I don't know whether you've ever
stood by the bedside of someone
00:00:27.55\00:00:31.25
who is about to die
00:00:31.45\00:00:32.67
and you know that this will be
00:00:34.75\00:00:35.92
the last time that you have
00:00:36.02\00:00:37.62
any
communication with that person.
00:00:37.82\00:00:39.60
Now anyone who's been
through an experience like that
00:00:39.80\00:00:43.01
knows that that is a
very precious time, isn't it?
00:00:43.21\00:00:45.53
Obviously, if you know that this
is the last time that you are
00:00:45.83\00:00:49.82
having an opportunity
to talk to that person
00:00:49.92\00:00:52.01
you don't talk
about the weather, do you?
00:00:52.21\00:00:55.11
You don't talk about
trivial things, you talk about
00:00:55.35\00:00:58.08
things that really are
important between you and that
00:00:58.28\00:01:01.63
particular person. Now
it's interesting that the last
00:01:01.83\00:01:05.74
conversation that Jesus
ever had with His disciples
00:01:05.94\00:01:09.29
I wonder what subject
he talked to them about.
00:01:09.59\00:01:12.70
That would be
interesting, wouldn't it?
00:01:12.90\00:01:14.32
The last thing that Jesus ever
said to the disciples before He
00:01:14.52\00:01:17.68
went back to heaven... at
least that we know that He said
00:01:17.78\00:01:20.18
to the disciples
before He went back to heaven.
00:01:20.39\00:01:22.44
That would be interesting.
00:01:22.64\00:01:24.60
Well, the Bible does record that
00:01:24.80\00:01:27.35
and I want you
to notice with me.
00:01:27.65\00:01:28.73
Come over to Matthew chapter
28, the last chapter in Matthew,
00:01:28.93\00:01:32.47
and it's recorded the last
conversation that Jesus had.
00:01:32.67\00:01:36.73
Notice what it concerns.
00:01:36.93\00:01:38.91
Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18.
00:01:39.21\00:01:42.25
And you'll notice that
most of these verses are in red
00:01:42.65\00:01:45.95
because they're
the words of Jesus.
00:01:46.15\00:01:47.59
Matthew 28 and verse 18:
00:01:47.80\00:01:50.55
Now obviously, if this was
the last opportunity that Jesus
00:02:18.53\00:02:23.26
had to talk to the disciples,
00:02:23.46\00:02:24.97
He would be talking
about something that mattered
00:02:25.37\00:02:28.47
very
importantly, isn't that right?
00:02:28.67\00:02:30.59
He wouldn't be talking
about things that are not very
00:02:30.90\00:02:34.45
important. And it's
interesting that Jesus chose
00:02:34.66\00:02:38.32
to remind the disciples, the
last thing that's recorded here
00:02:38.33\00:02:42.77
before He went back to
heaven, the last subject
00:02:42.97\00:02:46.03
that He spoke
about concerned baptism.
00:02:46.23\00:02:49.31
That to my mind would suggest
that baptism is very, very
00:02:49.61\00:02:54.38
important... extremely so.
00:02:54.58\00:02:56.91
In fact, it's interesting that
the very first thing that Jesus
00:02:57.21\00:02:59.51
ever did to begin His
ministry concerned baptism.
00:02:59.71\00:03:02.74
He was baptized
Himself in the river Jordan.
00:03:03.14\00:03:06.12
And the last thing that's
recorded concerned baptism.
00:03:06.42\00:03:11.34
So baptism rates very,
very highly in the mind of Jesus
00:03:12.66\00:03:17.03
and I believe it ought
to rate very, very highly
00:03:17.23\00:03:20.13
in our thinking, too.
00:03:20.33\00:03:21.73
And that's why I'm glad
to be talking to you about it
00:03:21.83\00:03:23.83
this morning and that we
have the privilege of witnessing
00:03:23.94\00:03:26.47
this beautiful ceremony.
Now when we notice these verses
00:03:26.67\00:03:30.78
here when Jesus spoke
to the disciples, He said
00:03:30.98\00:03:33.21
"I want you to go into all
the world and I want you to make
00:03:33.31\00:03:37.08
disciples of everybody. "
00:03:37.18\00:03:39.10
That is,
everybody that would listen.
00:03:39.30\00:03:41.91
And He said: "I want
you to teach them... "
00:03:42.11\00:03:45.86
"Go into all the world baptizing
them and then teaching them... "
00:03:46.10\00:03:49.96
And not only teaching
them about the things of God
00:03:50.16\00:03:53.25
but teaching them to...
what's the next word that the
00:03:53.45\00:03:55.84
Bible gives here?
"Teaching them to observe
00:03:55.94\00:03:59.88
all things that
I have shown you. "
00:04:00.08\00:04:01.94
Because, you see, baptism comes
00:04:02.14\00:04:06.21
after a person has
learned about the truth of God
00:04:06.41\00:04:10.34
and then it comes
after a person has observed.
00:04:10.54\00:04:14.91
That is, they have taken
into their lifestyle the changes
00:04:15.01\00:04:18.25
that are necessary
when we become a Christian.
00:04:18.45\00:04:20.66
Because obviously it's not just
an intellectual understanding
00:04:21.59\00:04:26.70
that God wants. He
wants us to observe
00:04:26.90\00:04:30.48
all things that
"I have taught you. "
00:04:30.68\00:04:33.47
Now that's the reason
why you will not see babies
00:04:41.36\00:04:44.73
being baptized this morning.
00:04:44.93\00:04:46.63
Because the Bible
never teaches anywhere
00:04:47.98\00:04:51.76
to baptize a baby.
00:04:51.97\00:04:54.26
Now that may be very different
to what some of us have been
00:04:55.45\00:04:58.30
brought up to believe. I'll
tell you about my experience
00:04:58.40\00:05:00.82
a little bit later
because I was not brought up to
00:05:00.92\00:05:03.31
understand what I'm
sharing with you this morning.
00:05:03.51\00:05:05.54
And most of us have come
from churches and backgrounds
00:05:07.61\00:05:11.23
in which we have
been led to believe
00:05:11.43\00:05:13.88
that babies are to be baptized.
00:05:14.08\00:05:17.16
But like many things
that we have been noticing
00:05:17.46\00:05:20.29
as we have been
studying the Bible
00:05:20.49\00:05:21.95
the devil has counterfeited
and changed even baptism
00:05:23.31\00:05:27.24
so that baptism has been
taught so that people baptize
00:05:28.36\00:05:34.34
little babies instead
of baptizing people who are
00:05:34.44\00:05:37.23
old enough to understand
and old enough to observe.
00:05:37.33\00:05:40.48
Because remember the Bible
says not only are you to teach
00:05:40.78\00:05:44.50
the people but you're
to teach them to observe.
