What? Yeah. you. Yeah. Yeah. so so Oh, yes, how does that look like a person? Oh, yes. Good morning, Grace Community. What a pleasure it is to see so many people here this morning. We're filling up. Welcome to our guests, to our members. It's exciting to be here. There's a buzz in the air. It's an exciting day. Baptisms happening today. We're going to sing. We're going to hear from the Word of God. We start our services here with a call to worship, and we're working through the psalms. So this week, we're in Psalm 50. If you want to turn there, your Bibles are falling in the overhead. We're going to be reading that this morning. The title is God Himself is Judge. So keep that in mind as we're going through this. Judgment begins with the household of God. That's kind of the theme of this psalm. So, a psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes. He does not keep silence. Before Him is a devouring fire. Around Him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth that he may judge his people. Gather to me my faithful ones who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. The heavens declare his righteousness for God himself is judge, Selah. Hear, O my people, and I will speak. O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you. Your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. But to the wicked, God says, what right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. You give your mouth free reign for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I have been silent. You thought that I was one like yourself, but now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. Mark this then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart and there be none to deliver. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me. To one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God. This is obviously written to Israel, but the principle absolutely applies today as well. God is a purifying and a refining fire, and that's true within his church. What I drew largely from this psalm is, are we a people who tries to buy off God? Do we give God our tithes and our offerings? Do we pinch our little incenses without our hearts being in the right place? Because what God is looking for here is a spirit of thanksgiving. It's not just these outward actions. Even here in church this morning, right? We can put on that show. We can act like we're believers. But then when God examines our inner being, He sees... What does He see? Does He see just filth all the time? Are we living this double-faced life, right? So God cleanses, but God also offers mercy. That's the beauty of this psalm. There is judgment within the household of God that's a serious thing, but He offers mercy to those of us who are looking for it, and that's found in Christ alone. So let's go to Him this morning, and we'll open their service. Father, your eyes pierce through our shells, into our hearts, seeing what what we think about, what we desire. Lord, there is nothing hidden from your gaze. And this humbles us, Lord, even as we come this morning. We come with joy, Lord. It's a pleasure to be with the people of God as we are here assembled. Lord, may we examine ourselves even today as we worship. If there is hidden sin, we ask that you might reveal that to us. May we be repentant people, Lord. We don't want these things that are lying underneath to keep us from a close relationship with our Father. Lord, to split us as a people. God, we want our lives and our words to line up. Lord, we want If your judgment comes, Lord, in different ways, God, we would ask that it would be a purifying and a refining one. Because you love your people. And you love a purified people. So, Lord, help us to keep that in mind as we meet this morning. Lord, our hearts are not pure, but Christ purifies us before you. And we claim his blood even this morning as we worship, Lord, as we celebrate, as we hear testimonies of baptism about how God has worked in lives and has saved. He's continuing to save. What a blessing to see a church that is full. Many people gather to hear from your word. God, may you just bless us as we worship you this morning. and may it be done from hearts that are set before you. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, good morning, everyone. Good morning. Welcome. Here, welcome to all of you, whether this is your first time here, or whether you've been here many times as a guest, or if you're a member, brother and sister in Christ, if you love the Lord Jesus, welcome here in his name. We're gonna stand and we're gonna sing, and our first song is His Mercy is More. ♪ What hope can we ever know once we are gone ♪ ♪ Donation's all that we need comes from their song ♪ ♪ For we do not see with our blinded eyes ♪ I sing to thee, our Redeemer's mercy is poor. I sing to thee, our Redeemer's mercy is poor. be well you His blood shall make angels like ones that are lost. We serve him again. We will never abhor. Our sins we are paying. His mercy is more. Praise the Lord. His mercy is more. His mercy is His mercy is What a wonder. And we celebrate that this morning. As we witness some baptisms, as we hear from the Lord, we know that it's not our goodness that brings us here. It's His mercy, and His mercy is more. Our next song is Just As I Am. ♪ Just as I am without a king ♪ ♪ But heaven, my God, was shed for me ♪ ♪ Earth, my God, for me to dwell ♪ Come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am and waiting on to bring my soul upon the right one, to feel its love and when we swallow them, the right one. I come. And when the world around you opens up, praise God, Jesus has appeared. Just as I am, I could be lost, but mercy can bring my freedom back. And now, to glory in the cross, the Lamb of God I cry. ♪ My God ♪ I am broken to be ended. I am wounded to be healed. I am desperate to be blessed. I am empty to be filled. I am guilty to be guarded by the blood of Christ the Lamb and the blood of God. ♪ We know we're not free to die ♪ ♪ Let's dance again ♪ Well, good morning, brothers and sisters. Good morning to the many visitors we have here. What a what a wonderful and blessed day. Just a note to the visitors, if you have young children and You need to take them out to the back just for whatever reason. There is a nursery down the hall past the washrooms and that is just open to anyone to use and to go in there at any time. I believe there is a screen on in there as well that showing what's going on up here. So just so you know, that is available to you. What a blessed and wonderful Sunday to be together. I have a few announcements for us just to keep things in mind. There is a Fellowship Barbecue, right after the service and the church has provided hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone. I hope we run out, there's a lot of people here but I think everyone has brought plenty of food and if you're a visitor you are absolutely welcome to stay. Another announcement, our new website is up and running and I would encourage you to go check it out. With a caveat, it's new, so I noticed this morning there's a few little glitches and things that need to get fixed up and it will be. But go there, everything that is going on in the church should be up in the calendar. Also, I put something new on there last night, and that is our order of service for every service is now hopefully going to be available with a link to the songs and the scriptures. So if, you know, I was thinking sometimes we feel dry on a Sunday morning. And that is very often because we have not prepared our hearts the day or the evening before. And so if you maybe are in that situation, I would encourage you, go to the link, you can click on the time of service link or at Life Together on the top heading and the order of service option is there. You can see what's gonna happen on a Sunday morning and maybe you need to take some time, read through the lyrics of the songs. I know for me that many times just looking at the lyrics of the songs had really, by the Lord's Spirit, made Sunday morning come