Baptism - What, Why, When and How - Part 2

Hello, this is Mike Kennedy with the Living in Victory Broadcast. We're going to continue our series on baptism. In this series we're going to cover what is baptism, why get baptized, when to get baptized, how to get baptized, what, why, when, and how in regards to baptism. We started out in the last message with what is baptism. I shared some things regarding how I was corrected by the Lord in some areas and how the Lord is helping me in these areas. Hallelujah. And some of the misunderstanding that I had when it came to things like baptism. You know, growing in the things of the Lord is awesome. Amen. Paul said, I know in part that means I know a piece of a piece of a piece of a part, but I'm learning. How about you? Amen. So what, why, when, and how? We need to base baptism in water. On the Word of God, not traditions, not church ideas, false doctrines, beliefs, what we feel, what we think. I think it's this. I feel it's that. We need to base it on the written Word of God. Amen. That's what our whole life should be based on. Join your faith with me if you would. Heavenly Father, we come to you. We ask you to help us to understand baptism, what it is, what it is not. Who should get baptized? When to get baptized? Amen. Father, we touch in a degree asking for this. Help me to express it that you get glory in it. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Well, 2 Corinthians 5, 17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. When you receive Jesus

as your Lord and Savior, you become a new creation." So what happened to the old creation or the old man, the old woman? Well, it is dead. And the good thing is you can't kill a dead man. What does that mean? That means the fact that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The old man is dead, but I'm a child of God. I'm a son of God. Hallelujah with eternal life. Oh, this body may die, but my spirit will be alive and well for eternity. When I blow this popsicle stand and I depart from Earth, I'm going to blow it. I'm going to get out of here and go see the galaxies. And how about you? It's like we are a spirit. We live in a body and we have a soul. So it's kind of like when your body, when you die, it's like having a glove in your hand. Your body may be there, but you are alive. Your hand goes and flies away. The glove is still laying there. Amen? What is baptism? Some of you automatically are saying, baptism, I know what that is. That's whenever you take somebody and sprinkle them with water or you take somebody and you dunk them in water. Part of that is true. Part of it is not. We're going to get into what is true and not true according to the word. Amen? But baptism is a symbolic act. It in the word, we see something happens when someone is baptized. Something spiritual happens when they're baptized. It's not just jumping in a pool, doing a backflip, coming back up. It's not sprinkling with water regardless what some priest or somebody may have told you. You may not like that. But we're going to get into the word about it. Amen? Don't throw rocks at me. Don't throw tomatoes at me. Don't write me bad

letters. I ain't going to read them anyway. They're going file 13 because I want to know what the word says. Amen? Something changes in the spiritual realm. If that's you I encourage you. Don't turn this off. Listen to it. And test me. Test me according to the word. See if I give you scriptures and if I try to manipulate scriptures. Amen? of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" What does that mean by "for the remission of sins"? I'm going to read that out of the Amplified in the New Living Translation. The New Living Translation says, "In Acts 2, 38, Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins. Turn to God.'" Say, "Repentance means change or turn direction. Turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness of your sins." It's a demonstration that you have received something to show that you have received it. Then you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Amplified Bible says, "And Peter answered them, 'Repent, change your views, and the purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of and release from your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Peter mentioned three steps or phases in these verses, repenting from sins, being baptized and water for the forgiveness of sin, or to show or demonstrate that you have been forgiven of your sins. That's after you repent, you change. And then you receive the Holy Spirit. Amen? It's clear in this verse that many things are related to baptism in water. Baptism is a sign that we are one with Christ.

Born again, just as Christ went to the pits of hell for you and me and rose into eternal life, thank you, God, O glory, we've got the master in the throne room. And because of that, we can go in His name right to the throne. It is a public demonstration of your salvation, of my salvation, and a statement that you are a Christian. Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't be ashamed of being a Christian. If you're not ashamed of Him, He won't be ashamed of you on the day of judgment when He comes back. Amen? He'll go right up to God and say, "His name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. He received forgiveness, amen, He is your Son, glory to God. He is clean, pure, made right standing before you because of what Jesus did." Baptism resembles the Washington cleansing of sins. That's all that it does. I shouldn't say all. That is what it does. Through baptism, it's a demonstration of how we become one with Christ His death burial and resurrection. We leave our old life behind in the water, in the grave, and are raised into a new life. Notice, I didn't say water baptism saves you. That is not the word of God. Water baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer's life. That includes water, submersions, for sure. But more importantly, it's a symbolic act of becoming a new creature in Christ. Amen? Glory to God. Why get baptized? Well, it doesn't save us. John 3, 16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that

whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." I don't see baptism written here. Baptism does not save you, but it is obedient to God. Amen? Ephesians 2.8 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith," doesn't save baptism through faith, "and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast." It's not about works we do. It's not about the act of baptism that saves you. It's by the blood of Jesus. You repenting, you receiving Him into your heart. By faith, that's what gets you saved. Amen? Nowhere in the Bible is the idea of mere baptism, washing away people's sins. We're washed by the blood, amen? See the water is an example of us going under and dying. Blood was spilled as a sacrifice by Jesus, and this sacrifice ensures that we are forgiven and redeemed for our sins. Ephesians chapter one verse seven says, in Him we have redemption through His blood, not through baptism, through the blood of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. The new living translation in Ephesians one seven says, He is so rich in kindness and grace, He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins, not baptism. Now we should get baptized. That's the purpose of this message in this series.

