Embracing Faith: The Power of Baptism and Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Baptism as a Visible Sign of God's Grace

Baptism is more than a mere ritual; it is a sacrament that signifies God's grace at work within us. It is a public declaration of faith and a commitment to follow Jesus. For children, it represents the parents' commitment to raise them in the faith until they can make their own decision. This sacrament is a powerful symbol of new life and cleansing from sin. At New Hope, baptism is seen as a visible sign of God's grace, whether for adults or children. It signifies God's claim on our lives and our dedication to raising children in the faith until they can make their own commitment. [08:38]

Romans 6:3-4 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think about your own baptism or the baptism of someone close to you. How does this sacrament remind you of God's grace and your commitment to follow Jesus? How can you live out this commitment in your daily life today?

Day 2: The Apostles' Creed as a Guide for Belief and Action

The Apostles' Creed is a foundational statement of Christian beliefs that guides our actions and corrects false teachings. It points back to biblical truths and remains relevant today. Reciting the Creed is a revolutionary act of pledging allegiance to the living triune God, rejecting all other narratives and voices that seek to mislead us. The Creed was developed in the early church to combat false teachings and heresies, and it continues to serve as a guide for our actions and a declaration of our allegiance to God. [34:21]

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV): "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Reflection: Reflect on the words of the Apostles' Creed. How do these statements of faith guide your actions and beliefs? What false narratives or voices do you need to reject in order to fully pledge your allegiance to the living triune God?

Day 3: Jesus' Suffering and Sacrifice for Our Sins

Jesus' suffering under Pontius Pilate and His crucifixion were brutal acts of love meant to atone for our sins. His sacrifice bridges the chasm between our sinful nature and God's holiness, allowing us to have a direct relationship with Him. This act of love is the greatest ever done and will ever be done in this world. Through a detailed reading of John 18:28-19:16, we see how Jesus was mocked, flogged, and ultimately crucified, a brutal yet necessary act to atone for our sins. [50:42]

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: Consider the immense suffering Jesus endured for your sake. How does His sacrifice impact your understanding of God's love and your relationship with Him? What steps can you take today to live in gratitude for His atoning sacrifice?

Day 4: The Brokenness of the World and God's Solution

Our world is filled with sin and brokenness, evident in the suffering and injustices we see around us. This brokenness is a result of the fall, and it affects all of creation. Despite our best efforts, we cannot bridge the gap between us and God on our own. Jesus is God's solution to our sin, providing a way for us to be reconciled with Him. The brokenness of the world is a constant reminder of our need for a Savior, and Jesus' sacrifice provides the only way to bridge the gap between our sinful nature and God's holiness. [54:59]

Romans 5:8 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Reflection: Reflect on the brokenness you see in the world and in your own life. How does recognizing this brokenness deepen your understanding of the need for Jesus' sacrifice? What can you do today to share the hope of reconciliation with others?

Day 5: Direct Access to God Through Jesus' Sacrifice

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, there are no more barriers between us and God. We can go directly to the throne of grace, experiencing peace, joy, and freedom that come from walking with Jesus. This direct access to God is a profound gift that allows us to have an intimate relationship with Him, free from the constraints of sin and brokenness. Jesus' sacrifice has removed the barriers that once separated us from God, allowing us to experience the fullness of His love and grace. [01:08:05]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: How does the knowledge that you have direct access to God through Jesus' sacrifice impact your daily life? What steps can you take today to draw nearer to the throne of grace and experience the peace, joy, and freedom that come from walking with Jesus?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound significance of baptism and the Apostles' Creed, emphasizing their roles in the Christian faith. Baptism, as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19, is not just a ritual but a public declaration of one's faith and commitment to follow Christ. It symbolizes new life, cleansing from sin, and entry into God's covenant community. At New Hope, we view baptism as a sacrament, a visible sign of God's grace at work within us, whether for adults or children. This sacrament signifies God's claim on our lives and our dedication to raising children in the faith until they can make their own commitment.

We also delved into the Apostles' Creed, a foundational statement of Christian beliefs developed in the early church to combat false teachings and heresies. The Creed serves as a guide for our actions and a declaration of our allegiance to the living triune God. It points back to biblical truths and remains relevant today as it did nearly 2,000 years ago.

The sermon then focused on the line from the Creed, "suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried," highlighting the immense suffering Jesus endured for our sake. Through a detailed reading of John 18:28-19:16, we saw how Jesus was mocked, flogged, and ultimately crucified, a brutal yet necessary act to atone for our sins. This act of sacrifice bridges the chasm between our sinful nature and God's holiness, allowing us to have a direct relationship with Him.