alive and be so meaningful. So that's there for you. The Ladies Bible Study is this Monday, October 4th. Study notes for that are also online, so you can get those through the website. We wanted to announce this morning, I think maybe lots of people know, but not everyone, but John and Justine Kapitos are pregnant, and that's just a wonderful thing. We have now six pregnant ladies again in the church. God is just blessing us. It's amazing. Just months ago, I think we were down to one and now six again, so we have so much to be grateful for. Also, just a reminder, next week we'll be bringing Warren and Amanda and Renee and Mariah into membership. We're gonna hear two testimonies this morning, but if you haven't got a chance yet, I encourage you, go back into your email and read the testimony of Warren and Amanda. It will bless your heart. Also, on the, what was it, October 23rd. Was that it, Justine? October 23rd. That is a Saturday. There's going to be another workbee at the church. So partly for the renovation, but also just kind of a fall cleaning. So it would be great to have a good showing of people for that Saturday just to clean up the church and get some more things done on the renovations. There, I think that that's all I have for announcements. Is there anything else that I should have said that I may have missed? Okay. All right. Well, from announcements, we're going to move on this morning. And we cherish highly the Word of God here at Grace Community. That's why we open our service with a call to worship from the Psalms. And that's why we always continue on in consecutive reading from some part of the scriptures and we are continuing on in the book of Matthew this morning, Matthew chapter 9. We can read that together. Matthew chapter 9, you can read, follow along in your Bible or on the screen. Just thinking about the last words of the song we just sang. You know, it is only by God's Spirit that anyone truly comes to Christ. And if you sang those words, I come broken, in need of mending, I come to be filled, confessing these things, it is only by God's Spirit that you've been brought to that place. And in this chapter, we see those who are physically broken, but also spiritually broken, coming to Christ. over and over again. And by God's Spirit, seeing their need for Christ. By faith, faith is mentioned a number of times in this chapter. And that is what every person needs. Every single person here needs to be born again. And they can only do that by the Spirit of God, and coming to Christ by faith. And we see that here in this chapter over and over again. So let's read it together. And getting into the boat, Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought him a paralytic lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven. And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, this man is blaspheming. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say, rise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralytic, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. And he rose and went home. When the crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, follow me. And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to the disciples, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." You know, as I read this, I just, I thought of where we're at in our society right now, and I thought how the medical system has become the be-all and the end-all for everything. And that's fine. It's good that we want to protect the medical system. But I thought of something that John MacArthur said a number of months ago, and that how hypocritical it is to shut down the medical system that takes care of us, or not shut down the medical system that takes care of us physically, and to try to shut down the spiritual system, the church, the only thing that can give us life and hope. The only thing that can give sinners forgiveness. The only thing that can grant us repentance, the Spirit of God. How wicked it is to try to shut that down and merely take care of our bodies. And Jesus says, I didn't come to call the righteous, but I came to call sinners. And even above our physical ailments, what we need is we need Christ. That's not cliche. That's the truth. This morning, you need Christ above all things. You need it more than you need a job. You need it more than you need good health. Because if you die with a good job and you die with good health and you don't have Christ, then it's weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 14, Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment. and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine spills, and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, my daughter has just died, but come and lay hands on her and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for 12 years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. For she said to herself, if only I touch his garment, I will be made well. And Jesus turned and seeing her said, take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well. And instantly, the woman was made well. And when Jesus came out to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowds making a commotion, he said, go away, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand. And the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, have mercy on us, son of David. And when he entered the house, the blind men came into him. And Jesus said to them, do you believe that I am able to do this? And they said to him, Yes, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, See that no one knows about it. But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, the demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, never was anything like this done in Israel. But the Pharisees said, he casts out demons by the prince of demons. And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. And when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them. because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. And then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. May the Lord bless the reading of his word this morning. May we take these things to heart. And not only that, but we are going to take them to prayer right now. We have many things to pray for. We will pray for some. But would you bow your heads with me? And let's go to the Lord. Triune God, We confess this morning that we are not like you. We confess this morning that our sins are many. And we rejoice together that your mercy is so much greater than any sin that we could ever commit. How great you are, God. Your loving kindness and your mercy truly does Endure forever. Your loving kindness is new every morning for those who you have bought with your blood, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful gift it is to wake morning after morning, despite of whatever we have done, knowing that we are in Christ, knowing that we are forgiven. And so we bless your name, Jesus. We bless your name, Holy Spirit. We bless your name, Father, for you are good. We thank you for the reading that we've just shared together in. We thank you for your work, Jesus. We thank you for how you came. how your story was recorded for us to hear and remember and to encourage us in our faith, how you went from town to town and you healed the sickest and the wickedest of people because you are a God of mercy. We pray for that same healing to continue to take place here. even this morning, Father, as we celebrate in baptisms, in the confessions of faith of these two young sisters, we thank you and we praise you, God, for your goodness. We thank you that you continue to wash over this congregation and give new life. We thank you that you give new life, not only in the soul, but in the womb. And we thank you this morning for Tina and Emily and Kimmy and Ashley and Justine and Mary who all carry a baby inside of them. And Lord, we beg you and we plead with you that not only for these babies, but for all our children, that we would see Sunday after Sunday, young people coming up and being washed in the