth 13:06 we are doomed. We cannot see the kingdom of God 13:09 and we cannot enter the kingdom of God. 13:11 It is impossible on the basis of our first birth. 13:15 So we receive from Adam a sinful nature 13:17 and then that sinful nature expresses itself in sinful acts. 13:22 And now by our sinful acts we become guilty of sin. 13:28 Notice what we find in Romans chapter 8 and verse 7 13:32 on what the sinful nature does. 13:34 You see the sinful nature expresses itself in sinful acts. 13:39 Romans chapter 8 and verse 7. 13:42 Here the apostle Paul says this: 14:03 The carnal selfish mind, the sinful nature with which 14:07 we are born, cannot be subject to the law of God. 14:11 It cannot obey the law of God. 14:13 Notice Romans chapter 7 and verses 18 and 19 14:17 which describes this same predicament. 14:20 Romans chapter 7 verses 18 and 19. 14:23 Here the apostle Paul says: 14:48 Does that describe your life? 14:51 At least at some stage of your life? 14:53 Have you ever had the experience where you just explode 14:55 and you say something. You say: "Now why in the world 14:59 did I say that? " You've never had that experience? 15:03 I've had it many times. 15:05 And I must admit that sometimes I still have it 15:08 because the Lord is still working on me. 15:11 I'm still a work in progress. 15:14 But what is it that leads me to commit that action? 15:18 It is the fact that I have what? 15:20 I have a carnal sinful nature 15:23 that expresses itself in acts of sin. 15:25 And I can decide that I want to do good 15:27 but I can't perform it. 15:29 I can decide that I don't want to perform evil 15:33 but I still perform the evil that I do not wish to perform. 15:38 In other words, from Adam I receive a sinful nature 15:41 that sins. And as the sinful nature expresses itself 15:45 in acts of sin, I become guilty of sin before God. 15:50 Notice what we find in Romans chapter 3 and verse 10. 15:55 Romans chapter 3 and verse 10. 15:58 And we read this in previous contexts, 16:00 but let's read it again. 16:02 Actually - probably - we have it memorized. 16:13 How many righteous? Not one! 16:16 And if you go on to verse 23 it says 16:18 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. " 16:22 How many people in this world have allowed their sinful nature 16:26 to express itself in acts of sin? 16:29 Every single person. 16:32 And if you say that you haven't, you just sinned 16:35 because you are a liar! 16:37 And outside the Holy City will be all liars. 16:41 We all have sinful natures 16:44 that have expressed themselves in acts of sin. 16:47 And therefore we stand guilty before God. 16:51 Notice Romans chapter 3 and verse 19. It says: 17:14 In other words, we all receive from Adam a sinful nature 17:18 that expresses itself in acts of sin. 17:22 When it expresses itself in acts of sin 17:25 we are guilty before God and we must keep our mouth shut 17:31 according to the apostle Paul. 17:32 And as a result of our guilt we must die. 17:38 Notice Romans chapter 6 and verse 23. 17:41 Romans chapter 6 and verse 23 17:44 and we'll read only the first part of the verse. 17:47 It says there: 17:58 So we receive from Adam a sinful nature 18:02 which expresses itself in acts of sin. 18:05 The acts of sin make us guilty before God. 18:09 And because we are guilty before God 18:12 the wages of our guilt is what? Is death. 18:17 That's the reason why in I Corinthians 15:22 it says: 18:27 And we're only going to read that part of the verse. 18:32 We're going to come back to that verse a little bit later on. 18:35 How many in Adam are subject to death according to scripture? 18:39 In Adam all die 18:41 because we all have a sinful nature 18:44 which has expressed itself in acts of what? Of sin. 18:48 And the wages of sin is death. 18:52 In other words, we are all on death row 18:57 waiting for the sentence to be executed upon us. 19:01 And we deserve it because we are guilty before 19:04 God's judgment bar. 19:07 Now notice Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 21. 19:11 Galatians chapter 5 and verses 19 to 21. 19:16 You know, we're born into this world slaves. 19:19 Do slaves have a right to inherit anything? No. 19:23 Slaves don't inherit. Who inherits? 