Online Revival | Tuesday Truth

and welcome to Tuesday's truth I hope you enjoyed that song about the wonderful name of Jesus is that not the truth the name of Jesus causes the darkness to tremble but at the name of Jesus also causes our hearts to be at such peace today's Bible subject is going to be water baptism I want you to go ahead and get pen pencil whatever you use to record valuable information on and get ready for an in-depth study this evening on water baptism I want to make this announcement today is April the 28th we are waiting upon the governor's announcement to address us about the possibility of coming back into our auditorium this coming Sunday in first Apostolic Church of Maryville and Sevierville it's with great anticipation as soon as I hear something as soon as a decision is made we will will get the word out because I can't wait I don't have the words I don't have the vocabulary to articulate what's in my heart that I've been missing for the last month or so not being able to gather together I certainly hope and pray that that very soon that we will be back in our auditorium worshipping God in spirit and in truth the psalmist said that the word would be a lamp to the field and a light to a path the word would be that that light to our feet and lamp to our paths and I as never before I pondered that verse today for the introduction here and a path is something we used to get from point A to point B it's like a road it's a path and he said thy word is a lamp that word is a light to our iPad and point a would be earth point B would be heaven and we want to make it to that place called heaven and the only way we can get there is through the word it's through the Word of God we've chosen today for Tuesday's truth to be water baptism and we're going to go very deep in the explanation of water baptism so that you have a a biblical grasp handle upon the subject of water baptism that you understand what the Bible says about about this in Luke chapter 7 and verse number 29 says and all the people that heard him and the publicans justified God being baptized with the baptism of John now underline this because John is going to help us to understand water baptism today says that the people heard him and the publicans tax collectors justified God this word these two words here justified God means they acknowledge that God's Way was right when it says they justified God in other words they made a public and knowledge acknowledgment that God's Word and God's ways were right and then it says being baptized with the baptism of John but look at the next verse verse 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God against them being not baptized of him now we know that when the sinners and the publicans tax collectors they heard John's preaching they justified God or in other words they said God's ways God's Word he's right this is this is the right path this is the right way and they were they were baptized but the next verse says but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God not being baptized of John not being baptized of him so we understand that this baptism that John came immersing people under the water and immersing that it wasn't something that was a tradition of John or his father's grandfather or the religious sect that he was that John's baptism this immersion under water was the counsel counsel of God well let's look at this for a moment with the counsel of God in mind Psalms chapter 1 verse number 1 blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly so if the ungodly have a counsel a way of doing things and we are blessed when we don't walk in it how much more blessed are we when we walk in the counsel of God Psalm 73 verse number 24 still with the counsel of God in mind Psalm 73 24 thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory so now this counsel this blessedness this baptism of John which was the counsel of God this counsel that the psalmist said lead me guide me guide me with your counsel and then afterward I will be received into glory Matthew chapter 21 verse number 23 and when he was come into the temple Jesus came into the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as he was teaching and said by what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority and jesus answered and said unto them I also will ask you one thing which if you tell me I and likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things the baptism of John whence was it from heaven or of men and they reasoned with themselves saying if we shall say from heaven he will say unto us why did you not then believe him but if we say shall say of men we fear the people for all hold John as a prophet and they answered Jesus and say we cannot tell and he said unto them neither tell I you by what authority I do these things now notice this the same Pharisees the same priests and elders had rejected the counsel of God by not submitting themselves to the preaching of John the Prophet and being baptized which was the counsel of God now later these priests and scribes came into the temple and they said we want to ask you a question Jesus who gave you who gave you this authority and by what authority who gave this authority to you Jesus gladly told them that he would tell them by what authority who gave the authority but before he led them on in a another truth he said I first need to ask you the baptism of John he takes them back to something that they should have obeyed the baptism of John was it from heaven or was it from man was it divine in its origin was it the counsel of God the mind of God or was it some man-made tradition that had been handed down go ahead and answer that and then I'll tell you by what authority and who gave me the authority well they got among themselves and they said we're we're in a dilemma if we tell him it's from heaven he's going to say then why did you not obey why did you not submit yourself and be immersed in water why were you not baptized if we say it's a man then we get in trouble with the people because the people Revere John as a great prophet they came back to Jesus and they said in verse number 27 we cannot tell now the truth of the matter and jesus knew that it was not they cannot tell it's that they would not tell because they