Adult Sunday School - Going Public Part 4 (Chapter 4)

All right let's go to the Lord in prayer.

Father again it is a privilege to be gathered this morning on the Lord's day to study

thy word that we may be worksmen approved by God.

We pray Lord that you would guide us give us confidence in these things that we're about to

venture into.

We pray Lord for the clarity of your word the clarity of your spirit to lead our discussion.

We also thank you Lord for this church and those who've made the effort to be here this morning.

We pray father that the time that we spend together would be for the glory of your name and the

edification of your saints in Jesus name amen.

So we're in chapter 4 that's about I think page 50 this morning

or 55 page 55 chapter 4 and this is a pretty

long read about like I think 15 20 pages.

Lots of stuff to go over lots of meaty content here for us to

consider and I think that the the chapter brings some good

questions that I think we have to bear bear in mind and wrestle with and grapple with

and among the questions that chapter 55 opens up with is how does

baptism relate to the church?

Is baptism purely a matter of individual obedience or is it intrinsically linked to a person's entrance

into the church?

Does baptism have an ecclesial shape?

What is meant by the word ecclesial church?

So the word in Greek for church is ecclesiastical and we get the word church from their

congregation assembly and you know it just simply means the congregation so anything we talk about

ecclesial ecclesiastical we're talking about things relating to the church the local church

in particular in this context.

I want us to go to a chapter that is in the bible that is going to be referenced quite a bit this morning

it's going to be Matthew chapter 28 let's go there for a moment.

You'll excuse me I'm kind of stuffed up this morning

and we're going to examine the what's often referred to as the great commission in Matthew chapter 28.

This is a text that you know many of us are familiar with in fact many of us have committed to memory if you

haven't done so I think you should this is a fantastic scripture and Jesus

after his resurrection and before his ascension to heaven he gives these parting

words in Matthew's account of the gospel

and he says in verse 18 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me

go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them

in the name of the father and of the son of the holy spirit teaching them to observe all that i have

commanded you and behold i'm with you always to the end of the age.

Now this is often called again the great commission but

unfortunately many take this to be the great suggestion.

What's the difference between a suggestion and a commission.

You know I love that you said that especially coming from you because you're a military man.

Right.

If you're given a commission by your superior officers is it a suggestion or is it a command.

It's a command.

What are the consequences for not following through with a direct command from a superior.

What's the brick.

So the military's version of a prison.

Right.

It's like the gulag of the russians.

Uh not exactly.

But you know for people who play call of duty they know what i'm talking about.

The consequences for disobeying a direct

command from a superior officer is great.

Jesus establishes the grandeur of this commission by first

prefacing it in verse 18 by saying that he has all what all authority.

That's some authority but all authority on earth.

No heaven and earth comprehensive.

There's no place in all of creation that you can go to where his

authority isn't supreme.

Okay.

So that means jesus's authority here is absolute and it's comprehensive and so

therefore is what he goes on to say.

So as a result of me having all authority here is your marching orders.

To whom.

To whom does this commission apply to.

That's right.

So in the immediate context is the it's the it's the apostles.

It's the disciples.

And is it only to the disciples.

Is it only to the well in this case is it only to the apostles.

How do we know that go for it pastor.

That's

right.

Go for it.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right.

And it's you know um this word is not commonly used in this context anymore.

But the word commission uh some of the things that may come to mind is a commissioned uh

paid position.

Right.

So if you are a commissioned employee which typically means you uh only

make money if you make a certain sale right.

There's a commission that is associated which means if there's no sale there's no money.

Right.

And it shows the severity of not getting the sale through.

Likewise in the economy of god's kingdom the currency isn't money as you

have 55 comes to mind where it's the promise of the free gospel that's going to go forward into all the nations.

Uh but the currency is in fact souls and it's in fact uh making converts

and disciples.

So ours is an evangelistic faith.

This is where we get the term today in evangelicalism ours is it is an evangelical faith.

We demonstrate that by the fact that we go out and knock on doors we demonstrate it by our evangelistic efforts here when we

preach before the um the food ministry.

We also demonstrate it every sunday on the lord's day when the gospel goes forward uh here from this pulpit.

And so we are in the evangelistic faith and part of our commission is to declare

to preach teach obedience unto the nations.

But in particular here the focus of this uh morning will be on the issue of

baptizing them.

Now we are commanded to baptize.

What then is the connotation.

The connotation is that baptism is not optional.

Right.

So you hear that and in particular in particularly to this context of what we we've read this past

week in chapter four what does baptism signify.

Is it an oath.

Is it a covenant.

How do these things relate.

And that's what we're going to endeavor to answer today.

