CONFESSION PART 1 of 1,  SERMON #8

  This is sermon number 8 in a series of sermons entitled “WHAT DOES THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELIEVE?”.  We have learned so far that you must 

1 - make a decision about Jesus; 

2 - Believe that Jesus is part of the trinity proven by His virgin birth; 

3 - have faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; and 

4 - repent of your sins to God.  

   The question for sermon number 8 is WHAT DOES THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELIEVE ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF CONFESSION OF THE NAME OF JESUS?

   We need to get right to the text of this sermon.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.      (Sam leave this up for a few minutes)

   What does THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH believe about confessing the name of Jesus?   What does the Bible teach about confessing the name of Jesus?

Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 

   What about those who do not confess that they believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God?  Matthew 10:33 answers this question.  33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

(Luke 12:8-9 is almost identical)

   Some might stand before Jesus on the Day of Judgment and argue that they never did deny Jesus.  Jesus will say - well, did you ever confess Me before men that you believed that I am the Christ, God’s Son?   We should see clearly that when we refuse to confess the name of Jesus that we have, in reality denied Him.   Someone might argue with Jesus and say that he never stood against Him.  This person will hear the words of Matthew 12:30 (NIV) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

  On the Day of Judgment there will be no neutral ground.  There will be the sheep on the one side who confessed Jesus before men and there will be the goats on the other side who denied Christ.  There is no neutral ground where one can say - well, I just will not make a decision one way or the other.  There will be NO NEUTRAL GROUND.  The end of those who do not confess Jesus is that Jesus will deny them on the Day of Judgment.  In fact, Jesus will say, I NEVER KNEW THEM.

   In Jesus’ Day, there was a penalty for making this great confession.  Remember the man that was born blind and Jesus restored his sight.

John 9:18-23 (NIV) The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 “Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 20 “We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 

21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 

   Yes, the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.  There is still something to be feared in places like Russia, China, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia.  But that is not true in cities in America.  There are no threats or hinderances or roadblocks.  There are no threats here today.  You are free to walk down the aisle and repeat after the preacher - I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.  This is one of the freedoms of those living in the United States of America.

   To confess Christ is to declare your belief in Him that He is the Christ, the Messiah, King, Lord, and Savior of the world.  It is to profess before the world your belief that He is your Master.  It is to praise Jesus and to celebrate His name.

  1 John 4:15 (NIV) If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

That is quite a promise of the Bible.

    First, we have faith in God, and then we repent of our sins to God, and then we confess Christ before men.  

If we do not have faith in God or have not repented of our sins to God, it will do us little good to stand before men and confess Jesus as the Messiah.  

   Let us learn what comes first baptism and then confession or is it confession and then baptism.    

Acts 8:35-39 (NIV) Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"  37 AND PHILIP SAID, “IF 

YOU BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU MAY.” 

THE EUNUCH ANSWERED, “I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.”  38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot.  Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 

   Philip said we can stop this chariot right now and baptize you.  And that is what they did.

     I recall one time that a young lady came forward to confess Christ and be baptized.  The minister was caught a little off guard and looked down at that little young lady and instead of placing words in her mouth, he asked her this question.  Mary, who do you think Jesus is?  She looked up at the preacher and said, “Why, I believe that He is God’s Son”.  What else needed to be said?

   We get to one of the important parts of the sermon when we begin to realize that the Plan of Salvation is not a magical formula.  One may get the idea -- oh yes, all I need to do is to say I believe in God, and say that I have repented of my sins, and make a statement about belief in Jesus, and then get immersed, and I am on my way to heaven.  Is this really a magical formula?

   God’s plan of salvation is not a magical formula.  It is what happens in the heart first that matters.  Any part of our surrender to Jesus that is not genuine and not from the soul is useless in getting us to heaven.  We give God our heart first and then our body and then our service.

   This Great Confession of Jesus is so interesting according to Paul:

1 Timothy 6:11-15 (NIV) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 

  Yes, Jesus would never ask you to do something that He has not already done. 

   What does THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH believe about the Good Confession?  We confess Christ that first time before men and from that moment on we confess Christ daily.  THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH does not limit its belief in the Good Confession to one time only, and do not limit it to only once a day.  At the end of each day, we should ask ourselves the question, “Did we confess the name of Jesus today?”.

   Thank you, Jesus, a few days after I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and was baptized, and had decided to follow His way.  A friend from the past approached me and told me he was having a party at his place the coming weekend.  I thought I would just make an excuse and tell him I could not make it.  But something stronger than I, inside of me said, “No, you cannot do that.”  And I decided to look him in the eye and say, “I am a Christian now and I don’t go to parties, and I do not drink anymore.”