knew that it was a baptism from heaven now John the Baptist I want to spend just a moment and although John the Baptist is recorded in Matthew Mark Luke and John he's actually according to the biblical timeline the last of the Old Testament prophets he is under the law John is the last of the Old Testament prophets and that's very important and you'll see this as our lesson on water baptism goes on John is ministering under the law the dispensation of the law now John chapter 1 verse number 33 and 34 listen to John's testimony John says I knew him not in reference to Jesus but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and I saw and bear record that this is the son of God now notice John says in verse 33 I was it is the council of God I was sent to baptize it is the council of God now the purpose of John the Baptist baptism is to publicly show you have believed John's message of the soon arrival of the Messiah and that you have prepared your hearts through repentance you have changed your view you have changed your lifestyle you've had a radical lifestyle and you've repented you've cleaned up your life you've cleaned up your your life you have changed your view and you're anticipating the arrival of your Messiah turn with me to mark chapter 1 and verse number 1 the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God as it is written in the prophets behold I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee as it is written in the prophets in other words John the Baptist John the Prophet was prophesied by the prophets he was prophesied by the prophets and you can find his prophecy in Isaiah chapter 40 verse number 3 and in Malachi chapter 3 and verse number 1 this is what was told of him mark 1 and 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight John did baptize in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins now notice this we are still under the law we're under the dispensation of the law what began with Moses on Mount Sinai and John comes and John is the voice in the wilderness that is preaching the baptism of repentance or the baptism that shows repentance for the remission of sins and there went out unto him all Judea and they of Jerusalem and we're all baptized of him in the river of Jordan confessing their sins how strongly did John believe his ministry how strongly he was sent from God he believed that they were to repent they were to change the way that they were living and then to be baptized to show that they had repented it was a baptism it was a baptism that looked back upon a life of repentance how strongly did he believe it in Matthew chapter 3 verse number seven says but when he speaking of John so many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism he said unto them old generation of vipers who have warned you to flee from the wrath to come bring forth therefore fruits meet or that speak for repentance when John looked and saw the Pharisees and Sadducees the religious people coming to be baptized he knew their motive he knew their motive was not pure maybe they were being baptized because they were losing members maybe that were being baptized because multitudes were being baptized and it was a popular thing to do John stopped them and he called them a generation of vipers he said you got poison on the inside of you and the only way that poison can be taken out it's the repentance he said don't come in the water at this time but go and repent of your life and produce fruits that will speak of a life of repentance now I want to begin to give some day that are going to help us in the Ministry of John the Baptist John the Baptist begin to preach around ad 26 around ad 26 and he his ministry was valid his ministry was valid until the change of the dispensation because in AD 33 some seven years later he had announced Jesus the Lamb of God he had decreased that Jesus might increase and in 1833 with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his ascension into heaven and with the Holy Ghost coming on the day of Pentecost and filling 120 disciples of Jesus Christ new dispensation was birth and it's called the grace dispensation the grace dispensation now this grace dispensation differs from the law because it has much more strength than the law the law worked through or tried to work through the flesh to the heart to change man and the law we could never live up to the requirements of the law the heart to never change to live up to the requirements of the law so the law simply acted as a teacher Paul called it called it a schoolmaster a schoolteacher a tutor the law simply served is something that brought us to a certain point but when the grace session which was birthed on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost filled the hearts and lives of 120 disciples now the grace dispensation begins in the heart and works its way out he said I'll write my laws upon your hearts on your hearts I'll write my law so the law tried to come from the flesh to the inside never could but the heart being changed from a stony heart to a heart of flesh was able to change and then it began to affect all areas of our lives now the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost in AD 33 now I'm going to take you to an event that happened in the book of Acts the actions of the Apostles and this happened in the year of AD 54 some 19 years later some 26 years or so later from the beginning of John the Baptist let's go to this event again follow the timeline 19 years after grace dispensation has begin begun and 26 years or so after the John the Baptist began his ministry Acts chapter 19 verse number 1 and it came to pass that while a palace was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coast came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples he said unto them have ye received the Holy Ghost since you believe and they said unto Him we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost and he said unto them until what then were you baptized and they said under John's baptism now notice this with me Paul comes to emphasis and he he finds certain disciples and he fellowships with them but it's not long after this that he just senses that there's something different with these disciples and so we ask a question have you have