Authority to Give New Life.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] If you have your Bibles, open them to Matthew chapter 28. [0:02] Matthew chapter 28. [0:03] That’s where we’ll be this morning. [0:07] Easter is a great time of year. [0:11] It brings with it an anticipation of spring. [0:13] It brings with it great privilege as families get together.

[0:18] We’re able to wear brighter clothing than we ever would any other time of the year. [0:23] And it’s just, it’s great. [0:24] Many of us, you know, come together and we gather. [0:27] And what happens is that culture really affords us an opportunity as followers of Jesus that [0:34] we gather more on Easter, the numbers say, than any other time of the year. [0:38] And the question that we have to answer and the question that I want to deal with this

[0:42] morning is why do we do this? [0:45] Why are we celebrating Easter? [0:48] And I want to kind of let the cat out of the bag for you. [0:50] And you’re in church, so you had to expect this. [0:53] And it’s the reality that Jesus rose from the dead. [0:58] That unlike anyone in human history, death could not hold him.

[1:01] But three days after his death, he physically rose to new life.

[1:08] But he didn’t do it just to do it. [1:12] He did it for us. [1:15] He did it to give us hope. [1:18] And right before he leaves earth in Matthew chapter 28, he looks to his followers and [1:24] he says this in verses 18 through 20.

[1:54] So here’s the scene that we have around 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, he gathers [2:01] all of his followers on the top of a mountain. [2:05] And he looks to them and he gives them this great declaration of who he is. [2:09] He says, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [2:14] Now that is a great claim. [2:18] The fact that he has authority in heaven and on earth.

[2:21] That is everything that has ever been and ever will be. [2:25] Jesus is staking claim and saying I have absolute authority over everything. [2:33] The only way that that is true, the only way that he could ever make such a claim is if [2:41] he is God. [2:43] And C.S. Lewis gives us this question that we deal with and that is there are three possibilities [2:48] here.

[2:50] Either one, Jesus in this situation is a liar.

[2:54] Number two, Jesus is some kind of a lunatic.

[2:58] Or number three, he is who he says he is. [3:02] And he is the God of the universe. [3:05] Colossians chapter 1 puts it this way. [3:08] Speaking of Jesus, the apostle Paul writes, he is the image of the invisible God, the [3:12] firstborn of all creation. [3:14] For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether

[3:19] thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for [3:24] him. [3:25] And he is before all things. [3:27] And in him all things hold together. [3:31] So this morning, what I want to do is I want to engage you with the reality that Jesus [3:37] is who he says he is.

[3:40] Because here is the claim in that text I just read. [3:43] The first claim is that Jesus is God. [3:46] And he shows this through creation. [3:49] The text points out that nothing that exists in this entire universe exists apart from [3:56] Jesus. [3:57] In other words, that he made everything that exists.

[4:01] In the book of Genesis when everything was being created, it was Jesus speaking everything [4:06] into creation. [4:07] So he is the creator. [4:10] But secondly, we also see in this text that he is the sustainer of life. [4:15] Everything in the heavens and on the earth hold together because of Jesus. [4:20] In this text in Colossians chapter 1 verse 17 it states that he upholds the universe

[4:25] by his hand. [4:27] Hebrews chapter 1 actually puts it that by the word of his mouth the world continues [4:33] to exist. [4:34] It is by the very power of Jesus that we have air to breathe and life to enjoy. [4:40] He is God. [4:43] And that is the statement that he is claiming right here.

[4:47] But the actual fact this morning is that he is not just God because of what he says. [4:54] But Jesus has this authority that he is claiming because of what he has done. [5:00] See the reality this morning is that he didn’t just come and say, hey I spoke the world [5:05] into existence. [5:06] I could claim that. [5:07] You could claim that.

[5:08] He doesn’t just say, hey that air that you are breathing, I am doing that. [5:13] I could claim that. [5:14] But Jesus went further.