19:26 Children. Sons. Yes. 19:29 Notice what we find in Galatians chapter 5 and verses 19-21. 19:35 Here the apostle Paul says the following. 19:38 He gives a list of sins and he says this: 20:13 It's not a complete list. 20:28 Now let's summarize what we've studied about 20:32 our relationship with the family 20:34 of Adam. First of all, 20:36 the Bible teaches that we are 20:38 all sons and daughters 20:40 of the sinful Adam. 20:41 Therefore we are in the image and likeness of the sinful Adam. 20:46 We inherit from him a sinful selfish nature... 20:50 the core of our being. 20:52 That sinful nature expresses itself in acts of sin. 20:57 We are born into Adam's family slaves. 21:01 And because we are slaves we have no right to inherit 21:05 anything other than the death which Adam and all of his 21:10 descendants deserve. We are all on death row 21:14 so we desperately need to change families. 21:21 Are you with me or not? 21:23 How many of you believe that we need to change families? 21:25 If you want to be saved, 21:27 you have to be born into a different family. 21:30 You have to be born into a new family. 21:33 Not into the family of the old, sinful Adam 21:36 in his image and likeness but into another family. 21:41 Now the question is: how do we change families 21:44 and what are those two families? 21:46 Go with me to Romans chapter 5 and verses 18 and 19. 21:50 John... not John... Romans. Did I say John? 21:55 Romans chapter 5 and verses 18 and 19. 22:00 I want you to notice here that the apostle Paul 22:03 is describing two Adams. 22:07 We find in verses 18 and 19... 22:09 I wish we had time to study the whole chapter 22:11 but we don't... It says in verse 18: 22:26 Did the sin of Adam have any consequence for us? 22:28 It most certainly did! It says here: 22:39 That's what we've been talking about. 23:09 How many Adams are there? There are two Adams. 23:12 We are born into which family? 23:15 The family of the first Adam. 23:17 Somehow, if we don't want to be condemned, 23:20 if we want to have life, we have to find a way 23:23 to be born into what? Into the family of the second Adam. 23:29 Because justification and life come through the second Adam. 23:34 We must be born into His family. 23:37 We must be born AGAIN! 23:40 The question is: how are we born again? 23:44 Well, let's go in our Bibles to Romans 6... 23:47 the very next chapter. 23:49 See, what the apostle Paul does is in Romans 5 23:52 he speaks about the two Adams. 23:55 He says we're all born into the family of the first Adam. 23:58 We're born slaves. 24:00 We're born in his image and likeness. 24:02 We don't have any right to inherit anything. 24:04 We're all on death row. 24:06 We're all condemned. 24:08 There's no hope for us 24:10 if we're born into the family of the first Adam. 24:12 But he says there's another Adam, 24:14 and this Adam... we can be born into His image and likeness. 24:17 We can be born into His family. 24:19 We no longer are slaves... we are children 24:21 and we have a right to inherit all things 24:23 if we're born into His family. 24:25 And now Paul in Romans 6 is going to say 24:27 "Do you want to know how you can change families? " 24:30 He's going to explain it. 24:32 Notice Romans chapter 6 and verse 3. 24:37 Romans chapter 6 and verse 3. 24:40 Here the apostle Paul is going to talk about 24:42 the ceremony that God has given us to change families. 24:46 The official adoption ceremony. 24:48 Notice Romans chapter 6 and verse 3: 25:06 Let me ask you: why did Jesus die? 25:08 What did Jesus pay for by His death? 25:13 What did He pay for? 25:15 He paid for sin. How many sins? 25:18 He paid for all of the sins of the world when He died. 25:21 Now when I'm baptized 25:23 I am what according to this verse? 25:27 Once again it says: "Do you not know that as many 25:30 of you as were baptized into Christ Jesus 25:32 were baptized into His death. " 25:35 In other words, when I am baptized 25:37 God looks at me as if I had died with Jesus on the cross. 