Confession Reading on Baptism
probably a lot uh what we see there in Titus 34-7 is the kind of stuff communicated through baptism I did want to just read a few things relative to the ordinance from our confession I already read paragraph one in terms of significance then it goes on to speak the subjects of baptism those who who actually profess repentance towards God faith in and obedience to our lord Jesus are the only proper subjects of this ordinance of course we believe as Baptist the believer's baptism those who look to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith are the ones included in the sacrament we see that in Jeremiah 31 31-34 as well the New Covenant is marked not by uh people that just have some sort of an external con connection to the church but it is those who have the spirit those who have the law of God internalized those who have received the Forgiveness of sins and those who know the Lord and then in terms of the outward element it is to be 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 immersion or dipping of the person in water is necessary to the new administration of this ordinance and does capture well the the spiritual significance that we see Paul invoke in in Romans 6
Romans 6 and Immersion
so when Paul wants to sort of straighten out the Romans in terms of the Roman Believers in terms of their conduct it's interesting he doesn't first go to the law he does do that he tells them to no longer present their inst or their members as instruments of unrighteousness but before he gets to that sort of uh commandment or imperative he points to their baptism in Romans 6 1:4 I think the idea is simple you've been justified by God's grace you have died to sin you have been buried with Jesus and you've been raised again so therefore why would you continue in sin so the gospel is most properly the powerful motivation to to Godly living if we think that we're going to earn our Salvation we become mercenary but when we've been saved by God's grace and pursue the good works and pursue the things that God's ordained for us or prepared before us that's the proper order that's the proper motivation and that's the proper trajectory for the people of God so immersion or dipping of the person in water is necessary to doe administration of this ordinance and then shows that imagery death burial Resurrection with Jesus Christ
Baptismal Vows
well Charelle I have a few questions for you you believe there is one true and living God who exists eternally as Father Son and Holy Spirit do you believe that 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 Rose on the third day and do you believe in Jesus Christ Alone the Savor for your sin and do you commit to walk in OB to God through Fai in Jesus Christ amen you father and then Beck is going to give some some words of testimony
Testimony
good morning I'd like to begin by sharing some of my story and how I got here I was raised in a Christian home and that is something I'm deeply grateful for I'd like to thank my parents for the work they did and the sacrifices they made that directed my path to know My Savior Jesus Christ I've always had a stive conscience and the 13 I felt convicted of the truth of Christianity at 19 I professed my faith before the body of Believers as with at the time for a while after that I often thought I knew most of what I needed to know to be a Christian it wasn't until I was 21 and spent a month with you with mission that I realized my need for Contin sorry emotional for continual sanctification it was a humbling and life-changing experience for me more recently become married to a wonderful man of God Jane and began attending free Grace over the last number of months I've become convicted by scripture to complete what I started 10 years ago to follow the command of my savior to be baptized on my own accord this is a symbol of my profession of faith and my allegiance to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior I'd like to thank my husband my family and Pastor Butler for their support in brought of [Applause]
Closing Prayer
father as I said it's always a happy oion to hear God's people testify concerning God's grace and to go through the waters of baptism and demonstration of God's saving power through our Lord Jesus Christ so I'm going to pray and then again our brother Mark will come up to uh finish the service with the do song but let us pray our gracious and our Holy Father we stand in awe at your Amazing Grace we sing of it we pray concerning it and see it revealed in scripture and we get these benefits to see it the Waters of baptism thank you again for Charelle and for Becca thank you for your mercy and your grace displayed in their lives thank you God that you have shown that what we find in scripture is not some Fable it's not some some fairy tale but it's the truth of God reconciling the world to himself through his son the Lord Jesus Christ may this gospel go forth today conquering and to conquer may it run swiftly and be glorified and may you indeed call many out of darkness and The Marvelous Light and may you cause us to reflect upon your goodness each and every day we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord