Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000052
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00:19 Well good evening and a very warm welcome
00:22 to Give Me The Bible 00:24 with Pastor Kenneth Cox. 00:26 Pastor Cox has been having this series now... 00:30 this is the 11th month. 00:32 And every month there are five 00:35 programs that take place over a weekend: 00:38 Thursday night, Friday night, 00:40 Sabbath morning, Saturday night, and Sunday. 00:43 And we have had a tremendous response all over the world 00:48 to this series. People are excited about it. 00:51 This... each one is kind of a series in capsule. 00:55 The whole series entitled Give Me The Bible. 00:58 But this particular weekend is entitled 01:01 The Apple of God's Eye. 01:05 The apple of His eye. 01:07 And tonight the specific subject is going to be 01:11 The Front Door of the Church. 01:14 Now I've known Pastor Cox for many, many years. 01:17 I've seen him preach in all kinds of situations: 01:22 in churches and auditoriums and places around the world. 01:26 He loves the Lord Jesus Christ. 01:29 He loves God's Word. 01:31 And I don't know anyone who would rather take 01:36 the Word of God and look at it carefully and share it 01:41 than Pastor Cox. 01:43 He's going to do that tonight and we're going to enjoy that. 01:46 But before he does, it's a real pleasure to have 01:49 Jim and Pam Rhodes with us. 01:51 Good friends of Three Angels Broadcasting Network. 01:54 Good friends for Kenneth Cox's organization. 01:58 And tonight they're going to bring us a song entitled 02:02 My Sins Are Gone. 02:17 You ask me why I'm happy, 02:19 so I will just tell you why: 02:21 because my sins are gone! 02:26 And when I meet the scoffers 02:28 who ask me where they are 02:30 I say: "My sins are gone. " 02:35 They're underneath the blood of the cross of Calvary, 02:40 as far removed as darkness is from dawn. 02:44 In the sea of God's forgetfulness... 02:47 that's good enough for me! 02:48 Praise God! My sins are gone. 02:53 'Twas at the old-time altar 02:56 where God came in my heart... 02:58 and now my sins are gone. 03:02 The Lord took full possession; 03:05 the devil did depart. 03:07 And now my sins are gone. 03:12 They're underneath the blood of the cross of Calvary, 03:16 as far removed as darkness is from dawn. 03:21 In the sea of God's forgetfulness... 03:23 that's good enough for me! 03:25 Praise God! My sins are gone. 03:39 I'm living now for Jesus, 03:42 I'm happy night and day 03:44 because my sins are gone. 03:48 My soul is filled with music. 03:51 With all my heart I say: 03:53 "I know my sins are gone. " 03:57 They're underneath the blood of the cross of Calvary, 04:02 as far removed as darkness is from dawn. 04:06 In the sea of God's forgetfulness... 04:09 that's good enough for me! 04:11 Praise God! My sins are gone. 04:15 They're underneath the blood of the cross of Calvary, 04:20 as far removed as darkness is from dawn. 04:25 In the sea of God's forgetfulness... 04:27 that's good enough for me! 04:29 Praise God! 04:31 Praise God! 04:34 Praise God! 04:36 My sins are gone! 04:44 Amen! 04:46 That ought to make anybody happy. 04:48 To know that my sins are gone. Wonderful! 04:52 Appreciate that very much. 04:54 Welcome to all of you tonight. 04:56 Glad that you're here. 04:57 Hope that you've had a good day. 05:00 And we just also want to welcome 05:02 all of you that are watching by 05:03 television or listening through the radio or on the Internet. 05:09 We're glad that you're with us tonight. 05:11 We hope that you'll be blessed as we go into this subject 05:14 this evening. Our subject this evening is 05:16 The Front Door of the Church. 05:18 The Front Door of the Church. 05:20 I'm going to talk about that. 05:21 In fact, we're going to be talking about 05:25 And tomorrow... our next presentation 05:28 is going to be on The Back Door of the Church. 05:32 So we're going to take a look at the front door 05:34 and we're going to take a look at the back door. 05:37 Neither one of these doors 05:41 are what people think they are. 05:43 Neither one are what people think they are. 05:46 And we're going to talk about those so that we'll understand 05:50 exactly what the front door of the church is. 05:53 And we're going to find out what the back door of the church is. 05:57 Those are two doors that are very, very, very important. 06:03 And you and I need to know what the scripture has to say 06:06 about both of them 06:08 and how it relates to us as individuals 06:11 that are members of God's church. 06:14 How do we related to the front door and the back door? 06:18 So that's what we'll be talking about. 06:20 We hope it will bless you as we go into it. 06:24 And of course through the rest of the presentations 06:26 we'll be talking about The Apple of God's Eye. 06:30 The Apple of God's Eye... 06:32 which we found out is His church. 