25:42 And because Jesus died for all of the sins of the world 25:45 if I died with Him 25:48 the result is that all of my sins are what? 25:52 All of our sins are paid for 25:54 because when Jesus died on the cross He paid for all sins. 25:58 So if I died with Jesus on the cross 26:01 my sins were crucified along with Him. 26:05 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 26:07 This is wonderful! When I'm baptized it means 26:10 that God looks at me and He says: 26:12 "You should have been on that cross 26:13 but because you're baptized you are recognizing that Jesus 26:17 was nailed on that cross and I reckon you nailed on that cross 26:21 with Him. And I don't punish the same sin twice. 26:24 I punished them in Him. " 26:26 In other words, folks, what baptism does 26:29 is that it includes us in the death of Jesus. 26:34 It incorporates us into the death of Jesus 26:37 so that the Father looks at Jesus and He says: "Oh, 26:40 You died for sin and he was baptized. 26:43 And when he was baptized I reckoned him dead with You 26:46 on the cross... so he also died to sin. " 26:49 Now let me ask you: is this good news or what? 26:52 This is wonderful news! 26:53 Now notice what the apostle Paul continues saying 26:56 in Romans chapter 6 and verse 4. 26:59 "Therefore we were buried with Him... " Notice... 27:04 "through baptism. " It doesn't say like Him. 27:06 It says we were crucified with Him. 27:10 It says we were buried with Him how? 27:14 "through baptism into death" 27:18 Now let's stop there for a moment. 27:19 We were baptized into His what? His death. 27:24 In other words, when Jesus was crucified, when He was buried, 27:27 when I'm baptized God looks at me as being 27:31 crucified and buried. 27:32 God reckons me as being in Him. 27:35 I'm accepted in the beloved. 27:38 God looks upon me as if I had never sinned 27:41 because Jesus bore those sins in my place. 27:44 When I am baptized, in other words, I am incorporated 27:48 into what Jesus Christ did. But the news is even better. 27:52 You see, what Jesus did on the cross 27:54 was to take my guilt away. 27:57 He paid for all of my sins. 28:00 And when I am baptized, all of that guilt that Jesus bore 28:03 on the cross now is put to my account. 28:07 His righteousness is put to my account. 28:09 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 28:11 So the guilt that I receive from Adam is gone. 28:14 But you say: "I still have that sinful nature 28:16 that expresses itself in acts of sin. 28:19 What do we do about that? " 28:20 Well, let's go back to Romans chapter 6 and verse 4. 28:24 Let's read once again from the beginning of the verse. 29:12 In other words, what Jesus did on the cross 29:14 has a double blessing for us. 29:17 First of all, when Jesus died 29:19 on the cross He took care of 29:21 all of the guilt of the sins 29:23 that I have ever committed. 29:24 But secondly, when Jesus was 29:26 raised from the dead by the power of the Father 29:30 Jesus - who now lives - is able to give us power 29:34 to overcome the sinful nature 29:37 which we have received from Adam. 29:39 We receive a double blessing. 29:40 We are saved from the guilt of sin 29:42 and we are saved from the power of sin. 29:46 In other words, at baptism what God does is 29:49 when we are buried in the waters of baptism 29:52 God the Father looks at me and He says: 29:54 "I don't look at your sins any more because Jesus 29:56 took those sins to the cross. " 29:58 And also when Jesus died and resurrected 30:02 and I am baptized the Father says: 30:05 "Look, that Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead 30:09 now that you are coming forth from the watery grave 30:13 that same Spirit is going to give you power 30:15 so that sin will no longer enslave you. " 30:19 Now I want you to notice a couple of other verses 30:22 that speak about this double blessing. 30:24 Go with me to John chapter 3 and verses 5 and 6. 30:29 Here Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus. 30:31 John chapter 3 and verses 5 and 6. 30:35 Here Jesus says to Nicodemus: 31:01 What must we be born of? 31:03 We must be born of the what? Of the water 31:06 and of the Spirit. 31:09 What does the water do? 31:11 The water buries our guilt. 31:13 What does the Spirit do? 31:15 The Spirit gives us power in our lives to overcome 31:19 the sinful nature. 31:21 Now go with me to Acts chapter 2 and verse 38. 