[5:17] Jesus rose from the dead. [5:20] The scripture tells us in Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 that as he was having his disciples [5:26] follow him in this life he looks at them and he says from that time Jesus began to [5:30] show the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and [5:34] chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. [5:41] So as he is walking with his disciples in this life he looks to them and he says I am

[5:46] walking into death. [5:47] I am going to be killed. [5:49] But understand that I am not going to stay dead. [5:54] This authority that he is claiming is in light of what he told the disciples he was [6:01] going to do. [6:03] And in Matthew chapter 28 verse 6 we see that when Mary comes to the tomb an angel looks

[6:09] to her and the angel says he is risen as he said he would. [6:19] See Jesus does not just come and stake claim as God and say hey trust me at my word. [6:24] No Jesus goes further. [6:27] And Jesus actually physically does something that no one has ever done before. [6:33] By his own power and under his own authority after death Jesus, God, energized dead flesh [6:42] and rose from the grave to live again.

[6:45] That is a power that we must reckon with. [6:50] That is an ability that we must look at. [6:53] And the reality this morning is that if Jesus is who he said he was that changes everything. [7:01] That changes everything that you could ever live for. [7:04] That changes everything that you could ever do in your life. [7:06] Because if it is true then you must live in light that not only is there a God but this

[7:14] God has made himself known in a fantastic way that no one could ever replicate. [7:22] Jesus rose from the dead.

[7:27] But why did he come? [7:30] The reality is that God designed humanity to live in a certain way. [7:35] God designed us from the very beginning in Genesis to live as people who worship him. [7:42] To live as people who use this creation to point to his great glory. [7:48] To show that God exists and that God is alive and that God is the one whom we follow.

[7:56] But we have rebelled against that. [7:59] People are sinful. [8:01] I am not going to take much time this morning to prove that to you because I think just [8:05] take one car ride with your spouse, spend one conversation with your children and you [8:09] are going to see people are pretty sinful. [8:11] Let’s just accept that.

[8:13] People don’t naturally live as they are supposed to live. [8:17] There is conflict, there is tension. [8:19] Sin exists and sin is us rebelling against the way that God naturally designed us to [8:27] live and I have it and you have it. [8:30] We are sinful.

[8:32] In John chapter 5 verse 22 and speaking of why he came, Jesus looks to his disciples [8:37] and he says, the father judges no one but has given all judgment to the son.

[8:44] In John chapter 9 verse 39 Jesus says, for judgment I came into this world and that [8:51] those who do not see may see and that those who see may become blind.

[8:57] The question is what does he mean by that, that those who don’t see may see. [9:01] What is that analogy all about? [9:02] Here is the reality and it is a terrifying reality if left alone. [9:08] The God of the universe came to this world, became human, became flesh to judge our sin. [9:18] That is a terrifying reality because I don’t know about you but I am sinful and if God [9:24] were to come I have not lived as he designed me to live.

[9:27] I have not obeyed what he has laid out in scripture for me to live for. [9:32] I have not done it, I have not perfected it and if he is here to judge me then I am [9:37] in trouble and my assumption is so are you. [9:41] Jesus came to judge as the God who has been sinned against. [9:47] But note what he says in John chapter 5 verse 24. [9:52] He says, truly truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me

[9:58] has eternal life, he does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

[10:08] The glorious reality about Easter is that the God of the universe in his great love [10:16] came to judge sin and he does. [10:20] But rather than pour his fury onto us, Jesus came to take our sin, take his own judgment [10:31] onto himself. [10:34] The judge steps off of his throne and takes our punishment for us. [10:42] In Romans chapter 4 verses 24 and 25, apostle Paul speaking again, says it will be counted

[10:49] to us who believe in him who raised Jesus, excuse me, who raised from the dead Jesus [10:56] our Lord who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. [11:02] In other words, Jesus’ death was the punishment for our sin that I deserve and that you deserve. [11:11] But he does not simply die for us and give us the forgiveness of sins in this life so [11:18] we can simply walk through this life forgiven. [11:22] No, Jesus takes it one step further.

[11:25] He defeats death through his resurrection. [11:30] He died on the cross, was buried and he came to new life. [11:36] The reality that we have to deal with this morning is that not only do I need forgiveness [11:41] of sin in this life, but I am headed for a grave. [11:45] I am going to die and so are you. [11:49] Some of you this morning have experienced sickness, some of you have experienced great

[11:53] suffering, some of you may consider yourselves closer to death than others in this room. [11:58] But the hard reality that each and every one of us have to deal with this morning is that [12:03] I don’t just need hope in this life. [12:06] I don’t just need Jesus to forgive me and give me a good life now. [12:10] I am headed towards a grave. [12:15] I am going to die and if there is a God then after that death I am going to meet him.

