A Song of Ascents!

 Do you know the biggest problem facing mankind, today?  It’s not climate change.  It’s not war with China.  It’s not Iran getting the nuclear bomb.  What’s the thing that beats people down the very most?  What leaves us hurting and depressed?  Are you depressed about those things I mentioned?  I’m not!  I really don’t think about those things much.

What beats us down is what happens in our lives – from the decisions we've made, the things we've done and the relationships we’ve destroyed.  That brings me to the thing that is the biggest problem facing mankind today.  This is the biggest cause of problems for people; the thing that causes the most damage to families, to marriages and to people’s lives – Sin!

Do you know what one of the greatest blessings of Christianity is?  It’s that you can be set free from sin.  It can be removed from you; taken away and forgotten by God.  Never to be remembered again!  You can have a fresh start, a new beginning.  You can be Born Again!

Psalms 130:1-8 (NKJV)
^130:1 A song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; ² Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. ³ If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. ⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. ⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. ⁸ And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

A Song of Ascents

The very first words of this psalm are “A Song of Ascents.”  To ascend means to elevate, to rise up; to be lifted up.  The psalmist is saying that out of the depths he cried out.  The depths of despair; the depths of shame; the depths of guilt.  I want to show you how another version of the Bible puts it:

Psalms 130:1 (MSG)
^130:1 … Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!

The bottom has fallen out of my life.  I have sunk as low as I can go.  My life is a mess. 

Oh, how I have been in that place before!  The bottom fell out of my own life, but it wasn’t by chance.  It wasn’t bad luck.  It was the result of continuous and ongoing sin in my life.  That’s what destroyed me.  That’s what defeated me.  That’s what beat me down.  It was out of those depths that I cried out to God and He heard my cry for help.  It was a prayer of ascents, “God lift me out of these depths.”  Take away these things that I have inflicted on my own life.

Sin always destroys – Satan is a destroyer.

 

John 10:10 (NKJV)
^10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

What does he want to steal?  He wants to steal your life.  He wants to steal your finances.  He wants to steal your joy, but Jesus – He has come to give you life; more abundant life.  More abundant joy.  He wants to bring you out of the depths.  He wants to elevate your life. 

The psalmist asks God to hear his supplications.  Supplications is an earnest request for favor from God.  People in the Bible often pray, “If I have found favor in your sight, meet this need.”   That’s supplication.  When we cry out like the psalmist has here – He’s asking God to hear him, to help him.  This is supplications. 

The thing about this is that when we cry out to God, He does hear us.  He heard the groaning of the people in Egypt.  He heard their cries in the desert.  He hears us when we cry out to Him and He has mercy and compassion on us.

The way He lifts us up is through our salvation.  This is when we see his mercy, His forgiveness.  This is when there is a miracle of transformation in our lives.  I thought I was stuck in my sin.  I didn’t see any way forward.  I assumed I had completely ruined my life.  I couldn’t change on my own.  I had tried…I was stuck.

When I cried out.  When I came with supplications.  When I cried out to ascend.  When I was humble enough to do that.  God heard me and transformed me.  He lifted me out of that sin and lifestyle, and set my feet on solid ground again.

God hears you.  He hears you.  He knows your hurts and sorrows.  He’s heard your groaning.  He knows the depths of your sin and your despair.  He will lift you out of those things if you will cry out to Him.  Oh, what a gracious God we serve!

The Sea of Forgetfulness

How does God move to change us or transform us?  How does God restore our peace and confidence.  The psalmist tells us:

Psalms 130:3-4 (NKJV)
^130:3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

Look again at the Message Bible:

Psalms 130:3-4 (MSG)
^130:3 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? ⁴ As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.

Does God remember what you’ve done wrong?  Does He remember every little sin and wrong word?  The answer to that is yes!  These things are recorded, unless…unless what an important word.  Unless you have cried out for forgiveness and really repented.  If you have then what happens?  This:

Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)
^43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

He blots them out.  He makes them disappear.  They’re removed from you as the Bible says, “As far as the East is from the West!” (Psalms 103:12) Never to be remembered again, “And I will not remember your sins.”