31:25 Acts chapter 2 and verse 38. 31:28 Here we find another reference to the double blessing 31:31 of baptism. Here Peter is speaking and he says this: 32:04 So at baptism God gives us a double blessing. 32:07 First of all, all of the sins that we have ever committed 32:11 are reckoned placed on Jesus 32:14 and they no longer are held against us. 32:17 God looks at us in Jesus. 32:20 He looks upon us as if we had never sinned. 32:23 He gives us a blank page. 32:26 He gives us the righteousness of Jesus. 32:29 The moment of baptism, in other words, is the moment 32:32 in which my sins are reckoned nailed to the cross 32:37 with Jesus. But God does more! 32:40 I mean if God just forgave my guilt and left me with the 32:42 unaided sinful nature I would continue committing what? Sin. 32:47 And that wouldn't do any good. 32:49 I would continue accumulating guilt. 32:51 So at baptism God buries my sins. 32:54 He buries the guilt but He gives me a power 32:57 with which I can overcome what? 33:01 I can overcome sin. 33:02 Now one problem that I've found with people is that they 33:05 tell me: "Well Pastor, you know 33:07 I know that the Bible says that when I'm baptized 33:10 God erases the past basically. He doesn't hold anything 33:14 that I've ever done against me. I know that that's true 33:17 but I just don't feel that God has forgiven me. " 33:21 Let me tell you folks: feelings have nothing to do with this. 33:25 We need to accept by faith that God says that when we are 33:30 baptized He reckons our sins buried with Jesus, 33:34 nailed to the cross with Jesus, 33:36 and that He's pouring out His Spirit upon us. 33:39 We need to accept it not because we feel it 33:42 but because He says it. 33:45 In other words, we need to live by faith. 33:48 We don't live by feelings... we live by faith 33:51 and trust in His word. 33:54 Now I want you to notice the blessings that we receive 33:57 when we are included in the second Adam. 34:00 You see, baptism is the incorporation ceremony 34:03 into the second Adam's family. 34:06 See, I'm born the first time from the first Adam. 34:08 That's my first birth. 34:10 Can't see the kingdom of God; can't enter the kingdom of God. 34:13 It's impossible. 34:14 But when I'm baptized, that's the official adoption ceremony. 34:18 When I'm baptized, that's the moment when I'm born 34:21 into the second Adam's family. 34:23 Now the sins that I've committed are buried in the water. 34:28 In other words, the guilt that I receive from Adam is gone. 34:32 Secondly, the sinful nature which expresses itself in sin 34:36 is overcome through the Holy Spirit 34:39 that is given at the moment of baptism. 34:41 But there's more. Notice Galatians 3:26-27. 34:47 Galatians chapter 3 verses 26 and 27. 34:51 You know, this is a wonderful thing that we're able to join 34:54 the family of Jesus, the family of the second Adam. 34:57 The family of the saved. 34:59 The family of those who will have everlasting life. 35:02 Notice Galatians chapter 3 and verses 26 and 27. 35:07 It says here, and we've read this before in another context. 35:12 It says: 35:21 What do we become through faith in Christ Jesus? 35:24 We become what? Sons of God. 35:27 What must we have been before? 35:29 Sons of Adam, of course. 35:32 Are we saved in Adam? 35:34 No... we're lost. 35:36 Now notice what it continues saying... 35:38 OK, we're sons of God by faith 35:41 but is there something that we need to do to express our faith? 35:44 Yes. There's an official ceremony. 35:46 It says in verse 27: 35:57 How do we become members of the family of the second Adam 36:02 Jesus Christ? It is by faith. 36:04 But we show our faith by being what? By being baptized. 36:09 And by the way, when we're baptized 36:11 we become sons and daughters of God. 36:15 Notice what we find in the book of Galatians 36:20 chapter 4 and verse 6. 36:22 Galatians chapter 4 and verse 6 36:25 where the apostle Paul is continuing the argument 36:27 of the passage that we just read 36:28 from the last couple of verses of chapter 3. 