Embracing Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Prayer

Description: Prayer is a powerful tool that connects us directly with God. It is not just a ritual but a means through which we communicate our deepest desires, fears, and hopes to our Creator. The recent 21 days of prayer have shown us that God listens and answers in ways that often exceed our expectations. Whether it's a job interview or a personal desire like getting a book into airport racks, God is attentive to our prayers. This encourages us to keep praying and trusting in His timing and methods. [31:22]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Think of a specific prayer you have been hesitant to bring before God. Can you take a moment today to present it to Him, trusting in His power and timing?

Day 2: Biblical Baptism

Description: Baptism is not just a tradition but a biblical command. The term "baptism" comes from the Greek word "baptizo," which means to immerse or submerge. It is an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. The Bible does not support infant baptism or sprinkling; it emphasizes believers' baptism following repentance and faith. This act symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, marking a significant transformation in the believer's life. [37:44]

Acts 2:38 (ESV): "And Peter said to them, '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.'"

Reflection: Have you been baptized as a believer? If not, what is holding you back from taking this step of obedience and public declaration of your faith?

Day 3: Immediate Obedience

Description: The New Testament shows that baptism should be immediate after repentance and belief. There is no need for classes or waiting periods. This immediacy reflects the urgency and importance of publicly declaring one's faith in Christ. Baptism does not save you; salvation is through Jesus alone. However, it is a crucial step of obedience and public declaration of your faith. [54:15]

Acts 8:36-38 (ESV): "And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?' And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to immediate obedience? What steps can you take today to respond to His call without delay?

Day 4: Symbolism of Baptism

Description: Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It marks the end of an old life and the beginning of a new one. If your baptism did not signify this transformation, it might not have been a scriptural baptism. This act of immersion represents dying to our old selves and rising anew in Christ, signifying a profound internal change that is publicly declared. [50:29]

Romans 6:4 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Reflect on your own baptism experience. Did it symbolize a true transformation in your life? If not, what steps can you take to ensure your faith journey aligns with this profound symbolism?

Day 5: Public Declaration

Description: Baptism is a public declaration of faith. It’s like a wedding ring that shows you belong to someone. By being baptized, you publicly declare that you belong to Jesus, and you are not ashamed of your faith. This public act serves as a testimony to others of your commitment to follow Christ and live according to His teachings. [52:14]

Matthew 10:32-33 (ESV): "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: How can you publicly declare your faith in your daily life? Think of one specific way you can show others that you belong to Jesus today.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Liberty family! Today, we celebrate the power of prayer and the incredible ways God answers our petitions. We’ve just completed 21 days of prayer, and I want to share a personal testimony about how God answered my prayer to get my book, "Goodbye Fear," into airport book racks. This expanded edition, filled with more scripture and insights from historical Christian figures, will soon be available in Choice Books stands at airports. I encourage you to share this book with friends and colleagues, especially in these anxious times.

Today’s message focuses on the biblical understanding of baptism. We often get caught up in traditions, but what truly matters is what the Bible says. Baptism, derived from the Greek word "baptizo," means to immerse or submerge. It is not merely a sacrament or an ordinance but an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. The Bible does not support infant baptism or sprinkling; instead, it shows a pattern of believers being baptized after they repent and believe.

We explored four key questions: What is baptism? Who should be baptized? Why should you be baptized? And when should you be baptized? Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience, representing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is for those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus. Baptism follows the example of Jesus, marks a changed life, and publicly declares one's faith in Christ.

We also discussed the immediacy of baptism in the New Testament. There is no need for baptism classes or waiting periods; once you repent and believe, you should be baptized immediately. Baptism does not save you; salvation is through Jesus alone. However, it is a crucial step of obedience and public declaration of your faith.