[12:26] I am going to have to stand before the God who created all that exists and I am going [12:32] to have to stand to count for the sins that I have committed against him. [12:37] The great hope in Jesus is that he comes. [12:42] He takes our punishment onto himself. [12:44] 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 puts it this way. [12:49] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the

[12:55] righteousness of God. [12:58] So here is what Jesus does on the cross. [13:01] Jesus lives an absolutely perfect life on this earth. [13:04] As God under his power he obeys every law that God has ever made. [13:09] He is perfect in every way that he lives in his life. [13:12] He lives a life of perfect worship.

[13:15] But then he goes to the cross and on the cross he exchanges that perfection. [13:22] He exchanges that righteousness. [13:24] He exchanges that holiness for our sin. [13:29] He takes that sin to himself and gives us his very righteousness.

[13:39] Leslie Newbigin, a missionary to India puts it this way. [13:43] Christ is the final judgment of the world. [13:46] All men are ultimately judged by their relationship to him. [13:53] The reality this morning is that the most important question that you are ever going [13:59] to answer in your life, the most important thing that you are ever going to do with [14:04] your life is make a decision about what you will do with Jesus.

[14:11] It is more important than your spouse. [14:15] It is more important than what you choose in your marriage. [14:17] It is more important than what you choose with your children. [14:20] It is more important than what career you will go into. [14:23] It is more important than what school you will attend. [14:27] The issue of what you will do with Jesus is the most important question you will ever

[14:33] answer with your life. [14:36] Because each and every one of us are headed towards the grave. [14:39] Each and every one of us have sinned against him. [14:42] Each and every one of us are unrighteous according to God. [14:47] Because I don’t have to measure up to the guy next to me. [14:49] I have to measure up to God himself and I am left with quite a deficit.

[14:57] But as I head towards that grave I find great hope that the judge has come and taken the [15:06] judgment on himself. [15:09] But more than that he has risen from the dead. [15:14] Some have said that in Jesus God shows that he can energize dead flesh. [15:21] That as we head towards that grave the only hope that we can ever have of having a life

[15:28] is the reality that God has the authority over sin and death. [15:34] He places the judgment over himself. [15:36] And that when he rose from the dead he proved once and for all that he has more power than [15:45] death itself.

[15:48] There is no greater hope. [15:51] Through his resurrection Jesus shows that he has the authority to give new life.

[16:01] 1 Corinthians 15 verses 19 through 21 put it this way. [16:07] If in Christ we have hope in this life only we are of all people most to be pitied. [16:14] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. [16:17] The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. [16:20] For as by a man came death by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. [16:28] Jesus’ resurrection means that life can be made new.

[16:34] In his life and in verse 19 he says a very interesting thing. [16:39] In light of the authority that I have as God. [16:45] He says it this way in Matthew chapter 28 verse 19. [16:50] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. [16:53] Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. [16:59] That’s an interesting command to give to your people in light that you are God.

[17:03] He talks to them about baptism. [17:05] He talks to them about something done in water. [17:09] The question that we have to ask ourselves why would he do that? [17:11] He commands that we are to be baptized in light of his authority because it represents [17:16] our trust that he will give us a new life in which our sins are forgiven and we are [17:20] free to live eternally for him in God.

[17:25] Romans chapter 6 verse 4 puts it this way. [17:28] Paul writes that we are buried therefore with him by baptism into death in order that just [17:34] as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we too might walk in [17:41] newness of life. [17:43] Romans 6 4 tells us that if we trust in him for forgiveness we will also walk with him [17:50] in a new life.

[17:53] Friends that extends into we will live with God for eternity after death. [18:00] But it also means that in this life we can live new. [18:05] We can be reborn. [18:07] We can be remade. [18:09] We can have a fresh start. [18:12] That no matter what you have done there is no sin so deep that God cannot forgive.

[18:21] The reason is that your sin was taken to the cross with Jesus.

