March 27, 2011 1

Water baptism is a testimony of that which has already happened in a believer’s life.

Water BaptismRomans 6

When we are born again as children of God,

We are baptized into the body of Christ,

By the Holy Ghost.

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In a spiritual sense, we are crucified with Jesus, and raised from the dead in Himin Him

in that moment of salvation.

We actually take parttake part in His deathHis death, burialburial, and resurrectionresurrection.

We testifyWe testify to that spiritual baptism with the act of water baptismact of water baptism.

What did we die to? Look at verses 1-3verses 1-3.

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Rom 6Rom 6 1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 22God forbidGod forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

When we were born as human beingshuman beings, we were born intoborn into a life of sin and depravity.

When we were born ofborn of the Spirit of GodSpirit of God into the

family of Godfamily of God,

We died to that old lifeWe died to that old life.

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SinSin does not have power overpower over a child of God.

We have the powerpower to choose.SinSin no longer satisfiessatisfies or gives the

same pleasuresame pleasure it once did.We are dead to sin -- as a way of life.

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And that is portrayed in the act of Baptism

when we are put under the water.

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But, JesusBut, Jesus didn’t stay dead and in the grave.

He’s aliveHe’s alive!!And we are aliveAnd we are alive in Himin Him.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised upraised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so weeven so we also should walk in newness of lifenewness of life.

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So, when I lay a person down in that pool of water, it is his testimonyhis testimony:

“I have diedI have died to a life of sin and worldly pleasureworldly pleasure.”

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And when I lift one up out of that water, he is saying,

“I am alive unto God, to live a life of

righteousnessrighteousness

in the Powerin the Power of God’s Spirit.”

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Water Baptism doesn't mean anythingdoesn't mean anything until a person is born againborn again:

BornBorn of the Spirit of God Into the Family of God.

These childrenThese children have all confessed that they are saved from sinsaved from sin,

And intend to live for the Lordlive for the Lord.

They haveThey have asked God to save themsave them in the

Name of JesusName of Jesus..

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John 3 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born againborn again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

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To be born againborn again is simply a matter of faithfaith.

Ephesians 2 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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Jesus died for your sins.

God raised Him from the dead.

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These children have all testifiedtestified that they are savedsaved and intendintend to live for the Lord.

They are being baptized today to follow Jesusfollow Jesus,

Not onlyNot only in water baptism, but throughoutthroughout their lives.