36:31 It says in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 7: 36:34 "Therefore you are no longer a... " What? "a slave 36:39 but a son. " In other words, when we're incorporated 36:44 into the family of Jesus we are no longer slaves 36:48 but we are what? We are sons. 36:51 And do you know what we become? I've mentioned this before. 36:53 When we are baptized into Christ we become brothers and sisters 36:57 of Jesus. Isn't that wonderful? 37:04 Now is Jesus the Son of God? 37:06 So what happens if I'm His brother or His sister? 37:11 We have the same Father. 37:13 See? Adam isn't our father any more. 37:17 Our father is God. 37:19 We are brothers and sisters of whom? Of Jesus. 37:22 In other words, we are incor- porated into the family of God 37:25 and we become brothers and sisters of Jesus. 37:30 Now, do we have a right to inherit all things? 37:35 Absolutely. Notice what it continues saying in Galatians 37:39 chapter 4 and verse 7. 37:41 Galatians chapter 4 and verse 7. 37:43 "Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son. 37:47 And if a son, then... " What? 37:52 "an heir of God 37:55 through Christ. " 37:57 In other words, do we have 37:58 rights of inheritance? 38:00 Will we inherit eternal life? 38:02 Will we inherit the kingdom? 38:03 Will we inherit all good things? Yes we will... 38:07 because we're not longer slaves, we're sons. 38:10 The guilt has been buried. 38:11 The power has been overcome. 38:14 We are sons and daughters of God brothers and sisters of Jesus. 38:18 How important is baptism? 38:20 Listen folks, it is the official adoption ceremony. 38:24 It is the transition between our old family 38:28 and our new family. 38:30 Notice what we find in Romans chapter 8 verses 16-17 38:35 on this same issue of inheritance. 38:37 Romans chapter 8 verses 16 and 17. 38:42 Here the apostle Paul say that everything is through Jesus. 38:44 We have to join Jesus. We join Jesus in baptism. 38:48 Notice chapter 8 of Romans and verses 16 and 17. 39:17 And so now as sons and daughters of God 39:20 we have all of the rights of inheritance. 39:22 But there's more. 39:24 If we were born into the image and likeness of the 39:27 first Adam, when we are born into the second Adam's family 39:31 in whose image and likeness will we be? 39:34 Go with me to the book of Romans chapter 8 and verse 29. 39:40 Romans chapter 8 and verse 29. 39:43 Very important verse that describes what happens 39:47 when we join the family of Jesus. 39:49 It says there in verse 29 of Romans 8: 40:03 What are we going to be conformed to? 40:06 We are "conformed to the image of His Son. " 40:09 In whose image were we when we were born into the 40:11 first Adam's family? We were in his image and likeness. 40:15 But when we are born into the family of Christ 40:18 in whose image are we conformed? 40:30 And so now when we're born into the family of Jesus 40:32 we're born in the image and likeness of Jesus. 40:36 We are no longer in the image and likeness of the original 40:40 sinful Adam. Now you are saying: "But Pastor Bohr, 40:44 we have a problem. Many times I don't 40:47 reflect the image of Jesus. " 40:50 Yes, but God reckons you as being in the image of Jesus. 40:54 And then do you know what God does? 40:55 He transforms and changes you step by step 40:59 as you behold Jesus every day. 41:01 Go with me to II Corinthians chapter 3. 41:04 And this process will not end until this body is changed 41:07 into the likeness of the perfect body of Jesus. 41:10 It's a process... the process of sanctification. 41:13 The image of Jesus is reproduced more and more in us. 41:17 But when we're baptized God recognizes us 41:21 as being in the image and likeness of His Son. 41:24 We are no longer reckoned in the sinful family of Adam. 41:28 Notice what we find in the book of II Corinthians 41:32 chapter 3 and verse 18. 41:35 II Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18. 41:39 Here the apostle Paul says: 41:56 Are being what? How are we transformed? 42:00 How? By what? 42:19 What happens when we behold Jesus each day? 42:22 The more we behold Him? 42:24 We are transformed into His what? Into His image. 42:28 But it's done from glory to glory. 42:32 The more we behold, the more we are changed into His image. 42:37 It's not that we're striving to be in His image. 42:41 Each day we are reflecting more and more His what? 42:46 His image and His likeness. 