[18:29] Baptism then is a testimony of that new life. [18:33] God wants us to know him through the person and work of Jesus. [18:36] He gives us a new life for those who trust in him. [18:42] Baptism then is a picture or a symbol of walking into the new life that awaits those who trust [18:50] in him and a life of following him. [18:54] Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Jesus declaring the believers

[18:58] faith in and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior. [19:03] It is a visible declaration of the gospel of Jesus. [19:07] The person being baptized is immersed beneath the waters in the name of the Father, Son [19:11] and Holy Spirit. [19:13] It is an expression of that person’s death to sin and the burial of their old life. [19:20] When a person is baptized they go under the waters and what that represents is that their

[19:25] sin is gone. [19:26] Jesus has completely forgiven it. [19:29] That sin is no longer holding you back. [19:32] There is no baggage, no barrier, no guilt, no shame that you need to carry with you [19:38] through this life if you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior. [19:43] Nothing bars you from knowing and having a personal relationship with the God of the

[19:49] universe.

[19:52] Water is used because it is a symbol of purification. [19:57] It is a symbol of being made pure. [19:58] It is why you take showers with water, hopefully.

[20:04] But it is a symbol of washing your sin away. [20:08] Of having the debt between you and God completely washed away. [20:14] And when you come out of the water what is represented is that in Jesus through your [20:20] trust in him, through your trust in his death, through your trust in his resurrection, you [20:25] can walk through life with a relationship with God that has made whole your sin will [20:31] not hold you back from him any longer.

[20:35] It shows the forgiveness of sin through the work of Jesus. [20:39] He forgives completely and he forgives eternally. [20:46] And marks the new life in following Jesus as a part of his church that he is forming [20:50] through his work on the cross and in his resurrection.

[20:56] I could continue to talk about this forever but what I would rather do is show you what [21:01] new life looks like. [21:04] So right now we are going to baptize a few people. [21:06] You are going to see new life through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. [21:12] So right now Pastor Nate is going to come up and we are going to talk about lives that [21:17] have been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[21:22] I am going to have Paul come up here too. [21:24] Paul Robinson is the first person being baptized this morning. [21:28] When I talked to Paul about wanting to be baptized this morning he told me he would [21:33] have loved to give a testimony and share with you guys and he was 100% sure there was no [21:39] way he would get through it intact. [21:41] I have no doubt that is probably the case.

[21:43] Hopefully I will be able to as well. [21:46] Paul and his wife Jenny came to the village back when we were meeting in the middle school [21:50] going through a 12 week series studying through doctrine. [21:54] Very soon after that they joined our community group looking for a place where they could [21:58] talk about all these ideas that they were hearing on Sunday morning. [22:02] I say this in the best way I can’t believe that was just a year and a half ago.

[22:06] It seems like so much longer with all the time we spent together sharing and different [22:10] things. [22:11] Paul comes from a Jewish background and his wife comes from a Christian background so [22:14] they were just looking for a church that they could go to together and find out about [22:18] God. [22:20] They found the village and spent time with us.

[22:22] A big part of Paul’s journey I know as we talked and went through things was just seeing [22:26] the plan of God in redemption through Jesus, through the Old Testament and Genesis all [22:31] the way through in every part through Revelation. [22:34] Somewhere along that journey, somewhere along that process Paul realized he believed. [22:38] He believed Jesus was God. [22:40] He believed Jesus was who he said he was.

[22:42] He trusted him for his salvation as Savior. [22:46] So Paul is here today to profess his belief in Jesus publicly in front of you. [22:51] So that’s what we’re going to do right now.

[22:55] Paul, based on your profession of faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I baptize you [23:01] in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, buried in the likeness of his [23:06] death and raised to new life in Jesus.

[23:12] Thank you.

[23:30] Right now, Clint Miller is going to share with us about Gaia Robinson. [23:35] This is I’m Gaia, if you would please come up to the stage. [23:39] Like Nate, I’ve had the privilege of working with Gaia over the last year and a half. [23:46] It’s just been an awesome thing to see God take hold of that whole family, really the [23:52] Robinson family and Gaia just come to the realization that Jesus Christ in fact is Lord [24:02] and she needed a Savior.

[24:04] And has just allowed God to come into her life and to work in her life. [24:13] And I’ve had the privilege of seeing that raw faith and it’s just something that is [24:18] really awesome to see the new life that comes with Christ. [24:24] And so Gaia’s life will stand as a testament to the truth of the gospel. [24:31] And my hope and prayer for her is that as she continues to grow in her faith that her [24:38] life will be used by God to reach many and that her testimony as all of our testimonies

[24:47] testify to the truth and the great love and the life that we have in Christ.