So again keep your you know your bibles open to that text of matthew because we're going to reference it quite a few times

today but again some of the questions that will be answered hopefully this morning will be

how does baptism relate to the church.

So is baptism we understand we've set the the the tone

baptism is not optional.

But what kind of obedience is it.

Is an issue of obedience jesus teaching them to observe all that i commanded you.

But is it simply about personal obedience.

Or is there an ecclesiastical uh connection between baptism

and um you know and our in our obedience and following the lord in that manner.

So does.

Is it just for me to so the way it's framed in many evangelical circles today who especially those who

hold to a what's called an open church model.

How.

What is an open church model as a as or open membership versus closed membership.

Anyone remember.

Yeah so open membership would be kind of uh more open you know if you if you attend long enough and they give you

a cubby hole and your name on it and you're a member.

I remember when i was uh attending um my first church after getting saved it was an

evangelical free church.

It's a great church and with really solid bible teachers and pastors.

Um but i remember i told the youth pastor it's like well i i want to become a member.

He's like uh he's kind of a cheeky guy big burly

guy like you know huge just a mountain of a man and uh he went yeah he went

you're in and i was like okay cool all right he

because to them membership was this really easy breezy it's like well you remember great you're a member and uh and

and kind of lackadaisical kind of just very informal i there was a formal

church process.

I eventually did take and became a formal member uh but that kind of set the tone for my

personal walk with jesus for a long time to come for better or for worse in that uh it was just something

it was so easy.

And that's one of the things about modern evangelicalism is that is that we've lowered the bar everything is just so

open so free you know where your foot flops to church you know it's just a very free

open thing and it's not very um

it doesn't take into account the seriousness of the oath and the covenants that we're making

as we profess jesus as lord and so um

church membership and baptism are intrinsically linked and that's going to be the

um the focus of today's lesson in relation to the idea of covenants

and so um for instance uh there are two sides of this again there's an open

membership there's a closed membership and so we're going to engage with a little bit of of those two views

uh this morning.

But one of the things that ultimately comes up is the idea of covenants and this is going to be an interesting

discussion because we have to first define a couple of things.

What is a covenant.

Okay.

What is a covenant.

Yes they'll.

Yes that is true.

Anyone else want to try to throw a definition out there.

Not that that was wrong.

Is it correct.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah.

So the so there that's an important distinction.

Right.

So um if you enter into an agreement um so if you've ever signed a

contract whether with an employer whether it's for a house you know for instance if you buy a house you all you

often have to put what's called earnest money down.

What that earnest money does is it kind of keeps kind of like a deposit.

It says hey i'm i'm i'm genuine about my intentions about buying this house if i

don't buy it this earnest money is yours essentially.

And so it could be five hundred dollars it could be fifteen thousand dollars.

But it's to demonstrate hey this i'm earnest about my desire to be here.

And if and if i break this agreement here's the consequences.

Right.

And so there's often consequences associated with breaking an arrangement.

Breaking a covenant you know the word covenant basically just means arrangement.

It's an arrangement.

Um and one of the definitions given here by uh gordon hungenberger he defines covenants

as an elected as opposed to natural relationship of obligation

under oath.

That's an important distinction.

He used the term elected as opposed to natural.

What would be a distinction between elected and natural obligation or relationship.

You have natural children.

Are those elected.

Or is that natural natural if you adopt

is that natural or elected obligation.

Elected.

You see the difference.

And so in that one there is a choosing marriage is an example

of an elected uh covenant an elected obligation.

You chose to marry your spouse.

You chose to enter into an arrangement a covenant with them.

And it is a relationship of obligation under oath.

What is an oath.

Pastor.

Generally yes.

Yeah.

Generally yeah.

Yeah that's just general generally true.

Yes.

Oh what's the definition of an oath.

A promise and a commitment.

And it's usually again uh associate with a penalty.

Should the oath be broken.

Uh so for instance if you go before a judge and you have to swear an oath and

uh and the threat is perjury.

Right.

If you if you break if you say something that's not true if you break you know the the oath and there's a

consequence associated with it.

And so an oath again is is part without the oath you don't have a

covenant.

Okay.

Without the oath.

About the promise there is no there is no covenant.

So for instance uh me and pastor connelly were having this conversation a couple weeks ago we were driving down to la.

We had a lot of free time in our hands as we're talking about uh you know uh marriage for instance

what makes marriage biblically valid.

So is it the government stamp of approval.

When they say okay here's the stamp here's your marriage certificate.

Now you're married because that's not in the bible that's not a biblical concept per se.

And it's probably not government's proper role to interfere into that covenant other than to be a referee

in case things uh there's a breaking of the covenant.

