Gtcotr/ss011010
As I study the sermons in this particular series each week, I am amazed at some of the things people believe. There is the superstitious group for example. These are people who live by a whole different set of rules than the rest of us.
The truly superstitious would not dare walk under a ladder, open an umbrella indoors, repeat anything good news without knocking on wood, be first to cross the path of a black cat, or play a ball game without their lucky shirt or socks, hat or handshake, or whatever other ritual or good luck charm they may attribute to their successes.
Then there are those who grew up hearing fables repeated as fact. These are the people you don’t want to cross. Without any proof or further consideration, they believe what mama or grandma told them, and for them … that’s just the way it is. Prove them wrong and all you have is an angry skeptic who refuses to accept what they have believed and practiced all their life as untrue.
On the other hand, apart and away from the people who have a vested interest in the myths they believe, is the rest of mankind - People who are basically sensible, reasonable, logical to some extent and trusting. Why then do we believe some things which turn out to be false? Generally it is because of one of the following three simple reasons … either/or:
1. We were told or taught the untruth by some credible source who, although they were sincere, they were sincerely wrong.
2. We were fooled by some incredible source into believing something they knew was a lie, but told it for truth anyway.
3. We think we heard or understood what was said and, even though what was said is true, what we heard or understood is not.
At any rate, most of us believe some incredible things. Many of these things are true but some, even when truly believe them, turn out to be false.
During a person’s life they hear so many things from so many sources, including some very credible sources. However, despite what you hear, or what you believe for that matter …
Nothing works quite as good as the truth.
Myths are the result of urban legends, false claims and wild stories which seemingly grow and take on a life of their own as they are passed from person to person. You might be surprised when you realize just how many people are willing to believe almost anything if it is seen on television, reported in print or just repeated often enough … Especially if the person who is presenting the claim is doing so with sincerity or has some level of personal credibility.
Such is the case even with some of the more common myths concerning Christianity and the Church.
However, let’s now focus attention on our:
Myth for Today:
Mountain Dew Can Be Used As A Flashlight
Today I want to do a practical experiment to see if this particular report, believed and repeated by many, even some very credible sources, is actually fact or fiction.
We are going to dim the lights for just a moment so we can see this better on the big screen … (Lights dimmed - Video showing how to make a flashlight using a bottle of Mountain Dew, a pinch of baking soda, and a small quantity of hydrogen peroxide.)
Looks interesting huh? Perhaps you have heard of this phenomenon, especially if you are an outdoorsman.
In fact on May 29th, 2009, Field and Stream, who now claim to be “The World’s Leading Outdoor Website” had this posted on their message board under the heading, ‘Camping Gear’, things to keep handy while enjoying the outdoors.
Emergency Camping Lantern
1. Poor out the mountain Dew and leave about 1/4” of dew in the bottle.
2. Add a tiny bit of baking soda.
3. Then add 3 caps of peroxide.
4. Shake well and now you have instant light.
Well, let’s see. We have heard it from what seems to be a credible source, seen it on the big screen, now let’s see if it really works.
Bring me the Dew! (and a small table with a towel, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide)
“Children, don’t try this, or any other myth busting attempts at home!”
... especially anything involving hydrogen peroxide, it can bleach out and leave white spots in the fabric of clothes and carpets and change hair color … or can it?????? Hmmmmm … Well, don’t try it anyway …
In a moment we will be dimming the lights to near blackout so that we can get the full affect. Please don’t be alarmed … if they don’t come back on soon, we will be distributing a bottle of Mountain Dew to each of you.
(The experiment … Lights off … shake the bottle … wait, wait, wait … “Can anyone see where the lights are …” )
(Lights come back on with the sound of a buzzer and the words “BUSTED!” on the big screen)
And I was really hoping that one was true …
We hear so many things from so many sources. However, despite what you hear, or what you believe for that matter remember …
Nothing works quite as good as the truth.
Remember, today we are talking about being buried alive … what in the world could I be referring to? This brings us to our:
Christian Myth For Today
Water Baptism Saves Us
Remember the three reasons I detailed earlier as to why we sensible, reasonable and intelligent people believe things which are just not true? It’s because:
1. We were told or taught the untruth by some credible source who even though they were sincere, they were sincerely wrong.
2. We were fooled by some incredible source into believing something they knew was a lie, but told it for truth anyway.
3. We think we heard or understood what was said and, even though what was said is true, what we heard or understood is not.
Such is the case with many of the things people hear or read in the Bible. They think they hear and understand what was said, and even though what was said is true, what they think and understand is not.
This is the major reason why Believers from varying denominations are divided over what the Bible says. Even amongst those who believe that the whole Bible is the inspired Word of God, inerrant and unchangeable, there are still divisions concerning interpretation.
