Proclaiming The Gospel - Have You Examined The Gospel?

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                        "PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

                     Have You Examined The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION

1. We have presented the gospel of Christ as containing...
   a. Facts to believe
   b. Commands to obey
   c. Promises to receive

2. How can you be sure this is the pure and simple gospel of Christ...?
   a. Especially in regards to baptism for the remission of sins?
   b. For many deny that baptism has any role in our salvation

[To confirm that baptism is indeed integral to the gospel plan of
salvation, one can examine the gospel more closely by first
considering...]

I. THE EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION

   A. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
      1. Contains the historical record of the first 30 years of the
         church
      2. Describes the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem throughout
         the Mediterranean world
      3. Contains detailed examples of preaching the gospel and
         resulting conversions

   B. EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION... (see chart)
      1. Let’s examine the ten examples of conversion
         a. In which the Great Commission is being carried out
         b. As the apostles and preachers of the Lord preached the
            gospel
      2. Note what the scriptures reveal about these conversions
         a. In each case the gospel was preached, people heard the
            gospel
         b. Some accounts, but not all, record that people believed,
            repented, confessed Christ
         c. But in every case, mention is made of their being baptized!
      3. Might this be for a reason?  An indication of Divine
         providence, perhaps?
         a. Knowing that one day many would downplay baptism’s
            significance?
         b. Thus the Spirit saw fit to inspire Luke to mention baptism
            in each case?

   C. OTHER OBSERVATIONS...
      1. Many say baptism is not necessary because it is not mentioned
         in some salvation passages - e.g., Jn 3:16; Ac 16:31; Ro
         10:9-10
      2. Yet those same passages do not mention repentance, should we
         therefore say that repentance is not necessary?  Of course not!
         - cf. Ac 3:19; 17:30
      3. Just as faith is not always mentioned in the examples of
         conversions, that is no reason to ignore what is revealed
         elsewhere regarding faith - e.g., Jn 8:24; 20:30-31
      4. So it is with baptism - we determine it’s necessity...
         a. Not by passages where it is not mentioned
         b. But by passages where it is mentioned!

[Having examined the examples of conversion, let’s now examine what the
Bible reveals about...]

II. THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM

   A. BAPTISM AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN...
      1. Forgiveness of sins is through the blood of Jesus and grace of
         God - Ep 1:7; 2:8-9
         a. Without the blood of Christ there is no forgiveness of sins
         b. We cannot earn or merit our salvation in any way
      2. Such forgiveness is promised to those who repent and are
         baptized - Ac 2:38; 22:16
         a. Those who respond in baptism are assured their sins will be
            forgiven
         b. In some way, through baptism we receive forgiveness through
            Jesus’ blood
      -- Baptism is thus connected with forgiveness of sins in the
         Scriptures!

   B. BAPTISM AND THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...
      1. There is the promise of the Spirit - Jn 7:37-39; Ac 2:38-39
         a. Promised by Jesus to those who believe
         b. Promised by Peter to those who repent and are baptized
      2. Baptism involves the working of the Holy Spirit - 1Co 12:13;
         Tit 3:5
         a. We are made to drink of the Spirit
         b. We experience a washing of regeneration and renewing of the
            Spirit
      -- In baptism, we benefit from the Spirit’s aid in regeneration
         and sanctification!

   C. BAPTISM AND UNION WITH CHRIST...
      1. Union with Christ is necessary for spiritual life - Jn 15:4-5
         a. We cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ
         b. Without Christ we can do nothing
      2. In baptism we are united with Christ - Ro 6:3-4; Ga 3:27
         a. Buried with Him through baptism into His death
         b. We put on Christ in baptism
      -- Baptism is the means by which we receive Jesus through faith!

   D. BAPTISM AND NEWNESS OF LIFE...
      1. Newness of life is the result of dying to sin and rising with
         Christ - Ro 6:3-7
         a. We die with Christ in baptism
         b. As we rise from the watery grave, we rise to walk in newness
            of life
      2. In baptism we are buried with Christ, then made alive together
         with Christ - Col 2:12-13
         a. Buried and raised with Christ, through faith in the working
            of God
         b. It is God who makes us alive, having forgiven us all our
            trespasses
      -- Baptism is not a work of man, but a work of God to which we
         submit!

   E. BAPTISM AND SALVATION...
      1. Baptism saves us - Mk 16:16; 1Pe 3:21
         a. Many say baptism does not save us
         b. Both Jesus and Peter say baptism does save us!
         c. Note well: in every passage where baptism and salvation are
            mentioned together, baptism always precedes salvation!
      2. How does baptism saves us? - 1Pe 3:21; cf. He 9:14
         a. Not through any cleansing of the flesh, as though the water
            itself has cleansing power
         b. But as an appeal for a clear conscience, made possible by
            the blood of Christ
      -- Baptism is the sinner’s plea for forgiveness, to which God
         graciously answers!

   F. IF WHEN BAPTIZED, WE ARE...
      1. Buried with Christ into His death - Ro 6:3-4
      2. Raised with Him to newness of life - Ro 6:4-5
      3. Crucified with Him, thus made free from sin - Ro 6:6-7,17-18
      4. Clothed with (put on) Christ - Ga 3:27
      5. Washed from our sins - Ac 22:16
      6. Recipients of the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
      7. Baptized into the body (church) of Christ - 1Co 12:13
      -- Then what is our condition without baptism?

CONCLUSION

1. Who can say baptism is not necessary when we examine...
   a. The examples of conversion?
   b. The doctrine of baptism?

2. Indeed, baptism is integral to the preaching of the gospel...
   a. "In an apostolic sermon it comes as its logical conclusion."
      - George Beasley-Murray, Baptism In The New Testament (a well-known
      Baptist scholar)
   b. "An effort ought to be made to restore this note in our (Baptist)
      preaching." - ibid.

Indeed, the role of baptism ought to be restored by all who have
neglected to include this important element in the gospel of Christ!
For in both practice and precept, in both example and exposition,
baptism plays an integral part in our salvation by grace through faith.

So it was in the first gospel sermon preached after the resurrection of
Christ:

   "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
   made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
   Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall
   we do?"

   Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be
   baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
   and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

   Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that
   day about three thousand souls were added to them. - Ac 2:36-38,41

Have you been baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins?  If
not, then you need baptism, and should heed the same words of Ananias
spoken to Saul of Tarsus:

   "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash
   away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16
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