06:35 And so it's very important that we know what the Word 06:39 tells us about His church. 06:41 That little poem that I mention to you: 06:43 What says the Bible, the blessed Bible? 06:45 This my only question be. 06:48 Will the church of God be victorious? 06:53 What says the Book of God to me? 06:56 That's what we want to find out 06:57 and that's what we're looking at 06:59 as we go through this time and study God's Word together. 07:04 So thank you for being with us. 07:06 Very happy to have with us Jim and Pam Rhodes. 07:10 I'm always blessed when they come. 07:12 And I know that you just enjoyed the song that she did. 07:15 She's going to sing one for us that's entitled 07:17 Look for Me. 07:33 When you finally make your entrance 07:39 to that city 07:45 with jasper walls 07:48 and bright gold 07:52 avenues. 07:57 As you behold 08:01 all its beauty 08:04 and its splendor, 08:09 remember there's just one request 08:15 I make of you. 08:21 Look for me 08:25 for I will be there too. 08:34 I realize 08:38 when you arrive 08:41 there'll be so much to view. 08:46 After you've been there 08:50 10,000 years, 08:53 a million... maybe two, 08:58 look for me, 09:02 for I will be there too. 09:16 As you go down 09:19 your list of firsts 09:22 there's no question 09:28 we'll want to see our loved ones 09:33 waiting you and me. 09:41 When you feel you've shared your story 09:47 with the last one 09:53 that wants to hear you tell just how 09:59 you made it through, 10:04 Look for me... 10:09 I'd like to hear it too. 10:17 I realize 10:21 when you arrive 10:25 there'll be so much to view. 10:29 After you've been there 10:33 10,000 years, 10:36 a million... maybe two, 10:41 look for me 10:45 for I will be there too. 10:54 When we've been there 11:00 ten thousand years 11:06 bright shining as 11:12 the sun. 11:18 We've no less days 11:24 to sing God's praise 11:30 than when 11:33 we first begun. 11:42 After you've been there 11:46 10,000 years, 11:49 a million... maybe two, 11:54 look for me 11:58 for I will be there too. 12:08 I will be there 12:11 too. 12:19 God bless you. 12:37 Gracious Lord, tonight 12:40 we look to that day... 12:43 that day when all of us 12:46 will be able to be there too. 12:49 We thank you for the promises of Your Word. 12:52 The sure hope that we have in Jesus Christ. 12:57 Bless us tonight 13:00 as we study together. 13:04 Give us, Lord, insight. 13:07 May the Holy Spirit be present. 13:12 May our hearts be drawn to You. 13:15 May we each one purpose to be in Your kingdom. 13:21 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 13:31 Well tonight we're going to take a look at the two 13:36 most important parts of the church. 13:39 If you're going to look at a church, 13:43 the two most important parts 13:46 of any church 13:48 is the front door and the back door. 13:51 Those are the two most important parts 13:55 of the church is the front door and the back door. 13:59 And tonight we're going to look at the front door. 14:03 and we're going to see what the scripture has to say 14:06 about the front door. 14:08 So let's go to the Word of God, see what it says 14:11 about the front door. 14:27 So He is saying... Jesus said: 14:30 "I am the door. " 14:32 OK? "If anyone enters by Me, 14:35 he goes in and out, he'll be saved. 14:37 Goes in and out; finds pasture. " 14:39 In fact, Jesus went on and said: 14:46 Now listen... 14:52 The only way that you can get there is through Jesus Christ. 14:56 I have some people say: 14:57 "Oh, baptism is the front door of the church. " 15:00 No, dear friend. Baptism's not the front door of the church. 15:04 Jesus Christ is the front door of the church, 15:07 and you have to go through Christ to get there. 15:11 It's the only way you can get there: 15:13 go through the Lord Jesus Christ. 15:16 He is the front door of the church. 15:19 That's the way we get there. 15:22 And that's what He's saying... comes that way. 15:24 Now baptism... baptism is simply a public declaration 15:30 of my acceptance of Jesus Christ. 15:33 That's what baptism is. 15:35 I am publicly declaring that I have accepted Jesus Christ 15:40 as my Lord and Savior. 15:43 That's what baptism represents. 15:46 Now we read here in Revelation 15:50 when it talks about the bride... talks about - you know - 15:55 Christ taking His bride to Him. It says: 16:10 OK. 16:20 So here it says that he took John and he showed him 16:24 the New Jerusalem. This is the bride. 16:29 OK? This is the bride. 16:32 Why does he picture the holy city - the New Jerusalem - 16:36 as the bride of Christ? 16:39 Why does he do that? 16:40 Because it says this: 16:51 In other words, you've got people, folks, 16:55 clear from way back in the beginning 16:59 all the way down through time. People of every nation, 17:03 tribe, tongue, and people that have come. 17:06 And all these come to the city, 17:09 and this makes up the bride of Christ. 