Was that a test?  I think so.  

   It is after we make our good confession that Paul says to us FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.  He does not tell people to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH who never confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  

   It is when Christians let go of the name of Jesus, and Jesus’ name is no longer important to them, that is when backsliding begins, and the question is - “Where will it end?”.

  There may be some who have vowed in their hearts that they will never confess that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God.  This is true of some Jews today and it is true of the Moslems, and it is true of two-thirds of the religions of today.  Some have no intention of ever confessing Christ.   But guess what?  

Romans 14:11 (NIV) It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" 

We find this scripture that was written 700 years before Christ came to this planet in Isaiah 45:23-24 (NIV) By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 

24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 

   In this Holy Scripture, it states a fact that will never, never, never be revoked.  The day is coming when every knee will bow before God’s throne and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  This is simply great for all Christians.  This is what we will do automatically without anyone having to say - “Repeat after me…”.

    Then, in Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

   We can think of millions of names that have been on this planet and even some names that have not even been originated yet, and there is no name like Jesus’ because God has lifted up, only the name of Jesus.

     What a privilege we have to walk down a church aisle and to confess that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of our sins.  Christians should bow their knees daily to Him and confess Him daily.  This is not a one-time event.  Our goal is to confess Jesus every day that we live.  Even our prayers need to be given in the name of Jesus.  We hear people pray and at the conclusion of the prayer is “amen.”   How much lovelier is the prayer that is concluded “in Jesus’ name.”  After all Jesus promised that whatever we ask in His name it will be granted.

   Jesus asked His disciples, WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I AM.  They answered and said that some think you are one of the prophets or Elijah or even John the Baptist.  Then Jesus asked them - BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?  Peter answered first - WE BELIEVE THAT THOU ART THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.    Jesus promised to build His church, not on Peter a little tiny pebble, but Jesus built His church on the foundation of Peter’s confession.  This is that great mountain of truth.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  God has built THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH on this great mountain of truth that Jesus is GOD’S Son.

   This is an important time in your life. You confess Jesus on earth and Jesus confesses your name in heaven, when you stand before the Judgment Seat of God.

   It will take great courage to confess the of Jesus to your friends and family.  But God will be with you, as a Christian and He will do a work in you that you are unable to do for yourself.

   Will you let Him?  Today is the day of salvation…

By: Glenn Cunningham 

BAPTISM PART 1 SERMON #10

  What Does THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH Believe About Christian Baptism?   

  This is sermon number 10 in a series of messages titled WHAT DOES THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH BELIEVE?   

We have learned so far that: 

1-  You must decide about Jesus - Who is Jesus. Do you Trust Him; 

2-   You must believe in the divinity of Jesus as proven by His virgin birth; 

3-   You must have faith in God, in Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit; 

4-   You must repent of your sins to God; and 

5-   You must confess Christ before men.

  There is much controversy in the world and even in the church about this subject.  Some say that you do not need to be baptized at all.  Some have concluded that baptism in the Bible is a spiritual baptism.  Some say that you get to choose if you are going to be sprinkled, or have water poured over your head, or be immersed in water.  There is much controversy about how old one should be before he is baptized.  There is controversy over whether or not to be immersed all over again if one feels that he was not immersed the first time for the remission of his sins.  There are some who believe that you need to be immersed 3 times:  once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Spirit.

  What does the Bible teach the church about Christian Baptism?  That is the question today.  The question is - What is the belief and practice of THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH in regard to Christian Baptism?  We realize that only a minority of those who call themselves Christians believe this Doctrine of Christian Baptism to the fullest.  Some conclude that this is a hard, difficult message of THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  

When the Church says- Jesus, You teach us, You command us, and we will do anything -- You tell us what to do, that is when this is not a hard and difficult teaching of the Bible.

  Before we get too far into this sermon, we just have to say that the Doctrine of Christian Baptism is so important, so significant, and so fundamental to THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  If we read every time in the New Testament where the word baptized were used, we would have to read 61 Bible verses, baptizing (4), baptize (9), and baptism (22), in all we would have to read you at least 96 Holy Scriptures.  This doctrine must be significant, important, and fundamental. 

   If this doctrine offends anyone, we must blame 96 Holy Scriptures in the New Testament of the Bible.

   What is Christian Baptism?  We state this question this way because there is the Baptism of John, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the Baptism of Suffering and the Baptism of Fire.  What is Christian Baptism?  We need to insert here that there is not a single example in the New Testament where a believer (or anyone else) was ever sprinkled.  No not one!

  THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH holds to the original meaning of the word baptism, which is to immerse, to dip, or to plunge.  We immerse in water because that is what John the Baptizer did.  There are occasions in the New Testament where it is stated that they went down into the water and came up out of the water. 

  The purpose of Christian Baptism according to Acts 2:38 is that it is for the remission of sins, and for the receiving of the Holy Spirit.  

Acts 2:38 (NIV) 38  Peter replied, "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.  Being baptized is not just something one must do to be a Church Member.   There are some who say that you do not have to be baptized to get into heaven and at the same time preach that one must be baptized in order to be a member of their church.  One could say, isn’t that interesting that it is harder to get into some churches than it is to get into heaven.

    One question is when, we should be baptized.   Mark 16:16 (NIV) 16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.   Baptism is not for infants.  

One must be old enough to know what he is doing, and he must Believe.

    Some would conclude, that just as soon as you are saved you should be immersed.   

Is baptism something that we do after we are saved or is it something we do in the process of being saved?

    In John 3:3 we find these words- John 3:3 (NIV) 3  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 

This is Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus.  Jesus did not say anything about being baptized as soon as you are saved.  His exact words were “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”   Nicodemus was perplexed with this answer and asked if he could go back to the maternity ward of the hospital with his mother and be born all over again.  Well, the question was something like this.  Let’s hear Jesus’ explanation of being born again.

      Verses 5-7 John 3:5-7 (NIV) 5  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  6  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 

7  You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'  

   Nicodemus, to be born of your mother is flesh but to invite the Holy Spirit to come into your life, that is Spirit.   Acts 2:38 promises the gift of the Holy Spirit when we repent and are baptized.  Jesus said EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER -- that is Christian Baptism and that is when The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside us.  Could it be any plainer than this?   THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH does not believe that one should be baptized as soon as he is saved.  Being baptized is part of the process of being saved.  It is part of God’s Plan of Salvation.  This is what THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH believes.

    Wouldn’t it have been just great if someone like Peter would have just said it so plainly that baptism does now save us.  That would answer the question, wouldn’t it?    Guess what?   Peter did just that and the Bible states that baptism, does now save us.    1 Peter 3:18-21 (NIV) 18  For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19  through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20  who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 

Then we get to the 21st verse and let us listen so carefully.  

Verse 21 21  and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 

(Please leave this up until the next verse)

    Let’s study this verse.  It says, “this water symbolizes baptism.”  What Peter has just said is that Noah and his family, those 8 souls, were saved by water.  It was water that lifted up Noah’ Ark.  “baptism that now saves you also.”  Peter goes on to state that he is not talking about a washing of the body of its dirt.  It is washing our souls of their sins.  We are saved by baptism.  Thank you Peter.  Thank you Holy Spirit.  A lost and dying world needs to hear these words.  What makes Christian Baptism powerful?  It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     What does THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH believe about Christian Baptism?   It is immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) 19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

It is immersion for the remission of sins.  It is not to get your name on a church register as a member.  However, the congregation may add you as a member of the congregation upon your confession of Jesus and your immersion in His name for the remission of your sins. 

     Let’s look at another scripture.  When Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, was turning over his life to Jesus he was told this by Ananias in Acts 22:16 (NIV) 16  And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' 

   Saul was to arise and to be baptized to wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord.   Baptism is rebirth, it is to be born again.  When one is baptized, he becomes a Christian as he comes up out of that watery grave of baptism without his sins and with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

     How do we know that baptism is burial in water?  Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) 3  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

4  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

We are sprinkled… no… we are poured… no.  We are buried with Christ.  Baptism is the very picture of the gospel.  It is our death to sin.  Our burial in Christ…..  Our resurrection to a new life in Christ.  Christian baptism is the gospel in real life steps.  Baptism is the final step in this process.

Galatians 3:27 (NIV) 27  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

   The King James Version says it like this:

Galatians 3:27   FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.  

We certainly cannot state this any plainer than Paul did to the church of the Galatians.  

          Before the message is concluded, let us add just one more part.  This is the example of baptism with which we want to leave you.    

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV) 13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14  But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15  Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 

16  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 

17  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 

   Jesus is our example.  Jesus never asks us to do anything that He has not already done Himself.

     What does THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH believe about Christian Baptism?   It is immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) 19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

     It is the time of invitation.  Won’t you come today and surrender to Jesus?  Come with your faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and repent of your sins to God, and confess Jesus this day, and make your plans to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins.  Come and arise from that watery grave to walk in newness of life with God and with the Holy Spirit.

By: Glenn Cunningham