They will be sunk into the sea:

Micah 7:19 (NKJV)
^7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

Never to be brought up again.  All of those things you were ashamed of forgotten.  All of those things that brought you to despair.  All of those things that robbed the joy and life from you.  They are gone forever!

When I got saved this was the greatest thing for me.  I was able to go on as if those things were no longer a part of my life.  God had forgotten them and would remember them no more!

Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
^8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

We can escape the weight of our sin.  The weight that pulls us down.  The weight that keep us from ascending.  Have you ever tried to carry a heavy backpack up a huge mountain.  It’s very difficult to climb up, but when the weight is gone, how strong do your legs feel.  This is the greatest thing about salvation.  The strength you have to go on with your life once the weight of that sin is gone.  We are set free from that burden of our sin.

No religious philosophy can do that.  Only salvation and the repentance of sin can cause this.  Our God is a merciful God who loves us, who hears us, who forgives us, and who relieves us of the crushing weight of sin.  Just think of how it would be if God didn’t do that.  There would be no hope.  Repentance would be futile.  Buddhists are doomed to endlessly repeat life until they get it all right, because their ascendance is based on their behavior.  Every sin is recorded and never forgotten.  Karma is a cruel master, but in repenting, God will forgive and remember no more.  Those things you did before will not affect your future, unless you do them again, and don’t repent of them.

There is Hope in God

Our God is a God of Hope.

Psalms 130:7-8 (NKJV)
^130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. ⁸ And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

Before we get saved, we are sold under sin, as if we are slaves, because if you think about it, we are slaves to our particular sins.

That’s why I needed salvation, I was overwhelmed, I was burdened down, I was a slave to all that I was doing.  I couldn’t stop, even when I wanted.  I had lost all hope.  I needed the mercy and compassion of God to release me from all of that, and God did have mercy.  God did show compassion.

Here I am today, to declare to you that God is a God of mercy and compassion.  God will redeem you from the slave owner…Satan.  He will set you free from the chains that Satan uses to hold you:  The chains called sin.  There is hope today that the bondage of sin can be broken.  This is what the psalmist is rejoicing over.  This is the hope that he’s declaring.  This is the promise of salvation.

God will lift you up, in a moment of time.  You can be transformed.  All of the shame and sorrow and burden erased.  Blotted out, because God is gracious.  God is merciful.  God is a loving God and a righteous judge.  Have hope today, God can do a miracle in your life.

Born into the Kingdom #3 - Holy Spirit Baptism

 Today, I’m going to post the last of my “Born into the Kingdom" series.  The series is based on Peter’s preaching in Acts Chapter 2, specifically:

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
^2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The first post dealt with repentance, the second was on the topic of baptism and this, the third, will deal with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  So, let’s begin:

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
^1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

The Great Anticipation

In our text Jesus is telling the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He calls it the promise of the Father; the Comforter; the Helper.  “Go and wait.  Something is going to happen, something that God has promised.  There’s a sense of anticipation. 

Have you ever had to wait for something that:

1)      You were expecting or excited about?

2)      You know is going to be great?

3)      The closer it gets the more excited you are?

4)      That’s anticipation!

This anticipation didn’t start right then, though.  It didn’t start when Jesus told them to go and wait.  It started about a thousand years before that.

Joel 2:28 (NKJV)
^2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

So, the prophet Joel prophesied all of this, a thousand years before Jesus!  People had been waiting and anticipating it since then.  That’s why Peter said to them.  This is what was spoken of by Joel.  “This is what you’ve been waiting for!” 

When Jesus came this started to get more attention.  It was accelerated, as they say.  For example, John the Baptist was filled with the Hoy Spirit, even before he was born.

Luke 1:41 (NKJV)
^1:41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

John’s Spirit recognized Jesus’ mother.  John’s preaching increased the anticipation, even more.

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)
^3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

So, he’s saying, “I will baptize with water, a part of your repentance, but one is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!  This is not the end!  There’s more, immersion in the Holy Spirit.” (paraphrased) That word translated as baptism literally means immersion. “Repent and be baptized…but it’s going to get even better.