If you have not been baptized as a believer, today is the day to take that step. We have everything you need, from clothes to video recording for your family. Don’t let excuses hold you back. Follow the example of Jesus and make this day memorable by publicly declaring your faith through baptism.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Prayer: Our 21 days of prayer have shown us that God listens and answers. Whether it's a job interview or a personal desire like getting a book into airport racks, God is attentive to our prayers. This encourages us to keep praying and trusting in His timing and methods. [31:22]
2. Biblical Baptism: Baptism is not just a tradition but a biblical command. It means to immerse and is an act of obedience and public declaration of faith. The Bible does not support infant baptism or sprinkling; it emphasizes believers' baptism following repentance and faith. [37:44]
3. Immediate Obedience: The New Testament shows that baptism should be immediate after repentance and belief. There is no need for classes or waiting periods. This immediacy reflects the urgency and importance of publicly declaring one's faith in Christ. [54:15]
4. Symbolism of Baptism: Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It marks the end of an old life and the beginning of a new one. If your baptism did not signify this transformation, it might not have been a scriptural baptism. [50:29]
5. Public Declaration: Baptism is a public declaration of faith. It’s like a wedding ring that shows you belong to someone. By being baptized, you publicly declare that you belong to Jesus, and you are not ashamed of your faith. [52:14]
### [52:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:22] - Testimony of Answered Prayer
[32:18] - The Journey of "Goodbye Fear"
[33:58] - The Anxiety in America
[34:44] - Sharing the Book
[35:27] - Introduction to Baptism
[36:19] - What is Baptism?
[37:44] - Infant Baptism vs. Believer's Baptism
[39:20] - Jesus' Example of Baptism
[40:36] - Who Should Be Baptized?
[45:04] - The Law and Our Need for a Savior
[47:17] - Why Should You Be Baptized?
[50:29] - Marking a Changed Life
[52:14] - Declaring Christ Publicly
[54:15] - When Should You Be Baptized?
[56:21] - Baptism is Not Salvation
[58:22] - Re-Baptism and Renewal of Vows
[60:35] - Memorable Baptisms
[61:02] - We Got You Covered
[66:07] - Invitation to Be Baptized
[68:24] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does the Greek word "baptizo" mean, and how does it relate to the act of baptism? ([36:19])
According to the sermon, what are the two main reasons why baptism is not considered a sacrament or an ordinance in the Bible? ([37:01])
What examples from the New Testament were given to illustrate the immediacy of baptism after repentance and belief? ([54:15])
How does the pastor describe the symbolism of baptism in relation to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection? ([50:29])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jesus commanded baptism in Matthew 28:18-20? How does this command impact the practice of baptism in the church today? ([39:20])
How does the immediacy of baptism in the New Testament challenge modern practices of baptism classes or waiting periods? ([54:15])
In what ways does baptism serve as a public declaration of faith, similar to a wedding ring, according to the pastor's analogy? ([49:03])
How does the pastor's personal testimony about the power of prayer relate to the overall message about obedience and public declaration through baptism? ([31:22])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced the power of prayer in your life. How did that experience strengthen your faith and trust in God's timing and methods? ([31:22])
Have you been baptized as a believer? If not, what is holding you back from taking this step of obedience and public declaration of your faith? ([56:21])
How can you use the symbolism of baptism to explain the significance of this act to someone who is unfamiliar with Christian practices? ([50:29])
The pastor mentioned that baptism should follow repentance and belief. How can you ensure that your baptism or the baptism of others aligns with this biblical pattern? ([46:39])
Think about someone in your life who might benefit from reading "Goodbye Fear." How can you share this resource with them in a way that points them to faith in Christ? ([34:44])
The pastor emphasized the importance of immediate obedience in baptism. How can you apply this principle of immediate obedience to other areas of your spiritual life? ([54:15])
How can you support and encourage others in your small group or church community to take the step of baptism if they have not yet done so? ([56:21])