You know government's role really is is to uphold private agreements and contracts and not

much more than that.

But what makes a marriage a marriage is the oath.

And it's the oath before witnesses.

Right.

So that if you if you get married on a private beach and there's no judge there's no witnesses and

it's just you kind of making a verbal commitment to somebody that may not constitute as a genuine

marriage because it needs to have an oath associate with a witness

seeing and testifying to the truthfulness the ability of that commitment that was made before witnesses.

And so an oath is that promise to keep with again a a

series of consequences should it be broken.

So we understand what covenants means.

Covenants are either arrangements they are elected arrangements or relationships of

obligation under oath.

So covenants can be made between people.

But our concern in this particular topic is with covenants between made between god and man.

What was the first covenant of scripture.

What's the first covenant.

What's that.

Close close.

Adam and eve creation god made.

See we're just waiting for you to get here man.

We're just.

And so scripture affirms that there's a the adamic covenant god

creation.

God creates man in his image.

There's a covenant relationship there god elected adam to be the representative of humanity.

There's also what's called what's the second covenant.

Someone had it earlier.

No eight covenant.

There you go.

So you got noah's covenant.

Let's uh are you guys familiar with the no 8 covenant.

Yes

that's right.

Let's go to um uh let's go to

genesis chapter 9.

So here is what's commonly referred to as the no 8 covenant

in genesis chapter 9.

Verse 2.

Well we're starting verse 1.

And god blessed no one his sons and said to them be fruitful multiply and fill the earth.

The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens upon everything that creeps

on the ground and all the fish of the sea into your hand they are delivered.

This is showing now man's dominion over creation.

This is part of the dominion that god had established from adam and eve.

But the fall uh broke that relationship between us and creation.

But god is establishing that again here in a way covenant uh.

And it gives us the consequences of of uh of reckoning.

Verse 5 it says.

And for your life blood i will require reckoning from every for from every beast.

Or require it for man and his fellow men.

I require reckoning for the life of man.

Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed for god made man in his own image.

And you be fruitful and multiply increasing greatly on the earth and multiply in it.

And then god said no one his sons behold i establish my covenant with you.

Okay.

And your offspring after you.

So this is who are the offsprings of noah.

Everybody.

So this is a covenant between god and humanity.

Because again god destroyed humanity under the flood.

And now there's a new humanity in adam in noah.

And uh i mean god is not making a covenant with all his offsprings which should include us.

So everyone is honored in a way covenant.

Okay.

And every creature.

Verse 10.

And every living creature that is with you the birds the livestock and every beast of the earth with you as many as came out of the ark.

It is for every beast of the earth i established my covenant with you that never again shall i shall

all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood.

And never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.

And god said this is a sign of the covenants.

There's a sign associated notice what it is that i make between you and every living creature that is with you

for all future generations.

I have set my bow rainbow in the cloud.

And it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

When i bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds i will remember my covenant that is

between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.

And the water shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh when the bowels in the

heavens.

When the bowels in the clouds i will see it and remember his.

Remember the everlasting covenant between god and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

And god said to noah this is the sign of the covenant that i have established between me and all flesh that is

on the earth.

So this is in the noate covenant.

It includes everyone.

It includes the creatures of the world as well.

So this is a comprehensive covenant.

What was the sign of the covenant.

Think about that for a moment.

What's the rainbow associated with today.

Lgbt.

So sexual perversion that's right.

And and sexual sin the sign of god's patience the symbol

of god's enduring love for humanity.

And notice what satan does with it takes that symbol of god's patience because god is patient we

see that god's not going to destroy the earth again with a flood.

But it said as second peter talks about it will destroy the earth with fire.

But in that same text in second peter chapter three it says that god is patient

not wanting that any should perish.

And god's symbol of his patience is the rainbow.

And the rainbow is now used as a perverse symbol of sexual perversion.

Isn't that interesting.

How satan does that almost mocking god to his face thinking here's a symbol of your patience.

And and we're just gonna we're just gonna parade around with it.

Uh this is that that that is a defiance of god's covenant.

That is a you know spitting on god's promising covenant that is established in the no

8 covenant.

And so man's perversion will be accounted for and god's patience

will come to an end for the ungodly at the coming of the lord jesus christ.

And so but what a dangerous thing it would be to use that symbol in such a degrading term.

My kids i've taught them to any time because they see the rainbow and my girls

especially love rainbows.

And so you know they get excited when they see rainbows.

And so i have to explain to them what the rainbow actually means and what the world uses it as.

And and they get a righteous anger when they when they realize that because they said no this is god's

symbol.