Jesus came to John to be baptized and as He came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and remained on Him!

Luke 4:1 (NKJV)
^4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

After this Jesus Himself, begins to excite this anticipation.  He was constantly talking about the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38-39 (NKJV)
^7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

“If you believe in Me, you will receive the Holy Spirit, but not yet just wait…It’s coming.  He even goes so far as to say, “you should be glad that I’m leaving because after I leave, I’ll send the Holy Spirit.”

John 16:7 (NKJV)
^16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

“If I don’t go, He doesn’t come to you…but if I go, I’ll send Him.”  They were really looking forward to this.  They couldn’t wait for that day.  They knew this was going to happen, and they didn’t want to miss it.

The Day Finally Comes

Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
^1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

So, Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.  Don’t leave, don’t go anyplace else; Wait there, it will be soon.  So, they stay in Jerusalem and have a prayer meeting.

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
^2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Every one of those people who were there, and praying were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Every one of them began speaking in tongues.  This is a Biblical pattern, speaking in tongues is evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We know and can trust that Jesus is alive, because He sent the Holy Spirit just like He promised.  After He left, He sent the Holy Spirit.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every believer.  Every one of us who believes can be filled with the Holy Spirit.  It’s not just a select few.  Jesus told us that in Luke chapter 11:

Luke 11:13 (NKJV)
^11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

The Holy Sirit is a gift for every believer that asks for it. 

Peter tells us this in Acts chapter 2:

Acts 2:39 (NKJV)
^2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

The promise is to you, your children and to all who are afar off, as many as are called.  It didn’t die off with the Apostles.  When he says afar off, he’s not talking about distance, he’s talking about generations.  This whole thing is about ALL who were called.  You are called, so, it’s for you, as well.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a critical part of the early church.  Philip was having revival in Samaria (just before he met the Ethiopian).  The apostles heard about the revival and went to see it and pray for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-15) They understood the need for the power of the Holy Spirit to embolden those people to reach others and to build the church.

When Paul met up with the disciples in Ephesus he asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) It’s normal next step.  That’s what was supposed to happen.  What does the scripture say?  “Repent, be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  They’re curious, because that’s what happened to them.  Those twelve disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Finally, receiving the Holy Spirit became a requirement of ministry.

Acts 6:3-4 (NKJV)
^6:3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; ⁴ but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

 They wanted men who had the Spirit of God in them; men who relied on the wisdom of God when making decisions.

Maintaining the Temple

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is when He comes into your life.  He indwells in us.  So, we are like a temple for Holy Spirit.   It’s the place where He dwells, like the temple in Jerusalem where God dwelt.  It’s up to us to keep the temple clean.  We do that by keeping ourselves free of sin. 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV)
^3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

We can’t earn the Holy Spirit by righteousness.  It’s a gift, but righteousness in our lives can maintain His presence.  Remember God can’t dwell where sin is!

1 Corinthians 6:18-19 (NKJV)
^6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Flee sexual immorality!  Why?  Because you are a temple of the Holy Spirit.  He is indwelling in you.  Do you want to bring God there?

2 Corinthians 6:16 (NKJV)
^6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

Flee Idolatry!  Why?  The temple of God shouldn’t have idols.

We need the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It is an essential part of the Christian experience. It’s much easier to serve God when you have the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes, though, we need a refill.

In Acts chapter four, Peter and John are arrested and threatened not to preach Jesus anymore.  They prayed for boldness and how did God answer that?

Acts 4:31 (NKJV)
^4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit.  They got a refill.  We all need that from time to time.  We are leaky vessels.

I close with this:

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the initial step.  It’s the beginning of a deeper relationship with Jesus, but it’s not enough to just receive the gift.  Now we have to learn to lie it; to walk in the Spirit!

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
^5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The reason some Christians don’t look like Jesus, don’t live as a real Christian should, is because they don’t walk in the Spirit.  They’re walking in the world and all its lusts.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and remained on Him.  He was living out God’s will.  If we want to be like Jesus, and by the way, that’s what Christian means, then we also need to live out God’s will and walk in the Spirit. 

