#12 My grandparents from Russia and Ukraine were pioneers to Western Canada just before the Bolshevik Revolution. They had been simple farmers over in the old country. Peasants. Some relatives who stayed suffered under Joseph Stalin’s totalitarian regime. They faced so much hardship, bloodshed, and heartache – they finally escaped. Fled as refugees. Willing to sever all ties to their homeland, leave families and friends. And flee. Step out in faith to make a completely new start! They didn’t have much money, so they came as “steerage” on cattle ships. Some of my family died in those cattle ships on a horrific voyage across the ocean. Tonight the Voice of Prophecy SPEAKS good news about HOW YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN! Take a trip with me back 2000 years ago. When Christianity came into being in the 1st Century after Christ, it was a serious threat to the Jewish religion. So Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, set out to destroy Christianity. Jesus predicted this would happen: <Luke 21:12> This prophecy was fulfilled almost at once. Yet, despite persecution, Christianity began growing rapidly. Saul of Tarsus championed stamping out Christianity. This young Jewish Pharisee, in a very high position, was a Roman citizen by birth. Educated at the feet of the most eminent rabbi in Jerusalem, Gamaliel, he was so zealous for his Jewish faith, the rabbis promoted him to the Sanhedrin as staunch defender of their faith. Saul – whose name later was changed to Paul after his conversion – describes what he used to do to put an end to the hated Christians. “I was a hired gun. A hit man.” <Acts 22:4,
5> But one day as he was on his way to Damascus, a bright light shone out of heaven. Brilliant like a bolt of lightning, and it struck him to the ground. Blinding him. He heard a voice, saying, <Acts 22:7,
8, 10> But Saul was so blinded by the bright light he had to be led to a room in Damascus. For three days in his Motel 6, Saul had time alone to think of the suffering and pain he caused God’s people. His mind replayed like videotapes all those times he swore and cursed Jesus. He sat there in total darkness for three anxious days. Brooding. Worrying. Alone. And then God tapped a prophet named Ananias on the shoulder and said, “Go see Saul.” Quaking in his boots, he said, “Lord! Haven’t you heard the reports in the papers about....?” God said, “Go.” So Ananias came and said, <Acts 22:13-15> God wants you to go forward in your life, shut the door on your past, and make things right with your Lord. Then Ananias said something of profound import to Saul, <Acts 22:16> “What? I’ve been baptized in Jewish baptism. Me?” Yes, you! “How come?” “Baptism is the way God designs you are to be joined to your Lord forever! Baptism is the Christian doorway to a new life, Saul. To wash you clean from the terrible things you’ve done in the name of religion.” Well! Saul thought he’d been one of the good guys. But he had been murdering innocent people. His conscience needed to be cleansed. If anybody needed mercy, Saul did! He needed to be baptized so he could know God had forgiven him. So God could give him new Holy Spirit power. Saul the Pharisee, the persecutor, was about to be completely turned around, stood on his head, and begin all over again! And become the great Apostle Paul. For the rest of his entire life, a Jesus freak – a zealot for Jesus! Have you ever wished you could start all over again? Wash away all of the mistakes of your past? God knew every one of us needs just such an experience, so He instituted baptism as a sign of a new start. Heaven’s sign we’re born again! Is there any more beautiful symbol of death to sin, burial of our past, and resurrection to a brand new life...than baptism by immersion? Buried beneath the water? When we were over in Israel a few years ago, I was fascinated to learn that Christian baptism actually originated in Judaism. It began with John the Baptist, a rugged Jewish evangelist who appeared in the wilderness of Judea boldly preaching repentance to Jews. All roads led to the Jordan River where crowds of people listened to him. <Matthew
3:5, 6> One day a young Carpenter of Nazareth, closed the door to His shop, said “good-bye” to His mother, and made His way to the Jordan. When John caught sight of him, he pointed to Jesus exclaiming, <John 1:29> “Folks, there’s Messiah! God’s anointed One the prophecies have looked forward to for 4,000 years! That’s Him! I recognize Him! The true sacrificial Lamb of God who is to die for the sins of the world!” But then John was struck speechless when Jesus started taking off His outer garment; removing His sandals; and He walked down into the Jordan River and stood beside John. “John, I want to be baptized.” John hesitated, “Me? Baptize you?” <Matthew
3:14> I’m not
worthy to untie your shoelaces! But Jesus answered, Jesus didn’t need to be baptized. But He asked to be baptized because He wanted to leave us a perfect example. So John immersed Jesus in the Jordan River for that is what the word baptism means. To dip, or plunge under. The Bible says, <Matthew
