Must We Be Baptized

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Series: Acts of Worship

Description

Acts of Worship #8 “Must we Be Baptized?” Acts 2: 32-41

Intro: Acts, as History of the Church, is Descriptive, not Prescriptive
• This is what happened, Not, this should be your standard way of operation.
ILL – Julie and I married when we were 20…half of college.
Had three babies and in four places before 27.
 Tell story to testify God’s Grace (descriptive)
 NOT, to encourage it as pattern (prescriptive)

t/s – Turn to Acts for one last word about Baptism.
(Good hermeneutics = finishing work, not foundation from Acts)

Acts 2: 32-41

Comment after vs. 36
• Peter preached from Scripture psalm 110 & Joel
• Death Burial & Resurrection (Our Gospel)
• Jesus is Lord & Christ (Who is Jesus….Christology)
 Christ = anointed One…Messiah…Savior King
 Lord = the Name of All Names…YHWH
 FF Bruce, “The first Christian sermon ends with
the first Christian confession of faith.”

Read 2: 37-41

The Gospel First Proclaimed…
• Death Burial Resurrection
• Lord & Christ
• Forgiveness and Holy Spirit

The Gospel First Received… Vs. 37 = “What shall we do?”

Vs. 38 – Controversial question that clouds the Good News
“for” “eis” – preposition that describes the Aim or basis of Action
--- Aim = Baptized so that sins will be forgiven
--- Basis = Executed FOR murder … because have been..

Vs. 41 – Receive the Word….. Baptism
How Ought People Respond to the Good News?!

HEAD (36) Peter points to the importance of “Knowing”
--- Death, Resurrection, == Lord and Christ! Accept in your Mind the Truth about Jesus.
That is not enough!

HEART (37) God pierced their hearts AND they were Tender Vs. 36 – “Whom YOU crucified” Vs. 37 – Brethren, What must we do?”
== Broken, Humble, Trusting Hearts

Head’s believing and Hearts Broken…

WILL (38) Notice carefully the question, What Must we DO?
--- Not, what must we think or how must we feel!

Repent = change or mind, life, direction…Turn

Baptized = Publicly declare faith and allegiance
To Jesus --- His work of Grace

Thus, An Inward Change and an Outward Change!


Application

• Do I have to be Baptized in order to be Saved?

• Christianity is not a list of minimum necessary requirement;
A certificate or special distinction we achieve…
…like earning enough merit to be an Eagle Scout

Christianity consists of Lives changed by Power of Gospel
 Head Convinced
 Heart Convicted
 Will Changed

• The Disciple does not ask the question, “what it the minimum required of me?”

She asks, “what is the best way for me to follow my Lord Jesus?”