Born Into the Kingdom #2 - Baptism

 Note:  This is the second in the three-part series, “Born Into The Kingdom.”

Last week I started a series on the birth of a disciple into the Kingdom.  We are called to make disciples; that’s the Great Commission.  There are three parts – Repentance, Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism.  This post will deal with Water Baptism.

Acts 8:35-40 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ³⁷ Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Baptism is a Clear Acknowledgement

Here’s this Ethiopian eunuch.  He’s a very powerful man.  He’s very high up in the queen of Ethiopia’s court and he has been down to Jerusalem to worship God.  He’s not a follower of Jesus at this point.  He’s been worshipping God in the temple.  As we come across him, he’s reading the Book of Isaiah but not understanding what Isaiah is saying.  This is what he read:

Acts 8:32-33 (NKJV)
^8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth."

This is a prophecy a foretelling of the Jesus’ crucifixion.  The eunuch doesn’t understand to whom Isaiah is referring.  While he’s reading this, Philip catches up to him and the text says he used that scripture to preach Jesus to him.  “Jesus is the man who endured this injustice.

His preaching was effective, and the eunuch began to believe in Jesus.

Acts 8:37b (NKJV)
^8:37 … And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

That’s a bold statement in those times of Christian persecution.  They had just crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen.  Christians had scattered throughout Judea and Samaria preaching as they went.  Since he had been in Jerusalem, no doubt he’s heard of that, but he believes anyway.

I know a young man who had converted to Christianity from Islam.  I asked him what would happen if his father found out.  His response was, “I believe, so what can I do?”  This is the very similar to the Ethiopian’s response…He boldly proclaimed it.  All of us who are believers in Jesus, can we be as bold in declaring Jesus?  Are we open to saying “I’m a believer,” or are we hesitant to declare Jesus as the Son of God? 

The Ethiopian took one more step to declare it.  He got baptized.  This is what baptism is on one level.  It’s you saying, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”  It’s a clear acknowledgement that you believe!

People are really open about some things, aren’t we?  We wear T-shirts with our team’s name.  Go Monkeys (Taoyuan City’s professional baseball team.) I’m not ashamed.  We support political candidates.  We brag about our favorite brands – I have an iPhone.  Nike – Swoosh.  What about Jesus, though, the Savior of your soul.  The one who died for you.  I understand that sometimes people come against you.

Think of that young Muslim man, it isn’t easy to become a Christian when you’re a Muslim, but he got baptized – That’s a bold statement.  The eunuch made a private statement to Stephen that he believes, but he also wanted to make a public declaration about it.

Acts 8:36 (NKJV)
^8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

What hinders me from being baptized?  What are the requirements?  What needs to be done first?  Philip answers:

Acts 8:37 (NKJV)
^8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

“If you believe…” that’s the only requirement.  Then he testified of his faith, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God!”  Often, it seems like people want to add other requirements.  I know people who have believed in Jesus for more than two years who have resisted baptism.  People think that if they get baptized, that there will be more required of them; that it will raise them to a different level of Christianity and commitment, like they’ll have a different job description that’s much harder.  All that baptism really is, is an outward sign of an inward decision.  Asking a new Christian to go public is about them standing up and being counted, saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.”

In some ways baptism is a test.  Jesus wants to know if you’re serious.  If you can’t follow through in this one small thing, what are you going to do about more difficult things.  God sometimes asks for hard things.  He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  He asked him to kill the promise and believe that He would deliver on it regardless.  That’s a little harder than being baptized.

Baptism is a public confession of your faith in Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
^10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Finally, baptism doesn’t save; Faith in Jesus is what saves you.  Baptism is just you saying, “I have faith in Jesus.”  Public confession is the nature of Baptism.  It is something pursued by someone who believes. 

Baptism Follows a Biblical Pattern

The eunuch’s heart was open to God.  “Here’s water, what stops me from being baptized.”  How would he know about baptism unless Philip told him.  It must have been part of his teaching on Jesus.  It should be part of our teaching, too.

