Baptism Service
Apologies for the fact audio recording cut out shortly before the end of the sermon
Introduction
- Alex and Lucy have turned from their sin
- Jesus is speaking to grown men (and telling them they need to be saved from the sin)
- Jesus humbles them, gives them an illustration
- We have to become like a little child
Who is speaking?
- Jesus speaks "assuredly"
- Jesus speaks on His own authority
- I am the way, the truth and the life
- Would we ever except a mere man saying these words?
- Only God can speak such words and Jesus the Son of God (part of the Trinity)
- Thomas addressed Jesus as God
- Jesus accepted this worship
- Who is Jesus Christ?
- You have to make a decision - you cannot sit on the fence
- Either Jesus is lying or speaking the truth
- Either Christians are deluded or true
What is His message about?
- Read the gospels
- It is about heaven & hell, life & death, about your soul and eternity
- Surely this is the biggest question - having a relationship with God
The Context
- The disciples were squabbling
- How often do we judge others?
- We need to become like a little child
- What is an infant like?
- We are to become dependent (on God)
- We are to recognise that we are nothing before God
- We need to recognise the failings in ourselves - we need to be honest that we are sinners before God
- We need to recognise the spiritual world
- In order to enter it we must be converted
- Conversion is:
- Recognise the sin in ourselves
- Turning to God
- Example of Scot and Hannah
- You will not call out for a Saviour unless you recognise your need
- Have you called out to Jesus?
- Have you trusted in what Jesus has done on the cross for you?
- Unfortunately the audio recording cut out here!!!
- Example of Namaan - He had to humble himself before God
- Are you prepared to trust in Jesus Christ?
- Conversion is a transformation
- God comes into a life and changes it
- God makes that person's life like the Lord Jesus
Concluding Remarks
- We must come to Jesus
- We must come like a little child with dependence on God
- We must have simple childlike faith (though we are still thinking people)
- Believe and be baptised