Blood reconciles us to God and gives us direct access to God the most high and the most holy place. That's in the inner sanctum of the kingdom of heaven at the throne of God. Crossions one 20 says, and by Him, to reconcile all things to Himself by Him, whether things on earth are things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross, not through baptism, through the peace of the blood of the cross. We do not need an intermediary priest. You don't need a priest or a preacher to go to the throne room. You repent to God and ask God for forgiveness of your sins. Not a priest, not a pastor. I'm a minister myself. I'm not who you turn to. Oh, I can help you. I can encourage you. I can lead you in a prayer, but you go directly in the name of Jesus, amen? Apostle Peter wrote, well, let's back up. Hebrews 10, 19, therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. In other words, we should boldly go to the throne, admit we missed it, admit we had sin. We did something wrong. Ask for forgiveness, ask for mercy. Receive it by faith in the blood washes you clean, amen? We don't need to go to the priest.

Verse 20 says, by a new and living way, which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh and having a high priest over the house of God. We can go to the throne of God in the name of the true high priest, Jesus. We don't have to have a man to do that. Amen? Apostle Peter wrote to the early church in first Peter chapter one, verse 18 and 19. He said, for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed or bought from the empty way of life handed down to you from our ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. Jesus bought and paid for it, but we must receive it by faith. That's how we're saved. But baptism is an act of obedience. It's an act of demonstration that we are new creatures in Christ. Amen? Jesus's blood was a sacrifice that established a new covenant between God and us, the people, all those who believe. He told the disciples at the Last Supper when he took bread and wine. He blessed it and told them it was his body and blood giving it cup to his disciples. And he said, this is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many. Mark 14, 23. And we still have communion today, the sacraments and remembrance of the divine arrangement. We don't have, you know, holy baptisms and remembrance of this divine arrangement. No, it's about the blood that saves us. Amen? Some religions, denominations, they believe they teach that baptism is what saves. No, that's not scripture. We just read scripture of what saves us, what redeems us, what buys us back. Don't believe these things, amen? Remember, in the first message of this series, we talked a little bit about being truthful about the word and not to traditions of man that make the word of God of no effect, no power. We want to know the truth of what God said and experience the power thereof, amen? Matthew 3.13 says, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized." This is the Son of God, Jesus Himself. He came to John the Baptist to be baptized. Oh man, to be baptized by either one of these. Woo! Bye. "I need to be baptized by you, Jesus, and you're coming to me? Who am I?" John the Baptist was not being rebellious. He was not being difficult. He was trying to understand because of honor. He knew who Jesus was, the child of God, the son of God, the

redeemer, and he's asking me to baptize him, somebody who's not even worthy to tie his shoes, and he wants me to perform this symbolic act. Oh my, what a position to be in, what a thing of honor to be asked by Jesus to do. He understood that Jesus is the head, the master, the son of God, amen, and honored that. In verse 15, "But Jesus answered him and said, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'" Jesus didn't get angry and say, "How dare you? I'll find somebody else to do it." No, he said, "Hey, permit it. Let's do this, man, because it's the right thing for me to be able to fulfill everything that is righteous. What is fitting to fulfill? It is good. It is complete to fulfill all righteousness by doing baptism, by getting baptized. There's a reason why you and I should do it right there. It's the right thing to do. Then he allowed him. When he had been baptized, Jesus came up. Notice he came up out of the water. You don't need to come up if you're just being sprinkled with water. You can run through a water hose and get sprinkled and have nothing to do with going under. You do not have to come up unless it is submersion underneath the water. Jesus came up immediately from the water and behold, the heavens were open to him and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and a lighting upon him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased because he did this act of obedience, of righteousness to fulfill all righteousness." And God said, "I'm pleased with you." We didn't say I'm proud. Proud is the nature of Satan. You shouldn't be proud of anything. You should be well pleased with your kids. Happy that they're making the right choices, doing the right things. But they're my kids. I'm proud of them. That's not God. Amen. You should be well pleased with them. God told his son Jesus that he was well pleased with him. You know, you can please God. Hebrews 11, 6, it is impossible to please God without faith by doing things in faith. You will please God by doing this act, this symbolic act in faith that alone pleases God. Faith. Amen. When we get saved, we become children of God, his sons, his daughters. God, the creator of heaven and earth, is well pleased with you. Glory to God. Notice the next thing that happened. Jesus entered ministry. His full-time ministry after he was baptized. Oh my. So do you think that baptism is important? Jesus did not even enter ministry until then. He didn't perform miracles. We'll get into that in just a second. You say, "Oh, yeah, he did. He did as a child." Really? Don't believe it. It's not true. We'll cover that. Amen. Matthew 28, 18 says, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.'" That's a lot of authority.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always and even to the end of the age." This series on baptism, it's part of that teaching to observe these things. We need to observe them, but we need to understand why, when, how, amen, to do it properly. Isaiah 119 says, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." I want to be willing to do what God's Word said, "In obedient to do it." Amen. God told us to get baptized. So if you are willing to do it, in obedient to do it, expect to eat the good of the land, expect a prosper, things to go well for But remember, it starts first with repenting and receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That's the foundation of it. Hey, ma'am. Mark 16 15 and he said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. Baptists must be pretty important, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe in my name. They will cast out demons. They will speak with new tongues. They will take up servants. If they drink anything deadly, who will be by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Signs will follow due to the authority that Jesus gave him and Matthew 28 18. I want signs to follow me, not because I want to be seen. I want people to experience the goodness of God, the glory of God. Amen, healing, prosperity, increase, protection. Amen, soundness of mind, glory to God. The last instruction Jesus gave him. Okay. So the first thing Jesus did before he went in, before he went into ministry was get baptized, then he went into ministry, right? Acts 10 35. It says, but in every nation, whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him. Well, we just heard that to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus wanted to get baptized. The word which God sent to the children of Israel,