And so that's the right mentality that we all should

have.

Mario.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Doesn't say that.

Yeah.

How many days are there in a week seven.

How long has it been that way since creation.

But it isn't until the mosaic covenant which is the next covenant or actually the abrahamic covenants next and then the

mosaic covenant.

But isn't until the mosaic covenant in which the seventh day is set apart

for the public worship of god's people.

Right.

And so it isn't to say that there wasn't a seventh day before the usage or the establishment

of the sabbath as the sign or oath of god's covenant people.

So the the so uh the seventh day of rest precedes the mosaic

covenant.

So it wasn't.

It wasn't as if it was made by moses.

There was always a seven -day week because it goes back to creation.

God created the heavens of the earth in how many days.

Six.

And the seventh day he was rested.

And so this is a creation ordinance.

And so i would say rainbows likely existed before the flood.

But the sign is now associated with this promise.

Right.

So just as the seventh day existed before the mosaic covenant as particularly as a sign of

the mosaic covenant.

So then a rainbow could have existed before the noahic covenant and its association

with god's promise.

Does that make sense.

Okay.

Pastor.

That's right.

And that's right.

That's right.

It doesn't.

That's right.

Yeah.

That's right.

Amen.

That's right.

Great point.

Great point.

Anyone else have any thoughts or questions.

All right.

Well we're we're on page 57.

All right.

So um you have the adamic covenant.

You have the noahic covenant.

And then after that comes the abrahamic covenant.

So abraham being the father of the nation being the father of of the

hebrews of the israelites and god made a particular promise to him that

by his seed all the nations will be what blessed.

What was the sign associated with abraham's covenant.

Circumcision.

Yeah.

Pastor.

Both.

That's right.

That's right.

And then paul in galatians 3 teaches us that the seed is who

the seed by which nations will be blessed would be who jesus.

So the promised seed is jesus jesus.

The fruition of the abrahamic covenant and the promises all the

all the covenants have their fulfillment in jesus.

It all points us to christ.

So you have again you start with the uh no uh adamic noahic abrahamic

all have signs associated with them.

Okay.

And then you have uh.

And what's the sign associated with with adam's covenant.

We've skipped.

That

tree is certainly a symbol of it.

But there.

But there's another uh it's it's procreation.

You're made in god's image.

You're made in god's image.

And therefore as a result of that the command was be fruitful and multiply.

That is reiterated in the no 8 covenant when he says be fruitful and multiply

it's reiterated also in the abrahamic covenant.

Because what is what was what was the what was the issue in abraham's life as god made his prop this

covenant with him couldn't bear children.

His wife was too old.

You know they were.

They're bearing an old age.

What was the key.

Be fruitful multiply.

And i will make you a nation as numerous as the stars.

Okay.

It was again multiplication.

Keep this in mind.

Okay.

It's fruitful multiply.

Okay.

All these covenants have the same thing in common.

Then you have uh the nation of israel as the next covenant that god makes with the with the

israelites in the wilderness.

Okay.

And and in that covenant you have a particular sign associated with that covenant.

And it is the sabbath.

The sabbath is the symbol the oath of the

is uh these the uh the israelite covenant.

Okay.

Um and also associate with the covenant of israel is again this idea of being

fruitful multiplying particularly in the land that god was going to plant them in.

Okay so that they would become numerous and that they would be able to overtake overwhelm the pagan

nations surrounding them.

Okay.

So again multiplication still a big part of this covenant

theme that is kind of the underlining uh structure of the

plot line of scripture.

Okay the i saw some someone asked recently what.

Like i hate questions like this.

But uh if you can sum up the bible like the story of the bible like a sentence what would it be.

Or in a word.

And there really isn't a perfect answer that i can precisely say uh but

but among the contending things that i would i would say is it's covenants.

It's it's god's relationship with man through jesus christ.

And how that story is unfolding throughout uh the narratives of history and scripture.

And so really what's underpinning the structure of scripture.

Is this idea of covenants arrangements that god is making with humanity particularly in creation.

He makes them in his image.

And then the subsequent covenants that he makes uh with with humanity

after the uh the covenant that god made the nation of israel.

The next covenant is the davidic covenant.

And what promise did god give or make with uh with david.

What promise.

You see that in second samuel chapter seven say again

yeah.

In particularly it says that david will rule forever.

How will david rule forever.

By means of his of his seed.

By meaning of his offspring.

Okay.

And just like with abraham's promise of a seed and offspring the new testament makes it clear that that

offspring that seed is jesus.

So jesus is the fulfillment of the abrahamic covenant.

And the davidic covenant.

Jesus is the king.