3:16, 17> God publicly introduced Him as His Son, the Anointed One! Messiah! Fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 9:24, and marking the official beginning of Christ’s Messianic ministry, exactly to the month Old Testament prophecy predicted He would be anointed as Messiah – in the Fall of 27 A.D. We studied about that on our 4th night in the 490 year prophecy about that “One Life that Changed the World.” With pinpoint accuracy, Acts 10:38 says, “...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” i.e., baptism was the doorway to a brand new mission for Jesus. Heaven’s unique sign we’re born NOT of human birth, but born from above. A sign we’ve started all over again. In fact, that was Christ’s very last command before He ascended to heaven: <Matthew
28:19, 20> If you want to begin again, baptism is the sign...heaven’s one-of-a-kind, tailor-made plan to start all over and be born again. People used to argue: “Well, what’s the proper mode?” Walk down any street in your community and knock on the doors of 20 different homes, asking: “What do you believe true Bible baptism really is?” You get twenty different answers. Some say sprinkling. Some pouring. Others, a few drops of oil. Some say three times face forward. There are so many customs you really wonder if baptism is even Christian. Some people baptize by sprinkling salt on you. Some by dipping. We even baptize animals now. Some churches baptize you in wine. Or baptize you by mail. One preacher baptized his great grandson by long distance telephone. In Texas, there’s a church where you don’t even need water...you simply go down to the front, the preacher lays his dry, bare hand on your head, and he says, ‘I now baptize you.’ (I guess you’d call that the ‘dry-cleaning method.’) A church in Hollywood started a new rage. They used to practice sprinkling, but the pastor felt this wasn’t a very enjoyable experience for babies who would squirm and panic when an unpleasant thunderstorm hit them in the face. So the pastor had the local florist send him some white roses. White symbolizes purity; the rose is a symbol of Jesus (the Rose of Sharon). Next Sunday, he proceeded to sprinkle pretty white rose petals softly over the babies’ cheeks. Baptized with rose petals. Movie stars started ordering colored rose petals to match the color of their bleached blonde hair. One really did it up right and was baptized in a huge tank of rose petals. I’m glad most preachers don’t argue about it any more. They’ve re-discovered Bible baptism by immersion. Some still offer you a smorgasbord. But even the brand new $300 million Catholic Church on Temple Street in Los Angeles, Our Lady of the Angels, has a full baptistery! Methodists and Lutherans give you the choice now. Bible baptism – in a river or lake the ocean. I’m glad Christians are finally getting back to Ephesians 4:5 where the apostle Paul says there’s no confusion on this subject. “There is… “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” That’s because in the Greek the word “baptism” means literally “to immerse,” “plunge under.” Like when you dye a piece of cloth, you don’t sprinkle it. You completely plunge it under. Probably the most interesting detailed account of baptism recorded in the Bible is found in the Book of Acts. A few years ago I stood on the dusty road outside Jerusalem where God directed Philip the evangelist to go out and do some hitch-hiking. Because God had someone in mind who Philip needed to meet and evangelize with the Good News about Jesus. On the road to Gaza. Philip sees a VIP stretch limousine come racing towards him. It’s Alan Greenspan! Ethiopia’s Chancellor-Exchequer. Financial wizard and treasurer for Queen Candace in Egypt: a diplomat in charge of all her treasury. This government official had gone to Jerusalem to worship the true God. Now this African celebrity was on his way home, riding in his limousine-chariot and reading from a scroll of the book of Isaiah. As his chariot flashed by, Philip ran toward it and called to the man: <Acts 8:30,
31> “Come up and explain this passage – (Who’s this talking about?) – Messiah?” Philip saw immediately the man was reading Isaiah 53, a detailed prophecy about the crucifixion of Jesus as Messiah. <Acts 8:35> What a Bible study – bouncing along in that chariot! Philip telling him about Jesus and Calvary. He told him about the parables. The miracles. They traveled for hours. He explained the significance of baptism by immersion, for the Bible says that finally when they came to a desert oasis, the Ethiopian said to Philip, <Acts 8:36-38> Didn’t sprinkle rose petals on him! Philip immersed him, just as John immersed Christ when He was baptized. And the Bible says that the Ethiopian, <Acts 8:39> Because he had followed God’s instructions explicitly to bury the old life of sin and start a new life in Christ. By the way, that’s a promise, friend! Joy and rejoicing always happen when we follow God’s instructions explicitly. The Bible is very clear – and Catholics and Protestants now agree – immersion was the only mode of baptism practiced by the early Christian church. No other way. Jeannie and I visited Philippi in July, 2001. First Christian church ever established in Europe by the Apostle Paul himself. If you ever go there, don’t miss the 1st Century Church. It has a huge baptistery in it! In fact, all ancient churches in Europe had baptisteries. Like the one in Milan, Italy. Because for nearly 1200 years this is how they baptized! Historians and archaeologists of every denomination agree. James Cardinal
