Baptism: John Fanta -- 12/14/08

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Baptism: John Fanta

*** Below is an Order of Service. Following that are the things that I (Ron) shared.

The testimony from John was in the form of a brief question-and-answer session (on the tape).

In addition, four men (Justin, Tracy, Alex, and Jake) who grew up in this church shared briefly with John and the congregation. I would urge you to get a copy of the tape and listen.

“Thank You, Lord…” ……. Norman
Introduce Service/Pray.......... Norman
Scr… I Cor. 1:17-2:5……... Dan
I Cor. 4:7 + ………. Ron
“Amazing Grace” (200)….. Jim
“Trust and Obey” (196)…… Jim
Testimony………………… John
A Word about Baptism…… Ron
“O For a Thousand…” (45). Lee
Baptism
Offering
Encouragement…
…Justin….. The Blessing of the Word of God and Prayer
…Tracy….. The Importance of Faith and Obedience
……. Joe: Read Romans 5:1-11,19-21
…Alex…… The Value of Our Friend "Affliction"
…Jake…… The Joy of Fellowship in the Body of Christ
“I’m a New Creation”
Announcements
Benediction
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Read I Cor. 4:7…

Even salvation is what God has given. No one can boast that he was wiser than another, because he chose to follow Jesus. What was the conclusion of the passage we just read? “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” That is, that no one could ever boast about his salvation, his relationship to Christ. Salvation is by grace through faith, and even that is a gift from God. As Jesus put it, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…”

For anyone to become a child of God, to be forgiven of his sin, to become a new creature in Christ… requires a great miracle from God. A great and mighty miracle is required to raise the dead to life, and that is what must happen for anyone to be reconciled to God, for we were dead in our trespasses and sins. But praise God that He is capable of performing that miracle.

In a moment we are going to sing Amazing Grace. I remind you of the history behind that song. It was written by John Newton. He was a wonderful pastor and song writer, but that isn’t the whole story. At the age of 11, John Newton went to sea and began to live a rough and immoral life. Finally, he became a slave trader. He captured natives from West Africa, put them on a ship, and eventually sold them as slaves for profit. When you read the details of his life, you might be tempted to say, “That man is too far gone. He has done things for which there is no forgiveness. Just leave him alone and let him go on to hell; that’s what he deserves.” Yes, that’s what John Newton deserved, but no more than each one of us.

Take John. He has never done the things that John Newton did. Compared to Newton, John looks like an angel. Nevertheless, it took no less a miracle to save John Fanta than it did John Newton. The same mighty miracle was required. John Fanta was just as dead and hellbound as was John Newton. May we never forget that. When anyone is given new life in Christ, it is a miracle of Amazing Grace.

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We recently baptized Lou and Trey, so we will not do a detailed study of baptism this morning. Let me read a couple of scriptures and give a summary explanation. Matt. 28:18-20…
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Baptizing, along with teaching, is closely associated with the making of disciples. We find this not only in the words of Jesus, but also in the historical passages of Acts. For example, let’s read Acts 2:38-41…
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Baptism is indeed an act of obedience in the life of the person who has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person is going to follow Jesus, he begins with baptism. But baptism is not just a ritual that we perform. If we did it only because Jesus told us to do it, that would be enough, but we can praise God that there is a rich meaning associated with baptism. Let’s read Rom. 6:1-5…
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Baptism pictures first of all the death and resurrection of Jesus. John, when I put you down into the water, you will be demonstrating the truth that Jesus died and was buried. When I raise you up, you will be showing that Jesus rose from the grave to die no more. But that is only half of the picture. We are baptizing John this morning because he is testifying the truth that he died together with Jesus and has been buried. When I raise him up out of the water, he is testifying that he has been raised to live a new kind of life, the very life of Jesus.

John, you are young and God has blessed you. He has given you Christian parents and your young life has been very stable. But I must remind you that life will not always be easy for you. How do I know that? Because God has made you a disciple of Jesus Christ. We are told in the Word of God that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “Yes, all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12).

Let’s read the story of Jesus’ baptism. Matt. 3:13-18…
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son.” Those words are taken directly from Psalm 2, the royal Psalm. God’s people recognized that David was talking about the Messiah. Jesus would indeed be recognized as the Messiah, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The voice reminded Jesus of that truth. But then Jesus heard the words, “In whom I am well pleased.” Those words are from Isaiah 42, one of the Suffering Servant passages. Jesus would indeed by the King of Kings, but the road to royalty would lead through great suffering. By submitting to baptism, Jesus was welcoming the path His Father had for Him. It would not be easy, but His deepest desire was to please the Father.

John, as you are baptized this morning, you are testifying to your faith in Jesus Christ. You are painting a picture, testifying that what happened to Jesus has happened to you, that you have been identified with Jesus in His death and in His resurrection. But you are also acknowledging that the path to glory will not be a smooth one, but it will lead through suffering. You are saying to your heavenly Father, “Nevertheless, your will be done in my life.”