17:12 All there... all the way down through time: 17:16 this is His bride. 17:19 So, He's telling you and I 17:21 that if we are going to enter into His kingdom 17:27 that I have to walk through the front door of the church. 17:35 And the front door of the church is Jesus Christ. 17:40 I must accept Him as my Lord and Savior. 17:45 Now because of that, 17:47 you'll find that the scripture ties those two things 17:51 very, very close together. Watch what it says here: 18:03 OK. Christ said: "I am the door: 18:05 If you enter in through Me you'll be saved. " 18:08 Mark 16:16: 18:16 Why does it tie those two so close together? 18:19 Simply because baptism 18:21 is a public declaration of the acceptance of Christ. 18:25 And it's basically saying that you have accepted Christ. 18:30 You have gone through that door, 18:33 if you please. And because of that 18:35 you will be saved. 18:37 That's what it's telling us. 18:39 So... now... 18:43 if Christ is the front door of the church, 18:48 how do I enter into the church? 18:51 Well, listen: 19:00 It's saying that Christ is the head of the body 19:05 which is the church. 19:13 So it says that Christ is the head of the church. 19:18 And I enter through Him... He's the door... 19:23 but my baptism is a public declaration of that - 19:28 that I have accepted Him - and that is how I enter into it. 19:33 Listen... this is what the scripture says: 19:44 So the church... church is the body. 19:49 Christ is the head. And it says that we are baptized... 20:03 So we have all come in through the front door - 20:07 which is Jesus Christ - and as a declaration 20:12 that I have given my heart to Jesus Christ 20:15 I have been baptized. 20:18 That's how you enter in to the church is by baptism. 20:24 You see, all the way through the book 20:28 you'll find that it ties baptism to the gospel. 20:33 You never find where it doesn't. 20:36 It ties baptism to the gospel 20:38 because as they went out and preached Jesus Christ 20:42 and people accepted Him, 20:44 then the natural thing for them to do 20:47 was to make a public declaration of that acceptance. 20:51 And so it says: 21:09 So He told them to go out to preach the gospel, 21:13 and if those people accepted Christ 21:15 then they were to be baptized. 21:19 And you find that is exactly what happened. 21:22 Remember? Philip has gone down to Samaria, 21:27 preached Christ to them. 21:29 As Philip preaches Christ to them, listen to what happens: 21:43 He preached it, and as they accepted Christ 21:46 they were baptized. 21:49 That's the natural process of the gospel. 22:04 So the question that I'm asking tonight: 22:06 Have you accepted Jesus Christ? 22:11 If you have accepted Jesus Christ, 22:15 then the next step... natural step... 22:18 is you should be baptized. 22:21 Those of you that have been watching by television 22:25 or listening over the radio 22:26 and you may have been going with us here for months 22:31 as we have taken through Give Me The Bible... 22:33 and maybe you have faithfully done that and you have 22:35 accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, 22:38 then, dear friend, the next step is you should be baptized. 22:42 That's what the scripture teaches. 22:45 You remember... Remember when Paul and Silas 22:48 were over in Philippi 22:50 and they had been arrested and thrown in jail. 22:53 And they had beaten them. 22:56 And it says it was about midnight, and they are there 23:00 in the jail and they're singing. 23:02 Would you be singing 23:05 if you'd been thrown in jail and been beaten? 23:07 But they're singing... 23:09 when there's an earthquake. 23:11 And the earthquake is so strong that the doors of the prison 23:15 popped open. It says the chains even fell off of them. 23:17 And the guard, thinking that all of his prisoners had escaped 23:23 was about to take his life. 23:24 Paul said: "We're all here. Don't harm yourself. " 23:28 And it says that that guard came running in there 23:33 and fell down before them. Watch: 23:35 Says he asked them: "What must I do to be saved? " 23:41 Now listen, folks. He's asking a specific question. 23:43 "What must I do to be saved? " 23:45 And Paul responds and says: 23:47 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 23:49 and thou shalt be saved. " 23:53 Watch what happens: 24:04 Took them the very same night 24:07 they had reached out in faith and accepted Jesus Christ 24:10 and because Christ is, dear friend, the door of the church. 24:16 Therefore because they had accepted Him, 24:19 they were baptized. Let me tell you something. 