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This is where you will find sermons and updates for our church. Our mission is to preach expository sermons focusing on the gospel of Christ. We are a church that is tied to the reformed tradition and seeks to submit to the scriptures so we walk in the Lord’s wisdom rather than our own.
We would love to have you join us on our Christian sojourn if you are in the Belgrade, MT area. If you are not in area then join us by listening to our bi weekly free sermon podcast.
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Paul refers to some children as clean, rather than unclean. Is baptism the cleansing bath? Does baptism make the child clean, or does Paul refer to something more fundamental and traditional? Why does Paul use Old Testament terms like clean and unclean?
Paul and Silas are put in prison for casting out a spirit of divination. While they are in prison the Lord sends an earthquake. This event opens the doors and knocks the shackles off their limbs. They are free to escape, but they do not leave. Instead, we have record of a jailer being converted. He is converted, baptized, and his entire household. This is very significant in terms of the covenant sign of Baptism.
When Christ enters history we expect Christ to bring peace, life, and joy in this age. However, this is not what we see with Christ. Christ speaks of casting fire and creating division. This is the messiah who is supposed to bring the kingdom of peace, shalom, that is a kingdom of wholeness for his people. So, if this is true then why is Christ bringing division on this earth? Secondly, why is Christ so overwhelmed by his baptism?
Peter uses strong language after his Pentecost sermon. Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). This sounds as if we repent, then we receive baptism, and then the Spirit is free to work. We say that the Spirit normally works through the preaching of the Gospel. We listen to Peter's exhortation and consider the deeper implications for the sign of Baptism and profession of faith.
Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of the washing that will go forth. This washing is not just for the adults in the community, but their offspring. The wilderness normally is associated with death, but our Lord will overturn it with life.
#waterbaptism #Infantbaptism #baptism
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are baptized into Christ. This seems to imply that at the moment of baptism we are brought directly into communion with Christ. If this is the case then how can we baptize infants? We need to read this exhortation in the context of the church. We should note that that covenant and election are not the same thing. Further, the Apostle Paul is simply exhorting us in light of this sign of consecration. Paul’s exhortation is similar to the the prophets exhorting Israel to circumcise their hearts. The Apostle Paul is simply exhorting us to see that we are a people set apart in Christ. Christ has undergone the definitive ordeal of death and he emerged triumphant from the sea. This sign is showing us that we are identified as a community of people in Christ Jesus.
We normally think that baptism is a wonderful sign and seal of the Lord's promise. It presents for us the certainty that Christ has endured an eternal punishment, and he has emerged triumphant. The very promise of Genesis 15 is confirmed in Christ's death and resurrection. Christ confirms the promise of the covenant of grace. We think of baptism being this sign of the covenantal promise.
However, Christ is actually anxious about his baptism and he desires to get through his baptism as soon as possible. Why is Christ so concerned about baptism when his father has already pronounced that he is pleased with his son? If Christ is already baptized then what baptism is Christ looking forward to undergoing?
Peter tells us, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." This is a pretty strong statement as it sounds like this baptism actually gives us the blessings of Christ. However, Peter says after this, "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." We are those who make a pledge to God and then we are baptized. This sounds like we first profess, and then we receive baptism. However, we notice the precedent is actually quite different. Scripture actually teaches us that first someone professes, and then the household if baptized. How does Noah's flood teach us this very promise?
John's baptism is a baptism of repentance closing the old testament canon. Christ's baptism is a baptism that goes to the nations with the gospel. We consider baptism in scripture and what it means in terms of an ordeal. Baptism overlaps the significance of the ordeal, but does that necessarily mean that the application and meaning is always the same?
In order for us to baptize infants it is important to see that Circumcision and Baptism point to the same promise. If the signs do not signify the same thing then we should not baptize infants. The Apostle Paul assures that Christ has received the sign of circumcision and baptism. We know that Christ was circumcised at his birth and baptized by John. However, Christ's death and resurrection point to the significance of these signs. How do we know that these signs fundamentally signify the same promise? How do we know that there is a correlation between Baptism and Circumcision?
The Corinthian church has many problems and the Apostle Paul uses the precedent of the Exodus to exhort the Corinthian church. Paul does not just recall the Red Sea crossing as part of the Exodus, but he refers to it as a "Baptism." This Baptism is a movement from death to life and it warns the church today that just because someone goes through the actions of Christianity they might not have the blessings of Christ. So, why would we want to baptize infants in light of this precedent?
We believe that Baptism is a sign of the covenant and not a sign or our faith. In Acts 19 it appears that the Apostle Paul sees baptism as a sign of faith and the Spirit. In fact, Paul mentions that there are two baptisms. Paul also seems to be saying that we can have faith without the Holy Spirit. What is Paul teaching?
Peter states that promise is for you and your children. Does this mean that the promise is merely the promise of the Holy Spirit that is shown at pentecost? Is this a promise that goes before before pentecost? What passages could Peter have in mind to show that this promise is more than just pentecost? Ultimately, does this text imply that we are commanded to baptize infan
if you are want to learn more about the argument for infant baptism please check out our page on “Infant Baptism.”
This is our seventh and final part of our series on baptism. We considering some of the things that we have learned and wrap up this series. If you have any questions please reach out to me through the contact us section on our webpage http://urcbelgrade.com
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is our sixth part in our seven part series on baptism. We consider the issue of whether the sign of baptism and the sign of circumcision have a correlation. It is clear that the shedding of blood is finished in the Old Testament, but what about consecration? Is there any significance of death? Is there significance of being consecrated through death?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is the fifth part of our seven part series. Some claim that circumcision is a physical sign, for a physical people, and it designates a people tied to a physical land. The assumption is that the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is not necessarily symbolized in this sign. So, is circumcision symbolizing the work of the Spirit? Is there a spiritual nature to circumcision?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is the fourth part of our seven part series on baptism. In this teaching we explore whether there is a correlation between the sign of circumcision and the sign of baptism. So, is there any continuity between these signs? If so what could such a correlation imply?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is the third part of our seven part series on baptism. In this teaching we consider whether baby dedication is a more biblical alternative to baptism. So, why would we baptize infants if baby dedication may be a potential middle ground?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
Our Lord commands that the church would go forth baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The church is called to make disciples and baptize in the name of the trinitarian God. What is the significance of this sign of baptism? What does this sacrament communicate? Why does the apostle Paul say that were were baptized into Christ’s death and also his life? Does this baptism automatically work, does it merely symbolize something, and so what is the purpose of baptism? How does baptism encourage us in our Christian walk?
This is the second part of our seven part series on baptism. We continue to give an introduction to a biblical case for infant baptism. In this teaching we consider the household of God and what it means for God to work in the context of a household. So, why does God work in the context of a household?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
We are a bible believing church in the Belgrade, MT. We are a Reformed Protestant church who desire to build one another up in love as we sojourn under the sun.