00:05:44.60\00:05:47.77
That's what Jesus taught.
00:05:48.85\00:05:50.34
And you can't teach a
baby anything and you certainly
00:05:50.65\00:05:53.68
can't teach a baby to observe
anything, isn't that right?
00:05:53.79\00:05:56.48
Far too young.
00:05:56.68\00:05:58.74
In fact, the church has not only
altered and changed the teaching
00:06:01.10\00:06:04.78
of the Bible on this matter
00:06:04.89\00:06:06.49
but what they've done is
they've done it in reverse.
00:06:06.69\00:06:08.73
Because when a child is born
00:06:09.03\00:06:12.68
the Bible says we ought to
follow the example of Jesus
00:06:12.88\00:06:15.65
and His parents brought
Him along to the church,
00:06:15.85\00:06:18.25
and the minister there dedicated
Him when He was 8 days old.
00:06:18.45\00:06:23.27
And then Jesus was
baptized at a later time.
00:06:25.34\00:06:28.41
We're going to read about
what age He was in a moment.
00:06:28.62\00:06:30.30
Now the church
has reversed that.
00:06:30.61\00:06:34.09
They say we baptize them
first and then we catechize them
00:06:34.29\00:06:38.33
a bit later...
00:06:38.63\00:06:40.79
which is the exact reverse
of what the Bible teaches.
00:06:40.99\00:06:43.44
See how mankind
has changed everything?
00:06:43.64\00:06:45.89
And Jesus said a
person is to go...
00:06:47.55\00:06:49.67
to be taught and
taught to observe.
00:06:49.87\00:06:51.47
The Bible says in another place
that before we are baptized
00:06:51.68\00:06:54.59
we are to repent.
Well a baby can't repent.
00:06:54.80\00:06:57.38
Baby's got nothing to repent of.
00:06:57.58\00:06:59.34
Doesn't understand to repent.
00:07:00.56\00:07:02.69
The Bible says that we
are to confess our sins.
00:07:02.99\00:07:05.84
A baby can't do that.
00:07:05.94\00:07:07.46
A baby can't believe
because the Bible says
00:07:07.66\00:07:09.86
before you're
baptized you're to believe.
00:07:09.96\00:07:11.90
None of those
things fit into a baby.
00:07:12.73\00:07:15.00
And so Jesus here
clearly teaches that, um,
00:07:16.31\00:07:20.04
baptism is very important.
00:07:20.24\00:07:21.86
Come over to Mark the 16th
chapter, which is the next book.
00:07:22.06\00:07:24.77
And this is Mark's recording
of the same conversation.
00:07:24.97\00:07:28.86
Mark 16 and verse 16.
00:07:29.06\00:07:30.96
And obviously all that
Jesus said was not recorded
00:07:31.16\00:07:35.57
by Matthew but Mark adds
something here in verse 16.
00:07:35.77\00:07:39.03
Mark 16 verse 16.
00:07:39.27\00:07:40.75
So would you suggest,
then, that baptism is important?
00:07:47.16\00:07:49.85
If Jesus says "he that
believes and is baptized
00:07:50.05\00:07:52.71
will be saved, "
is baptism important?
00:07:52.91\00:07:54.82
Absolutely!
00:07:55.12\00:07:56.85
Very important...
very, very important.
00:07:57.16\00:08:01.61
Now I know that many people
have been brought up to believe
00:08:02.85\00:08:08.52
as we said that baptism
comes when you are small.
00:08:08.62\00:08:13.19
In fact,
sometimes people say to me:
00:08:13.39\00:08:14.79
"Well what age should a person
be when they are baptized? "
00:08:14.99\00:08:17.64
Well that's a good question.
00:08:17.67\00:08:19.78
Actually the Bible
does not specify an age
00:08:19.98\00:08:23.15
because it's not so much our
physical age that's important
00:08:23.35\00:08:26.39
as our spiritual age.
That's what's important.
00:08:26.59\00:08:28.89
Because a person could
be as old as Methuselah
00:08:29.09\00:08:31.21
and still not be
ready for baptism.
00:08:31.41\00:08:33.66
And when a person
understands the claims of Jesus
00:08:34.83\00:08:37.95
upon their heart, then they
are old enough to be baptized.
00:08:38.15\00:08:41.57
But not until then.
00:08:41.87\00:08:43.56
Now what age was
Jesus when He was baptized?
00:08:43.66\00:08:45.82
Come over to Luke chapter 3.
00:08:46.02\00:08:47.68
This will give us a major clue:
Luke chapter 3 and verse 21.
00:08:47.88\00:08:51.74
Right down the bottom
right-hand corner of the page.
00:08:51.94\00:08:54.60
Luke chapter 3
and verse 21 says:
00:08:54.90\00:08:59.67
Now notice the next verse:
00:09:19.23\00:09:21.17
"Now Jesus Himself
was just a baby... "
00:09:21.37\00:09:25.35
Is that what it says?
00:09:25.65\00:09:27.28
So Jesus was an
adult when He was baptized.
00:09:31.76\00:09:34.29
He wasn't a baby at all.
00:09:34.59\00:09:36.40
Now there's a particular reason
why Jesus was baptized at 30.
00:09:37.93\00:09:41.97
I don't think the Bible
is saying there that a person
00:09:42.18\00:09:44.33
can only be baptized at 30.
00:09:44.53\00:09:46.34
Otherwise that would be hard
for some of us, wouldn't it?
00:09:46.64\00:09:49.58
No, the point that the Bible
is making here is that Jesus
00:09:50.69\00:09:54.36
was an adult... He was a mature
person when He was baptized.
00:09:54.56\00:09:57.77
And there's a particular reason
why Jesus began His ministry
00:09:57.97\00:10:01.12
at 30... which we will study
about as we continue to study
00:10:01.32\00:10:05.52
the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation.
00:10:05.72\00:10:07.41
But Jesus was an adult.
00:10:07.61\00:10:10.15
He was a mature person.
00:10:10.45\00:10:12.06
In fact it's interesting
to notice what Saint Peter
00:10:12.46\00:10:15.42
himself said over
here in the Bible.
00:10:15.62\00:10:18.48
Come over to II Peter
00:10:18.68\00:10:21.78
chapter 2... Or is it I Peter?
00:10:22.38\00:10:27.31
I Peter chapter 2
and verse 21. Yes.
00:10:27.51\00:10:30.62
I Peter chapter 2 and verse 21.
00:10:30.82\00:10:32.75
You see, the reason why
Jesus came onto this earth
00:10:48.57\00:10:51.79
was to do more than die
and be resurrected for us...
00:10:51.99\00:10:55.87
although that's the foundation
of the Christian message.