24:23 Baptism has a whole lot more to do with the heart 24:28 rather than the head. 24:33 Has a whole lot more to do with the heart 24:36 than it does the head. 24:38 If a person has surrendered their life and given their heart 24:42 to Jesus Christ, this is what it means. 24:46 This is what counts if they have done that. 24:49 So those disciples... they went out 24:53 and they preached Jesus Christ, 24:56 and men and women responded 24:58 and gave their hearts to the Lord. 25:00 In fact, it says: 25:12 So here they are. They're going through Lystra 25:15 and Iconium and Antioch and Thessalonica... 25:18 all these places. And they're preaching the gospel 25:21 and they're preaching the gospel to the Gentiles 25:24 as well as the Jews. 25:26 And here these people are who are Gentiles 25:29 and by faith they're reaching out and accepting the gospel 25:33 of Jesus Christ. They're accepting Jesus Christ 25:36 as their Lord and Savior. 25:38 Watch what happens: 25:45 They gladly received what the scripture said 25:48 about Jesus Christ. They received the word... were what? 26:00 They went out and they preached the gospel to them, 26:03 and those people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 26:08 I can remember when I first started in the ministry. 26:12 I labored under the concept that a person had to study 26:18 at least for six months - and preferably a year - 26:23 before they were baptized. 26:25 I labored under that concept 26:28 and I'll never forget... I was preaching one Sabbath 26:32 and this man came in. This old gentleman came in 26:35 and had a seat. I had never seen him before. 26:38 When church was over, I was standing at the door 26:41 shaking hands. He came by and I shook his hand. 26:44 And I said to him... I said: "Is this your first time here? " 26:46 He said: "Yes. " 26:47 I said: "Well, we're real happy to have you... 26:50 happy to have you come. " 26:51 He said: "Thank you. " 26:52 I said: "Would you mind if I came out to visit you 26:56 this week? " "Oh, " he said, "not at all. 26:59 I'd love to have you come visit me. " 27:00 I said: "Great, I'll come see you. " 27:02 And so I went out to see the old gentleman. 27:04 And as we were visiting I said: 27:07 "What... what got you to come to church? " 27:10 "Oh, " he said, "Pastor Cox, " 27:13 he said "When I was a young man" 27:15 he said "about 17 years of age" 27:18 he said "I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ 27:21 and" he said "I went to church every week. " 27:25 Said: "In fact, every time the door of the church opened 27:28 I was there. " Said: "I loved to go to church. " 27:31 And he said: "I went to church faithfully, day in and... 27:35 every time I could. " 27:37 He said: "When I got in my early 20's, " 27:40 he said, "I started going with this young lady. " 27:43 Said: "We dated. " Said: "She didn't go to church. " 27:46 Said: "I didn't think much about it. " 27:49 He said: "I fell in love with her. " 27:51 He said: "I didn't think it made that much difference 27:55 what she did. " He said: "We married. " 27:58 He said: "After we married, " he said, "she started objecting 28:01 to my going to church. " 28:04 Said: "Every time I went to church, 28:07 came back home, we got in an argument. " 28:09 He said: "That went on for quite a while, 28:12 and" he said "I finally quit going to church. " 28:14 He said: "I haven't gone to church in years and years 28:18 and years. " 28:20 He said: "Two weeks ago my wife died. " 28:24 And he said: "I decided to come back to church. " 28:28 So he said: "That's what I was doing in church. " 28:30 And my mind... kind of remember, now, I'm under this 28:35 illusion that you've got to study with somebody for 6 months 28:38 or a year. I said to him: 28:41 "Would you like to study the Word of God? " 28:43 "Oh, " he said, "very much so. " 28:44 I said: "I'll tell you what, I'll come out and study with you 28:47 every week. " He said: "Great! " 28:49 Folks, I didn't just study with that man... 28:52 I gave him assignments to do. 28:54 He could have gotten a degree from the Seminary. 28:57 You know? I mean, I gave him assignments to do, 29:00 and he faithfully did them. 29:02 One of the texts that I gave him to study was this one 29:05 we just read where it says that 3,000 souls 29:08 were added to the church in one day. 29:12 And as we were going over that he looked at me 29:15 and we had read that text and he said: "Brother Cox, " 29:17 he said, "If Peter would have put those people through 29:20 what you put me through, there wouldn't have been 3,000. " 29:23 And I have never forgotten that. 29:26 See? No... The scripture simply says 29:30 that I need to give my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, 29:34 surrender my heart to Him, 29:36 and THEN I need to follow Him in baptism. 29:39 This is what the scripture simply teaches. 29:43 And that's what these people did. And as a result it says: 29:55 You see, that is the front door of the church, 29:59 and He added to it daily. 