Tonight the waters of baptism symbolize our new life in Christ. Baptism portrays or pictures what God has done in us through Christ. Open with me to Colossians 2:11, actually v. 8-12 is one long sentence with one primary clause starting in v.8, and six secondary clauses, each with a verb extending all the way down to v.12. Colossians 2:11-15 (NKJV)11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. As you saw each of those who were baptized coming up out of the water, they portray going into the water old, dead, and lost; and coming up new, fresh, and alive. So baptism portrays salvation; and salvation gives us: NEWNESS OF LIFE INTO WHICH WE ENTER AND LIVE Baptism is the reminder we are in a whole new life now that we are saved. We used to be in a membership with some powerful bullies that were always threatening and holding us hostage. No more. Christ defeated them and all we have to do is remind ourselves and them of this fact. We are sons of the owner, they have no power over us unless we give it to them! We who have been baptized declare that through Christ, God has given us: LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 1: SALVATION MEANS A HEART THAT IS NEW Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, NKJV BAPTISM DECLARES WE HAVE A HEART THAT IS NEW: this speaks of spiritual heart circumcision (Ezekiel 36:26-27), or the work of salvation as Christ is putting off our old person LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 2: SALVATION MEANS A PAST THAT IS BURIED AND FOREVER GONE Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. NKJV BAPTISM DECLARES WE HAVE A PAST THAT IS BURIED: of our burial with Christ LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 3: SALVATION MEANS A FRESH, NEW BEGINNING Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, NKJV BAPTISM DECLARES: of our new life in Christ LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 4:SALVATION MEANS AN END TO ALL GUILT, ALL MY SINS ARE ON JESUS Colossians 2:14a having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV BAPTISM DECLARES: the end of any condemnation against us. LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 5: SALVATION MEANS I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR Colossians 2:14b having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV BAPTISM DECLARES: I have nothing left to fear. LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 6: SALVATION MEANS I AM FREED FROM LEGALISM & EXTERNALISM Colossians 2:15-23 (NKJV)Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. BAPTISM DECLARES: I am freed, and don’t have to conform to anyone’s rules but God’s. LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 7: SALVATION MEANS I CAN SAY NO TO SIN & MEAN IT! BAPTISM DECLARES: I am freed, and don’t have to surrender to my old habits, fears, and sins that enslaved me for so long. Colossians 3:1-10 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 1: SALVATION MEANS A HEART THAT IS NEW LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 2: SALVATION MEANS A PAST THAT IS BURIED AND FOREVER GONE LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 3: SALVATION MEANS A FRESH, NEW BEGINNING LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 4:SALVATION MEANS AN END TO ALL GUILT, ALL MY SINS ARE ON JESUS LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 5: SALVATION MEANS I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 6: SALVATION MEANS I AM FREED FROM LEGALISM & EXTERNALISM LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTH # 7: SALVATION MEANS I CAN SAY NO TO SIN & MEAN IT! https://vimeo/42561290
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 14:27:24 +0000
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