well it's good to be here and the reason why we ask the children to come up is because it is a visible expression of what God does invisibly and it's kind of like a book that says beautiful British Columbia it's all just pictures you learn a lot about graia by those pictures you learn a lot about the gospel by what's happening here and so it's a good way for our young people to see what is happening so I just want to rehearse again our confession the faith I mentioned paragraph one that speaks of the significance of baptism it is an ordinance of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death and resurrection of his being engrafted into him of remission of sins and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of life it then goes on to speak of the proper subjects those who do actually profess repentance toward God faith in and obedience to our lord Jesus are the only proper subjects of this ordinance it speaks of the outward element and that's obviously water the outward element to be used in this ordinance is is water wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and then the final uh paragraph deals with immersion the mode in which we apply that water immersion or giving of the person in water is necessary to the due administration of this or so before we actually baptize philli and the others it's part of my I mentioned this before benefit or a privilege associated with being in the ministry here is I get to interview the candidates talk to them about their own conversion here's something of the way they they came to know the Lord and then have them or hear from them an explanation of the gospel and it's always an encouragement it's always a blessing I've known Phillip since he was born um and it's been good to see him grow up in the context of the church uh he's got lots of good questions he when he pulls out his phone in my office I know I'm in for a for some uh rousing conversation because he keeps track of all these things uh which is great don't ever change but um very encouraging to see this young man identify publicly with our Tri God so I'm going to ask him the questions and then baptize him in the name of our child God you believe there is one true Liv God who exists eternally as Father Son and Holy Spirit you believe you have sinned against God and justly deserve his punishment for your sins do you believe that Jesus Christ the son of God lived in obedience to God's law died as a sacrifice and substitute for Sinners and those on believe in Jesus Christ Alone to save you from your and do you commit to walk in obedience to God through faith you in the name of the father of the [Applause] the hang on hang on another uh just to commend to you Derek and Samantha it's been very good to get to know them as well and the year of their eagerness to to be baptized to join with us just a real encouragement to see young people committed to the Lord wanting to walk scripture wanting to be faithful to our God and just been a privilege and a pleasure to get to know this as well can we touch the mic I after medical trauma in my teenage years left me broken and aware of face before holy God the Lord came to me through Isaiah 55 wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread and labor for that satisf diligently me that which is good and let your soul delay sness Christ final words on the cross to me it is finished my sins were paid in full all because of in the years that have followed that truth has become clear and clearer to me as the goodness of God has not only bound at my wounds but showed me more and more at the beauty of Christ baptism is a beautiful picture of the grace of God something I need to be reminded of every day even on my worst days God sees me was my and the perfect of Christ his grace has brought me safe this far and Grace will me home [Music] [Applause] you're losing my dad to cancer as a teenager I spent several years struggling with the reality of meeing a savior myself but not being able or willing to truly trust in him knowing my dad had been saved and died of true peace was a huge encouragement to me my older brother and some other Christian friends continually witnessed to me over those years and prayed for me T and I'll always be grateful to God for them I was finally freed when I heard a sermon on Mark 5:36 where Jesus says to jars Be not Afraid only believe the spirit used that to turn my eyes away from my and years to Jesus and trust him with it all he alone is our faithful Savior and I hope that baptism today will be used to show us again how willing Christ is to wash us clean from all our sins and give us new life with him they are now members of our church so we pray for them and encourage them and hopefully they trust that they'll be praying for the rest of us also so we'll stand and sing 5