Such is the case with some of the scriptures surrounding salvation and water baptism. Let’s look at a couple of those today remembering that:
1. No scripture is of any private interpretation.
2. We must interpret scripture with scripture.
3. The Bible tells but one story, one truth.
4. Each scripture must be interpreted in light of the one story.
Does water baptism save us?
One of the scriptures we will look at today is a very familiar scripture reference for those who watch major league sports on TV. We see banners and signs with this scripture reference displayed by fans at almost every televised sports event. The scripture verse I am referring to is: Acts 2:38
But do many of us know what that scripture says, or better yet, what it means? Those who hold the banners believe they do, and many of them believe that water baptism is a pre-requisite to salvation. Let’s read the scripture and see if we can understand it for ourselves.
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.
(Production Note: Leave this verse up on screen and I will come back to it)
Now remember:
· The Bible tells one story
· It is inerrant and unchangeable
· Scripture must interpret scripture
· Each verse is meant to be understood in support of the one story God is telling
· No scripture, rightly interpreted, tells its own story
Acts 2:38 has been a point of doctrinal division among denominations for generations. Some people believe one extreme that a person must be water baptized before they saved, other extremist use this verse to say people must be filled with the Holy Ghost and even speak in tongues in order to go to heaven, while yet others don’t even water baptize at all.
Remember last week we talked about “Dead Men Walking” - How that a person must die in order to be born again. Well, what do you do to a dead man? You bury him! More about that later … back to Acts 2:38 and its correct interpretation in light of the one story the Bible tells.
Acts 2:38 basically says “repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”.
Here is the sticky part – the word “for”. If this scripture were allowed to stand alone and tell its own story one could draw the conclusion that water baptism must occur before a person is saved or could receive the Holy Spirit. However, no scripture can be allowed to tell its own story.
If we believed this what would we do when we read a few chapters further and get to Acts 10:44-48 for example? Cornelius and his whole household believed, were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues before they had been water baptized. Peter could not therefore forbid them water in which to be baptized.
When Peter was brought before the Apostles in Jerusalem to answer for allowing Gentiles to be saved and baptized he simply replied:
Acts 11
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
You see the statement in Acts 2:38 which says, “for the remission of sins” throws many people. Are we baptized to have our sins forgiven or are we baptized because our sins have been forgiven? Which one is the truth?
Consider this statement: Jimmy went to jail for robbery. Now, did he go to jail to commit robbery or did he go to jail because he had committed robbery? “For to do”, or, “Because he did”? Theoretically either could be true … but, if you read Jimmy’s life story, his one story would help you to know which one was true in this case.
When we read the life story of Jesus, the one story God is telling, a story based on grace and works, we can easily see the story line developed and maintained throughout the Bible.
1. Righteous Noah was saved from suffering with the wicked through a water experience. The waters, which killed the wicked, lifted him high above the trouble in this world. (1 Peter 3:20&21) And, in that sense, he was saved by water.
2. Moses and the Children of Israel passed through the Red Sea which closed upon their enemies, drowning them. (bear in mind that the Egyptians were not saved by that water baptism experience) Nonetheless the Children of Israel were delivered from the troubles of this world in a sense through a type of water baptism. (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
3. Jesus, though He was the Son of God, in a sense, was baptized with power and anointing by the Holy Spirit, at the point of His water baptism in the Jordan by John. (Matthew 3:15-17) This was the point of public identification with God as God announced, “This is My Beloved Son”.
4. The Apostle Paul was converted to become a Believer while on the road to Damascus, after three days in the city he received new sight, arose and was baptized.
In each case water baptism came after the relationship was in place, not before. We are baptized not to be saved, but because we have been saved.
Does water baptism save us? No, not in the sense that:
· A person who is baptized, but does not believe, goes to heaven.
· A person who is baptized as a baby is guaranteed to go to heaven.
· A person who is converted by the grace of God through their faith, but is never water baptized, goes to hell.
However, water baptism does save us in the sense that:
· It publically identifies us with Christ
· It cleanses our conscious towards God
· It delivers us from the enemies of our past who want to lay claim to our lives and hold us captive in this world
Who do we bury? Dead people … however, we are buried with Christ in baptism after we believe, repent, and are born again! Go figure … we are but dead men walking because we have been buried alive!
Have you been water baptized since you believed? If not, why not? Sign up at the information desk in the foyer today and come Sunday morning, January 31st, prepared to be buried alive!
You can be set free from the enemies of your past, cleanse your conscious towards God, and ride high above the troubles of this world. In these things, water baptism doth save us!