[24:58] I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, lowered in the likeness [25:04] of his death and raised to new life in Jesus.

[25:19] Thank you. [25:20] Right now I’m going to ask one of my personal friends, a guy that I’ve had the privilege [25:26] to share Bible studies with, Connor come on up here and since I talk too much he’s going [25:32] to share with you. [25:33] Alright, hello everybody.

[25:36] I have…Hey, Dennis.

[25:42] That makes you feel real comfortable, I appreciate that, Dennis. [25:45] But I grew up in a Christian home and always went to church and have been a follower of [25:52] Christ my whole life, but I guess it was probably 20 before I realized I was never baptized. [25:59] I was dedicated as a child until I really found out the meaning behind baptism and more [26:05] about that I realized I needed to get baptized. [26:08] So I’ve been looking for an opportunity to do that for a while and didn’t want to…

[26:14] Obviously there’s opportunities here and there, but I wanted to be really plugged in at a [26:17] church so that at least a couple of people who would know who I am, if I’m going to publicly [26:21] profess my faith in Christ.

[26:23] So it took me a little while to muster up the courage and find the opportunity, but [26:28] I want to follow Jesus and that’s why I’m doing this. [26:31] Amen.

[26:38] In obedience to the command of Jesus Christ and because you’ve professed him as your [26:42] Lord and Savior, I baptize you my brother. [26:45] In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, [26:47] Lord, and the likeness of his death, [26:50] raised to new life in Jesus Christ.

[27:01] Right now I want to ask Jill Anderson to come up. [27:04] Someone that’s encouraged me and inspired me and she’s going to share her faith with you right now. [27:11] I’m going to try. [27:12] She’s going to try. [27:13] I started coming to the village in October of 2011. [27:16] Thanks to an invite from my dear friend Andrea and a mailer for the doctrine series.

[27:21] It was the first time besides for special holidays or other occasions that I’ve been to [27:24] church in about 15 years. [27:26] It was definitely the first time I ever remembered even enjoying going to church. [27:31] Before the village, I did believe in God, but I didn’t have a relationship with God. [27:36] I didn’t even know there was a difference. [27:38] I didn’t know that you could know about Jesus, but not really even know him.

[27:46] I soon became involved in a community group, and that was one of the best decisions I made. [27:51] Besides coming to village that first Sunday.

[27:54] Small group is where my growth and yearning for God really began to flourish. [27:59] Group is where my questions are answered, my fears diminished and heart renewed.

[28:06] I will never forget when I learned about God’s grace. [28:09] It was like I was looking at a whole new world. [28:11] Who was I to judge others? [28:13] Who was I to not forgive? [28:15] Grace is something that has changed my life forever.

[28:20] Almost a year ago, my life was turned upside down. [28:22] My marriage was tested. [28:23] My faith was tested at times. [28:26] I’m certain that if I didn’t trust in God or the power of prayer, I wouldn’t be telling the same story. [28:32] I have a lot of great support from my family, my friends, my church family, and especially my community group. [28:39] Without what I learned from the word, I would probably be a divorced single mom right now.

[28:44] Living a very sad and lonely life. [28:46] Instead, I live a fulfilled life devoted to giving glory to God.

[28:52] I walk with Jesus, and I want everyone to walk with me. [28:56] God puts people in our life for a reason. [28:58] Just like he put Andrea in my life. [29:01] If I trust God’s will, I trust his word, I trust his love, and I trust in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[29:18] Jill, it’s like Paul. I can’t believe I spent a year and a half. [29:22] It’s been so great getting to know you. [29:24] Based on your profession of faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. [29:32] Buried in the likeness of his death, and raised to new life in Christ.

[29:47] Brian Wa and his son Will, and if anyone else in the family would like to join their free two as well, [29:53] to join me up on the stage right now.

[29:58] Brian and Will are good friends of mine. I’ve spent some time talking to them. [30:02] Will loves Jesus. [30:05] Will’s trusted in him as his Lord and Savior. [30:08] I sat with him this morning, and he articulated it, I think, in better terms than I probably could, what his faith in Jesus is all about. [30:14] He just simply loves him because he died for him. [30:16] Right now, my friend Brian, his father, is going to give us a great picture of the fact that he’s going to disciple his son.