00:10:56.08\00:10:58.37
Nothing's more important
than that, but Jesus came
00:10:58.57\00:11:01.06
to do even more than that.
00:11:01.16\00:11:02.68
Because if Jesus
came to die for us only
00:11:02.88\00:11:06.38
and to be resurrected for us
00:11:06.58\00:11:08.39
He could have come
down Thursday afternoon
00:11:08.59\00:11:10.40
and gone back to heaven
Sunday morning, couldn't He?
00:11:10.51\00:11:12.38
If that's all He came to do.
00:11:12.68\00:11:14.89
But He came to
do more than that.
00:11:15.09\00:11:16.95
He also came to
show us how to live.
00:11:17.25\00:11:20.47
And that's why Peter - who had
spent so much time with Jesus -
00:11:20.77\00:11:24.54
recognized that Jesus came as
an example for you and for me.
00:11:24.74\00:11:29.29
And as a Christian we are
to look to Jesus as our example
00:11:29.69\00:11:34.20
in everything.
00:11:34.30\00:11:36.04
Because He lived on this
earth. He was born as a baby.
00:11:37.27\00:11:40.77
He grew up as a young child.
00:11:40.98\00:11:42.81
He grew up into
the teenage years.
00:11:42.91\00:11:44.65
He grew up into mature years.
00:11:44.85\00:11:47.46
Because He came to live as
an example for you and for me.
00:11:47.66\00:11:52.01
And if we take
the example of Jesus,
00:11:53.13\00:11:55.58
I tell you, it makes
it very, very simple.
00:11:55.78\00:11:58.00
Because, you see, Jesus
is called the Word of God.
00:11:58.30\00:12:03.42
That's an interesting
expression, isn't it?
00:12:04.44\00:12:05.91
Jesus is called
The Word in John 1:1.
00:12:06.11\00:12:08.55
"But, " you say, "isn't
the Bible the Word of God? "
00:12:08.85\00:12:11.36
Yes it is! Both
are the Word of God.
00:12:11.56\00:12:14.18
With the Bible we have
the written Word of God;
00:12:14.48\00:12:18.43
in Jesus we have
the living Word of God.
00:12:18.63\00:12:20.73
Get the thought?
And it doesn't matter
00:12:20.93\00:12:23.21
very much as
whether we look at the Bible
00:12:23.41\00:12:26.39
to find out what is right
or we look at the life of Jesus
00:12:26.59\00:12:29.79
to find out what is right
because both say the same thing.
00:12:29.99\00:12:33.69
So we study the Bible.
That helps us to understand
00:12:37.24\00:12:39.84
God's will for us. Or we
look at the life of Jesus
00:12:40.04\00:12:43.41
and that tells us
what God's will for us
00:12:43.61\00:12:46.10
because He lived
it as an example.
00:12:46.30\00:12:48.58
And I want to say
something this morning.
00:12:48.78\00:12:50.73
If we take the example of Jesus,
00:12:51.03\00:12:53.98
tell me, what day
will be go to church on?
00:12:54.18\00:12:56.07
I tell you you'll
never go on Sunday
00:12:58.57\00:13:00.37
because Jesus never went
to church in His entire life
00:13:00.57\00:13:03.81
on Sunday. Is that right?
00:13:03.91\00:13:05.39
And as I've often said, if there
was no other Sabbath keeper
00:13:06.78\00:13:11.11
in the entire world but
Jesus that would satisfy me.
00:13:11.21\00:13:14.25
That's all I need
because Jesus is our example.
00:13:14.35\00:13:17.74
And when we study the
Bible we've got to make sure
00:13:18.04\00:13:20.46
that we don't misinterpret
the Bible to make the Bible
00:13:20.66\00:13:23.18
say something that's different
from the life of Jesus.
00:13:23.28\00:13:25.50
Can you see the point?
00:13:25.70\00:13:26.71
Because both go together...
one supplements the other.
00:13:27.01\00:13:30.33
One helps to explain the other.
00:13:30.63\00:13:34.26
He's the Living Word; the
Bible is the written Word.
00:13:35.49\00:13:38.44
And when we take the example
of Jesus, we will be baptized
00:13:39.73\00:13:43.89
like Jesus was baptized.
00:13:43.99\00:13:46.13
Because obviously Jesus
wasn't baptized for the reasons
00:13:46.33\00:13:49.86
that our six candidates
need to be baptized today
00:13:50.06\00:13:53.12
or any of us have
ever been baptized.
00:13:53.42\00:13:56.20
Because we need to be
baptized to wash away our sin.
00:13:56.50\00:13:59.75
But Jesus wasn't baptized
to wash away His sins, was He?
00:14:00.05\00:14:05.02
In Him was no sin.
00:14:05.94\00:14:07.49
Well then, why
was Jesus baptized?
00:14:07.69\00:14:10.17
If He didn't sin,
why was He baptized?
00:14:10.37\00:14:14.56
As an example to show us what
is important as a Christian.
00:14:15.89\00:14:20.95
So we look at the life of
Jesus and that's why I come back
00:14:21.25\00:14:24.17
to this matter of the
Sabbath that we've been studying
00:14:24.37\00:14:26.42
which is a big difference
in Christianity today.
00:14:26.62\00:14:29.69
When we take the example
of Jesus it simply answers the
00:14:29.89\00:14:33.82
question as simple as A-B-C.
00:14:34.02\00:14:36.33
There is no more dispute
00:14:36.63\00:14:38.33
because Jesus' life totally
agrees with what the Bible says.
00:14:39.88\00:14:44.39
And He is our
example in everything.
00:14:44.89\00:14:47.66
He's certainly our example
when it comes to baptism.
00:14:47.86\00:14:50.54
And it's much easier to
follow an example than it is
00:14:50.85\00:14:54.84
just a theory. That's why
following the example of Jesus
00:14:55.04\00:14:58.75
is so helpful. For
example, if I said to you:
00:14:58.95\00:15:01.06
"Look, I want a podium
made. I want it so high,
00:15:01.16\00:15:03.92
so wide, so deep. I
want it black and so forth. "
00:15:04.13\00:15:07.18
And if I wrote out
my instructions clearly
00:15:07.42\00:15:10.20
and drew them up, plan and
elevation and so forth correctly
00:15:10.40\00:15:13.56
you would be able if you
could follow and read plans
00:15:13.76\00:15:16.07
you would be able to make
a desk exactly like this one.
00:15:16.28\00:15:18.78
But if I said to you: "Look,
00:15:18.98\00:15:20.63
I want a desk
just like this one. "
00:15:20.84\00:15:22.94
That's much easier, isn't
it? Because - ah-hah - I can see
00:15:24.34\00:15:27.88
the way. I can
see the rounded edges.