So, as a result of Philip’s preaching, the eunuch got saved and made a private statement of faith.  He was also ready to make a public one.  The old man is gone, and a new one takes his place.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

There is symbolism to baptism as well.  We are identifying with Jesus. Being lowered into the water symbolizes Jesus on the cross.  Being under the water reflects Jesus’ burial, and finally, as you emerge from the water the symbolism is that of Jesus’ resurrection.

Romans 6:4-5 (NKJV)
^6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

That s the symbolism of baptism.  There is a distinct pattern in the Bible about this.  Hear the Word of God, repent and get saved (Believe) and get baptized.  People got baptized in the beginning of the church.  All believers in that time were baptized, often on the same night they got saved.  In fact, the early church was founded on baptism. 

        The Beginning of the Church

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

        Philip Preaching in Samaria

Acts 8:12 (NKJV)
^8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

        Cornelius’ Household

Acts 10:47-48 (NKJV)
^10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

        Lydia’s Household in Philippi

Acts 16:15 (NKJV)
^16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

        Philippian Jailer Later in That Same Chapter

Acts 16:33 (NKJV)
^16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

All of these baptisms took place on the day they believed and received Jesus.  There wasn’t a lot of agonizing over it.  They believed and they got baptized.  There’s no reason why any Christian shouldn’t get baptized.  Baptism opens you up to all that God has for you.  Once you go record for Jesus, He goes on record for you.

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)

"Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

The Dynamic of Faith

There must be a personal breakthrough in faith, because many excuses will surface: 

1)  The excuse of family and friends – I want them all to be here.  Baptism isn’t about a family photo; it’s about an audience of one. 

2)  The excuse that, “I don’t have it all together, yet.  That completely misses the point.  Baptism isn’t about you being spiritually perfect.  If that was the case no one would ever be baptized.  Baptism is about a decision you make…to begin.   

3)  It’s meant to reflect the life you want to live, not the life you’ve already lived.

Jesus could have asked us to do anything, and it would have been His rightful place to do so.  All He asks is that when we put our faith in His salvation that we go public!

We need to have faith.  If Jesus commands me, then I’ll follow, “Just say the word, and I’ll do what you command, Lord.”

The Bible is clear about baptism.  We need to go on record before God and others that we are with Jesus!

Note:  The final post in this series will be on the Holy Spirit Baptism.

Born into the Kingdom #1: Repentance

 Note:  The following post is the first post in a three-part series called Born into the Kingdom.  These posts are really designed for new Christians but may be helpful to pioneer pastors in presenting simple Biblical truths to a young congregation.  - Chris

When we’re Christians, Eternal Life is what we’re aiming for; to enter into Heaven – The Promised Land.  Eternal Life, that’s the goal, right? It’s all about knowing God! 

John 17:3 (NKJV)
^17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 tell us that knowing that God and Jesus is Eternal Life.  There are a lot of gods in the world, but there is only one true God.  The key to knowing that God is to follow through on praying, reading your Bible, attending church, believing the promises and following the commands.  In short, living out the things of God, day after day – following God.

Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)
^6:3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

This is what we call the process of discipleship – becoming and making disciples.  It’s our great commission. 

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
^28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

A disciple is a “fully devoted follower of Christ.”  It's not just someone who’s born again but someone who continues to pursue God after the initial glow of salvation wears off through the difficulties and struggles of life, enduring until the end. That’s a disciple.

People don’t become disciples on their own.  They’re taught to be disciples.  Just like after birth there are certain things that have to be done for the health of the baby.  The umbilical cord must be cut, and breast feeding must begin.  You have to show baby Christians the way. 

The book of Acts shows us the process of birthing someone into the Kingdom of God and what’s necessary to ensure their spiritual health.  Repentance, water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This is a three-part series.  This post will look at repentance.

Repentance requires three things in order to be genuine and effective:

Acts 2:36-39 (NKJV)
^2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Repentance Requires a Teacher

In Acts Chapter 2 the Holy Spirit fell on those who were praying in the upper room.  It caused quite a commotion as three thousand people gathered in the street to see what was happening.  They must have been making a lot of noise. Peter stood up to preach.