you all received the Holy Ghost there was just something missing have you all received the Holy Ghost since you believe the words Paul was sentenced just something about your all's lives did you all receive the Holy Ghost and they said well we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost he said then what was the purpose of your baptism and they said unto John he said unto what then were you baptized I said and under John's baptism and then as if a light came on with Paul in verse 4 then said paul john verily baptized with the baptism of repentance and so that was under the law and it was a baptism to show you a repented saying unto the people that they that that they should believe on him which should come after him that is on christ jesus when they heard this verse 5 they were baptized in the name of the lord jesus and when paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied and all the men were about 12 John the Baptist disciples were rebaptised they were rebaptised by Paul and the the reason being these disciples of John had fallen under the ministry the Prophet John the Baptist they had been told Messiah was coming they had repented and they were baptized by John waiting for the Messiah to come but somehow these disciples these disciples had not heard about the day of Pentecost they had not heard about the Holy Ghost coming they had not heard about this new dispensation of grace so now Paul rebaptised as John's disciples because the baptism of the New Testament dispensation of grace differs from the baptism of the Old Testament dispensation of law because John's baptism was to show that you had repented and New Testament baptism plays a part in your born-again experience or the new birth the new birth the water baptism the reason they had to be rebaptised is because it serves a purpose in the new birth experience let's listen to the words of Jesus Jesus some of the last words that he spoke on this earth had to do with water baptism in Matthew chapter 28 verse number 18 Jesus came and spake unto them saying all power is given unto me in heaven and earth go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with You alway even unto the end of the world amen so Jesus commanded the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel and with the preaching of the gospel to baptize those that heard the gospel mark chapter 16 verse number 15 and he said unto them go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned Luke chapter 24 verse number 46 as Luke reports that we've heard Matthews record of the last words Mark's record of the last words and Luke now and he said unto them Luke 24:46 thus it is written and thus it behoove Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem please note that Luke mentions the remission of sins which is connected with water baptism in Acts chapter 2 and verse number 38 although Luke does not use the word baptized he connects it by saying that in Jerusalem there would be repentance and the remission of sins preached in his name acts 2:38 then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins Jesus also spoke those were his last words before he left the earth but once in John chapter 3 verse number 5 while speaking with a religious ruler by the name of Nicodemus Jesus gave an answer back to him and jesus answered and said verily verily now any time you hear the word verily in the Bible it's as if someone is telling you I'm about to say something but if it's doubled if it's repeated verily verily as it here is here in John 3:5 it really means to lean in close and and pay close attention to what I am going to say verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Jesus tells us that except there be a new birth he said except you'd be born again and then he tells us that this new birth is to be born of water out of the water and the spirit now there have been several that have tried through the years to symbolize this that Jesus here did was not meant was not really meaning baptism that John 3:5 doesn't have anything to do with baptism that is it is a it is a symbol that the word water here is a symbol of the word well to hold true to that if water is a symbol of word he said we had to be born again of the water and spirit so if water is a symbol of the word then what is a spirit what is the symbol of the Spirit well there's not because the Spirit is the spirit and the biblical truth of the matter is Jesus meant water baptism he had told the disciples in in Matthew Mark and Luke he had told the disciples to go and preach and baptize and now he's telling Nicodemus that there must be a birth of the water and the spirit you know notice this in John chapter 9 verse number 7 Jesus told the blind man to go wash in the pool of Salome and the Bible said that he went in washing he came again and he was healed he washed in water it's not a symbolic act it wasn't a symbolic act that Jesus sent the blind man on he literally walked and found his way to the pool of Siloam and took water the same type of water that we drink and he washed and God used that and gave him the miracle of sight we know that the first miracle Jesus performed in John two and seven he said fill the waterpots with water it's the same word same Greek word in John 2:7 the same Greek word in John 9 7 and the same Greek word in John 3 and 5 which means simply water but now if we wanted if we wanted to see Jesus using water symbolically let's go to John 7:37 but he was not using water symbolically in John 3 and 5 he was speaking about water baptism being immersed in water water baptism but symbolically john 7:37 in the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink now we know this is not a natural thirst this is a spiritual thirst so now he's going to use the water symbolically he's going to tell that if you in the natural if you're thirsty in the natural you're thirsty in the natural you drink water to quench that thirst but if you're thirsty in the spiritual then he uses water as a symbolic substance that would quench your thirst listen to what he said in verse 30 eight he that believeth on me as the scripture has said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water but this spake he of the Spirit which they did believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified now here is an example of water being used symbolically he said if you would believe upon me as the scripture has said now this is where maybe for a moment I'll make a few remarks about this we we don't we don't need to believe upon Jesus as grandma said we don't need to believe upon Jesus as our church denomination says we need to believe upon Jesus as the Scriptures have said you know Jesus was rejected of the religious people of his day and one time he stood among the religious and there they had their Bibles their old testament and he challenged them Jesus challenged them he said search the scriptures search them for in them you think you have life but these are they that testify of me so it's it's it's vitally important that we believe on Jesus as the scripture has said and then he said if you will believe on me as the scripture has said out of your bellies here comes the symbolism shall flow rivers of living water what's this assemble ugh this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe upon him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that he was not yet glorified so there's your spiritual water analogy but in John 3:5 when he said you must be born again of the water and of the spirit that is submitting your life to the counsel of God in this dispensation and being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins you know in the court of law in a court of law many things are proven especially in when jurors are called in to hear the case they will produce several witnesses now one witness may not have all the evidence or information for the jurors to make a decision it may take several witnesses it may take one witness that can put the person at the crime scene it may take another person that can testify that a person spoke to them about committing the crime it may take another person that tells you days later they had the money from the robbery or or they had the goods from the house they broke into and you take you take all the witnesses and then the jurors can decide are they guilty or are they innocent so water baptism why don't we call as we read the verses of Scripture we call Matthew to the stand Matthew gives us one golden nugget when he speaks a baptism going to all the world preach the gospel baptizing them in the name of the Father Matthew mentions that baptism should be done in a singular name name of the Father now please read Matthew 28 very closely it does not say baptizing them in the name of the father and the name of the son and the name of the Holy Ghost it doesn't say that this is the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost because Father Son and Holy Ghost is not names they're descriptive titles just I am a father I am a son I am a husband I am a pastor but yet I have not told you my name my name is not pastor that's a descriptive title my name is Kenneth Ray carpenter now that's my name so Matthew tells us that it's to be done in a singular name please note in Matthew chapter 28 19 no one was being baptized if there was not a baptismal service being held and please also make note that no one in the Bible was ever recorded being baptized repeating the words Father Son and Holy Ghost no one not one time is it ever mentioned that someone was baptized repeating those words well now let's dismiss mark Matthew from the stand and let's call mark to the stand mark comes to the stand and in mark chapter 16 mark said that were to go into all the world and preach the gospel and he that believeth mark 16:16 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned Matthew brought the evidence of the name and now mark brings the evidence that it is essential it is not something if I feel like doing it I could it it's not something it would be a good idea if I did it mark plainly says that Jesus said he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved if you're doing the math it would be believing plus baptism equals salvation and the next verse city that believeth not shall be dimmed now those that want to say that it's not essential in the new birth experience to be baptized they will often say but notice that the verse says he that believeth not he that believeth not and is not baptized well the verse doesn't say he that believeth not and is not baptized it just simply says he that believeth not it's Dan okay well it doesn't have to add baptism because if one does not believe the Gospel message you're dead in the water it stops right there you could be baptized a thousand times and you would not enter into the new birth experience because you do not believe the Bible tells us that he that cometh to God must first believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him now let's dismiss mark from the stand and let's call Luke Luke in chapter 24 says that in Jerusalem that there will be the preaching repentance and remission of sins in his name so Matthew tells us there will be a name mark tells us it's essential and now Luke the physician tells us the purpose is for the remission or the removal of sin let's call our last witness John we have four Gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John let's call these four witnesses we've heard what Jesus said to Nicodemus about water baptism now let's hear what John records in John 20 number 30 and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book but these are written that you might believe that Jesus Christ is the crutch Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name look how these four witnesses prove the value of water baptism Matthew a name mark it's essential Luke it's for the removal of sins and John that we have life through that name of Jesus and we understand this evening that in 1833 the new testament church was birthed into the law Jesus fulfilled it and the beginning of the grace dispensation Peter stood up on that day as the 120 disciples had been filled with the Holy Ghost Peter stood up on that day as some were mocking and others said what meaneth this Peter said as he started these are not drunk as you suppose seeing it's but the third hour of the day but this is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy the book of Joel in the last days saith god I will pour my spirit out upon all flesh Peter let them know that