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BAPTISM…WHY?

Mark 1: The book of Mark opens with a subject that is controversial. Does baptism save? Is it necessary? Is it pouring, sprinkling or total submersion in water? The answers to these questions begin in this first chapter. John’s baptism, in his own words, was a baptism of repentance and he admitted that the baptism of Jesus would be one of the Holy Spirit. John’s baptism could not and did not provide salvation to anyone. It was merely an act of admitting one’s sins, repentance, if you will, for the forgiveness of sins; more on this later. Verse 4: “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Verse 8: “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 

Jesus went to John and was baptized and when He came up out of the water John saw the Spirit of God, like a dove, come upon Jesus with a voice from Heaven proclaiming the love of the Father for His Son. Verse 11: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  Then Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and was tempted by Satan.

 

After this ordeal Jesus began to call His disciples to Himself to begin His ministry. It is interesting to note that when He called them they obeyed, instantly, and without question joined Him. In Capernaum Jesus began to teach and drive out evil spirits astonishing the people.

 

Soon they left and went to the house of Simon and Andrew where He healed Simon’s mother-in-law and many others who went to the house. The next morning Jesus got up early to pray by Himself. The disciples eventually found Him and he told them to go with Him to the nearby villages so He could preach to the people. A man with leprosy approached Jesus and asked to be healed. He did heal the man and told him to go to the priest with the usual offering as a testimony to them. He cautioned the man not to tell anyone how he was healed, but the man was so excited he told everyone. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay on the outskirts. This didn’t matter because the people found Him wherever He went.

 

Baptism is symbolic of one’s faith in accepting Jesus as Savior. If a person were never baptized but had accepted Jesus as Savior, that person would be with the Lord for eternity. If I joined a religion that practiced baptism as a means of salvation and got baptized and died, I would not go to Heaven. If this were not true then Jesus would have died on the cross for nothing. It is His death and resurrection and one’s belief in what He died for and acceptance of Him that provides the salvation to spend eternity with Him. When we accept the Truth (Jesus) the Holy Spirit lives within us, we are a changed people; our old self dies and we become a new creation in Him.  In 2^nd Corinthians 5:17 we read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” A thorough reading about baptism in the Bible will prove that baptism is nothing more than an outward sign that one has accepted Jesus as Savior. Jesus never said you must be baptized, but He did say that you must believe in and accept Him as personal Savior. This is the ticket to Heaven, nothing else.

 

 

 

 

 

Sermon On the Net

HE IS RISEN

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Luke 24: When Mary and the others went to the tomb to complete the burial process they discovered the tomb to be empty except for two angels who asked what they were looking for. When they replied the angels reminded them of Jesus’ words concerning His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. The women left and told the disciples of their experience. Peter doubted their story and ran to the tomb only to find it as they said.

 

That same day two of them were on the way to Emmaus discussing the events and all of a sudden Jesus joined them. He did not allow them to recognize Him and inquired about their discussion. They were surprised He had not heard of the crucifixion. Jesus began to explain all Scriptures pertaining to Him. When they arrived at their destination they insisted that Jesus stay with them. When they were inside Jesus asked for something to eat and they gave Him some bread. He took it, blessed it and gave it to them and when he did their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. He disappeared and they went to the disciples to report the events.

 

While they were talking among themselves Jesus appeared and showed them His hands and feet where they had been pierced. They were shocked and He asked them for something to eat. Again He reminded them of the prophecies concerning Him and the fact that they had to be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds so they would understand what He was saying. He explained how the Prophets foretold of the necessity of His suffering and that the word of God would be preached to the world. He told them that they are the witnesses and they were to stay in Jerusalem until the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them as the Father had promised. When He led them in the vicinity of Bethany He lifted up His hands, blessed them and was taken up in a cloud. They worshipped Him and retuned to Jerusalem and stayed at the Temple continually praising God.

 

Herein is our salvation: the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the Christian belief; the Christian hope. This is the step all must take, in faith, to be saved. If you are among those who have yet to take that step, I invite you to do so. Tell the Lord that you are lost, confess your sinners state, tell Him that you accept His free gift and ask Him to come into your heart. He will. He is waiting for you. He has accomplished His part for you and He is awaiting your response.

 

Sermon On the Net

THE LAST SUPPER

 

Luke 22: The chapter opens with the betrayal of Jesus by Judas; selling his friend for 30 pieces of silver. I am too bewildered to imagine this particular betrayal, let alone to discuss it except to say that it has to be the most significantly horrific act ever committed by man.

 

Jesus tells the disciples to “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” to a particular house and the owner will know that his upper room would be used for that purpose. At the last supper Jesus tells them that He would not eat this Passover again until it would find fulfillment in the kingdom of God. He took the cup and the bread, gave thanks for each and told them to do the same thing after He is gone to remember Him. Then He told them that He would be sacrificed, a fulfillment of prophecy and betrayed by one of them, but woe to that man.