30:01 That is what you and I need to do 30:04 in accordance with God's Word. And it says: 30:13 Important! Baptism is vital. 30:22 In fact, Jesus said this: 30:35 How did they reject the will of God? 30:44 They refused to be baptized by John the Baptist 30:48 and therefore Jesus said: "Those people are rejecting 30:52 the will of God. " Let me tell you, 30:53 if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, 30:57 then it's God's will that you follow Him in baptism. 31:02 That the scripture makes very, very clear: 31:06 that you and I need to follow Him in baptism. 31:13 How to be baptized. 31:17 What does the scripture say about how I should be baptized? 31:22 Well the scripture has this to say. It says: 31:32 This is a picture of the Jordan. 31:35 OK? Says that John was baptizing in this particular place 31:39 on the Jordan River because why? 31:43 Because there was much water there. 31:47 See? I always believed... Until I went over to Israel 31:51 I believed the Jordan was a great big river 31:54 because in church was had sung 31:56 Roll, Jordan, Roll. 31:58 Man, I could picture this 31:59 great big river just like 32:00 I grew up believing the Rio Grande was a great big river. 32:03 See? But there's places you can step across the Jordan. 32:07 So John was baptizing in this particular spot 32:10 because there was much water there. 32:13 Baptism requires much water. 32:17 Get it clear, friends. 32:19 It doesn't require a cup full. 32:21 Or it doesn't require a little font. 32:23 It requires MUCH water. That's what it says. 32:26 He was baptizing there because there was much water there. 32:30 And when you look at the baptism of Jesus it says: 32:41 Where? WHERE? 32:45 That word in is important. 32:57 So it says that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan 33:01 and they came up out of the water 33:04 is what it simply tells us. 33:07 See, when I was a boy 33:12 the first few years of my life was spent in Chicago 33:15 and I, in fact, started to school in Chicago. 33:18 And not too far from our home was the school I went to. 33:23 And I could walk there. 33:25 And I can remember that around our schoolhouse 33:29 there was a man there... a little man who was a Greek... 33:33 and he pushed a cart around the school there. 33:37 And on that cart he had waffle irons. 33:41 He had about a couple waffle irons. 33:43 He had them hooked up with batteries 33:45 and he would make waffles. 33:47 And he would make those waffles until they were just nice and 33:50 brown and crisp. 33:52 And he had on that cart some melted butter. 33:55 And he would dip this brush in that melted butter 33:58 and he would brush it on those waffles. 34:00 And then he had a flour sifter, and he would sift 34:03 powdered sugar on those waffles. 34:05 Sold them to us kids. That ruined me. 34:08 That's the only way I like waffles to this day 34:10 is just, you know... 34:12 but... but also on that cart he had a great big crock. 34:16 Do you know what I mean when I say a crock? 34:18 A crock is a thick glass jar. 34:22 Anyhow, he had that on the cart 34:24 and in that he kept melted chocolate. 34:28 And he would take doughnuts and dip them in that chocolate 34:31 and he sold those to us kids. 34:33 You know... And we'd get tickled at him 34:36 because he was Greek, and when you talked to him 34:39 he had had a heavy Greek brogue, you know. 34:41 And so we would say to him: 34:43 "What do you do with that doughnut? " 34:45 He would say: "I baptiso it. " 34:48 See, that's what the word baptism means. 34:52 It means to be immersed. 34:54 Baptism... what does it mean? 35:02 So in the scripture when it says that he baptized Him 35:05 that means he put Him underneath the water. 35:08 That's exactly what the word means. 35:10 In fact, scripture is clear. 35:14 And folks, people were only baptized that way. 35:20 I'm going to show you a picture. 35:21 This is a picture... Now you've got to remember 35:24 where Jesus Christ preached and where the gospel started 35:28 water was a precious item 35:31 and there were many places where it was hard to find water. 35:36 And so even to this day 35:38 you can find baptisteries like this one. 35:42 This comes from back 250 AD. 35:47 It's a baptistery 35:49 where they filled it with water and they baptized people 35:54 and they put them underneath the water. 35:58 That's the only way they were baptized. 36:00 The scripture doesn't teach any other way. 36:03 The idea of sprinkling or pouring didn't exist. 36:09 In fact, the Catholic church 36:13 baptized people by immersion 36:17 for the first 800-900 years. 36:23 How many of you ever heard of the leaning tower of Pisa? 36:28 OK. At the base of it there... 