BAPTISM AND THE KINGDOM

Sunday Morning:  July 2, 2000

Text: Matthew 3:13-17  "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill [plhrow, accomplish, complete] all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

BRING FORTH FRUITS

Luke 3:7-8  "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, . . .

8. Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, . ."

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Luke 3:10-14  "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11. He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13. And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."

JESUS MINISTRY

Matthew 4:17  "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

WILL OF THE FATHER

John 4:34  "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

WILL OF HIS PARENTS

Luke 2:49, 51  "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”

“51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

THE DEAD ARE BURIED

Romans 6:4-8  "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.

5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6. 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.

7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

TO LIVE AND REIGN WITH HIM

2 Timothy 2:11-13  "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12. If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13. If we believe [present active, faithless, NASB] not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

BRING FORTH FRUIT

John 12:24-26  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal [age].

26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew 5:20  "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

PAUL, A PHARISEE

Philippians 3:5-6  "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

FAITH REQUIRED

Hebrews 10:38  "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

SEE THE KINGDOM

John 3:3  "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again [from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God."

MOSES BEHELD WITH HIS EYES

Deuteronomy 3:27  "Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. "

ENTER THE KINGDOM

John 3:5-6  "Jesus answered, 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.

6. That which is born of the flesh (law, Gal. 4:29) is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit (of a son, Gal. 4:6) is spirit."

Galatians 4:29  "But as then he that was born after the flesh (Moses and the law) persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Christ and grace), even so it is now."  John 1:17

WILL OF THE FATHER ENTER

Matthew 7:21  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Acts 14:22  "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

GIFT OF THE PROMISE

Acts 2:37-39  "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?

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.

39. 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."

BELIEVE

Acts 8:37-38  "And Philip said, If thou believest [present active] with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."