00:15:27.99\00:15:29.51
I can see it's black. I
can see the way it's done.
00:15:29.71\00:15:34.00
I can measure it and it's
easy because I've got an example
00:15:34.20\00:15:37.67
to follow. That's why
Jesus lived on this earth
00:15:37.77\00:15:42.26
for 33 years: as an
example to show us how to live.
00:15:42.46\00:15:47.12
Now the Christian is often
asked: "How should a person
00:15:49.31\00:15:52.77
be baptized? "
00:15:52.97\00:15:54.68
Come over to the book of
Ephesians toward the back
00:15:56.01\00:15:58.04
of the Bible...
Ephesians the 4th chapter.
00:15:58.15\00:16:00.50
We come over past Romans,
Corinthians, and then Ephesians
00:16:02.21\00:16:05.24
the 4th chapter and verse 5.
00:16:05.44\00:16:07.25
Because there are four
basic methods of baptism
00:16:09.21\00:16:13.50
that are used in the
Christian church today.
00:16:13.70\00:16:15.65
Have a look at chapter 4
and verse 5. It says there is:
00:16:20.31\00:16:23.24
You see, just as
there is only one God
00:16:32.17\00:16:37.34
and there's only one
faith in spite of the fact
00:16:37.54\00:16:40.39
that many Christians have
the concept that all churches
00:16:40.59\00:16:43.71
are just different
roads leading to heaven.
00:16:43.91\00:16:46.10
You can go the Anglican way
or you can go the Catholic way
00:16:46.30\00:16:49.22
or you can go
this way or that way.
00:16:49.42\00:16:51.37
It doesn't really matter... they
all finish up in the same place.
00:16:51.58\00:16:54.21
Now the Bible does not
teach it like that at all.
00:16:55.27\00:16:57.95
Because the Bible
says there is one Lord,
00:16:58.16\00:17:00.29
there is one
faith that is correct,
00:17:00.52\00:17:02.83
and there's one
baptism that is correct.
00:17:03.03\00:17:04.96
That's why it's up to us
to study the Bible to find out
00:17:05.26\00:17:08.11
which faith is correct,
which baptism is correct,
00:17:08.31\00:17:10.82
and which God is correct.
00:17:11.02\00:17:12.12
And there's only one
way to do that, and that's
00:17:13.23\00:17:14.97
to study the Word.
00:17:15.07\00:17:16.50
To look at the life of Jesus.
00:17:16.71\00:17:18.34
So if you go into the
Christian church around here
00:17:20.71\00:17:23.88
you will find there
are four different methods.
00:17:24.08\00:17:25.56
There will be one method
where you go along to the church
00:17:25.66\00:17:28.20
and they will get some water
and they usually sprinkle it
00:17:28.40\00:17:31.73
on you. Mostly it's a
baby but not in every case.
00:17:31.83\00:17:36.17
Another church
will take a cup of water
00:17:36.37\00:17:38.04
and they'll pour
it on a person's head.
00:17:38.25\00:17:39.96
Mostly it's babies but
sometimes it's even adults.
00:17:40.16\00:17:43.44
Another church will baptize
you three times face downward.
00:17:43.64\00:17:48.25
They call this triune baptism.
00:17:48.45\00:17:50.17
Once in the name of the Father,
once in the name of the Son,
00:17:50.37\00:17:52.76
once in the name
of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:52.97\00:17:54.40
They usually give you a little
time to breathe in between.
00:17:55.82\00:17:57.91
Three times. See?
00:17:58.21\00:18:00.39
Then there is the method
that you are going to see
00:18:00.69\00:18:03.70
this morning which I believe
is the correct Biblical method -
00:18:03.80\00:18:07.13
and I'm going to explain why
that is so in just a moment -
00:18:07.33\00:18:09.68
where a person is laid
down once underneath the water
00:18:09.88\00:18:13.24
face upwards and lifted back.
00:18:13.44\00:18:16.46
Now there's a very good reason
why the method that you are
00:18:16.76\00:18:20.37
going to see this morning
is the correct Biblical way.
00:18:20.47\00:18:23.41
And I want to explain that
because it's very important
00:18:23.61\00:18:26.99
that we understand
what we're going to see.
00:18:27.09\00:18:28.86
That's why I wanted to talk
to you before we had the baptism
00:18:29.07\00:18:31.67
so that you will understand
what you are witnessing.
00:18:31.87\00:18:34.61
Because the method of
baptism is what is important.
00:18:34.91\00:18:38.26
And the church
has changed that, too.
00:18:38.56\00:18:41.48
In fact, let me read
you how Jesus was baptized.
00:18:45.47\00:18:49.57
Come back to Mark...
just back a few books.
00:18:49.77\00:18:52.48
Mark chapter 1 and verse 9.
00:18:52.68\00:18:55.24
Mark the 1st
chapter and verse 9.
00:18:55.54\00:18:58.60
Mark 1 and verse 9.
Halfway down it says here:
00:19:00.65\00:19:04.03
You know they tell me
that when they filmed that film
00:19:25.91\00:19:29.57
The King of Kings... It's
an oldie, it's been around
00:19:29.77\00:19:32.13
for many years now, but usually
it's recycled on television
00:19:32.24\00:19:35.44
around about the
time of Easter...
00:19:35.64\00:19:37.16
and they have
Jesus being baptized.
00:19:37.36\00:19:40.16
Interesting. And He's
down by the river Jordan
00:19:40.36\00:19:43.11
standing on the
side of the river
00:19:43.31\00:19:45.83
and there is John
the Baptist with Him.
00:19:46.03\00:19:49.48
And along side both of
them there is a bucket of water.
00:19:49.72\00:19:52.14
And John the
Baptist has an oyster shell.
00:19:52.44\00:19:55.56
And he dips the oyster
shell into the bucket of water
00:19:55.86\00:19:59.02
and then pours it
on the head of Jesus.
00:19:59.22\00:20:01.27
Tell me: is that what we just
read how Jesus was baptized?
00:20:01.57\00:20:04.82
With a bucket of
water and an oyster shell?
00:20:05.02\00:20:06.87
No. You know, people say
to me: "You ought to go along
00:20:07.07\00:20:10.23
and look at those religious
films. You learn so much
00:20:10.43\00:20:11.86
about the Bible. "
00:20:11.96\00:20:13.02
I want to tell you, if you
want to learn about the Bible
00:20:13.23\00:20:15.10
don't waste your
time watching those.
00:20:15.30\00:20:16.80
Because the theology of
films like that are dictated
00:20:17.00\00:20:20.74
usually by the
religion of the director.
00:20:20.94\00:20:22.94
And in this particular
case, he was a Catholic
00:20:25.33\00:20:27.26
and so forth, and so
that idea comes through.