The one hundred-twenty people in the upper room had choices.  They could stay quiet, they could pray, or they could preach.  Peter got up to preach.

If people are going to repent, they need to have someone tell them that it’s necessary.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
^10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." ¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Peter stood up and explained to them the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit and a changed life.  He specifically preached two things.  These were not his feelings or opinions.

First, he preached the Word of God.  He quoted the Old Testament three times.  He’s preaching out of the scriptures.  We can talk to people and offer our opinions, “This is what I think…”, “I feel like this…”, but we end up in arguments and discussions.  What people need to hear isn’t our opinions or feelings but the Word of God.

1 Peter 3:15b (NKJV)
^3:15 …always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Second, He preached Jesus with conviction and without fear.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified…”

This reminded me of the story of Philip and the Ethopian.  In Acts Chapter 8, the Ethopian is traveling along and he’s reading the Book of Isaiah, but he’s not understanding it all.  Philip asks him whether he understands or not and he answers, “How can I know unless someone guides me?’  He needs a preacher!

Acts 8:35 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

So, a preacher is needed to bring someone to a place of repentance; so, they can hear and understand the Word of God.

Repentance Also Requires Faith from the Hearer

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

This is talking about faith.  They heard Peter’s words and accepted them as the Word of God.  They believed.  They heard what Peter was saying to them and they believed that he was right.  They were convicted that their sin – their personal sin – crucified Jesus.  That comes from the Word of God and the working of the Holy Spirit.  In order to repent, you have to be convinced that you’re wrong. Convinced that what you’re doing is against God and that your sin is the reason that Jesus had to die.  If you never come to that you’ll never come to repentance.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees never believed, so they never repented. 

Repentance requires the thought that my sin is wrong and that it needs to be judged.  That’s why we preach on sin. It is in order to bring people to a place of repentance.

Think about your own life.  What was it that made you realize that you needed to get saved?  You had to come to a point where you realized that the way that you’d been living was wrong in God’s eyes.  You had to recognize that you were guilty.  That’s what happened in our text.

The people in our text heard Peter’s words and realized that they had played a part in Jesus’ crucifixion.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified.”  They felt the guilt and shame that goes with that.  The Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit led them to the faith they needed in order to repent.

Repentance Requires Confession

Acts 2:37 (NKJV)
^2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

This moment right here is the moment of confession.  They’re admitting their guilt.  It’s like them saying, “We know we’re guilty.”  “We know that we have sinned and deserve our punishment!”  “We know that we will face the wrath of God.  What shall we do to make it right?  What shall we do to be right with God.”  That’s a confession of guilt.

In order to repent of sin, you have to know what it is.  You have to know what it is that you have done.  So we confess that sin before God.  That’s why we have an altar call, to give us an opportunity to bring that sin before God. 

You hear the Word of God and Jesus preached.  You feel the conviction of sin, believing that it’s true.  You confess that sin before God.  Then comes repentance.

Repentance is a change of mind or a change of heart.  I know what I’ve been doing is wrong and I’m not going to live like that anymore.  Repentance is a change; the word translated as repent literally means to turn around.  It’s as if you’re going one direction away from God and you turn around and go in a different direction toward God.  Allof this begins with a confession.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
^10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That’s the starting point – Confessing before God; declaring your sin and guilt before God.  This is when the real work starts, beginning to pursue God.  It starts with repentance.  I would encourage anyone who prays for salvation to go home and continue to confess before God.  Think about your sins and bring them before God.

A friend of mine who is a pastor, told me that one man told him that he went home and confessed for an hour and a half.  He really thought about his sin specifically  “I’v done this, I’ve done that…” That’s real repentance.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
^1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, God does his job and forgives.  He even goes so far as to take that sin away.  Then it’s time for you to do your part and change.  Be different – Follow God’s laws and live for Jesus.  Repentance is turning around and walking away from your sinful lifestyle.  I know this can be hard but God helps us.  Peter preached:

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
^2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

First, we repent of our sin.

Second, we’re baptized for the remission of sin.

Third, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

The next post will be about Baptism for the remission of sin!