The message concluded with a call to reflect on our belief in Jesus' sacrifice and to consider recommitting our lives to Him. Whether it's through baptism, remembering our baptism, or simply reaffirming our faith, we are invited to embrace the freedom, peace, and love that come from walking with Jesus.

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Key Takeaways

1. Baptism as a Sacrament: Baptism is more than a ritual; it is a sacrament that signifies God's grace at work within us. It is a public declaration of faith and a commitment to follow Jesus. For children, it represents the parents' commitment to raise them in the faith until they can make their own decision. This sacrament is a powerful symbol of new life and cleansing from sin. [08:38]
2. The Apostles' Creed: The Apostles' Creed is a foundational statement of Christian beliefs that guides our actions and corrects false teachings. It points back to biblical truths and remains relevant today. Reciting the Creed is a revolutionary act of pledging allegiance to the living triune God, rejecting all other narratives and voices that seek to mislead us. [34:21]
3. Jesus' Suffering and Sacrifice: Jesus' suffering under Pontius Pilate and His crucifixion were brutal acts of love meant to atone for our sins. His sacrifice bridges the chasm between our sinful nature and God's holiness, allowing us to have a direct relationship with Him. This act of love is the greatest ever done and will ever be done in this world. [50:42]
4. The Brokenness of the World: Our world is filled with sin and brokenness, evident in the suffering and injustices we see around us. This brokenness is a result of the fall, and it affects all of creation. Despite our best efforts, we cannot bridge the gap between us and God on our own. Jesus is God's solution to our sin, providing a way for us to be reconciled with Him. [54:59]
5. Direct Access to God: Because of Jesus' sacrifice, there are no more barriers between us and God. We can go directly to the throne of grace, experiencing peace, joy, and freedom that come from walking with Jesus. This direct access to God is a profound gift that allows us to have an intimate relationship with Him, free from the constraints of sin and brokenness. [01:08:05]
### [68:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:38] - The Significance of Baptism
[09:36] - Remembering Your Baptism
[10:35] - Upcoming Baptism Celebration
[32:33] - Prayer and Introduction to Creed Series
[34:21] - Importance of Creeds
[35:55] - Apostles' Creed and Biblical Truth
[37:33] - Confessing the Apostles' Creed
[39:22] - Understanding the Trinity
[41:07] - Jesus' Birth and the Incarnation
[43:10] - Jesus' Suffering Under Pontius Pilate
[50:42] - The Brutality of Crucifixion
[54:59] - The Brokenness of the World
[59:03] - Jesus as God's Solution to Sin
[68:05] - Direct Access to God
[71:52] - Invitation to Reflect and Recommit
[78:31] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus command in Matthew 28:19, and why is baptism included in this command? ([08:38])
According to the sermon, what are the different meanings and significance of baptism for adults and children? ([08:38])
In John 18:28-19:16, what were some of the specific ways Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate? ([50:42])
How does Romans 5:6-8 describe the timing and nature of Christ's sacrifice for us?

Interpretation Questions

Why is baptism considered a sacrament and not just a ritual at New Hope? How does this view affect the way we understand God's grace? ([08:38])
How does the Apostles' Creed serve as a guide for Christian beliefs and actions, and why is it still relevant today? ([34:21])
What is the significance of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion in bridging the gap between our sinful nature and God's holiness? ([50:42])
How does the brokenness of the world, as described in the sermon, highlight the need for Jesus' sacrifice? ([54:59])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own baptism or the concept of baptism. How does understanding it as a sacrament change your perspective on its importance in your faith journey? ([09:36])
The Apostles' Creed is a declaration of faith that rejects false teachings. Are there any "false narratives" in your life that you need to reject in order to fully embrace the Creed's truths? ([34:21])
Jesus' suffering was immense and purposeful. How does knowing the extent of His sacrifice impact your daily walk with Him? Are there specific areas in your life where you need to remember His sacrifice more deeply? ([50:42])
The sermon mentioned the brokenness of the world and our inability to bridge the gap to God on our own. What are some ways you can rely more on Jesus' sacrifice rather than your own efforts to overcome sin and brokenness? ([54:59])
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we have direct access to God. How can you make this direct access a more integral part of your daily life? Are there specific practices you can adopt to deepen your relationship with God? ([01:08:05])
The sermon concluded with a call to reflect and recommit to Jesus. What steps can you take this week to reaffirm your faith and commitment to Him? ([01:11:52])
Think about the upcoming baptism celebration mentioned in the sermon. How can you participate or support others in this event, whether through being baptized, remembering your baptism, or encouraging others in their faith journey? ([10:35])