42:49 In other words, when I'm baptized the process begins. 42:52 I'm considered in the image and likeness of Jesus. 42:55 I've gotten rid of that first Adam... the image 42:58 and likeness of the first Adam. 43:00 And then as I behold Jesus each day I grow to be like Him 43:04 more and more. 43:06 And then what happens to the sentence of death? 43:10 Listen, if when I'm baptized the death of Jesus is reckoned 43:14 as mine, do I have to die any more? 43:17 I might die physically but am I going to suffer 43:19 everlasting death? Am I going to suffer second death? 43:22 No. In fact, we find in I Corinthians chapter 15 43:26 verse 22- the last part of the verse that I didn't read - 43:29 it says: "For in Adam all... " What? 43:32 "all die. But In Christ all shall be... " What? 43:38 "all shall be made alive. " 43:40 "He who has the Son has life. " 43:43 "He who does not have the Son does not have life. " 43:47 In other words, when I am reckoned in Jesus 43:49 now I'm not on death row any more. 43:52 I have the sentence of life given in my favor. 43:56 And so what does baptism do? Wow! What a blessing. 44:02 It leads me to shed that first Adam. 44:05 It leads me to bury my guilt. 44:08 In it I receive the power of a new nature 44:12 through the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. 44:14 Instead of a slave now I'm a son. 44:17 As a son, no longer am I disinherited. 44:20 I have a right to inherit every- thing that belongs to Jesus. 44:24 Furthermore, from the moment that I am baptized 44:27 at that moment I'm reckoned in the image of Jesus 44:30 and as I behold after my baptism day after day 44:33 I'm changed more and more into the image of Jesus. 44:36 And I don't have to fear death any more 44:39 because in the second Adam we are all made alive. 44:44 How important then is baptism? 44:47 You know some people say: "Ah, baptism. Yes... no... 44:51 it doesn't make any difference. " 44:53 It makes a huge difference 44:55 because it is the official adoption ceremony 44:59 into the family of God. 45:01 If you say: "I don't have to be adopted, " 45:03 that's like going out on the street and seeing this cute kid 45:05 and saying 'I think I'll take him home with me. ' " 45:07 You can't do that. 45:09 Do you have to go through an official adoption process? 45:13 Do you have to sign documents? 45:15 Do you have to do this publicly? You most certainly do. 45:18 And it's the same with Jesus. Now the question is: 45:21 I'm going to go through this very quickly. We're not even 45:23 going to read the verses. 45:25 How should a person be baptized? 45:27 You know, there are many churches that baptize 45:31 by infusion. That is by pouring. 45:33 There are churches that baptize 45:35 also by sprinkling, 45:37 by aspersion. 45:39 Are those proper modes of baptism? 45:42 They most certainly are not. 45:44 Let me give you the Biblical evidence 45:45 without reading the verses. 45:47 Do you know that Romans chapter 6 and verse 4 speaks 45:52 of baptism as a burial? 45:54 Have you ever seen a burial where they lay someone on the 45:57 ground? They sprinkle a little bit of dirt on their head? 46:00 A burial means what? 46:02 To be buried under the ground. 46:05 And in baptism, you're buried under the water. 46:09 Incidentally, the word baptism 46:11 comes from the Greek baptizo 46:13 which means to immerse or to submerge. 46:17 The very word means to submerge. 46:21 Furthermore, we find clearly in scripture that Jesus was 46:25 baptized by immersion. 46:26 You read Mark chapter 1 verses 9 through 11. 46:29 We don't have time to read it 46:31 but it says there that Jesus went into the water 46:34 and He came up out of the water. 46:37 "Up out of the water" it says. 46:40 So much for the idea that Jesus is standing on the banks 46:42 of the Jordan and John the Baptist has a little cup 46:46 and he's pouring water over the head of Jesus. 46:48 That's not the Biblical perspective. 46:50 Do you think it's important for us to be baptized 46:52 the way God says we're supposed to? 46:55 Ah, who cares? Sprinkling... infusion... 46:57 just with the Holy Spirit. Who cares? 47:01 Do you think we need to accept God's terms? 