[30:25] Brian, baptize your son.

[30:29] Can you see him?

[30:32] It’s my privilege as his father to baptize him. [30:35] It’s been a long time coming, and Will accepted Jesus some time ago. [30:39] It’s been his mom and my privilege to see him grow and develop and see the Holy Spirit’s work in his life.

[30:50] So Will, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [30:55] lowered in the likeness of his death, and raised to walk in the new life in Jesus.

[31:03] Amen.

[31:07] I love it when children come to faith in Jesus Christ, but the reality is, no matter how old you are or young you are, [31:15] you’ve got to deal with Jesus at some point. [31:18] Right now, I want to ask another good friend of mine, someone I’ve spent time with, I’m going to ask Byron, I’m going to ask Wendy to come up with him as well. [31:25] I’m going to ask Byron first and then his wife, Wendy Winder, to share with you what Jesus has done in their lives.

[31:36] I didn’t quite get the message as early as Will, so bear with me here.

[31:42] My life before accepting Christ can best be described as undefined and isolated. [31:49] I never had a solid idea of what I was doing or trying to do. [31:52] I would always look to others to model my reactions and poor opinions.

[31:58] I also never really connected with those around me in a meaningful way. [32:02] I would have friends that I could spend the majority of my time with for months, and through no fallout or anything, [32:09] could go months equally just not even talking to them, and it really didn’t bother me too much at that time.

[32:16] And that was kind of normal for me. That was just me uncommitted. [32:22] So that’s changed now. One month after I married my wife, we found out that we had a son on the way. [32:28] And it was both a blessing and a surprise.

[32:32] I was completely unprepared to be a new husband, stepfather, and a dad all at the same time.

[32:40] But God used this in my life as a way to get me to accept going to church. [32:47] And hearing the Gospel with an open heart, I found that I could relate to a lot of the stories in the Bible [32:53] and that they could help me personally. And it was the push that I needed to accept Christ.

[33:00] So since that time, this was last year, our first time here, it was the Christmas Eve Eve service.

[33:06] But since that time, a lot of work has been done in my life. [33:10] I can say that He’s given me the capability to connect with friends in a meaningful way, to really care about people. [33:17] He’s shown me how to be a better husband, a better father, and a better leader at work and at home. [33:26] And He gives me comfort in my struggles, and I know that in Him I’m saved.

[33:39] Byron and Wendy have been here for a little bit over a year in our church. [33:43] And it wasn’t too long after that we started a newer community group, and we were looking for a place to do that. [33:50] And they stepped up to the plate and just said, hey, we would love to have, to host that, and to do that for the church. [33:57] And so they’ve been very hospitable and generous with their home. [34:00] And I’ve had the privilege of seeing him grow over the past year in our community group. [34:06] And I can vouch for the fact that he loves Jesus.

[34:10] And he loves the Bible and just loves to grow and loves to learn. [34:14] So it’s my privilege this morning to baptize him.

[34:20] Byron, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, lowered in the likeness of His death.

[34:32] And raised to new life in Jesus.

[34:41] Right now I’m going to ask Wendy if she’ll share with us as well as her friend and disciple. [34:48] Donna comes up.

[34:51] Good morning. My name is Wendy, as Steve just said. [34:54] I was not raised in the church, but I did attend off and on for years. [35:01] In my mid-20s, more my late 20s, in search of something greater, I looked into spirituality. [35:09] Only to find that there was something missing. [35:13] I didn’t feel completely fulfilled.

[35:16] A little over a year ago I was invited to the Christmas Eve Eve service here at the village. [35:23] My husband and I came and we enjoyed the service. [35:27] And we kept coming back. [35:29] And it was during the Ephesians series when I was able to get a glimpse of who Jesus really was. [35:37] And what it meant to truly follow Him. [35:41] One Sunday, Pastor Steve said,

[35:44] If Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead, then you have no hope. [35:50] And that couldn’t be more true. [35:53] Jesus was the missing piece. [35:56] There is hope in Jesus, and Jesus is my hope. [36:00] My circumstances in life have not improved, and if anything, they’ve become more complicated. [36:06] But it is by God’s grace and the work of Jesus that my heart is transformed.