Sermon Clips

1. "For adults, baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in Jesus and your commitment to follow Him. It is often the next step after salvation and is an important foundation for the life of a Christian. At New Hope, we call baptism a sacrament. That means it is a visible and tangible sign of God's grace at work within us. We believe that baptism is an act of God. While someone may decide to get baptized, it's actually God doing the work. God's grace at work in the life of that person." [08:38] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When older children and adults are baptized, it signifies new life in Christ. The water is a beautiful symbol of cleansing of sin and purification. The old life has gone and new life in Jesus Christ has started. It is so very powerful. It's saying that my faith story is beginning again now." [09:36] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "In our tradition, we don't re-baptize because we believe that God did it right the first time. That being said, we do encourage people to remember their baptism. Often times, a lot of history has occurred from the first time someone was baptized to right now. And remembering your baptism is a wonderful way of re-committing your life to Jesus. Again, you are making a public declaration that you are a follower of Jesus and wholly dedicated to him. The old is gone and the new is here." [10:35] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I want you to think about what some of your core beliefs are your core beliefs about faith your core beliefs about work your core beliefs about really anything in your life and think about how those beliefs guide how you do life well the Christian creeds are no different they guide how we do life and so the Apostles Creed is the oldest of the Christian creeds probably developed in maybe the late second century and that was a time when the church was really experiencing persecution and there was a lot of there were lots of lot of false teaching there was a lot of heresy so so they developed the apostles creed as a way to correct errors so we've been talking about that so basically they they developed this creed and they said well this is what we believe and anything outside of this is off base" [34:21] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The important thing to mention about creeds is that they have no authority all in and of themselves they point back to scripture so the apostles creed is a foundation of our faith because it points back to biblical truth and that's so important to remember and I want us to also remember I've said this every week but I don't want us to lose sight of this that when we confess the apostles creed as a body of believers it's revolutionary it's always been revolutionary so basically we're saying that we're pledging allegiance to the living triune God and all the other narratives of biblical truth and that's so important to remember" [35:55] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "So Jesus was God in human form. We talked about that last week. Now Mary, Mary was also a real person. I want you to think about this. Mary was a young girl. She was probably only like 14 years old. And God came to her and the angel came to her and said, you know, Mary, you're going to give birth to the Son of God. And of course she's like, how can this be? I'm a virgin. And the angel said, well, the Holy Spirit's going to come upon you and you're going to become pregnant. And I mean, you all know this story so well. We've talked about Mary a lot, but I just, her faith was absolutely, absolutely, absolutely incredible. Because after some time of processing and prayer, she's like, okay, I'll do whatever you ask me to do. Whatever you ask me to do. So she did become pregnant and she had the Messiah. She gave birth to the Son of God." [42:14] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So I wanted to do this longer piece because I think it gives us a more in-depth look at how Jesus really suffered under Pontius Pilate. And if you take this piece of scripture along with the other gospel accounts of him being mocked and flogged and tortured, we just get this picture of the way Jesus suffered under Pontius. Just Pilate and then was crucified dead and buried. The beating he received before the crucifixion, the flogging he received was so severe, it was so bad, he couldn't even carry his cross, right? We read in another book that a man named Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus' cross. And then they nailed him to the cross." [50:42] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "So here's a question why why I mean he was God he could have cried out and a whole like army of angels could have come and and taken him off that cross he was God he could have said I'm not going to do this and yet he did so why why did he go through hours and hours and hours of torture and the answer is really quite simple he did it for us he did it for all of us so I don't know if you've noticed our world is broken our world is a mess and I can say that to some of my atheists and agnostic friends and they're going to agree with me they're going to go yes our world is a mess but as Christians we believe that our world is filled with sin" [53:48] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "So if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Then when God looks at us, he doesn't see our mess. He doesn't see all the times we've screwed up. He doesn't see our bad behavior. He doesn't see our sin and our brokenness. He sees the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is what cleanses us. Is what makes us right with God. So that means that Jesus has created a way for us to walk hand in hand with the Holy God. And friends, that makes all the difference. I know I'm like breaking this down piece by piece. But I want you to understand that makes all the difference. He didn't have to do this. He chose to. God's love, his grace is just overflowing for us. And he wants you to know that." [01:06:38] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "If you say yes to Jesus. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you say, I am so tired of doing life my own way. It's just not going well. And I'm tired of being in this cycle of brokenness and mess. So if you're tired of that and you're ready to turn to God. If you're ready to say, I want to spend eternity with you, Lord Jesus. And it begins today. I just want you to know that's possible for you. Next week we're going to talk about the resurrection. But I want you to know that when you walk with Jesus, you can live in a freedom that you have never known before. You can live in a peace that you have never known before. Jesus made that possible for us." [01:09:27] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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