When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are transformed into a new creation. The past no longer defines you; your identity is now rooted in who God says you are. This new identity is a gift, purchased by the blood of Jesus, allowing you to shed the old ways and embrace a life of purpose and belonging. You are no longer defined by your past struggles or mistakes, but by the grace and love of God. [31:45]
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways do you find yourself still clinging to the identity of your "old self" rather than embracing the "new creation" you are in Christ?
Baptism is a powerful and crucial step in the Christian journey, serving as a public declaration of your commitment to Jesus Christ. It visually symbolizes His death, burial, and resurrection, signifying your own spiritual transformation. This act is a visible sign to the world, your church family, and yourself that you identify with Christ and are a follower of His. It's a beautiful testament to your faith and a step of obedience. [36:44]
Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (ESV)
Reflection: What might be holding you back from making this public declaration of your faith through baptism, and what is one small step you could take this week to explore that?
Salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by our actions or good deeds. While good works and obedience are important expressions of our faith, they are not the basis of our salvation. Scripture clearly teaches that by grace we are saved through faith, and this is not of our own doing but a gift from God. Your belief in Jesus and His resurrection is the key to being saved. [44:07]
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (ESV)
Reflection: When faced with challenges or doubts, how can you remind yourself that your worth and salvation are rooted in God's grace and your faith, rather than your performance?
The word "baptize" originates from a Greek term meaning to submerge or immerse in water. This act symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and by extension, our own spiritual death to sin and resurrection to new life in Him. While there can be variations in practice due to circumstances, the core meaning of baptism involves this immersion, representing a complete burial of the old self and a rising into newness of life with Christ. [50:15]
Romans 6:3-4
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the imagery of being "buried with Christ" and "raised to newness of life." What aspect of your past feels like it needs to be fully buried, and what does "newness of life" in Christ look like for you today?
While some may choose to be re-baptized as a spiritual refresher or a personal commitment, scripture teaches that there is one baptism. This signifies a singular, foundational act of entering into Christ. Re-baptism does not add to your salvation or holiness, but rather, it is a personal decision between you and God. The focus remains on your relationship with Christ and living a life worthy of the calling you have received. [57:13]
Ephesians 4:4-6
"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (ESV)
Reflection: Considering the concept of "one baptism," how can you actively live out the unity of faith and the new identity you have in Christ, even when facing personal struggles or seasons of difficulty?
The congregation is urged to live out a new identity in Christ—no longer defined by past sins but by the blood that makes believers a new creation. Worship and the chorus “I am who you say I am” frame a call to claim that identity boldly, to raise one’s head, and to take seriously the transformation that baptism publicly seals. Baptism is taught as a vital act of obedience: a visible testimony that identifies a believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It marks a turn from the old life and serves as a public declaration before family and the church community.
Careful scriptural engagement distinguishes between the inward reality of salvation by faith and the outward ordinance of baptism. Scripture affirms that faith is the means of salvation while also showing that baptism is Christ‑ordained as an essential expression of discipleship and obedience. The practical questions are addressed plainly: why be baptized (to testify and identify with Christ), whether baptism is required for heaven (faith is primary, though baptism is highly significant), what proper form looks like (immersion best symbolizes death and resurrection, yet pastoral accommodation exists), and whether one must be rebaptized (no, unless a believer chooses it as a meaningful recommitment).
The teaching balances theological conviction with pastoral sensitivity—insisting on the theological symbolism tied to immersion and the church’s historic commission to baptize and teach—while honoring real human limitations and pastoral exceptions. Baptism is presented not as a meritorious work earning salvation but as an obedient response that publicly aligns a life with Christ’s finished work. Those preparing for baptism are encouraged to view it as a decisive, joyful step of faith that the church celebrates, and all believers are reminded to walk in humility, unity, and the newness of life they have received.
``Like the same God that was yesterday is the same God today. The same God that was healing and touching lives two thousand years ago is the same God in 2026 that's still performing miracles. It's the same God. Each one of you, if you've accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are a new creation. A beautiful child of the Almighty God. You are royalty. Royalty.
[00:34:13]
(34 seconds)
#SameGodSameMiracles
Today we are gonna be celebrating baptisms at the end of service and I'm telling you right now, we're not burying you in the old so you can come out the same way you were. We are burying the old junk. We're burying who you used to be. We are burying like when I when I accepted Christ, when I was baptized, when my life and my heart was completely changed for him, it wasn't the Jason that used to go out on Saturday nights and party till three in the morning. It was a brand new Jason that came out. It wasn't the Jason that I used to be.
[00:34:47]
(41 seconds)
#BuryOldRiseNew
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