what they received the baptism the infilling of the Holy Ghost the birth of the New Testament church had been prophesied by the Prophet Joel and then Peter begins to preach the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that's the only saving message it's the only saving name it's the only way that we can be saved it's the only way that we can be born again he comes all the way down to Acts chapter 2 and verse number 36 and he says as he's ending therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God have made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do when they heard this you see when they started there was two categories of people mockers these men are full of new wine and those that were truly inquisitive what meaneth this Peter begins to preach the gospel the death burial and resurrection and then they believed it they believed that they had crucified their Messiah they believed it how do you know they believed it because you don't ask men and brethren what shall we do if you don't believe you need to do something they didn't ask what shall we do when they heard them speaking in other tongues it was after they heard the gospel men and brethren what shall we do we believe what you've said Peter we believe that he's the Messiah we believe that he said he was the one that Israel was waiting on men and brethren what shall we do tell us Peter what we should do then Peter said verse 38 then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call and with many other words did he testify exhort saying save yourselves from this untoward generation then that the then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day they were added unto them about 3,000 souls so we now are living in the grace dispensation and now water baptism according to the scripture plays a role in your new birth experience see some want to teach that the Holy Ghost was only for the day of Pentecost but here in Acts and only for the Jews but here in Acts chapter 8 and verse number 5 then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them Samaria Samaria is a group of people that are half Jew and half Gentile they're they're they're Samaritans they're not full-blooded Jew they're not full blooded Gentile they're Samaritans but Philip went down and preached Jesus to them go down to verse number 12 the same chapter but when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women look at the message that goes on go down to verse 14 now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus look at this because remember I told you that nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever baptized repeating the words Father Son and Holy Ghost now I've heard those that have said that they had rather obeyed Jesus and rather obey the words Jesus then the Apostles well to go down that road that you you believe that you have to believe number one that the Apostles disobeyed Jesus and if the Apostles disobeyed Jesus who knows what we should believe but he built his church the Bible says upon the Apostles not upon disobedient apostles the Apostles obeyed what Jesus said they knew that it was not repeat after me they knew that when he said baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Ghost it was to do an act and they did that act on the day of Pentecost Matthew was there Matthew wrote Matthew 28:19 Matthew was there on the day of Pentecost if Peter was wrong Bible says that Peter stood up with the eleven he stood up with the others he stood up with Matthew Matthew could have interrupted but he didn't because he knew it was the fulfillment of the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost the Samaritans were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus some years later sometime later Gentiles in Acts chapter 10 Gentiles in Acts chapter 10 fell under the preaching of the Apostle Peter Peter went down in Acts chapter 10 from verse 1 to verse 43 we'll show you the preaching of Peter he preached the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ the same message that he preached at the birth of the church in Acts chapter 2 he preached the death burial and resurrection and the Bible says in acts 10:44 while Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word it's Cornelius in his house and they are the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost now when Peter went down to Cornelius's house he took certain Jews with him because it was unlawful according to their traditions to go under the roof of a Gentile so Peter takes a group of Jewish brethren with him and as Peter preaches the word the gospel the Holy Ghost falls upon Cornelius and his house and when the Holy Ghost fell on them the Jews become astonished that could become amazed maybe even I could use the word baffled at what was happening because on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost well how did the Jews know the Gentiles got the Holy Ghost how did they know that Cornelius and his family had got the Holy Ghost verse 46 for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God then answered Peter can any man forbid water can any of you see they're already amazed that these Gentiles have received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues just like they did on the day of Pentecost and now Peter said now is there any of you that could forbid water baptism any of you can can any man forbid water that these Cornelius in his house should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord then prayed they him to tarry certain days we know was a man a persecutor a Christian killer a persecutor of the church a blasphemer by the name of Saul the Saul in Acts chapter 9 had an experience and that's chapter 9 verse number 4 the Bible talks about when he saw the light when he was riding that beast he saw the light from heaven and it starts in verse 4 and said and he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me and he said who aren't doubt Lord and the Lord said I am Jesus whom they'll persecute us it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks and he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do and the Lord said unto Him arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do now when I want to go from here saw became a believer when he