FAITH IN GOD # 4AM – RAISED TO LIFE 
This weekend is baptism weekend. It is a weekend of victory and joy. It is a weekend when lives are forever changed by powerful decisions to follow Christ and be changed by the experience of water baptism.
Here is some exciting video of the Youth meeting on Friday night where seven people were baptised. (Content added later).
I love this message from one of our young people who spoke so well about her decision to be baptised.
“Honestly I’m so proud of who’ve I’ve become.
Tomorrow I am getting baptised and yes honestly I’m scared and yes I’ve had doubts. But who I am today is so much better then who I was. Being addicted to certain things was such a bad life style and I’m happy I chose the life I did but I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for the youth ministry at plenty valley church, I mean the choices I made ruined my life at that time and now I’m proud to become a new person. #jesusismywaterboy But honestly thank you to everyone there that never gave up on me when I gave up on myself. They helped me so much and I am so grateful.” – Kirsten May Barnes.
This morning several of our children will be baptised. Tonight a number of people will be baptised. We have shared two powerful messages about water baptism this month, please listen to them on the podcast even if you have already been baptised because it will give you fresh revelation about the power of water baptism and how you can apply your faith to that experience right throughout your Christian life. Some here today have decided to be water baptised but want to wait until their family is available so that they can witness their life changing event later in the year. I think that’s great. To have your friends and family watch you go through the waters of baptism is profoundly impacting for them and may be a catalyst to their own journey with Christ beginning.
You were raised!
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.(AMP)
When you are baptised you are buried with Jesus and you are raised with Jesus!
You were buried with Him, and you are raised with Him. These two great pictures God gives you in water baptism to illustrate two powerful truths to you.
Buried and raised. Death and life. A finishing and a new beginning.
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.(AMP)
His death accomplished what? – Reconciled to God, sins forgiven. Judgement averted. End to our imminent eternal death sentence.
His resurrection accomplished what? – Deliverance from sin’s dominion. Power over the sin and the old life to rule us. Power to say no to temptation.
Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. (AMP)
What has His death accomplished? – We have died to the law! That means all the crimes against God that we committed are no longer relevant. We died, the old man, the previous life has died and is buried. This new life is now a new person, a new creation.
What has His resurrection accomplished? – To enable us to bear fruit! Resurrection life in Christ enables us to bear fruit. It is the power to do right and do good in God’s purpose which is the works of faith. We bear fruit when we believe and then act. We bear much fruit when we are abiding in Christ (John 15:5)
Rom 4:25 Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]. (AMP)
What did Jesus death accomplish? – Dealing with our misdeeds. His death took away our sins by paying the penalty of our sins which is death. His death forever appeased the righteous judgement of God against sin by punishing Jesus in our place.
What did His resurrection accomplish? – Justification! To be made just as if we had not sinned. To be acquitted means to be released from charges, to be declared not guilty. This is about the on-going life. This is about the future, the way we live now, which is a life of freedom from guilt and condemnation. We are justified by Christ through His death and resurrection. We now stand before God every day “just as if we had not sinned”
There’s plenty there to rejoice about if you will allow the truth and revelation of God’s word to deeply penetrate your soul. I recommend you take these verses and meditate on them at your leisure.
Let’s baptise some people!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are the two ideas that come from reading the verse Romans 5:10 His death accomplished what? and His resurrection accomplished what?
2. What are the two ideas that come from reading the verse Romans 7:4 His death accomplished what? and His resurrection accomplished what?
3. What are the two ideas that come from reading the verse Romans 4:25 His death accomplished what? and His resurrection accomplished what?
4. Jesus died for you and ALSO Jesus was raised for you. How much have you realised before, the different things accomplished by these two events?
5. Now that you are raised to life (Walking in newness of life) with Jesus how will you act?
craigmanderson 