[36:13] And I am living for something other than myself, and that alone is a miracle.

[36:22] It is my privilege to baptize my sister in Christ, Wendy.

[36:30] So I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, [36:35] lowered in the likeness of His death, and raised to new life in Jesus. [36:43]

[36:49] Thank God, good.

[36:57] That is our seventh baptism today. [37:01] That is seven lives changed by the Gospel. [37:06] I want you to know, [37:10] you can be saved.

[37:15] There is nothing better than seeing God change lives. [37:20] But I’ll tell you right now, the greatest thing that you can see is God change your life.

[37:29] Finally, this morning, Jesus wants you to have a new life.

[37:37] Jesus finishes His discourse in Matthew chapter 28 verse 20, and He says,

[37:44] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. [37:47] And then He finishes off and He says, [37:49] and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.

[37:55] We do not have a God who is distant. [37:58] We do not have a God who keeps Himself far off from us. [38:03] We do not have a God who is uncaring. [38:06] We do not have a God who hates us.

[38:11] You must understand this morning that we have a God who loves you, and me. [38:17] To the point where I want you to make this as personal as you possibly can this morning, [38:23] that it was not simply the sins of the world in general that took Him to that cross. [38:28] It was your sin. [38:30] That on that cross that day, that you put Him there. [38:36] And it was His great love for you that drove Him to the cross.

[38:45] No matter how religious you are this morning, [38:49] I want you to understand that your good can never outweigh your bad. [38:54] That you will never obey to the point that Jesus Christ obeyed. [38:58] You will never know obedience to the point that Jesus Christ knew obedience. [39:04] His obedience took Him to the cross, and His love took Him to the point of death for you. [39:11] So I tell you again this morning,

[39:13] that the most important decision you will ever make in your life, [39:19] is what will you do with Jesus.

[39:24] Friends, He is who He says He is, who He said He was, and who He always will be. [39:34] But on the other hand, you are also not so sinful that His love does not extend to you. [39:43] There is no sin so deep that it cannot be forgiven. [39:46] Because His death has paid every wage necessary for you to be completely cleansed. [39:55] As those who came forward today, they have been forever forgiven. [39:58] Sins in the past, sins in the present, sins for the future.

[40:02] Because His grace is enough for your sin. [40:08] In John chapter 11 verse 25 and 26, Jesus is talking to the woman at the well, [40:13] who was very sinful, as sinful as me and you. [40:19] And He looks to her and He says, I am the resurrection and the life. [40:22] Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live. [40:27] And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.

[40:31] And He ends it by posing a question to her. [40:34] Do you believe this?

[40:38] So the question I have for you this morning, do you believe it?

[40:43] Jesus states that He is the resurrection and the life and that through Him we can live forever. [40:49] Today you can know God. [40:52] Through the resurrection of Jesus, we have hope to have a life worth living in this world. [40:57] As well as hope that we will never face death without the hope of a new and better life awaiting us.

[41:08] We are all facing the Judge.

[41:13] The question is, do you trust Him? [41:17] Do you know Him? [41:19] Has He changed your life?

[41:24] Today you can know God. [41:29] As the band comes up right now, I want you to understand that the water is still here.

[41:36] If you are in here this morning and you don’t know God, [41:38] If you are in here this morning and you are standing condemned under the weight of a life of sin that each of us have, [41:45] but you have not known the sweet relief of trusting that your sin has been dealt with forevermore on the cross,

[41:56] and defeated through the resurrection,

[42:00] you can be saved.

[42:04] Do not wait another day. [42:07] Do not wait another hour because the reality is it is not promised to you.

[42:15] Today is the day of salvation through Jesus Christ and through Him alone. [42:22] He alone is God because He alone has risen from the dead.

[42:28] If you are in here this morning and you want to know Him, [42:34] I will be right over there. [42:36] I would love to talk to you about Him. [42:39] And if you want, I can bring you right back up on the stage and baptize you in His name.

[42:44] Today is the day we celebrate the resurrection of the dead. [42:49] Jesus is in the past and praise God, mine in the future and yours in the future, if you know Him.

[42:57] There is too much at risk to continue walking in a life where you do not know God. [43:05] Believe in Him today.