00:20:27.46\00:20:29.93
But we go to the Bible to
find out what is the truth.
00:20:32.19\00:20:34.97
And when Jesus was
baptized it says He went down
00:20:35.17\00:20:37.63
into the river Jordan.
00:20:37.83\00:20:39.49
And after His baptism He
came up out of the river Jordan.
00:20:39.69\00:20:44.22
And you'll see
why that's important.
00:20:46.28\00:20:47.83
Come over to John
now the third chapter.
00:20:48.03\00:20:49.84
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John chapter 3 and verse 23.
00:20:50.04\00:20:54.36
John 3 verse 23.
00:20:56.06\00:20:57.90
And it explains here
why John was baptizing
00:20:58.00\00:21:02.35
at Aenon near Salim. Have
a look at verse 23. It says:
00:21:02.55\00:21:06.67
So the baptism that Jesus
was baptized with requires
00:21:17.92\00:21:21.45
a lot of water.
That's the first big clue.
00:21:21.65\00:21:23.89
Requires a lot of water.
00:21:24.19\00:21:26.35
You see, if it's an oyster shell
a buck of water goes a long way.
00:21:26.65\00:21:29.96
But Jesus'
baptism wasn't like that.
00:21:30.36\00:21:33.12
He requires lots of water.
00:21:33.22\00:21:35.32
So that helps us.
00:21:37.92\00:21:39.16
Now we have an illustration
in the New Testament
00:21:39.26\00:21:41.67
in the book of Acts, if you come
over to the 8th chapter of Acts,
00:21:41.87\00:21:45.03
of how the
apostles actually baptized.
00:21:45.23\00:21:48.02
It's recorded there. Acts
8 and we'll pick up the story
00:21:48.22\00:21:51.93
here about the Ethiopian eunuch.
00:21:52.13\00:21:53.84
He was on his
way... In fact, he was
00:21:54.14\00:21:56.98
studying the
scriptures, the Old Testament.
00:21:57.18\00:21:59.28
In fact, he was
reading Isaiah chapter 53
00:21:59.48\00:22:02.74
and he couldn't work out
who this was talking about...
00:22:02.94\00:22:06.07
this servant who was
wounded for our transgressions,
00:22:06.27\00:22:10.64
bruised for our iniquities.
00:22:11.70\00:22:13.44
And the chastisement
of His peace was upon us.
00:22:13.74\00:22:16.56
The poor Ethiopian couldn't work
out what that was all about.
00:22:16.86\00:22:21.36
And he happened to spy Philip.
00:22:21.56\00:22:24.66
And Philip saw him
reading and he went up to him
00:22:25.06\00:22:28.06
and he says...
Philip said to him...
00:22:28.26\00:22:30.85
the eunuch said to Philip:
00:22:31.05\00:22:32.43
"Who is this man
that's being referred to here?
00:22:32.63\00:22:35.89
Is he talking about
himself or someone else? "
00:22:36.09\00:22:38.87
Well we'll read from verse 34:
00:22:39.17\00:22:41.73
So this wonderful
black man from Africa
00:23:27.43\00:23:31.19
studying Isaiah 53 became
convinced that this was about
00:23:32.77\00:23:37.57
Jesus as Philip
explained it to him.
00:23:37.67\00:23:39.61
And as soon as he was convicted
in his heart about Jesus
00:23:39.81\00:23:43.33
he wanted to be baptized.
00:23:43.64\00:23:45.46
And the Bible says when Philip
baptized him they both went down
00:23:45.66\00:23:50.13
into the water. And after
the baptism they both came up
00:23:50.33\00:23:53.98
out of the water
because it's the story of
00:23:54.18\00:23:58.06
baptism by immersion.
00:23:58.27\00:23:59.94
Because when the
apostles baptized, both got wet.
00:24:00.15\00:24:04.61
That is: the
person doing the baptism
00:24:04.81\00:24:07.50
as well as the
person being baptized.
00:24:07.70\00:24:09.92
Both got wet!
00:24:10.12\00:24:11.28
Because they both
went down into the water
00:24:12.65\00:24:15.76
and they both came
up out of the water.
00:24:15.96\00:24:18.68
Now when we understand the
significance and the meaning
00:24:19.92\00:24:23.51
of baptism it really
settles the method of baptism
00:24:23.71\00:24:26.41
once and for all. Just come
over to the book of Romans...
00:24:26.62\00:24:29.33
Romans chapter 6 and
we'll notice here verse 3.
00:24:29.53\00:24:35.22
Romans 6 and verse 3
00:24:35.36\00:24:37.56
where Paul now is explaining
the meaning of baptism.
00:24:37.76\00:24:40.65
He says this in verse 3:
00:24:40.95\00:24:43.14
So the first thing
that baptism reminds us of
00:24:52.93\00:24:56.22
is the death of Jesus.
00:24:56.43\00:24:58.64
It reminds us of a death. All
right, let's read on. Verse 4:
00:24:58.84\00:25:02.17
So you see baptism reminds
us of the three essentials
00:25:16.76\00:25:22.00
of the Christian message.
00:25:22.20\00:25:23.31
It reminds us of
the death of Jesus.
00:25:23.51\00:25:26.60
It reminds us of
the burial of Jesus.
00:25:26.90\00:25:29.96
And it reminds us of
the resurrection of Jesus.
00:25:30.26\00:25:33.06
That's what
baptism is all about.
00:25:33.36\00:25:35.09
That's what the symbol means.
00:25:35.29\00:25:37.50
Now when we bury
someone... when someone dies
00:25:38.62\00:25:41.51
what do we do? Do we
go out to the cemetery
00:25:41.71\00:25:44.55
and we get a bit of dirt and
we sprinkle it on their heads?
00:25:44.75\00:25:47.30
We don't even get a cup of dirt
and pour it on their head do we?
00:25:47.70\00:25:51.43
And we certainly don't lay them
down three times face downward
00:25:51.63\00:25:55.30
or face upward.
00:25:55.51\00:25:57.37
There's only one way a
person is buried, and that is
00:25:57.57\00:25:59.83
they are laid in the
ground once face upwards.
00:26:00.03\00:26:02.32
And the Bible says that
death, burial, and resurrection
00:26:02.63\00:26:07.57
is symbolized by
the method of baptism.
00:26:07.77\00:26:11.12
And as you see the
candidates baptized today
00:26:12.63\00:26:17.21
you will notice that
they are going to be laid down
00:26:17.31\00:26:19.61
under the water
because they are saying to you
00:26:19.81\00:26:23.75
that they have died
to their former life.
00:26:23.95\00:26:26.13
Then they will be
buried underneath the water.
00:26:27.68\00:26:32.21
And so for that swift moment
their life - their old life
00:26:32.41\00:26:35.78
so to speak - is
buried underneath the water.