Sermon Clips

1. "100% of America is fearful. 100% of America is anxious. Republicans are freaking out that the Democrats may win. And the Democrats are freaking out that the Republicans may win. And there's war in the Middle East and Iran and China and Russia and tension. And the threat. And the threat of World War III. I'm just telling you, what an opportunity to put in people's hands your co-workers who may not come to the church. Your neighbors to put into their hand a book about goodbye fear that points them to faith in Christ." [33:58] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you won't do this simple act, then you're going to have trouble with everything else in the Christian life. If you won't do the simple thing that God asked, how are you going to do the hard things? And so, we see what is baptism. Number two, who should be baptized? Who should be baptized? Look at Mark chapter 1, verse 4. You still awake? Say, Amen. And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance. Who should be baptized? Those who repent." [39:59] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God sees you and your rebellion. He knows all about your wilderness experience. And he can handle your past. You bring it all to him. Now, notice it's called a baptism of repentance. You see it again in Acts chapter 2, verse 38. Peter replied, Repent and be baptized every one of you. Why do we need to repent? Because we've all sinned. How do you know that you're a sinner? Well, God gave us the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments. He's broken every one of them." [41:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The law reveals God's righteousness, but it can't make you righteous. The law shows you you need a Savior, but it can't save you. The law will tell you that you're spiritually dead, but cannot make you spiritually alive. James says the law is a mirror. What does a mirror do? You look in the mirror and you say, oh, yeah, I need to clean up here and clean up here. The mirror just reveals where you need cleaning. The mirror is powerless to clean you. That's why you need Jesus." [45:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Salvation is in Jesus alone. It's not Jesus plus baptism. It's not Jesus plus communion. It's not Jesus plus religion. It's not Jesus plus morality. It's not Jesus plus good works. Did you hear that? Say amen. Salvation is in Jesus and Jesus alone. And there's an example of that. Baptism can't save you. The thief on the cross repented, believed, and Jesus said today you'll be. Today. Today you'll be with me in paradise. He wasn't baptized. But let's be honest. He didn't have an opportunity to be baptized. He would if he could. But he didn't have that opportunity. And you do have the opportunity and you can." [55:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Baptism is the wedding ring of the Christian life. All right? Tammy gave me this ring when we renewed our baptism. don't have the first ring she gave me because I couldn't even get it on my pinky. Anybody, can I get a witness? I mean, all right? I was a lot skinnier then. She gave me this one when we renewed our vows. It has a stone for every child that God gave us. It has four stones for the children we have here on earth and one for the child we have in heaven. It's meaningful to me. The ring doesn't make me married. It just lets everybody know I am married." [49:03] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If you love me, comma. You'll keep my commandments. Now, if you focus on, I gotta keep the commandments, I gotta keep the commandments, I gotta keep the commandments, I gotta keep the commandments, you're gonna be miserable. You can't do it. But if you'll just focus on loving Jesus, Jesus will enable you to keep the commandments. It's like my wife. I've used this illustration before. I'm faithful to her, not because there's a commandment that says do not commit adultery. I'm faithful to her because I love her. And if I love her, I'm not gonna commit adultery." [45:55] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Who should be baptized? Those who repent and believe. Repent and believe. Repentance and believe comes before baptism. If you've got it, say amen. So I know a lot of people. You were baptized as a baby, christened as a child, and it was meaningful to your parents, but it meant nothing to you. You don't even remember it. Scriptural baptism. I'm not answering the question, what does the Bible say about baptism? Scriptural baptism is after you repent and believe, and it's your decision." [46:39] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Why should you be baptized? Well, first of all, to follow the example of Jesus. Write that down. Now, to follow the example of Jesus in Matthew 3, 17. When Jesus was baptized, there was a voice from heaven saying, This is my son, whom I love. With him, I'm well pleased. And I want you to know that, you know, the first thought that probably goes through your mind is, Well, what will people think? It doesn't matter what people think. What matters is what God thinks. And God says, What? That's my son. That's my daughter, in whom I am well pleased. The focus ought to be on following the example of Jesus and pleasing God." [47:17] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "I have seen senior adults call this church from a nursing home. And say, I want to be baptized. And we do it. I have seen a senior adult lady come down on a walker. And she had a little portable oxygen tank. And I'm telling you, she took that oxygen off for a few minutes. Got in that water. Was baptized. Got out. Put that oxygen back on. And went out with her walker. If there's a will, there's a way. I saw an 86-year-old lady come from one of our campuses and was baptized by the campus pastor during the week. And it was a need. I think she was 86. She said, it's the best decision I ever made." [52:14] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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