preaching peace through Jesus. He is Lord of all. The words you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea and began in Galilee after the baptism, which John preached. So when did this happen? After the baptism, verse 38, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, inhaling all who were sick and oppressed of the devil for God was with him. My, my, my. Thank you, Jesus. So he did miracles after the baptism. He went by back to people ministering with the spirit of love, spirit of power. Amen. With authority. Jesus didn't do miracles as I said until after he was baptized. It's a lie. Don't believe that he did it as a little kid. You say, well, where's that based? Well, I'm glad that you asked. John chapter two, we're going to read verses six through 11. Now there were six water pots of stone according to the manner of purification of the Jews containing 20 and 30 gallons of peace. Now this is in John chapter two. This is after the situation where he was baptized. Okay. So he's an adult. Jesus said to them, fill the water pots with water and they filled them up to the brim and he said to them, draw some of some of it out now and take it to the master of the feast and they took it. Wait, the master of the feast is wanting more wine in Jesus is saying, fill these pots up with water. Can you imagine being a servant? What is going on here? This master, boy, I hope he doesn't make me wash dishes now or clean toilets for bringing him this fire me. What in the world? He wants wine, not, not water. And the master. So then it goes on to verse nine, when the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from. But the servants who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and he said to him, every man at the beginning sets out the good wine.

And when guests have well drunk, then the inferior, you have kept the good wine until now. This beginning of signs Jesus did, this is the beginning of miracles. Though the first miracle Jesus did was turned water into wine, party supplies. Amen. So don't believe it. When people try to tell you, Jesus did miracles. Have a child. No, anointing power came upon him. That dove came upon him whenever he came up out of the water being baptized. Amen. The dove, the spirit of God came upon him with power. God was with Jesus after baptism. It gave him ability, divine graces. Amen. When we get, why get baptized because of an active obedience to the Lord after salvation? First salvation. If you don't know, Jesus says your Lord and Savior, now's a good time. You can repeat this after me. Heavenly Father, I come to you in the mighty name of Jesus with boldness Lord, I believe that you sent your son Jesus to the earth. He died on the cross, went to the pits of hell, paid the price for my sin, and rose from the grave, seated in heavenly places. Lord, I ask you to be my Lord, my Savior, forgive me of my sins. I receive it, and I take it by faith in the name of Jesus. Amen. If that's you, your name is written in heaven. I encourage you to get baptized. Find a good church. If you happen to be locked up, go to your chaplain, ask if he will baptize you. Amen, baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen, this is where things begin, the goodness of God, the anointing of God, the power of God in your life.

If you just got saved, I ask you to join other people who have notified us so that we can rejoice with you, amen. Right now, in our prison outreach, on our broadcast, we're seeing about five people per day give their life to the Lord on the average. If that's you, I encourage you to let us know, amen. Remember, 1 John 5, 4 says, "For whatever is born of God, overcomes the world." And this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our faith, amen. He, I mean, who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Hallelujah, if you believe that, my, my, my, you're gonna have eternity in heaven with me. Ooh, that's gonna be a fun time, a long time. Glory to God, we still have things to cover. We still have to cover when to be baptized and how to be baptized according to the word of God. Amen, not according to what man says, not according to some doctrines. Doctors are good, I'm not against doctrines. Doctors need to be based on this, on the word of God. This should be the foundation for everything we believe, everything we do, amen. It should be based on this, not some man's opinion, some watered down idea, amen. Something that over time got skewed. I've had those situations. I recently told somebody that I took one of our messages off our website 'cause I heard it and thought,

I don't believe that. Well, 15 years ago I did, I've grown. I've learned, hallelujah. Thank you Lord, have a blessed day. Amen, this is Mike Kennedy with Living and Victory. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)