Gibbons wrote: When Jeannie and I visited Philippi, what an experience. The same exact riverside where Lydia and those first Christians worshiped. First Christian beach-head in Western civilization. Philippi was where Paul so stirred up the people a revolution erupted and a mob attacked Paul and Silas. Tore off their clothing. The authorities beat and flogged them. Threw them in prison – (we saw the actual prison – archaeology has uncovered it) – where the jailor put them in stocks, their bodies half upside down, their lacerated backs in the filthy muck of confinement. Their feet so tight the pain was excruciating. But they didn’t murmur. In the total darkness and utter desolation of that dungeon they encouraged each other, prayed and sang to God. Because they’d been found worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ sake. The other prisoners were astonished. They were used to hearing moans and groans and curses coming from that gloomy cell. The guards wondered: Praise? Prayer? Who are these men? Cold, hungry, and tortured – yet rejoicing? Suddenly at midnight an earthquake shook the prison walls so violently the doors flew open and everyone’s chains fell off. The keeper of the prison came running, and, seeing the doors opened, assumed all prisoners had fled. He knew Rome’s punishment for letting prisoners escape. So he was in the process of taking out his sword to commit suicide. <Acts 16:28> The jailor was shocked. Paul and Silas, had suffered torture at his hands. Untold agony. Yet these poor men held no resentment. Wanted no revenge. The jailor knew they were innocent men. He ran and got a light, went into their cell. <Acts 16:30,
31, 33> The worship service we held by the river near the jail in Philippi was one I’ll cherish forever. Precisely where that jailor and his family became members of the very first Christian church in the Western world! If you’re ever in Ephesus, Turkey, by all means visit St. John’s Church. The disciple John actually pastored that church, which was built as a memorial to him. It’s so old, the third general church council took place in this very building in A.D. 431. But what’s of special interest is the baptistery, circular in shape, about twelve feet in diameter and four feet deep, with stairs leading down into the font on two sides. Let’s go over to Italy. Ever hear of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It’s really an ancient cathedral. But don’t miss what’s inside that cathedral – an ancient baptistery – a pool twenty feet across and four feet deep constructed by the Catholic Church. Tourists say, “Hey! How come Catholics needed so much water to sprinkle.” Tour guides will correctly inform you, “That’s because for thirteen hundred years the only mode of baptism was immersion – even for Catholics!” Almost up to the time Columbus sailed for America. There are dozens of such cathedrals with large baptismal fonts in Europe. Sixty-six in Italy alone, whose construction dates between the fourth and fourteenth centuries. So there’s no debate about the mode. The question is: how important is the rite of baptism? Is it really necessary to be baptized by immersion? Yes! Jesus says it means something profoundly significant. <Mark 16:16> Is it that important? In John 3:5 Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom.” “Well,” you say, “how do you prepare for baptism? What do you have to do?" Three simple steps. Jesus told His disciples: Step one… <Matthew
28:19> Teaching precedes baptism. You study first. Get some basic teaching. Uh-oh! That means sprinkling is not baptism, because an infant can’t be taught doctrine! Jesus said the baptismal candidate is to be taught… <Matthew
28:20> This doesn’t mean you have to get your Ph.D. before you’re baptized. Candidates simply prepare for the sacred rite of baptism by getting acquainted with the basic teachings of Jesus. We start the wonderful journey of living a brand new life: Christ’s way. So step number one: teaching. What’s the second step in preparing for baptism? When the Ethiopian asked Philip if he could be baptized, Philip said, <Acts 8:37> Total belief in Christ. Remember, there are different kinds of faith. The devils believe, too, but it won’t save them. This is accepting faith. Trusting faith. Third step: repentance. Peter said, <Acts 3:19> Repentance simply means to be sorry for my sins and with God’s help to turn from them. Jesus promises to do this for you. He’ll give you repentance! Three simple
steps: Not complicated. Very personal. But if you’ve ever wished you could change your life for the better – but you haven’t known how – these three steps prepare you for baptism so you may truly become a new person – from the inside out. And Jesus invites us come just as we are, today. Now. We don’t wait until we’re perfect. “Let Me worry about your sins and habits. They’re MY problem. You just come. I’ll forgive you. I’ll convert you. I’ll empower you. I’ll help change you.” He invites, <Acts 22:16> One dark night, a Jewish leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus secretly because He didn’t want his peers to know he was really interested in this itinerant teacher’s new theology. He flattered Jesus, <John 3:2> Jesus could read this man’s heart, like a book, so He cut right to the point and showed Nicodemus what he really needed. <John 3:3,