waters of baptism, confessing their faith for Christ. And so we praise you and we trust you, Lord. We trust that your gospel will do the powerful work that you have promised that it will do. So this morning, Father, we pray that you would work in our church, that you would work in our quizzing ministry, that you would work in our women's ministry. Lord, we pray that you would work outside of our church, in the Lethbridge Pregnancy Care Centre, Father, that the ladies who come there for help, that they would be met with loving and open arms, but they would also be met with the gospel. And that they would come to know Christ. Lord, it's all we can pray. And we'll pray it over and over again. Every week, every Sunday. Lord, help us to be faithful in this as well. Lord Jesus, you said that the harvest is plentiful. And we believe you. And so, would you turn our hearts to missions in this church? Not only internally, through Sunday school and the different ministries that take place, but Lord, even outside as we gather at rallies or we go out to evangelize on the street, may we be a church that truly believes and obeys the Great Commission. Father, we want to see our country turned upside down because of the gospel. And so we pray for our leaders, our prime ministers, our premiers, Lord, that you would work in our parliament. God, that they would see the great King Jesus high and lifted up and that they would kiss the sun, that they would bow in need to Christ and that they would again restore the priority of the church in this land, and that they would see the necessity of her. Lord, that they wouldn't shut us down, but Lord, that they would allow us to be freely open and do the work that this world so desperately needs. Lord, we bring these things to you in faith. We bring them knowing that Your answer is always the right one. We bring them knowing that your will will be done and we praise you for that. Lord, this morning I pray for the preaching of the word as Ryan comes to bring it, that it would penetrate our hearts, that it would refresh us in the gospel. And as we watch these two young ladies get baptized, would our hearts brim with joy and our eyes with tears of joy even. Lord, we bless your name. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, at this time, it's a pleasure to invite Mariah and Renee up to share their testimonies with us. So if you ladies are ready, come on up. Good morning. My name is Mariah Haber, for those of you that may not know me. And I'd like to share with you guys my testimony this morning. So I grew up in a Christian home with parents who both loved God and brought my siblings and I up in the Word. I am very thankful to God for my upbringing, but I knew knowledge alone of God wasn't enough to save me. I realized just because I had a Christian upbringing If I were to die at any moment, I was not right with God, and the thought of dying terrified me. My selfish pride kept me from coming to God, and I ignored the call to come to Christ to be saved. I also pushed the idea of repentance away because I thought I had lots of time. Although the lies of Satan and my pride kept me from coming to God, around a year ago, by God's grace, the Holy Spirit used my fear of dying to draw me to Christ. As I began to listen intently to sermons, the Holy Spirit began to show me the ugliness of my sin. I now understand that salvation was a free gift and nothing I did would save me, although I had heard that for years. A verse that really speaks and comforts me is from Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. As time went on, I realized I needed to be humbled and come to God, repenting of my sins and believe on Him. Beginning to see this, a hunger to know more about God made me read my Bible, pray, and most importantly, trust in Him as my Lord and Savior. I do not know the exact day that I was saved, but by the amazing grace of God, my hope is found in Him and I no longer have to fear the thought of dying and death one day. A verse that encourages me is from John 3, verse 14 to 15. And Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness. Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Hi, for those of you who don't know me very well, I'm Renee Copper, and I'm 15 years old. By God's grace, I've been able to grow up in a Christian home with godly parents who have faithfully taught me the gospel of my life. As a little girl, I always did my very best to be good. I always made a point of obeying my parents, sharing with my friends, giving the right answer to Sunday school questions, and getting the most stickers on my Bible memory chart. When I was eight, during a time out, I was really frustrated with myself because no matter how hard I tried, I always screwed up. When I talked with my mom, I realized for the first time that no amount of trying to be a good person could ever save me. My heart was desperately sinful and only Jesus would be able to wash it clean. I repented of my sins, placing my trust in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of my life. About a year later, my Oma passed away from a brain tumor. It felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. Going through the loss of someone close to me for the first time was very hard and raw for me, and I didn't really know how to deal with it. Instead of being honest about my feelings, I internalized them and I became angry and bitter at God. I just couldn't understand why God would allow something horrible like that to happen. I'm so thankful that even in the times when I felt like giving up on God, He never gave up on me. When I was 12, I started making choices that were harmful and destructive to my body, especially in regards to my eating habits. Although this started out as a seemingly harmless resolve to eat clean and be more active, it soon became much more. My body and my appearance became my identity and I found my worth in the number that showed up on the scale. I fell into a vicious cycle of under-eating and over-exercising. Nothing seemed more important to me than getting a perfect body. Later in the year, my body basically started falling apart. I started feeling constantly sick to my stomach, my hair started falling out, I lost my ability to concentrate, and my weight dropped dramatically. I was totally blind to the fact that this was happening to me as a result of my own foolish choices. I was really scared, but instead of trusting in God during that time, I relied on doctors to fix me. At that point, I was so sick, both physically and mentally, that I was unable to think rationally about almost anything. No amount of looking at my shrinking body in the mirror or people telling me that I was dangerously underweight could satisfy my desires for that impossibly thin, perfect body. This escalated until my doctor had me admitted into the hospital because my health was in such a dangerous place. I remember standing in front of the hospital bathroom mirror and feeling proud of myself for finally being able to have the body I thought I wanted so badly. Then reality hit me. Yes, for once I had a body I felt I could like and admire, but I wasn't really happy. There is no joy in being stuck in a hospital bed, being so weak I could hardly walk, feeling sick all the time, missing out on half a year of school, and not being able to go to church or see my friends. I found myself feeling more empty and lonely than I had ever been in my life. I started wallowing in self-pity. I felt horrible and I shut people out of my life. I was really angry at myself and I was also angry at God. I kept begging him to heal me. When it seemed like he wasn't answering, I wondered if he really cared or loved me anymore. When I was out of the hospital, I was put into the Calgary Eating Disorders Program. I had realized that my body had become my identity and that to continue making choices that were harmful and distracted to my body was sinful. Also during this time I started seeing Geraldine Fluteman. She told me that God still loved me deeply and that through Jesus my relationship with him could be restored if I confess my sin to him. For the first time in a long time, I prayed to God, asking him not only to make me better, but to forgive me and heal my heart. God answers and still continues to answer this prayer for me. Recovery has been an incredibly long and hard journey. It has definitely been one of the most challenging battles I've ever had to face. But God has been faithful to me even through this trial. He's used it to mold and shape me more into the image of Christ and to draw me closer to him than I ever would have had it had I not gone through this. I struggle still, sometimes a lot, but I know that God is with me and that by his grace I will overcome. My worth and my identity does not come from what I look like or what the world defines as beauty. My identity is in Christ. I am a loved, chosen, and forgiven daughter of the King. I'll end with a few verses that have been really encouraging to me. Philippians 1, 6. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 43, verses 1 and 2. Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. And the flame shall not consume you. Okay. Okay. Okay. We'll stand beneath the cross, so please rise and we'll sing Beneath the Cross of Jesus. and wonder at such mercy that calls me as I am. For as the church may smite thee, O curse your swelling mind beneath the cross of Jesus, my weary soul Thee did the cross of Jesus extend His right hand o'er all. What stranger's face didst Thou bear to me, Thou one who raised up the world? How good and how great Thou art, Lord of lords, and King of lords. We meet at Christ the King, and sing to Thee, O Lord. Beneath the cross of Jesus I bow before the crown. ♪ We follow in his footsteps ♪ ♪ Where promise always stands ♪ ♪ How great the joy before us ♪ ♪ To be his birthday bride ♪ ♪ Beneath the cross of Jesus Christ ♪ Please be seated. Well, good morning, if you're able to, please open up your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 3. Concluding this difficult chapter, and providentially and very fittingly, with Peter linking God's sovereign triumph over the forces that are opposed to him, and the ordinance of baptism, which we will celebrate this morning. Please stand for the reading of God's word. We're gonna read as we've done the last three weeks, verses 13 to the end of the chapter. However, we're gonna focus primarily on verses 21 and 22. Hear now the word of God. Now who is there to harm you, even if you become zealots for the good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts sanctify Christ the Lord is holy. Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience. so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous, in place of the unrighteous, in order that might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison because they formerly did not obey when God's patience waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared in which a few that is eight persons were brought safely through water. Baptism which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. This is the word of God. Please remain standing as we pray, Father, We ask now that you would bless not only the reading of your word, but now the proclamation of it. And Father, that as we follow Christ's footsteps, not only in the area of suffering, but also as He made proclamation, that we too would proclaim that Christ is risen, that He has conquered, that He has ascended to your right hand and now rules Father, I do ask that the Spirit would make this a reality in our lives, that no matter what is going on, whatever the trial, whatever the suffering, the impending and looming persecution, would we remember Peter's words, and would we remember the glorious significance of believers' immersion, of how it is a declaration of the Christ over His church, that He is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her, that He ascended, having poured out the Spirit, has triumphed, that He is saving His elect, He is saving and calling His sheep. Father, that would give us a great confidence, even when everything seems arrayed against us. We would say with the Apostle, if God in Christ be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay any charge against God's elect? Not only has Christ died to justify us, but he has risen and now intercedes for us. Even now, Father, at your right hand as our great and triumphant Melchizedek. Father, as we prayed this morning in the office, would you save this morning? Even the testimonies of our dear sisters in Christ, would you use their words? Or would many see that you came not to save those who have it all together? You came, Jesus, as a good physician for those who are poor and needy and helpless and harassed and broken. Spirit, would you reveal that even to us who know Christ, that you are far from the proud, but give grace to the humble, and therefore we would humble ourselves under your mighty hand. Father, you care for us, and we know this supremely because of the text we have just read, that Christ died once for all, the righteous one in the place of the unrighteous ones. And so, Lord, whatever we're going through this morning, We pray, Holy Spirit, would you shed abroad in our hearts, perhaps for the first time or for the 10,000th time, the unfathomable love of God towards us. Father, I just pray, minister to us by the Spirit, using the word of God, and may we leave here built up, encouraged, and as Charles exhorted us, to go out to make disciples to the ends of the earth. Father, we pray all of these things in the name of Jesus, the son, your beloved son, whom you love. Hear, Lord, and answer according to your perfect will in his name. We pray, amen. Please be seated. In his commentary on the book of Genesis, commenting on Genesis chapter three, verse 15, John Calvin says this. That God might revive the fainting minds of his people, it became necessary to promise them, in their posterity, victory over Satan. I'm gonna read that again. This is the condescending God who knows just how faint-hearted we can be. And that in a world that seems at times to be overwhelmed by the evil one, when his people wonder if God has really won, God in his grace and in his mercy stoops. And he gives us these tokens, these signs, these reminders that God has conquered. He began doing so through the word in Genesis 3.15, but all throughout the Old Testament. and he reminded his people over and over and over that he was king. Well, I think this morning we have been presented with the most glorious of new covenant signs, that God has conquered, that Christ has conquered over our foe. And it's actually the ordinance of baptism. And it's a great reminder to those of us who know Christ and have been baptized, but I pray that it's also a great reminder to unbelievers that if you seek to conquer over the evil one and his horde of hosts, it is only through the apparent weakness and defeat of Christ, who through death, conquered death, and rose triumphant from the grave. Well, we've seen over the last three weeks, three parts to this section. this mini-series, if you will, the triumph of Christ over suffering and sin. We saw first the means. How does Christ triumph? Well, it's through his death and resurrection. That's verses 18 and 19. The means of his triumph is his death and resurrection. And then we look last week at the declaration or perhaps the proclamation of his triumph. His exaltation and being seated at the right hand of God. In his exaltation, Christ declares, I have conquered. I have overcome. The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered. Well, this morning, I'm gonna move now to the sign. or the symbol perhaps you might call it of Christ's triumph, our baptism. And I hope that perhaps after this you will appreciate believers baptism a lot more than you did before you entered in. That baptism isn't just sort of getting wet and some little ritual Christians do some kind of weird thing. but it's actually our proclamation, it's our declaration, it's the sign and symbol to Satan, and even to a world that thinks it's winning. Christ has