Come Sojourn with Us
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.
Stay informed by following us on Facebook, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or through our RSS feed. We would love for you to join us for worship every Sunday at 10 am and 6 pm. If you cannot join us in person then tune into our YouTube livestream.
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?
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
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?
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?
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.”
The Apostle Paul exhorts children to obey their parents for this is pleasing to the Lord. It is not a surprise to us that Paul would exhort children to obey their parents, but what does this imply about their status in the church? Why is the context of their exhortation so significant? Why is it important that this exhortation seems to echo the Old Testament? What could this imply about children being in covenant with the Lord?
The Apostle Paul exhorts children to obey their parents for this is pleasing to the Lord. It is not a surprise to us that Paul would exhort children to obey their parents, but what does this imply about their status in the church? Why is the context of their exhortation so significant? Why is it important that this exhortation seems to echo the Old Testament? What could this imply about children being in covenant with the Lord?
Our confession uses strong language that we are to be baptized once. This means that we do not agree with other traditions that will baptize someone a second time because they do not see infant baptism as being a valid baptism. Why do we believe in one baptism? What is the bigger picture of this baptism? How do we as Reformed people see baptism as something for children and adults? Why are we not Roman Catholic even though we baptize infants?
Many times people will say that the sacraments are a sign of our faith. We might not think that it is important to see that sacrament is a sign of God’s faithfulness verses the sign being a sign of my faith. Ultimately we need to look discussion in light of the covenant of grace. Did Abraham receive the sign because of his faith or because of the Lord’s faithfulness? In other words does the sign point to Abraham’s faith or does it point to the promises of God and His faithfulness? What does Paul say in Romans 4:11 regarding the sign that was given to Abraham?
So often I hear that the sacrament of baptism is administered only after someone makes a profession of faith while circumcision is something that is applied to children in the Old Testament. The reason that is given is that the Old Testament was a physical promise tied to a land while the New Testament is about the Spirit working in the lives of God’s people. The appeal is by looking to the book of Acts where we see someone profess their faith and then they receive baptism. If this case is so cut and dry then why is Christ circumcised and baptized? How can these signs encourage a church that is flat scared of what will happen tomorrow?
The Lord makes a promise to Abraham about bringing about His kingdom through the champion line. This promise is tied to a land and also to circumcision. Why would we desire to appeal to this passage for infant baptism? What does Genesis 17 tell us about the covenant and the covenant sign? What is Peter saying regarding the application of the covenant promises to us?
So why do we baptize infants? Is this a sign of faith or is it the precedent that has been set in the Old Testament? As we consider Paul’s language we see that he is using the Old Testament language and applying it to the church. The logical conclusion is that as infants are part of God’s household of faith in the Old Testament so they are part of the household of faith in the New Testament.
As the church is growing and existing it is just a matter of time before the church encounters a problem. The problem is what do you do in a marriage where one spouse is a Christian and the other spouse is not a Christian? How is the family to conduct itself? Are they to stay married and divide the house so one spouse lives on one floor and another spouse lives on the sinner’s floor? What is more, how do the spouses view their children?
We continue to consider the themes of the catechism and the issue of baptism. In many ways it is tempting to say that circumcision is associated with the Old Testament and baptism is associated with the New Testament. This could mean that the application of these signs are radically different. What can we see in Scripture that shows us that these signs might have more continuity than discontinuity? Ultimately, what should these signs be communicating to us that can be missed in the context of our discussion on infant baptism?
Normally when we think about the sign of circumcision being instituted we think of Moses. We are also quick to think of this sign as being something that is tied to the flesh with a land promise with very little Spiritual significance. The sign of Baptism on the other hand we may think has great significance in terms of Spiritual blessings. Is this fair? Is this what Paul, Moses, and Abraham would have us take away from this sign?
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.