00:26:35.99\00:26:38.30
Then they are raised -
just like Christ was raised
00:26:39.76\00:26:45.24
from the dead - they are
raised from the water indicating
00:26:45.44\00:26:49.46
that the power of God
has come into their life
00:26:49.66\00:26:53.30
to enable them to
now live a new life...
00:26:53.50\00:26:55.72
a resurrected
life. Get the thought?
00:26:55.92\00:26:57.71
That's what the symbol
of baptism is all about.
00:26:57.91\00:27:00.16
That's what it means!
00:27:00.36\00:27:01.73
And just as the pastor
raises them from the grave
00:27:03.04\00:27:08.14
by a power outside themselves
so they are recognizing
00:27:08.34\00:27:12.58
that they are going to
live the Christian life now
00:27:12.78\00:27:14.89
by a power outside themselves.
00:27:15.09\00:27:17.34
That's what it's all about.
00:27:17.74\00:27:19.94
Now when the devil came along,
of course he didn't want people
00:27:20.25\00:27:23.84
to understand that truth
so he has counterfeited that
00:27:23.95\00:27:27.39
and changed it.
00:27:27.42\00:27:28.98
And what he has
done... He has put the emphasis
00:27:29.28\00:27:32.90
on the water
making it holy water
00:27:33.10\00:27:35.94
with no emphasis
on the methodology
00:27:37.46\00:27:40.20
because the
methodology's not important.
00:27:40.30\00:27:42.28
Sprinkling a bit of water
on a person or a baby's head
00:27:42.58\00:27:46.46
doesn't symbolize anything.
00:27:46.56\00:27:47.96
In fact, that
comes from paganism.
00:27:49.24\00:27:50.81
That's what they do
in the pagan religions.
00:27:51.01\00:27:53.01
When I was over in
Egypt I saw all the Egyptians.
00:27:53.21\00:27:57.17
When they were born they were
sprinkled with water on their
00:27:57.27\00:28:00.22
head by the
sun-worshiping priest.
00:28:00.32\00:28:02.70
That's where they got it from.
00:28:03.00\00:28:04.45
They just didn't
make it up I can tell you.
00:28:04.76\00:28:06.11
Because they didn't get it
from the Bible. They copied it
00:28:06.21\00:28:08.43
from the pagans. They
brought it into the church
00:28:08.63\00:28:11.13
and called it baptism.
00:28:11.33\00:28:13.02
That's what we've been
saying through the week.
00:28:13.22\00:28:15.07
They have renamed everything,
and because the name baptism
00:28:15.27\00:28:18.67
is associated with sprinkling
people think that it must
00:28:18.87\00:28:21.53
be of God, it must be from the
Bible, and it must be Christian.
00:28:21.63\00:28:24.32
It's got nothing to do
with Christianity at all...
00:28:24.52\00:28:26.23
it's pagan!
00:28:26.44\00:28:27.57
But the method that God
has is altogether different.
00:28:27.97\00:28:31.44
It places no emphasis
on the water whatsoever.
00:28:31.55\00:28:34.33
The water's not holy; it's just
ordinary water out of the tap.
00:28:34.53\00:28:38.36
What is holy is
the method of baptism.
00:28:39.61\00:28:43.00
Because as you see the
candidates lowered down
00:28:44.29\00:28:47.07
this morning, they are saying
to you that they have accepted
00:28:47.27\00:28:50.12
Jesus' death, His burial,
and His resurrection for them.
00:28:50.32\00:28:54.79
That's what they
are declaring publicly.
00:28:54.99\00:28:56.78
Because baptism is a public
declaration of our commitment
00:28:56.98\00:29:00.79
to Jesus. It's like marriage.
00:29:00.99\00:29:03.03
You can't get married in
private nor can you get baptized
00:29:03.33\00:29:07.13
in private because
it is a public witness.
00:29:07.23\00:29:10.39
it's a public declaration
of our commitment to Christ
00:29:10.59\00:29:14.88
the same as marriage
is a public declaration
00:29:15.12\00:29:17.66
of our love for our partner.
00:29:17.86\00:29:19.50
And so the two things are
important for us to understand.
00:29:21.99\00:29:26.67
Now you see,
unfortunately as time went on
00:29:26.87\00:29:32.52
there was more and more
emphasis put on the idea
00:29:32.92\00:29:36.82
that babies need to be baptized.
00:29:37.02\00:29:40.86
You see, I was
baptized as a baby.
00:29:40.96\00:29:42.82
Now I don't
remember anything about it
00:29:43.02\00:29:44.69
because
obviously I was very young.
00:29:44.99\00:29:47.70
But I do know about
it because my parents
00:29:47.90\00:29:50.54
kept an album of
my... first part of my life.
00:29:50.74\00:29:55.41
A very detailed one, in fact.
00:29:57.71\00:29:59.33
And some years ago
they bequeathed to me
00:29:59.63\00:30:03.04
this album...
this picture album.
00:30:03.34\00:30:06.33
And when you open it up you
can see on the right-hand page
00:30:06.63\00:30:10.47
Geoff - 1 day old
Geoff - 2 days old
00:30:10.67\00:30:13.31
Geoff - 3 days
old Geoff - 4 days old
00:30:13.51\00:30:15.79
You turn the page: Geoff
- 5 days old and so forth.
00:30:15.99\00:30:18.24
I'm not going to bore you
with all this, but I've got
00:30:18.44\00:30:20.67
this in my library at
home... big thick album.
00:30:20.77\00:30:22.85
And because, you know,
when you're the first born
00:30:23.66\00:30:27.04
in the family parents get
excited about the first baby.
00:30:27.14\00:30:30.78
I guess they're still
excited about the others,
00:30:30.98\00:30:32.22
but they're not quite so
camera happy as time goes on.
00:30:32.32\00:30:37.35
But they are on the
first one, and I happened to be
00:30:37.55\00:30:39.36
the first one... so
there's lots of pictures.
00:30:39.46\00:30:42.01
Now on the album
when you open it up
00:30:42.21\00:30:45.38
on the left-hand side
there is only one picture.
00:30:45.58\00:30:48.24
In my mother's most neat
handwriting she has written
00:30:48.44\00:30:51.36
Geoff's christening
day in a half circle.
00:30:51.46\00:30:53.97
Geoff's christening day.
There is a picture - 1 picture
00:30:54.17\00:30:57.61
on the page. And if you
can imagine what I looked like
00:30:57.71\00:31:01.46
in a white frilly frock,
00:31:01.67\00:31:03.73
then you've got a picture of me
00:31:03.93\00:31:05.40
being baptized.
