The Church And Christ's Baptism (Acts 2:36-47, Genesis 17:1-14)
Rev. William L. Barron, July 10, 2022Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Peter gave two commandments as to what we must do to unite with the church. These are Repent and Be Baptized. Repent means to change your mind and the course you are taking through life. This is only possible in Christ. Repentance is what we do with our guilt. This guilt is real guilt, not just our feelings, rather our guilt before the holy God. Our only way out of real guilt is to be declared innocent. The Bible tells us that without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sin. The only one who can give true forgiveness for real guilt is Jesus. Baptism extends back to God's promises to Abraham. God refers to "My covenant" nine times. In the New Testament, a new covenant means a better covenant. God's covenant with Abraham was sealed by a sign, which was circumcision of males in the household on the 8th day of life. New Testament baptism is the fulfillment of the sign of circumcision and is more inclusive since both males and females receive the sign. The root of the Greek word for baptism means merging or uniting together. Baptism thus means the ingrafting or bringing of a person into the church, the body of Christ. Baptism doesn't save. In Romans 6: 3-5, Paul is teaching that in baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and into His resurrection life. Baptism is appropriate for households. In Acts 16 in the church at Philippi, Lydia and her household were baptized upon her confession of faith. Those who had not yet made a profession of faith were known as non-communicant members of the church. As such, they received the blessing and spiritual protection of the church. Paul teaches in Galatians 3 that the church would be a blessing to the Gentiles as Abraham's offspring.
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| « Reality Therapy | None | If God Is For Us » |
Acts 2:36–47 (Listen)
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(ESV)
Genesis 17:1–14 (Listen)
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
(ESV)