conquered, and he is conquering, and he is coming back, and he will not be thwarted. That's what baptism signifies, and I hope to show that. from the Word of God. Psalm 86, 17 says this, show me a sign of your favor, or perhaps if you're familiar with the King James, show me a token of thy goodness. These waters are a reminder that God has not left us, that he did not just create the world and leave it, and let this roaring lion devour whom he will, no, he has conquered. And we have a token, a pledge, a sign, the ESV says, of his favor, of his goodness. That those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Mariah, Renee, this is a sign, not only to you, but to us, to your parents. Christ is conquered. Well, who has he conquered? He's conquered your rebellious will. For we know what the Bible says, that we're born into this world in the first Adam. dead in trespasses and sins, and we walk as dead people. Romans 8, 7 says that the natural heart is at enmity. Oh, there are many foes that Christ had to conquer in his death and resurrection. Yes, Satan, but also our perverse, God-hating, Christ-rejecting hearts. This is a reminder. Christ is conquered. Show me a sign of your favor. Show me a token of thy goodness. Help our fainting hearts, dear ascended Lord. And in his goodness, he gives the church the ordinance of baptism. This picture of the new birth, that the new creation is coming. Christ the firstfruits and those who follow in his footsteps. Well, there's four things that verses 20 and 21 want to teach us, and I pray that the Spirit will do so. First, there's a picture in baptism. Look in verse 21. Baptism, which corresponds to this. Literally in the Greek it says, baptism is an anti-type. And that probably doesn't mean much unless you're a seminary nerd. But as you work through the Old Testament into the New, there's types and shadows in the Old Testament, and anti-types and realities in the New Testament. So let me give you a couple examples. The sacrificial system is the type. Christ is the anti-type. He is the fulfillment of it. And so when you're reading the Old Testament, there's these pictures that God gave Israel that pointed forward to a greater reality. The temple is another one. It is a type where God says, I will dwell in the midst of my sinful people through sacrifice. The anti-type, says Jesus in John 2, is Jesus. He is the temple, that he is the nexus of heaven and earth, where sinful humanity may come into the presence of God through sacrifice and enjoy his reign and presence. But what Peter is saying here is that there are many types in the Old Testament that find their anti-type or fulfillment in the New Testament. And the flood in Noah's time is one of those types that finds its fulfillment in Christ and subsequent baptism. Now, you can translate it correctly, is a correspondence. Or pictures, or portrays it. However you want to translate it. But there's something significant that Peter wants to show us through baptism. And remember the context. Verse 13 is, who's going to harm you? If you do good, who is going to harm you? Christ did the good. He was put to death unjustly on a cross, and then he rose triumphantly and ascended to the right hand of God. Now, it looks like bad was done to Christ. But ultimately, who harmed him? No one. And what Peter's trying to say is, if you belong to Christ, who did the good for you, and he conquered evil, who can ultimately harm you if you're with him? Who can harm you if you died with Christ, and rose with him to newness of life? Who can harm you? Even if you're a martyr, who can harm you? Baptism is meant to answer that. If persecution does come, baptism hopefully will taste sweeter. And we will be reminded that Christ triumphed. And in Christ and his baptism on the cross, we no longer have to bear sins. It's a picture of salvation through judgment, not salvation around judgment. Now I find it interesting, me and Matt weren't talking before, but he mentioned this when he read Psalm 50. That judgment begins where? with the household of God. And in this evil world, God allows the unrighteous and the wicked and the godless often to persecute and unjustly attack his people. It's like a judgment, if you will. And what baptism says is that is the extent of judgment. Unfair, unrighteous, unjust, you might receive that. But do understand that if you're in Christ, you will never, ever experience the wrath of God. Baptism is glorious. Let me add this. Believer's baptism is glorious. Now this isn't a Baptist just taking shots. But this is a picture of what happens to the believer. Not an infant who is sprinkled, but to the one who has appealed to God for a good conscience. And how do you appeal to God for a good conscience? Through the faith of your parents? Through some ritual? No, by calling on the name of the Lord. Baptism is an outward reality of what Rene and Mariah have done. They have appealed to God for a clean conscience. They have appealed to God, cleanse me, oh cleanse me from within. I have a stain that water can't remove and only the blood of Christ can. When they go into the water, they're appealing to God, judge me not. And God says, I will not. For Christ died once for all, the righteous in place of the unrighteous. That's you too, and that's me, and that's you. Baptism, it corresponds to this. What is the this? This is a very tricky, not only section, but even these verses. I'm so happy to start chapter four next week. Is the this the water? Is it the ark? Is it Noah? It's the whole picture. Baptism reminds us that in God's patient waiting, he is saving those who believe his promise. 120 years was the building of the Ark, and Noah, this herald of righteousness, was proclaiming the gospel in the midst of a perverse generation that mocked and ridiculed him. Can you identify with that? And maybe we're not going to see Drove saved. Maybe we will, especially if you're a post-millennial. But only a few were saved then. And Noah needed to remember that that was enough to leave it in the hands of God. That as he continued to be faithful and trusting in this promise God gave him. Now you can read this in Genesis 6 and following about the evil of humanity and God in his grace plucking Noah out and using him for his purposes. But baptism signifies, in verses 18 and 19, where there are these malevolent, evil, God-defying spirits wrecking havoc on the world. And Noah, like us, is wondering, where is God in this? Judge them, God. And God says, patience. Be patient. I am saving a people for myself through your preaching. Be patient. So it's picturing God's patience, and it's picturing the salvation, even of the few. For many are called, but few are chosen. So be reminded, even in baptism, even if the whole world be against us, and there isn't this great revival like we're always longing for, that God remains faithful. Turn to 2 Peter quickly. 1 Peter 3 to 2 Peter 3. It's easy for me to make these jumps. 