One Baptism

I.               Introduction

A.  Illustration:

B.  Review of Seven Ones of Unity

1.    One Lord- who do you belong to?

2.    One Faith- is your personal belief system shaped by God’s word?

C.  One Baptism

1.    Why does he write about the one baptism?

2.    Unity in Ephesus and its relation to Baptism

a.    Ephesians 2:5 alive together;

                                                          i.     Romans 6:11

                                                        ii.     Colossians 2:11-13

b.    Ephesians 2:6 raised us up with Him;

                                                          i.     Colossians 2:12

                                                        ii.     Romans 6:4

c.    Ephesians 2:15-16 one in Christ; Galatians 3:27-28

3.    Baptism incorporates all of these ideas being discussed in ways to bring unity to the congregation in Ephesus. Being baptized into Christ made all of them equal.

II.            One Baptism

A.  by Jesus

1.    Baptism, as commanded by Jesus, is the of our sins.

2.    Baptism is commanded of us in order to receive the promise of the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

B.  us to Christ

1.    Baptism places us in the of Christ. It us with His life saving and allow us to begin a new life.

2.    Connection with the Gospel

a.    In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

b.    Romans 6:1-11

3.    Connection to Christ “…into Christ…”

a.    Remember that one of the key phrases in Ephesians in “in Christ.”

b.    Galatians 3:27-28

4.    In baptism we are connected to Christ in a way that we were never were before. I am IN Christ, not OUTSIDE.

C. 

1.    True conversion is not just a change in or ; it is a change in the reasoning behind the action or belief. It’s about developing the to be a .

2.    Our conversion begins with our submission to the will of God in our obedience to His Word.

a.   

                                                          i.     Ephesians 2:8

                                                        ii.     Romans 10:17

b.   

                                                          i.     John 3:16

                                                        ii.     Acts 16:31

                                                      iii.     Romans 10:9

c.   

                                                          i.     2 Corinthians 7:10

                                                        ii.     Romans 10:9

d.   

                                                          i.     Matthew 10:32-33

                                                        ii.     Romans 10:9

e.   

                                                          i.     Acts 2:38

                                                        ii.     1 Peter 3:21 Baptism

3.    Every single one of these passages and actions has to do with one’s salvation. Which of them could you leave out? None! Without each of these actions, the picture is not complete.

4.    Romans 6 reminds us that in baptism we connect with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

III.         Conclusion

A.  Review

1.    Baptism is commanded by Christ

2.    Baptism connects us to Christ

3.    Baptism is part of our conversion

B.  Invitation