hit the ground that day laying flat of his back blinded in his eyes and yet heard the words who are you Lord and he heard the word one sentence back that forever changed him I am Jesus whom thou persecuted and he said what will you have me to do he became a believer he believed but you see in the plan of the new birth believing is one of the steps but it's not the beginning and the ending of your new birth experience in acts 22 verse 12 through 16 Paul is later rehearsing what happened let's listen to Paul give his testimony and one Ananias a devout man according to the law having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there came unto me and stood and said brother Saul received eyesight and the same hour I looked up and he said the god of our fathers have chosen thee that thou should us know his will see that just one and see that just one and should us hear the voice of his mouth for thou shalt be a witness unto all men of what thou has seen and heard and now why tarriest thou arise be baptized and wash away thy sins calling upon the name of the Lord isn't it amazing he's it amazing that he believes what will you have me to do Lord he believes he goes to he goes to the house and an ice comes in he receives the Holy Ghost and he's told that he's going to be a mighty apostle a mighty messenger and it seems according to acts 22 verse 16 it seems that for a moment he not hesitant as far as does it believe but the word tarry that the Ananias had to say what are you waiting on so you need to get up and to be baptized and to call on the name of the Lord and wash away your sins is it possible that a man can have a vision of a life and still not have his sins forgiven yes it is is it possible that a man can know the Lord Jesus and know that he has a plan for his life but still not have his sins remitted removed it is and the same was with Saul who later become Paul in other words Saul go ahead submit your life to water baptism and have the remission of your sins and complete this part in your new birth experience and go on and preach the gospel we know that through the epistles coming to a close here this evening the epistles speak of water baptism in Romans chapter 6 verses 1 through 6 it was evident that some of the believers at Rome wanted to try to live a double life a life in sin and a life in grace the Bible citizens Romans 6 and 1 what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God from being in other words god forbids a person to live in sin and strength of god's grace at the same time how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein no you're not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin he was saying to these people that wanted to live in sin and grace you were baptized because you died the sin you were baptized because you repented and it's for the remission of sin not you were baptized to show you what following Christ not you were baptized because Jesus was baptized and I'm going to get baptized even baptized to join the local church that's not the reason of the New Testament baptism now close with these last two verses places of Scripture in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 verse number 9 no you're not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived he's talking about people that will not go to heaven will not inherit the spiritual kingdom fornicators adulterers adulterers effeminate abusers of themselves with mankind thieves covetous drunkards revilers extortionists extortioners shall not inherit the kingdom of God and such were some of you but you are washed you are sanctified you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God look at all these horrible sins that would keep a person from going to heaven but water baptism that part of your new birth takes the thief and washes away the sins of his thievery takes the adulterer and washes away those sins I close with this tonight first Peter chapter 3 verse 18 for Christ also had suffered for sins oh yes he did the just he was for the unjust that's us that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit by which also he went and preached under the spirits in prison when once the went went which sometime were disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing wherein few that is eight souls were saved by water oh come on brother carpenter don't tell me you're going to try to use this water and saving well the water did save Noah's day the water separated Noah's family from the corrupt world below so he was saved by water the like figure but wait a minute he uses Noah in the water for the next verse the like figure what the light figure of water the light figure of Noah in the ark the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ I want to my heart tonight is not to be divisive my heart tonight is not to try it is to pick something out from the Bible my heart tonight is that there's many good-hearted well sincere people that are much like John the Baptist's disciples in acts 19 they've not so much has heard whether there be or maybe someone told them that all you have to who is believe all you have to do is trust and I want you to know tonight that God has more God has more for you my brother God has more for you my sister brother Karpin drama I'm a deacon in the church I've I have been serving Jesus for so for many many years are you saying that I don't have anything oh no no and a thousand times no I'm saying that because of your sincere spirit that God has allowed you to see more light God has allowed you to have more truth well brother carpenter are you saying that I know that my grandmother my grandfather my my my family they are you saying that they're not in heaven absolutely not they will stand before the Lord for what they knew and for what they followed that you will stand before the Lord for what you now know and now know you need to do don't allow fear to grip your heart for as the Apostle said we ought to obey God rather than man I pray and trust tonight that this Tuesday's truth of water baptism has been a blessing to you if you would desire to be baptized please contact our church office we would love we're able we're prepared for baptism 24/7 may the love of God and the peace of God be upon you and until next Tuesday god bless you