00:31:05.50\00:31:07.38
Now I want to tell you this:
00:31:07.58\00:31:08.65
that's the only time I've worn
a frock and I'm not planning
00:31:08.91\00:31:11.24
to wear another one. See?
00:31:11.34\00:31:13.63
But that's what my parents
believed was the right thing.
00:31:13.83\00:31:17.80
But friend, when I
started to study the Bible
00:31:19.12\00:31:21.88
and I found that God wants us
to be baptized the correct way
00:31:22.08\00:31:26.55
by immersion then I
was baptized that way.
00:31:26.75\00:31:29.62
And I want to
encourage all of us
00:31:29.82\00:31:31.97
because baptism
is very important.
00:31:33.51\00:31:38.32
Now sometimes people say to
me: "What? I've been baptized
00:31:38.42\00:31:41.21
that way. " And thank God
there are some churches that
00:31:41.41\00:31:43.48
teach that still... the
way you're going to see baptism
00:31:43.58\00:31:46.70
this morning. And I'm
very glad that there are.
00:31:46.80\00:31:49.95
But sometimes those
people come to me and they say:
00:31:50.15\00:31:52.34
"Well I don't need
to be baptized again. "
00:31:52.54\00:31:54.39
Just come over to the
book of Acts. Let me read you
00:31:54.50\00:31:56.20
Acts 19. And here is the
experience that the apostle
00:31:56.40\00:32:02.29
Paul had on one occasion
00:32:02.49\00:32:05.47
when he went down to Corinth
00:32:05.50\00:32:08.74
with Apollos. In
chapter 19 it says verse 1:
00:32:08.77\00:32:12.11
Tell me: how many times
were these disciples baptized?
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Twice. They were first of
all baptized by John's baptism.
00:32:55.37\00:32:59.94
Was that a good baptism?
00:33:00.14\00:33:01.31
Absolutely. Why do we know
that it was a good baptism,
00:33:02.57\00:33:05.76
there was nothing wrong with it?
00:33:05.79\00:33:07.57
Jesus was baptized by John... so
there's nothing wrong with it.
00:33:07.77\00:33:10.62
But what was the problem
with these disciples who were
00:33:10.92\00:33:13.59
baptized by John the Baptist.
There was a major problem,
00:33:13.69\00:33:16.64
and what was the problem?
00:33:16.74\00:33:17.82
As you read down here, what
hadn't they been instructed in?
00:33:19.43\00:33:22.87
The teaching of the Holy Spirit.
00:33:24.23\00:33:26.03
They knew nothing
about the Holy Spirit.
00:33:26.23\00:33:27.91
And so when Paul
came along and Apollos
00:33:28.21\00:33:31.66
they instructed them
about the Holy Spirit.
00:33:31.86\00:33:34.41
And so when they heard
about the Holy Spirit -
00:33:34.61\00:33:37.33
such a major
teaching as the Holy Spirit -
00:33:37.53\00:33:39.33
they then said: "We've got to be
baptized into the full truth. "
00:33:39.53\00:33:42.53
And I believe that that's
like some of us who are coming
00:33:43.96\00:33:46.66
from Sunday-keeping churches.
00:33:46.86\00:33:48.39
That we have not
understood all of the truth.
00:33:48.69\00:33:52.16
You did the right thing
when you were being baptized.
00:33:52.37\00:33:54.62
I want to applaud
you for doing that.
00:33:54.82\00:33:56.50
But it is not wrong to be
re- baptized into God's complete
00:33:56.70\00:34:00.77
truth because now you're
learning new major truths.
00:34:00.87\00:34:05.87
I mean a major
truth is the Sabbath.
00:34:06.07\00:34:07.75
The prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation... they will open up
00:34:08.74\00:34:11.59
to you major truths that
you've never heard before.
00:34:11.69\00:34:15.54
What we studied
about today in health...
00:34:18.29\00:34:20.97
I'll guarantee that most of
you have never heard that before
00:34:22.16\00:34:25.40
and it requires big changes in
our thinking and our lifestyle.
00:34:26.60\00:34:31.34
And I believe that we do the
right thing in being baptized
00:34:31.54\00:34:34.89
into God's complete truth.
00:34:35.09\00:34:36.46
We're not denying our first
baptism... it was meaningful.
00:34:36.66\00:34:40.23
But God wants us to
take another step with Him
00:34:40.44\00:34:42.99
and we're baptized
into God's complete truth
00:34:43.19\00:34:46.10
for these last days.
00:34:46.30\00:34:47.38
And we have Biblical
examples to support that.
00:34:47.58\00:34:50.09
Now sometimes people say to
me: "Well, Geoff, my problem is
00:34:50.29\00:34:54.80
I just don't feel good
enough yet to be baptized. "
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You know, that's the
trouble with many of us.
00:34:57.30\00:34:59.50
We feel that we've got to
graduate to a certain standard
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before we can be baptized. The
Bible doesn't teach that at all.
00:35:02.68\00:35:05.14
The Bible says that we
ought to be baptized as soon
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as we hear about it...
as soon as we understand
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and are able to get our life in
harmony with what God wants us
00:35:11.80\00:35:14.12
to do we ought to be
in a hurry to be baptized.
00:35:14.22\00:35:16.66
We ought not to put it off
00:35:16.96\00:35:18.86
because baptism
is not a graduation.
00:35:19.36\00:35:22.68
Baptism is the
beginning of the Christian life.
00:35:22.98\00:35:25.87
And when we are baptized...
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The candidates this
morning are not saying to us
00:35:27.68\00:35:29.46
they've arrived. I'm
sure they'll tell you that.
00:35:29.57\00:35:33.32
They don't feel that
they've arrived at all.
00:35:33.52\00:35:35.75
But what they are
saying is they're like babes...
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we are beginning
the Christian life.
00:35:38.89\00:35:40.89
And we are beginning the
Christian life just to mark...
00:35:40.99\00:35:44.27
our baptism marks
that. It's like marriage.
00:35:44.40\00:35:46.65
When you get married
there's an awful lot of water
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going to go under the bridge
in the future, isn't there?
00:35:49.56\00:35:51.45
Huh? True.
00:35:51.75\00:35:54.34
And I guess if we knew all
the water that was going to go
00:35:54.64\00:35:57.06
under the bridge maybe
we wouldn't be so anxious
00:35:57.17\00:35:58.99
to get married
so quickly perhaps.
00:35:59.09\00:36:00.90
But we make a pledge together.
00:36:01.20\00:36:05.56
And so it is with baptism.
00:36:05.76\00:36:09.44
We make a pledge with God:
by God's grace we're going to
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live in harmony with
what God wants us to do.
00:36:12.53\00:36:15.63
And so baptism comes
when we've made that decision,
00:36:15.83\00:36:19.14
not when we've arrived.