 

A dispute rose among them as who would be the greatest and Jesus impressed upon them that they are to serve as He came to serve. He told them that they would judge the 12 tribes of Israel. He also told Peter that He would deny that he knew Jesus three times before the rooster crowed that night and that did happen much to Peter’s dismay. He instructed them to take supplies with them when they go out to preach the good news of the kingdom.

 

Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives as usual to pray. He prayed to the Father to remove the cup He was about to drink but knew that His sacrifice had to be. In verse 42 He prays, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” His prayer was a heavy burden upon Him causing Him to sweat, profusely. When He finished He found the disciples sleeping, awakened them and told them to pray so as not to fall into temptation.

 

The final moment came when the crowd, led by Judas approached Him and Judas kissed Him which was the signal to identify Him so He could be arrested.

 

At daybreak Jesus was led to the council of elders and questioned. They wanted to know if He were truly the Messiah. He replied that they wouldn’t believe Him if He said that He was. He did tell them that from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God. They questioned His saying that he was the Son of God. When He told them that they were correct in what they said they agreed they didn’t need to hear any more and they led Him off to Pilate. Verse 70: They all asked, “Are you the Son of god?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

 

Can you imagine turning on God as Judas did? This, in my opinion, is an awesome demonstration of the power of Satan. My friends beware of his powers of deception and the influence he can exercise over us. He never sleeps and he and his band of demons are constantly at work trying to destroy the testimony of those who have chosen to follow Jesus; and to prevent all the rest from trusting in the Lord. Indeed, he is a powerhouse, but we who are in Christ are a greater powerhouse. The Bible says that if ‘He is with us, who can be against us?’ Is He with you? You can know that if you have accepted His free gift of salvation by believing in Jesus; if you haven’t, then perhaps now is the time for you to do so. Simply pray to God and tell him that you believe Jesus died for your sins and was raised again on the 3^rd day and is now sitting on His right hand. Read His word and He will be faithful to you. If you earnestly seek God, if your heart is sincere, He will speak to you through the Bible. Try it you might like it, I know God will. Verse 17 in Romans chapter 19 says: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Please note that it says ‘heard.’

 

 

Sermon On the Net

THE LAST SUPPER

 

Luke 22: The chapter opens with the betrayal of Jesus by Judas; selling his friend for 30 pieces of silver. I am too bewildered to imagine this particular betrayal, let alone to discuss it except to say that it has to be the most significantly horrific act ever committed by man.

 

Jesus tells the disciples to “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” to a particular house and the owner will know that his upper room would be used for that purpose. At the last supper Jesus tells them that He would not eat this Passover again until it would find fulfillment in the kingdom of God. He took the cup and the bread, gave thanks for each and told them to do the same thing after He is gone to remember Him. Then He told them that He would be sacrificed, a fulfillment of prophecy and betrayed by one of them, but woe to that man.

 

A dispute rose among them as who would be the greatest and Jesus impressed upon them that they are to serve as He came to serve. He told them that they would judge the 12 tribes of Israel. He also told Peter that He would deny that he knew Jesus three times before the rooster crowed that night and that did happen much to Peter’s dismay. He instructed them to take supplies with them when they go out to preach the good news of the kingdom.

 

Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives as usual to pray. He prayed to the Father to remove the cup He was about to drink but knew that His sacrifice had to be. In verse 42 He prays, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” His prayer was a heavy burden upon Him causing Him to sweat, profusely. When He finished He found the disciples sleeping, awakened them and told them to pray so as not to fall into temptation.

 

The final moment came when the crowd, led by Judas approached Him and Judas kissed Him which was the signal to identify Him so He could be arrested.

 

At daybreak Jesus was led to the council of elders and questioned. They wanted to know if He were truly the Messiah. He replied that they wouldn’t believe Him if He said that He was. He did tell them that from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God. They questioned His saying that he was the Son of God. When He told them that they were correct in what they said they agreed they didn’t need to hear any more and they led Him off to Pilate. Verse 70: They all asked, “Are you the Son of god?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

 

Can you imagine anyone turning on God as Judas did? This, in my opinion, is an awesome demonstration of the power of Satan. My friends beware of his powers of deception and the influence he can exercise over us. He never sleeps and he and his band of demons are constantly at work trying to destroy the testimony of those who have chosen to follow Jesus; and to prevent all the rest from trusting in the Lord. Indeed, he is a powerhouse, but we who are in Christ are a greater powerhouse. The Bible says that if ‘He is with us, who can be against us?’ Is He with you? You can know that if you have accepted His free gift of salvation by believing in Jesus; if you haven’t, then perhaps now is the time for you to do so. Simply pray to God and tell him that you believe Jesus died for your sins and was raised again on the 3^rd day and is now sitting on His right hand. Read His word and He will be faithful to you. If you earnestly seek God, if your heart is sincere, He will speak to you through the Bible. Try it you might like it, I know God will. Verse 17 in Romans chapter 19 says: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Please note that it says ‘heard.’