1 Peter 3, 2 Peter 3. I take Peter to be the author of both. Pretty profound, hey? While you're turning there, let me start in verse one. Now, this is the second letter that I'm writing to you, beloved. And we've seen him use that in 1 Peter 4 already. In both of them, in both of them, ah, so Peter is also writing this letter. In both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, scoffers. Noah lived in the midst of a scoffing, naysaying generation, kind of like we do. Scoffers will come in the last days with their scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation. for they deliberately overlook this fact that the heavens existed long ago when the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God. That will help us understand baptism, that Noah passes through the waters and when the waters dry up, he sets his foot, as it were, on a new creation. That's what baptism signifies, that you have passed through judgment and you come up to newness of life in the new creation. with Christ the first fruits, verse six, and that by means of these, the world that then existed was what? Deluged with water and perished, but by the same word. See, this is God patiently waiting. In the days of Noah, he patiently waited. And 1 Peter 3 says, there's a correspondence to today. Why has God not come back? Why has Christ not burst through the clouds with that trump of the archangel? Why has he not come yet to judge the living and the dead? There are more to be saved. So, oh church, remember that. Preach the gospel to all of creation. Because by the same promise you could translate that, The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up. There is a time. God demarcated 120 years. My spirit will not continue to strive. There is a limit to God's patience. I don't know when that is, but he is coming like a thief in the night. He has promised he will return in Christ, and until then, occupy, make disciples, be good stewards. They're stored up not for water, They're stored up for fire. Being kept, same Greek word as in chapter one, our inheritance in Christ is being kept and not even the fires of judgment will touch it. being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. So that's the correspondence in one picture. Baptism reminds us that God is long-suffering and patience. And as Paul says in Romans 2, 4, it is the kindness and forbearance and long-suffering of God that leads us to repentance. If you're an unbeliever here this morning, God beckons, He commands you to repent. And baptism reminds us He'll let you on the ark if you knock on the door. Come, He will not cast you away. And if you have come, then command your children, command your neighbors, plead with them. Everything is reserved for fire. Judgment. Yes, we're tested, as it were, with the fires of trials, but they're a harbinger, a type of the anti-type. Parents, plead with your kids. Baptism which corresponds to this. Well, there's a picture of God's judgment. That is coming upon the earth according to his word, according to his promise, according to his timetable. It is coming. And there's only one way that you will be able to pass through that. I made an intentional highlight in this that you are saved through water. Nobody, nobody escapes the judgment of God. And I've said it once, and I'll say it again, to stir you up by way of reminder. Everyone will experience the judgment of God in one of two places. Us who are in Christ will experience it as it were, as He takes that wrath for us and in our place. Right? That's what happened on the cross. For on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied, for every sin on Him was laid. So Ryan Case had his sins nailed to the cross, Colossians 2 said. And Christ bears that. God-forsakenness. The darkness which always symbolizes God's anger and displeasure. The baptism that made him tremble in Gethsemane. Drinking the cup of what? Being immersed in what? The wrath of God. Christ died for my sins and therefore for my wrath, for the wages of sin is death. Not just natural death, because that's a parallelism. It's eternal death. Because the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So that's one place. God's wrath is perfectly spent on Christ for all who are in him or belong to him. And that's what baptism means. that you died with Christ, and he took your judgment, and you rose with him to newness of life. But if you're not in Christ, children, friends of Rene and Mariah, guests, if you're not in Christ, the only thing that awaits you is a fearful expectation of judgment, says the author of Hebrews, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. So solemn. We celebrate baptism, but there's a heaviness to it. God's people have always rejoiced in his triumph. In Sunday school I mentioned the exodus. How they rejoiced. How they were delivered through water. But those who rejected God perished in those same waters. The difference? Sovereign grace. Baptism corresponds to this whole salvation through judgment on an ark. How does Noah enter the ark? Well, he enters the ark by the same way he built it. You can read it in Hebrews 11. That Noah, trusting God's promise by faith, built the ark and also boarded the ark. And he became, as it were, a sign of judgment to all who reject God. Are you on the Ark? And you're like, I haven't been to Cincinnati yet. That's where the Ark is from the Creation Museum. I'm not talking about that Ark. The Ark is a type. Christ is the anti-type. We don't come here slaying bulls. We don't have, this church building isn't a temple. Christ is the sacrifice. Christ is the temple. Christ is the baptism. Christ is the Ark. That preaches well. That's what Peter is saying. Are you not only on the ark, but are you in Christ? And you say, well, I don't know. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be delivered, saved. Call upon him, Saul, confessing your sins and be baptized. Why? Because baptism is a picture of your sins, judging Christ, and you rising with him in his resurrection. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. We have to deal with this for a little bit because some traditions and denominations and cults say that somehow there's something magical that happens in the waters. And now's not the time to start taking pot shots, but there are those that say the Catholic or Lutheran tradition. Myself, I've been growing up in that as a Lutheran and my parents thinking that because I had a little bit of water sprinkled on my head and some priest making a little sign on my forehead in water that somehow That was saving me. The Bible abominates that. This in no ways contradicts the principle of sola fide, by faith alone. Over and over and over, explicit from Genesis to Revelation, there's only one way that you're made right with God, and it's through faith in the promise of God. It's faith in the gospel of God. It's faith in Christ, the supreme expression of God's good news. Baptism does not save you. Baptism is an expression of what God does. He saves those who believe His promise. And those who reject His promise, His offer, His ark, they perish everlastingly. Baptism, insofar as it corresponds to this, is a picture of salvation through judgment. You are not saved by baptism. Renee and Mariah do not come up here unsaved and leave saved. They show you of what has happened inwardly, outwardly. See, baptism is a picture, it's a sign, it's a symbol, but it's not a saving ordinance, nor is the Lord's table. We remember, this is a reminder to suffering saints that Christ has overcome. When we come to Christ, Titus says, it is the picture of the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. There's an inward cleansing that takes place. Do you see the contrast here? Look at it in verse 21. Baptism, which corresponds to Noah being saved as a few through faith in the ark, through the waters, corresponds to this, naught. as a removal of filth of the flesh. That's how I translate it. It sounds better and I think it's a little more literal. It's not just dirt from the body, but flesh is actually intentional there. Flesh is always a picture in the New Testament of the unregenerate man, of the uncircumcised heart. You don't get a new heart through this washing. You get a new heart through the sovereign washing of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus, you must be baptized. That's not what Jesus said. You must be born again. You need a washing of water and spirit, which are the same thing, according to Ezekiel. That the Spirit washes over those dry bones, bringing life to the inanimate, granting breath to the dead in sin. All this picture is what the Holy Spirit has done in your heart. And how do we know the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart? He grants faith in Christ and love for Christ. No, no, baptism is not the removal of dirt. If it was just the removal of dirt, me and my cheapness, I would have a much smaller baptismal tank and I wouldn't heat the water. No, we are stained far too deeply, says Jeremiah. I could put in tons of lye, L-Y-E, or detergent, or soap. It never gets at the heart. No, no, we must have an inner cleansing. Isaiah says this, come now, let us reason together, says