00:36:19.44\00:36:21.44
Because the truth
is: we'll never arrive.
00:36:21.64\00:36:23.94
Because the closer you get
to Jesus the more you will sense
00:36:24.34\00:36:27.95
your need of
Jesus. Get the idea?
00:36:28.05\00:36:29.70
And the more you will
not want to talk about your
00:36:29.90\00:36:35.21
achievements... you'll
want to talk about Jesus.
00:36:35.31\00:36:37.79
That's the
closer you get to Jesus.
00:36:37.99\00:36:39.66
The further you are away from
Jesus the more you talk about
00:36:39.76\00:36:42.46
you know you pay
100 cents on the dollar.
00:36:42.66\00:36:44.36
You never do your
neighbor a bad turn.
00:36:44.46\00:36:45.72
You live a good life; you
don't need to go to church.
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You don't need God.
You know how people talk.
00:36:47.51\00:36:49.52
That shows that a person's
a long way away from Jesus.
00:36:49.72\00:36:52.42
But when you get close to
Jesus you don't talk about that
00:36:52.53\00:36:54.77
at all. You begin
to talk about Jesus
00:36:54.87\00:36:57.10
and you talk and
recognize your own sinfulness
00:36:57.30\00:36:59.88
because you're coming
up close to the light.
00:37:00.09\00:37:02.57
Let me read you a verse
over here in... in Galatians 3.
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Galatians at the
back of the Bible.
00:37:08.80\00:37:11.21
Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 27.
00:37:11.41\00:37:13.91
Galatians 3 and verse 27.
00:37:15.84\00:37:20.90
And this is what it says:
00:37:21.11\00:37:22.26
So we put on Christ
when we're baptized.
00:37:28.82\00:37:31.99
When I am married, I
take unto myself a wife
00:37:33.15\00:37:35.93
or a husband if you're a woman.
00:37:36.04\00:37:37.40
So that's... when we're
baptized we take Christ.
00:37:37.90\00:37:41.00
That's why we are a Christian.
We're all brothers and sisters
00:37:41.20\00:37:44.20
in the church. And I
love... In the Adventist church
00:37:44.40\00:37:46.60
we often refer to one
another as brother and sister
00:37:46.80\00:37:49.02
because we are indicating that
we're a part of God's family.
00:37:49.13\00:37:52.69
No matter where you go,
whether your skin is black
00:37:54.01\00:37:56.78
or white or yellow or in between
00:37:56.88\00:37:59.69
it makes no difference because
we are all brothers and sisters
00:37:59.89\00:38:03.51
in Christ.
Because when I am baptized
00:38:03.61\00:38:06.41
my name is Geoffrey
Earl Youlden Christian.
00:38:06.61\00:38:09.02
When you're baptized
your name is that: Christian.
00:38:09.22\00:38:11.87
So we're all related; we
all have the same surname.
00:38:12.07\00:38:14.62
That's why we're
brothers and sisters
00:38:14.92\00:38:17.08
within the family of God
00:38:17.28\00:38:19.16
and we have
Christ as our Helper.
00:38:20.35\00:38:22.92
One last verse: I want to read
I John chapter 2 and verse 6.
00:38:23.13\00:38:26.67
I John chapter 2 and
verse 6 where it says this:
00:38:27.07\00:38:32.56
See, the plan for a Christian
is that we walk exactly
00:38:43.78\00:38:47.00
as Jesus walked. And you
can never make a mistake.
00:38:47.20\00:38:50.58
You can never get confused.
If you simply make Jesus as your
00:38:50.88\00:38:54.34
example it just about
finishes every dispute.
00:38:54.44\00:38:57.67
There are no more
disputes if you look to Jesus
00:38:57.87\00:39:00.05
as our example.
We walk as He walked.
00:39:00.15\00:39:02.74
No more dispute
over the commandments.
00:39:03.14\00:39:05.31
No more dispute
over the Sabbath.
00:39:05.51\00:39:06.90
No more dispute
about any of those things
00:39:07.10\00:39:08.83
because we simply follow Jesus.
00:39:09.03\00:39:10.58
That's what the
Bible keeps emphasizing.
00:39:10.78\00:39:12.38
Peter says He's our example;
00:39:12.48\00:39:13.80
John says we walk
just as He walked.
00:39:14.00\00:39:16.40
And if God is going to say
I'm wrong then Jesus is wrong.
00:39:18.78\00:39:22.09
Because if my life
is patterned on Him
00:39:22.40\00:39:25.28
I can't be wrong
because Jesus is my example.
00:39:25.48\00:39:29.88
And I want to tell
you this, friends...
00:39:30.08\00:39:31.53
I want to tell you
the best part of the story
00:39:31.74\00:39:33.53
is that when you ask
Jesus to come into your life
00:39:33.73\00:39:36.07
He gives you the power and
the strength to be able to do
00:39:36.27\00:39:38.21
all that God wants you to do.
00:39:38.31\00:39:39.60
You know, sometimes people
say: "Well you can't keep all
00:39:39.80\00:39:41.62
the commandments. "
That's a half truth.
00:39:41.73\00:39:43.33
You can't keep the commandments
in your own strength
00:39:43.53\00:39:45.59
but when you have Jesus
in your heart you're able
00:39:45.69\00:39:47.48
to be able to do
everything God wants you to do.
00:39:47.58\00:39:49.85
And that's the exciting thing:
that when we link our life up
00:39:50.05\00:39:52.99
with Jesus all power in
heaven and on earth is ours.
00:39:53.09\00:39:58.14
Everything. Every angel in
heaven will come to my side
00:39:58.44\00:40:02.58
if I need it in a situation.
00:40:02.78\00:40:05.14
That's why we can be so
excited about being a Christian.
00:40:05.34\00:40:09.68
And the candidates this
morning as they are baptized
00:40:09.78\00:40:12.89
are saying that we are
linking our life with Jesus.
00:40:13.19\00:40:17.12
And when we link our life
with Jesus, all power is ours.
00:40:17.32\00:40:21.42
Let's just bow our
heads together in prayer.
00:40:21.62\00:40:23.98
Our Father in heaven,
I just want to thank you
00:40:24.08\00:40:26.36
this morning again for the
power that is in the gospel.
00:40:26.57\00:40:30.00
Thank you that the
power is to change our lives.
00:40:30.30\00:40:32.97
And I thank you for
these dear candidates today
00:40:33.07\00:40:35.79
who have indicated their desire
to start the Christian life,
00:40:35.99\00:40:38.84
to start to walk with
You. Bless them we pray
00:40:39.04\00:40:41.57
and strengthen them
day by day. May they always
00:40:41.77\00:40:44.43
feel Your presence with them.
I pray for Christ's sake, Amen.
00:40:44.63\00:40:48.71