Romans 6:3-6 – In Honor Of Jesus – Bible study

Roman 6:3-6 In Honor of Jesus Tonight we have the privilege of doing something which is rare in our church, having a baptismal service and the Lords Supper. These two acts are not rituals for the church. They are pictures, symbols which remind us what Jesus Christ has and is doing for us. Let me share some thoughts about each. I. Baptism is a picture of what Jesus HAS done for us. A. The first time we see baptism is in Matt 3:11. 1. There is no one being baptised there, but John spoke of what he had been doing. 2. Johns baptism is spoken of as the baptism of repentance. Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 3. Some believe that baptism is Jewish, and that it was started before John the Baptist began his ministry. a. I have never seen anything in the Old Testament that makes me think of water immersion as John practiced. b. If there was anything like that before John, John changed the meaning of it. 4. The baptism of John was not the same as ours. a. John came baptizing men and women unto repentance. b. That is, if they would acknowledge they were living sinfully and would quit, they were baptized. B. Jesus baptism was not the same as Johns normal baptism. 1. \#Matt 3:13\ John refused to baptize Jesus. a. John knew that if Jesus was the Messiah, He had no sin from which to repent. b. In fact, John wanted Jesus to baptize him. 2. But Jesus had John baptize Him anyway, not because He needed to repent. 3. \#Matt 3:15\ Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." a. I take it to mean that Jesus was being baptized to give us a righteous example. b. Jesus wanted to set the example as to our important baptism would be. c. Why? Because baptism took on an even more important meaning once Jesus died and rose again. C. Our baptism is different from both of those baptisms. 1. All three of them may look alike, but all three of them are for different reasons. a. Our baptism is in a different name. Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: b. Our baptism is a picture of what happened to Jesus. c. Our baptism is a picture of what has happened to us. The believer is saying: (1) I died with Jesus. (2) I have buried my old life. (3) I will live a new life, walking in the power of Jesus Christ. 2. I would add that the new convert should be saying, "Watch the new me!" a. That is why baptisms are not done in private but public. b. Your baptism is a public declaration that (1) you believe in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ; (2) that you have also died with Jesus; (3) and that the rest of the world better watch our for a new Christian is coming out of the grave. D. Christians today are weak on making commitments. 1. Many never share with others their faith in Jesus. 2. Many do not attend church. 3. Of those that do, many will not join the church. 4. Of those that do, many will not serve in the church. 5. Many will not use the altar. 6. And many will not follow in Believers Baptism. E. But know that baptism was commanded by our Lord. Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. F. A Christian who does not follow in believers Baptism can hardly say that he is right with God. II. The Lords Supper is a picture of what the Lord IS doing for us. A. We are baptized once because baptism shows our and Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. 1. How many times Jesus die and was buried and rose from the dead? Once. 2. How many times do we die to sin, burial the old life, and begin a new life in Jesus? Once. B. However, we partake of the Lords Supper as often as we like. 1. In our church, we normally do so three to four times each year. 2. Some congregations do so every time they meet. Some less than we. 3. Why? Because while the Lords Supper speaks of several things in the Christian life, but the number one thing it speaks of is us filling ourselves with Jesus. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. a. This meal is not literally the body and blood of Jesus. b. It is a picture of the body and blood of Jesus. c. But Jesus tells us that this is a picture of us eating His body and drinking His blood. 4. This is not the first time Jesus told the disciples that. a. \#John 6:48-58\ John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. b. Most of the people there that day took Jesus literally and the thought of what He was saying was so gross to them that they quit following Jesus. (1) Jesus knew all along where His blood was going, on the heavenly altar. (2) Jesus knew all along that His body would not see corruption for He is the Resurrection and the Life. c. Jesus was giving a picture what we need to do every day. We need to feast on Jesus. (1) When you eat food or drink liquids, your body absorbs it, digests it. It becomes an inseparable part of you. (2) That is what Jesus wants us to do with Him. To absorb Him, to digest Him. He wants to become an inseparable part of us. d. Every time we gather and partake of this bread and drink, we are saying, "Lord, I need more of you!" (1) That is not a one-time occurrence. (2) As often as we gather for this service, we are saying, "Lord, I need more of you." C. There is more to having more of Jesus than just partaking of this meal. 1Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lords body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 1. In that book, Paul talked about the Lords Supper from 20 to 34. a. That is 15 verses. b. 6 of the 15, Paul was speaking about being right when we partake of it. c. What does that mean? It means we have to have a pure heart and clean hands when we come! 2. Every Communion Meal is (1) an opportunity to get right with Jesus and (2) a plea for God to be more a part of our lives than even before. These two pictures that we fulfill tonight are not just hollow rituals. They are acts of our love for Him. Jesus has demonstrated His love for us. Will we do likewise?