36:32 If you ever go there, don't miss... 36:36 There's a church right behind it, and by that church 36:41 is another building that looks like this. 36:44 And that is a building, and in that building is a baptistery. 36:49 It's been there for years. 36:52 And that baptistery looks like this, 36:56 and it wasn't made for sprinkling. 36:59 It was made for immersion. 37:02 They put the people underneath the water. 37:05 This is what history tells us: 37:23 See, up until then people were baptized by immersion 37:28 because that's what the scripture teaches. 37:31 Can't find anything else. 37:32 One of the clearest examples in all of God's Word 37:35 on baptism is the one found here in Acts. 37:38 Had to do with Philip and the Ethiopian. 37:42 And you remember, God has told Philip to go out in the desert 37:45 and find him. And he's gone to find him, and this Ethiopian 37:51 has... Philip has invited him to get... excuse me, 37:54 the Ethiopian has invited Philip to get up in his chariot. 37:57 And as they're riding along there, 37:59 the Ethiopian was reading the book of Isaiah. 38:03 And Philip is explaining to him what it means. 38:07 And as he's explaining to him Isaiah 51, 52, 53 38:13 this Ethiopian has opened up his heart and accepted Jesus Christ. 38:18 Watch what happens... 38:20 because once you accept Christ what's the next step? 38:23 Baptism. 38:36 Said: "Here's some water. Why can't I be baptized? " 38:42 Listen to Philip: 38:44 Then Philip said: "If you believe with all your head, " 38:50 Huh? No! 39:05 Walking through the door. 39:08 See? Walking through the door. 39:10 "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. " 39:25 How many people went down in the water? 39:27 Both of them. Philip and the eunuch. 39:30 It doesn't say that one sat on the shore 39:32 and the other got in the water. 39:33 It says they both got into the water and he baptized him. 39:37 That means he put him underneath the water. 39:49 Exactly how baptism is to take place. 39:54 Well, what's the meaning of baptism? 39:59 What does baptism represent? 40:01 Well, it's a public declaration 40:04 of my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 40:07 But Paul in the book of Romans gives us an insight 40:11 into baptism. And it says here 40:13 in Romans 6 verse 3: 40:25 In other words, that baptism represents that I have died 40:31 to a former way of life. 40:34 See? I have died to an old way of life. 40:38 I have given my heart to Jesus Christ. 40:41 I am no longer the same person. 40:46 I am a new person. 40:50 I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. 40:53 Therefore I have died to that old way of life. 41:03 As Pam sang tonight, my sins are forgiven. 41:07 They're gone. They've been cast in the depths of the sea. 41:11 They are no more. 41:13 See? That's what baptism represents. 41:16 You go into that baptistery, dear friend, 41:18 and when you're baptized and you come out 41:21 as far as God is concerned 41:23 your sins are gone. 41:25 You've been washed. 41:28 Washed white as snow. 41:31 There is nothing against you. 41:46 And so as you come out of the water 41:49 it represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ 41:53 and you have been resurrected to a new life in Christ Jesus. 41:58 A lot of people have questions about this text, 42:03 but oh it has great, great meaning. Listen... 42:07 This is something that Peter said: 42:12 Talking about in the days of Noah... 42:30 Now the water that destroyed 42:33 everybody else, that same water 42:36 saved Noah and his sons and their wives. 42:41 They were in the ark, 42:43 and the water carried them from that old world 42:47 to the new world. 42:50 They were saved. Watch what Peter says: 43:03 OK, what is that? 43:08 Baptism. Just a symbol - an antitype - 43:14 that through it we represent that we have accepted Christ. 43:18 That His resurrection has become part of our life 43:23 and we have been resurrected to a new life in Christ. 43:27 This is what baptism represents and means. 43:32 Who should be baptized? 43:37 Well to begin with, those who have accepted Christ. 43:45 If you have accepted Jesus Christ 43:48 into your heart as your Lord and Savior, 43:51 then I plead with you tonight... don't put it off. 43:57 Make arrangements to be baptized. 44:00 You need to follow the Lord in what it says 44:04 and be baptized. 44:15 So here, when a person accepts Christ, 44:18 they are to be baptized. 44:20 If you were baptized as a baby... 44:26 And there may be many, many, many of you 44:30 who are watching by television or listening over the radio 44:33 that your parents took you as a babe in arms 44:39 and had you baptized. 44:41 Now I want to say something about that. 44:43 In the first place, your parents were doing what they believed 44:48 was right. They were doing what they believed was right. 