Yahweh, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Water doesn't do that. God's grace does. Though your sins are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Where does that exchange happen? It happens by faith. The righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring us to God. He who knew no sin became sin in our place so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Baptism cannot baptism will not save anybody. Please don't leave here thinking that. You are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, as preached in the Word of God alone. Sola, everything. What is baptism? Peter says here it's an appeal. You see that in the text. If you're a guest here, please know everything we say here hopefully comes from the text. If you can't find it in the Bible, run. Okay? It's a picture, right? It's an anti-type. It is not salvific, but it is an appeal. It is an appeal, or if you're using the NIV or the NLT, it's a pledge. It is an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. give you the two pictures of what this Greek word means. First, it is an appeal. That's a good translation. And what Rene and Mariah are doing this morning, children and adults, is they're saying to you that I have appealed to God for a good conscience. How in the world can you ever have a good conscience? And listen to your testimonies. You grew up in Christian families. And nothing can get rid of that gnawing, aching, nagging, conviction of sin. Nothing can wash that wounded conscience. Religion can't. But Christ can. And so you're coming before God and saying, God, I am a sinner. I am broken. I am dirty. I am needy. Cleanse me. Oh, cleanse me from within. And the God who never puts any away who come to him in Christ does so. And so baptism is actually a glorious assurance. I don't know if your parents have broken it to you, but you're probably gonna sin after you're baptized. And you can go and read John 13, and perhaps you're familiar with the Son of God. He girds himself with a towel, and he begins to wash feet. And do you remember Peter's response? Ah, me. My feet, I got bunions on my feet, or whatever they're called. My feet stink. You're not touching my feet. And Jesus says, if I cannot deeply wash your feet, you do not belong to me. Peter says, if that's the case, not just my feet, but all of me, from head to toe, I am a sinner. And then Jesus responds interestingly. He says, you don't need a deep wash. You just need a cleansing. What is he signifying? Well, Peter has already come to Christ. He's already been saved by that once for all, hapax, sacrifice for sin. Christ is not re-crucified. But there is that washing that baptism reminds us of and the Lord's table reminds us of. These are gifts and tokens. Baptism reminds us that we're cleansed once for all in Christ, even though I continue to sin. I'm reminded that if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and to cleanse me. He doesn't regenerate me. That's happened. And that's what baptism reminds us of. It's an appeal to God. Perhaps you have a filthy conscience this morning. You need to cry out to God. And you need to appeal to Him. God have mercy on me, the sinner. Will he have mercy on your kids? Will he have mercy on you? Will he have mercy on your neighbors? He will. Just like that publican in Luke 18, you, if you call upon the name of Christ, will leave justified. Something religion could never do is give you a clean conscience. Only the blood of Christ can do that. It's an appeal to God. It is a crying out to God. and an assurance that God will accept such an appeal. But it's also a pledge. This is covenantal language. It's the idea of two people entering into an agreement, sort of like marriage, vows. They're not popular nowadays. But before they say, I do, they work through vows, whether they're the good old ones from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer or the new ones they make up, they're still the pledge. For better or for worse. Fill in the blank till death do us part. They're making a pledge. Now, they're not married by those vows. They get married, but those vows help with that. The vows are not only God's promise to save us in Christ, but it's also our promise to walk after Christ. And that's not salvation by works. Go and read the Psalms. David, a saved man, often says, I will perform my vows in the presence of the congregation. Has he saved my words? Oh no. He's just living out consistently a life of faith and obedience, which is why we never cheapen baptism to a mere profession. Those who are baptized are saying, I have been born again. I've been saved by faith, justified by faith, but that same faith that justifies also sanctifies. It's the obedience of faith, Romans 1-5, Romans 16-26. And so that's why we ask the candidates before they get baptized, will you, by the grace of God, follow Christ? Will you take up his cross and follow him? So I'll be saying I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. It's a plea to God for salvation, but it's also a pledge to seek to live obediently. Christian, are you living in sin? Baptized Christian, immersed Christian, are you living in sin? Cut it out. By the grace of God, cut it out. You didn't sign up to betray your savior. You signed up to honor him. And if you suffer for doing good, so be it, for the spirit of God and of grace rests upon you. Lastly, what does baptism picture? Pictures that Christ is the conquering king. You see that in the very last verse. I don't want to spend too much time on it, but remember Peter is seeking to encourage faint-hearted Christians. How does God stir up and encourage his people? Well, says Isaiah, quoted in Hebrews, that he strengthens those feeble hands and weak knees with the word. So listen to this word. You have a good conscience, how? Through the resurrection. When you stand before God, how do you know your sins are forgiven? Christ is at God's right hand. He was raised for your justification. Good conscience. But Peter's not done. Not only has Christ been raised, where did he go? Have you ever read that in Acts? He ascends, but where does he go? Hebrews 1. He makes purification, propitiation for sins. Where does Christ go? He goes to the right hand of God. That's what Peter says as well, look it. Christ was raised, and having gone, that's the same verse we saw, or same verb we saw in verse 19. He's gone to the right hand of God. Now, does God hate left-handed people? I hope not, I'm left-handed. The right hand, if you see in the Psalms and the Old Testament, was always a picture of delight and a picture of power. That's where Christ is. He's the sovereign demonstration of God's power and delight. And he rules in the Father's name over heaven and earth, even over his suffering saints. He has gone into heaven and he is not just visiting, he is at the right hand of God. And even though the church is suffering, he is at the right hand of God, allowing all things to happen for his good purposes. Satan is on a leash. Why? Because Christ has conquered him. And he is at the right hand of God. He is the expression of God's reign. With angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. You mean like police authorities? No, these are the malevolent evil spirits that have always sought to oppose God and His reign in this world through His people. So when you're suffering, you need to say, Satan hasn't gotten the upper hand. Why? Because Christ is at the Father's right hand. And just as Christ used His suffering to rope-a-dope Satan, in ways we will never understand, He is using our suffering to bring forth the kingdom as well. You have to interpret suffering that way. Even in some of the testimonies, we saw the anguish, and the tears, and the trials. But Christ is on His throne, brother and sister, brothers and sisters. I don't know what you're going through, but I do know this, Christ is at the Father's right hand, and therefore all things work together. for good, for those who are the called according to his purpose. Do you love him? Yes. Do you belong to him? Yes. All things must work