47:03 You see Christians these days... they have the idea that 47:05 you know, "God doesn't really care how I worship; 47:08 God doesn't care which day I keep; 47:10 God doesn't care how I'm baptized; 47:11 God doesn't care what I eat; 47:13 God doesn't care where I go. 47:15 You know, God accepts me just as I am and He leaves me 47:18 just like I am, too. " 47:21 Does God expect us to obey His terms? 47:24 He most certainly does. 47:25 And in baptism He expects us to be baptized the way He says 47:29 we're supposed to. By the way, in John 3 verse 23 it says: 47:42 Now if he's baptizing by sprinkling he wouldn't need 47:45 much water. But the fact is that there was "much water. " 47:49 The Jordan River some places has very little water. 47:52 But there was much water there because it was necessary 47:55 to submerge or to immerse people. 47:57 I could tell you the story of the Ethiopian eunuch - 48:00 it's found in Acts 8:38-39- 48:02 where Philip is sent to indoctrinate or to teach 48:06 this Ethiopian who had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate 48:10 a Hebrew feast and he was on the way back to Ethiopia. 48:13 And Philip was led to him to explain to him 48:15 Isaiah chapter 53. 48:18 And when the Ethiopian sees that Isaiah 53 is centered in Jesus 48:23 he says to Philip: "What's in the way for me 48:26 being baptized? I want to be baptized. " 48:28 And so as the chariot was moving along 48:30 they found this place where there was water. 48:33 They stopped the chariot, and the Bible says that 48:36 both Philip and the eunuch went into the water 48:39 and they came out of the water. 48:43 That is the proper mode of baptism. 48:45 And we have to do it on God's terms. 48:47 You know, there are churches who think that it's appropriate 48:50 to baptize infants. 48:53 Babies. 48:54 "Oh who cares. As long as you're baptized God doesn't mind. " 48:58 Listen folks, the Bible gives at least four conditions 49:02 in order to be baptized. Let me mention them here quickly. 49:04 Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20 49:07 says that in order for someone to be baptized 49:09 they must be made disciples and they must be taught. 49:13 "Go ye therefore and teach all nations 49:16 baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, 49:20 and the Holy Spirit. " In other words, there must be teaching. 49:23 Can you teach a baby 49:24 the principles of the gospel? 49:26 Obviously not... especially when they're newly born. 49:29 Secondly, in Acts 2:38 it says that we're supposed to 49:33 repent of our sins. Can a little baby repent? 49:36 No! And by the way, on the Day of Pentecost 49:38 all of those who were baptized were adults. 49:40 Jesus was baptized an adult. 49:42 Every person in the Bible who was ever baptized 49:45 was baptized an adult 49:47 or at least they had reached the age of accountability. 49:50 Matthew 3:6 says that in order to be baptized we must confess 49:56 our sins. Can a little baby say: "I'm sorry for crying so hard 49:59 Daddy. I'll be more patient next time. " Of course not. 50:04 You must confess your sins. 50:06 Only a person who has reached the age of accountability of 50:09 reason can do that. And furthermore, Mark 16:16 50:13 says that we must believe in order to be baptized. 50:17 A little baby cannot believe. 50:19 All of the baptisms in the Bible were done with adults. 50:23 Which means that in order for baptism to have significance 50:27 for us we must be immersed. And we must be baptized 50:31 when we understand what baptism truly means. 50:35 Now the question is: how important is baptism? 50:39 Go with me to Mark 16 and verse 16. 50:43 Mark 16 and verse 16. 50:47 Here we find a very important expression 50:52 that is given by Mark. 50:55 Mark 16 and verse 16. 50:58 I want you to remember the elements 50:59 because we're going to come back to this. 51:01 It says there, Jesus speaking: 51:18 Did you notice that? 51:20 "He who believes and is baptized will be... " What? 51:23 "will be saved. " Now let's notice those same 3 words 51:27 in Acts chapter 16. Acts chapter 16 51:31 and let's read verses 30 to 33. 51:34 Acts 16:30-33. 51:36 This is speaking about the Philippian jailer... 