44:54 And I believe that God understands that. 44:58 But that does not take the responsibility off of you 45:03 or off of me that when I understand what God's Word says 45:08 I need to walk in accordance with that. 45:10 I need to follow it. 45:12 And so, why... why did your parents 45:16 take you as a babe in arms and have you baptized? 45:20 Because of this text. 45:26 which they believe is baptism... 45:31 And they said: "Well, what happens if my baby dies 45:38 and it's not been baptized? " 45:40 And so they started sprinkling babies. 45:44 Baptizing them because they believed that if they weren't 45:48 they wouldn't make it into the kingdom of God. 45:52 The thing is that you must understand 45:55 that Jesus Christ made every provision that was necessary 46:01 for you to be saved. 46:02 Even to the question, folks, of walking through the door. 46:06 Because watch. You'll find here that Jesus was coming down 46:12 the Jordan River. John was there. 46:20 Comes and wants to be baptized. 46:31 Said: "I need to be baptized by You, not my baptizing you. " 46:48 "Then he allowed Him, " or he baptized Him. 46:51 Now let me ask you something. 46:52 Did Jesus need to be baptized? 46:55 Did He need to have His sins washed away? 46:58 Never sinned, so He didn't need to have His sins washed away. 47:05 Wasn't the example of the disciples good enough? 47:08 So why did Jesus need to be baptized? 47:12 Well He just said He needed to be baptized 47:15 "to fulfill all righteousness. " 47:19 So what's He talking about? 47:21 Well, Christ was just simply saying: "John, I need to be 47:24 baptized, for instance, for that thief on the cross. 47:29 Never had that opportunity. 47:31 I need to be baptized for him. 47:34 For that soldier boy in the fox hole 47:37 who gives his heart to the Lord and never makes it home. 47:40 I need to be baptized for him. 47:43 For that baby that never reaches 47:47 the age of accountability. 47:50 I need to be baptized for that one. " 47:53 You see, dear friend... Let me tell you something. 47:56 Your children are perfectly safe in the arms of Jesus Christ 48:01 until they reach the age 48:03 where they can make that decision for themselves. 48:07 This is what He's done for us. 48:09 So if you were baptized as a babe 48:13 and you haven't been baptized as the scripture teaches 48:17 by immersion, then I would urge you... 48:19 You've given your heart to Christ... go be baptized. 48:23 Part of your acceptance of Jesus Christ. 48:27 If you have left the Lord and you're coming back... 48:32 In other words, you gave your heart to Jesus Christ, 48:35 you accepted Him and you walked with the Lord 48:38 but you've left Him. Now don't misunderstand me... 48:41 I'm not talking about stumping your toe. 48:44 That's not what I'm talking about. 48:46 I'm talking about if you've turned your back on the Lord 48:49 and walked away and you're not following Him. 48:53 That's what I'm talking about. 48:54 Well the Bible makes a comparison to it. 48:57 It says: 49:07 He compares the acceptance of Christ as your Lord and Savior 49:12 to marriage. 49:14 See, if you didn't know what marriage is... 49:16 Marriage is a public declaration 49:18 of giving your life to somebody else. 49:21 That's what marriage is. 49:23 You making a public declaration that you commit your life 49:26 to another person. 49:28 Well, baptism is that. 49:29 Well if you have a couple that get married 49:33 and then they don't get along and they go the other way 49:35 and divorce and live away from each other 49:38 and a few years pass... And they decide, 49:41 they get to see one another and they fall in love again 49:45 and they decide they want to live together again, 49:47 they need to be what? They need to be married again. 49:51 So if you have walked away from the Lord 49:55 and you have not followed Him and you're coming back 49:59 and giving your heart to Him anew, and you're coming back, 50:02 then you need to be baptized again. 50:04 That's what the scripture teaches: 50:06 that you and I need to follow Him in baptism. 50:09 Also, there may be some of you like myself 50:13 that were baptized so young 50:19 you didn't know what you were doing. 50:21 I can remember the minister 50:23 gathered all of us up - 50:24 we were just children - 50:25 and said: "It's time for you to be baptized. " 50:28 Baptized us. Nobody said anything to us 50:31 about what was necessary to accept Christ. 50:33 They just baptized us. 50:35 When I got older and I gave my heart to the Lord, 50:38 I said "I've got to be baptized. " 50:40 For instance... Paul talks about this. 50:43 It says: 51:00 They said: "We don't know what you're talking about. " 51:09 They said: "John baptized us. " 51:23 And then you find that Paul taught them about Jesus Christ 51:27 and it says: 51:34 In other words, if you - like myself - 51:36 didn't know what you were doing 51:39 and you come to a knowledge when you know what you're doing 51:43 and you've given your heart to Jesus Christ, 51:45 then, dear friend... be baptized. 