together for good. Let's conclude this. Peter is reminding people to remember their baptism. I hope you remember your baptism. I love going to weddings. It reminds me of when I took those vows and of the great joy I had and what God had done. And when our sisters, yes, sisters, go under the water, remember, if you're in Christ, what they are visibly portraying through their immersion and subsequent resurrection is a reality in the spiritual realm. Christ died in the flesh, but was made alive in the Spirit. And if you're in Christ, you're alive in the Spirit too, awaiting your resurrection body. Remember your baptism and go and read Romans 6. Shall we who died to sin continue to live in it? May it never be. God forbid you've taken a pledge to follow Christ in obedience. You have the Spirit of God in you. And you can now lovingly Obey Christ even unto death. Remember your baptism. That's the encouragement and exhortation for Christians. The exhortation for unbelievers, for non-Christians. Remember what baptism signifies for the unbeliever. What happened to all those who refused God's gracious offer of deliverance through the earth? What happened? You have to always be careful of having too creative an imagination, but were they scratching at the doors? Were they pounding on the, I don't know, I don't want to read too much into it. I would've. But when you read in Genesis, it's miraculous that Noah didn't shut the door. God did. Noah couldn't open it. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of salvation. If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, the way those in Noah's generation did. Christ is coming. If you're an unbeliever, today is the day. Get right with the Lord. Trust in Him. He will wash you deep within. And if you have called upon Him, then get baptized. Don't be the husband who doesn't wear his wedding ring. Don't be the soldier who doesn't put on his uniform. Baptism is the public. demonstration that you belong to Christ and you, as it were, put him on. Don't be ashamed of him. Don't be ashamed of him. If you are saved and unbaptized, come and talk to the elders. Well, let me pray, and then we will have the privilege of baptizing our sisters. Father, oh, how we love you. And we would say with the Apostle John, It is only because you first loved us. Rene and Mariah, I know, have said that, and I pray they will continue to say, oh, the grace of God that sought me, and oh, the grace of God that bought me. Father, I pray that siblings and friends and even strangers might be piqued in their interest and convicted in their hearts of what is about to happen. And I pray that parents would be quick to explain the gospel accurately and in a way that their children can understand. Not the righteous, not by words, only in Christ, only by faith. Help us to be a church that proclaims this to the ends of the earth. Jesus is Lord. And as our sisters are baptized, may we remember that and live in light of it. O Father, use the entirety of this morning's service to the praise and glory of your risen and now exalted and ever-ruling Son. Father, hear our prayer, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Come on up, ladies and fathers. We have towels and all of the accoutrements necessary. So before Renee takes the plunge, we have already interviewed, she's gone through the membership classes. That's probably wiser. I don't deny all science. They have a working understanding of the gospel. and have demonstrated personal faith in the Christ of the Gospel. So we have a couple of questions, so come on in, sister. We made it simple, there's just two yeses. One more step. Renee Coppert, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that as the supreme expression of God's love for sinners, He came into the world, born of the Virgin, enfleshed, with blood like ours and flesh, lived a perfect life in and for us, and then died an unjust death on the cross for you, and rose for you, and now rules for you. Do you believe that Jesus is your Savior? Yes. And as a new creation in Christ, and by His grace, and with the help of your brothers and sisters, will you follow Him as Lord? Stand up, sister. Now our privilege, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to baptize Rene Conrad. Buried with death, raised to newness of life. Please encourage our sisters after. This is so sweet and praise God for what he's done. Come on next Mariah. Yes you can have a seat which is also hopefully portraying Christ's being seated at the right hand. Mariah do you believe that Jesus Christ is the The supreme expression of God's love for sinners and fulfillment of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob came into the world, fully God, fully man, lived life perfectly in our place, keeping the covenant of works, dying for sinners like you, and a rising triumphant on the third day, and now exalted, you believe in this Lord. And by the grace of God, And with the help of the Church, brothers and sisters, will you seek to live obediently to this Savior, Jesus Christ. That it is our privilege, Marvin and mine, to baptize you, Mariah, into the triune name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Buried with Christ in baptism in His death, raise the Christ in newness to life. Our sisters are drying off, so if you're able to please stand and we'll sing some of the songs they've selected. Alright, we're going to sing one that's not on the overhead first, and that is our baptism song, I've Decided to Follow Jesus. I have decided to call on Jesus. I decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. The world behind me. The cross before me. The world behind me. The cross before me. The world behind me. The cross before me. No turning back. No turning back. Go with me, still I will follow. Go with me, still I will follow. Go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. Amen. No turning back. All right. So let's sing Blessed Assurance. She's not blind, nor will we see her in Washington's blind. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior ♪ For all the day long ♪ ♪ Perfect salvation, perfect divine ♪ ♪ Voices of rapture in the voices of the skies ♪ ♪ Angels descending great from on high ♪ ♪ Echoes of mercy, whispers of love ♪ This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long. ♪ I'm my Savior and happy at last ♪ ♪ Watching and waiting for the hour ♪ ♪ When His head is lost in His love ♪ ♪ This is my story, this is my song ♪ What a glorious strength to our assurance. We know that Jesus is faithful, He's still calling sinners home to Himself, and He's given us these symbols of His love. So let's sing Amazing Grace. Let's praise our Jesus and His amazing grace. Amazing grace! ♪ That saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost but now am found ♪ ♪ Was blind but now I see ♪ ♪ Was praised and glorified ♪ ♪ Embrace my fears, believe ♪ ♪ How precious did that grace appear ♪ ♪ The hour I first believed ♪ Many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. T'is grace that brought me safe thus far, ♪ Grace will lead me home ♪ ♪ And when this flesh and heart shall fail ♪ ♪ And mortal heart shall cease ♪ ♪ I shall hold fast to thee ♪ In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Glory be to Jesus. Well, as we close our time, just a reminder, we've got our barbecue lunch afterwards. So I want to make sure that everybody knows they're welcome to stay and enjoy with us. And we look forward to fellowshipping and celebrating God's goodness together. So let's bow our heads and give thanks to him all together. Lord, your mercy and your kindness to us wretched sinners is overwhelming. And as we see your faithfulness in calling our sisters to yourself, your faithfulness in calling us to yourself, through your amazing grace, we thank you that our souls are being fed. And we pray, Lord, that you would, as we rejoice together, as we fellowship together that you would be with us, you bless us, you bless the food, and you draw us nearer to your son. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. All right, you're dismissed.