4> Jesus said, “I’m talking about spiritual rebirth.” You can’t get yourself born, Nicodemus. Birth is a gift, given to you by someone else. Same with being born again. That’s a gift someone else gives you, too. <John 3:5> Nicodemus knew Jews “baptize” people – outwardly dunk them in their ritual bath (“mik-veh”). But Jesus said I’m talking about spiritual rebirth inside, too! Water and the spirit. Outside. Inside. True baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation! Being dunked or sprinkled isn’t enough. Jesus made it clear: That won’t change you. You need the power of the Holy Spirit to transform your life! Anything less is inadequate. You come to the water. I’ll send the Spirit. Water and the Spirit – that’s the way a person officially seals his acceptance of Jesus Christ. It’s just like a wedding ceremony. That’s the public sign of a new relationship called “marriage.” The ceremony of baptism is the public sign of our marriage to Christ! When we’re baptized, God announces, “Look Universe!” Let me introduce to you…” <Matthew
3:17> “One of my saints!” Paul says when we’re baptized we “put on Christ” like you put on a gorgeous new coat. Watch carefully what baptism symbolizes. In Romans 6 Paul very clearly says immersion visually commemorates faith in three great facts of Christ’s sacrifice: Death. Burial. Resurrection. <Romans 6:3> DEATH: Breathing stops. Eyes shut. Lips close. Hands folded. Next step? You lay down in the watery grave. <Romans 6:4> Immersed (for one second!) But this immersion symbolizes something special. It means you died – in a voluntary death decision for Jesus. When you’re immersed under that water, it means something drowns! Materialism and racism and war and intemperance and greed and pride and all your secret sins are drowned, friends, in that baptismal water. If any evil manages to snorkel its way underwater and you’re still hiding something, the true meaning of baptism is violated – it’s ruined. But there’s a crucial third part to this symbol: RESURRECTION! <Romans 6:4> Now please friend, there’s nothing magical about the water. The water won’t save you. It’s not the act of being baptized that works some mysterious miraculous change in an individual. I could immerse a person 50 times and he’d be just as sinful as before, unless the heart has been changed. But God declares that when you have that inward spiritual new birth plus the outward symbol of baptism, the person baptized is born of water and the Spirit! June 11, 1958. I well remember the day. I was 11 years old. But it was the day I died, was buried alive and lived to tell about it! I stepped into a baptistery in Springfield, MA, and after a simple but meaningful statement about my young Christian experience and desire to serve Jesus my whole life, I was baptized by Pastor Dan Sherman Harris in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That was the most important day of my life: My public baptism demonstrated my personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul says, “Lonnie, what happened is you died (to sin), the old you was buried, and a brand new you came out of that baptismal pool!” <Romans 6:11> When Jeannie and I got engaged I was nearly 20, and let me tell you we weren’t perfect. But we got married! It was a perfect beginning. And that is what’s important tonight. <Ephesians
4:5> Keep it simple. No confusion. The only question to ask is: What did Jesus do? When the time was right, He did it! No hesitation. No putting it off. And the question today is, will I take Him at His Word and follow His example? I may not know who you are or where you have been in your spiritual journey, friend. If you have not understood the meaning and importance of baptism before; or if you have not had the privilege of following Jesus in this sacred ceremony of baptism by immersion – the same question and invitation comes to you just now that Paul presented to the Philippian jailor when he cried out: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Still the same question. And still the same answer. And the invitation comes to you tonight: <Acts 22:16> Will you say “yes” to Jesus today? You say, “I don’t know if I FEEL ready.” Friend, feelings have little to do with it. Can we rely on our feelings for something as important as baptism? I told you Jeannie and I couldn’t wait to get married. But let me tell you a little secret: after the ceremony was over, we still didn’t “feel” married! But do you think we waited around in that little Methodist Church in Frederick, Maryland to “feel married” before leaving for our honeymoon? Are you kidding? No way! The feelings caught up later. Six months later I woke up one morning and said, “Honey, I feel married!” Same with baptism. You can’t wait until you “feel” right about it. It’s the only right thing to do! The feelings will come later. Some say, “I’ll wait until I’m older and a bit more mature.” BAPTISM (Barna
Research, 11-15-99) Re: probability of accepting J.C. in relation
to a person’s age. If he does NOT accept Jesus and be baptized… Tonight Jesus and I want to extend a personal invitation: If you’d like to make plans to follow Jesus all the way in Bible baptism, I want you to make a tangible decision, a choice. Stand up for Jesus tonight. He went to Calvary for you. If you want to be baptized we want to pray for you and help you. Some people hesitate. Hold back. They don’t believe they’re ready. Remember, baptism doesn’t mean you’re perfect. It means you are committed. Jesus invites you, “Follow My footsteps in the watery grave of baptism. I offer forgiveness, I offer freedom from all the guilt of your past, I offer power to live a new life through My Holy Spirit.” The important
question is: Will you say “yes” to Jesus right now?
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