51:40 remember that Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. 51:43 And at night there was an earth- quake and the jail opened up. 51:47 And I want you to notice what happens to the jailer 51:49 and his family. Chapter 16 and verse 30: 51:53 "And he brought them out and said: 51:56 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ' 52:00 So they said... " Now notice this: 52:03 "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 52:06 and you will be saved... you and your household. ' " 52:11 Do we find two of the same words that were in Mark 16? 52:15 "He who believes and is baptized will be... " What? 52:20 "saved. " Here it says... the apostle Paul says: 52:23 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be" What? 52:27 "saved. " Notice verse 33. 52:29 It says: "And he took them the same hour of the night 52:33 and washed their stripes and immediately 52:36 he and all his family were... " What? "were baptized. " 52:41 Did the apostle Paul believe in baptism? 52:44 Did he just say: "Oh, just believe in Jesus. 52:46 You'll be saved. You don't have to worry about being baptized. " 52:50 No. He said: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 52:54 You will be saved. " And then he what? 52:57 And then he baptized them. 52:59 By the way, do you know that the great apostle Paul 53:00 himself was baptized? 53:02 Notice Acts chapter 22 53:05 and verse 16. 53:06 Acts chapter 22 verse 16. 53:08 Was the apostle Paul a notorious sinner 53:12 before his conversion? 53:13 Did he accumulate a lot of guilt? 53:16 Oh, I wish I could tell you the story of all the guilt 53:19 that he accumulated by killing God's people 53:22 and imprisoning God's people. 53:24 But I want you to notice that when he meets Ananias 53:28 that he is encouraged to do something. 53:31 It says here in Acts chapter 22 and verse 16: 53:59 What happens when we are baptized? 54:02 Our sins are what? Are washed away. 54:06 In other words, the guilt is gone 54:08 and we receive like the apostle Paul 54:10 the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 54:16 That's why Jesus says that whoever is not born of the water 54:20 and of the Spirit cannot see the kingdom of God. 54:24 And then He goes on to say 54:26 that whoever is not baptized of the water and of the Spirit 54:30 cannot enter the kingdom of God. 54:34 Is baptism then indispensible? 54:37 Baptism by immersion. Yes. 54:40 And let me tell you what happens at baptism. 54:42 Two things happen at baptism. 54:44 Number one: you are joined to Christ personally. 54:49 You become His brother and His sister. 54:52 That's the first meaning of baptism. 54:54 The second meaning of baptism is 54:57 that when we are buried in the waters and we come forth 55:00 to newness of life we join the body of Christ 55:04 which is His what? His church. 55:08 So baptism means union with Christ 55:11 and it means union with His church which teaches the truth 55:15 of God. Now let's notice that. 55:18 Let's go in our Bibles to Colossians chapter 1 55:20 and verse 18. Colossians chapter 1 verse 18. 55:25 And we'll read three verses as we draw this to a close. 55:28 The apostle Paul says this: 55:37 What is the body of Jesus? 55:39 The body of Jesus is the... What? The church. 55:43 Now how do we join the body of Jesus? 55:46 Go with me to I Corinthians chapter 12 and verses 12 and 13. 55:51 I Corinthians chapter 12 and verses 12... actually 55:56 verses 13 and 14. 55:59 I Corinthians chapter 12 and verses 13 and 14. 56:04 Here the apostle Paul says this: 56:30 Now how do we join the body of Christ 56:32 according to this? 56:34 "We were all baptized into one body. " 56:39 And what is the body? The body is the church. 56:43 By the way, do you know that in Acts chapter 2 verses 41 and 47 56:46 it says that on the Day of Pentecost 56:49 3,000 souls were added to them? 56:54 And then it says in verse 47 56:56 that God added to the church those who would be saved. 57:01 So baptism means union with Christ personally 57:06 and it also means union with His church... 57:10 with His body. 57:12 Union with Jesus and union with His church. 57:15 In other words, we become members of His family. 57:19 What a marvelous blessing this is! |
Revised 2014-12-17