51:49 It means something; has something for you in your life. 51:53 That's what God calls us to do. 51:58 Says that Paul had persecuted the church: 52:27 He was led blind to Damascus. 52:32 God spoke to a man by the name of Ananias. 52:36 He told Ananias: "Go pray for Saul 52:40 that he may receive his sight. " 52:42 Ananias went and prayed with him and it says 52:47 that as he prayed for him scales fell off his eyes 52:52 and he could see. And Ananias said these words to him: 53:06 Friend, tonight I ask you: 53:09 Why wait? Why tarry? 53:12 Rise; be baptized. Wash away your sins. 53:17 Make yourself clean in Christ Jesus. 53:21 All your sins washed away. 53:23 You come out clean... white as snow. 53:26 Lord Jesus, I long to be 53:31 perfectly whole. 53:37 I want Thee forever 53:41 to live in my soul. 53:47 Break down every idol; 53:52 cast out every foe. 53:57 Now wash me 54:00 and I shall be 54:03 whiter than snow. 54:08 Father in Heaven, we thank You... 54:10 thank you, Lord, for Your promise 54:14 that we can be made whiter than snow. 54:17 That all of our sins can be washed away. 54:21 We thank you for the assurance of Your Word. 54:24 In Christ Jesus, Amen. 54:29 There's a popular movie that depicts the complete 54:32 annihilation of the world through earthquakes, 54:35 fires, tsunamis, and floods 54:38 in the year 2012 AD. 54:40 Jesus warns us against setting dates in Matthew 24:36. 54:45 "But of that day and hour, no one knows... 54:48 not even the angels of heaven 54:50 but My Father only. " 54:53 While this film may be entertaining, 54:55 it has done nothing but heighten the fear 54:57 of the people of this world. 54:59 For many years now, we have seen the signs of a world 55:03 in a state of collapse. 55:05 And even unbelievers are increasingly uncomfortable 55:08 with the way things are going. 55:11 Truly we stand on the very edge 55:13 of earth's history. And believe me, 55:16 the $250,000,000 spent on special effects for this film 55:20 don't even come close 55:22 to what is about to be unleashed upon mankind. 55:26 The Bible warns of wars, 55:28 famines, pestilence, and earthquakes 55:31 culminating in the most spectacular upheaval 55:35 this world has ever seen. 55:37 Just listen to this description 55:39 found in Revelation the sixth chapter. 55:42 "And behold, there was a great earthquake 55:44 and the sun became black as the sackcloth of hair 55:48 and the moon became like blood. 55:50 And the stars of the heaven fell to the earth 55:53 as a fig tree drops its late figs 55:55 when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 55:58 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up 56:02 and every mountain and island were moved out of its place. " 56:06 Friends, this will not be a Hollywood movie. 56:10 These events will surely take place, 56:13 and we must warn the world as quickly as possible. 56:16 You see, there will be no secret rapture. 56:21 Every human being alive at the time will be affected 56:27 whether they are wicked or righteous. 56:28 But while the fear that has gripped the hearts of the wicked 56:31 will cause them to beg for rocks to fall on them, 56:34 those who are righteous will welcome these events 56:37 as signs of Christ's coming. 56:40 They will say: "Behold! This is our God. 56:42 We have waited for Him, and He will save us. " 56:46 Listen to these glorious words 56:48 from I Thessalonians 4: 56:51 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout 56:54 with the voice of the archangel 56:57 and with the trumpet of God, 56:59 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 57:01 Then we who are alive and remain 57:04 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 57:07 to meet the Lord in the air. 57:09 And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 57:11 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. " 57:15 Oh friends, our burden is to share this good news. 57:19 To bring comfort to those who are living in fear. 57:22 That's why we continue to preach the gospel of salvation 57:25 through Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen. 57:29 To see a soul come to Jesus and be saved is worth any cost 57:34 and all efforts. That's why this ministry exists. 57:37 Won't you help us? 57:39 Please consider what you can do 57:41 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:43 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:45 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 57:59 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 58:02 through television and radio. 58:03 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 58:06 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17