Now what's the sign or symbol of that covenant.

Yeah.

What's the sign of that one.

No that's that starts with abraham.

That's abraham's the sign of the

davidic covenant is the throne.

That's it's the throne.

The throne is the sign of the davidic covenant.

Because it says that there will be someone sitting on david's throne.

Okay.

The psalms is filled with that language.

The prophecies in is in jeremiah and isaiah also use the language of david's throne.

In fact i think it's in second chronicles that it refers to david's throne as jehovah's throne.

Right.

And there's a scripture in ezekiel that says that uh that the the

rulership of of the one who.

So it says in ezekiel i have to give you the i think it's chapter 23.

I have to give you the exact reference uh later on uh but it says that um

that david's throne essentially would be empty until he who has a legal right

comes.

And the one who has a legal right is jesus.

Jesus is the one who fulfills the uh the rule and fulfills the oath and the

and the symbol of god's of god's promise to david.

Because he is right now ruling on david's throne.

Because what's where's david.

Remember second chronicle says that david's throne is jehovah's where's jesus seated right now

at the right hand of majesty on the in the throne room of god.

Jesus is sitting at jehovah's throne and he is ruling and reigning right now.

Today he is fulfilling the davidic covenant today.

Isn't that great news that jesus reigns today king of kings the lord of lords.

This is good news.

Yeah.

He is tied to uh to um to david.

I preach on this in my earlier chapters of luke.

When we looked at the two genealogies that are presented in scripture one would be uh

one is associated with with joseph's legal lineage which traces back to david.

And also mary's lineage also traces back to to to david.

So he has a legal right by bloodline and by legal right as through adoption and so so.

So jesus is the one who has the legal right through bloodline and through birthright as an adopted child of

joseph.

So any other thoughts or questions.

A great question.

So now we're starting to see kind of the steam emerge.

Part of the davidic covenant as well also has the connotation of

multiplying david.

David's son was who.

He has many sons.

But in particular who do we think of solomon.

Solomon's reign superseded david's reign in glory and

majesty.

Okay.

Solomon's reign was more glorious than david's for two reasons.

One he was the one who established the temple worship.

He's the one who was able to establish the worship of the true god.

Uh through the temple.

And also because he had amassed such wealth such

power such prestige.

But the nation of israel grew under his dominion under his rulership.

It is after solomon.

Who is who comes after solomon.

Anyone know rail bone and real bomb is under

real bone.

And and and then jerboam.

And where you have the split between israel and judah.

And at that time you know uh the the it would seem as if

the davidic covenant was broken because you had a split in the kingdom.

You had two different rulers.

You have two different uh kingdoms now.

Uh but jesus comes and he and he fulfills that as being the one who has a legal right.

And he now reigns over the nations today in fulfillment of the promise made to david.

But the idea with all these covenants underlining these things is multiplication.

Okay.

Be fruitful and multiply.

Be fruitful and multiply.

God's seed will take over the world.

That's kind of the underpinning tone of these covenant arrangements is is god's

influence god's people growing upon the face of the earth.

Because what is the inheritance of jesus.

But the inheritance of nations.

What is the inheritance of god's people.

The nations.

We shall inherit the world bible says.

And so again these are all things underpinning this this concept of of covenants.

Any questions so far on covenants.

Is that it is that where it ends with david's covenant.

Or was there a promise for new and even better covenant for the future.

Yes there is jeremiah.

In page 60 quotes from jeremiah 31 verse 31 and 34 we'll read that

behold the days are coming declares the lord when i will make a new covenant with the house of israel and the

house of judah.

Remember these were two nations at this time in jeremiah's ministry.

Not like the covenant that i made with their fathers in a day when i took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of egypt.

My covenant that they broke though i was their husband declares the lord.

For this is the covenant that i will make of the house of israel after those days declares the lord i will put my law within them and

i will write it on their hearts.

And i will be their god.

And they shall be my people.

And no longer show each.

Uh so each one teaches neighbor.

And each one's his brother saying know the lord.

For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest declares the lord.

For i will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin.

No more.

So there is a promise of a new covenant.

The book of hebrews in chapter 8 of hebrews calls it a new and better covenant.

He says that the old covenant is obsolete and fading away.

What will be the sign of this new covenant.

It's certainly part of it.

But there's there's this this sign is unique.

Or this new covenant is unique.

And that it actually sort of has two signs associated with it.

And how do we know this.

But from the new testament new testament says.

What about the sign of this new covenant.

Baptism.

Because what is what institutes the new covenant.

Jesus says at the lord's supper which is a sign of the covenant of the new covenant.

He says that this this that the bread and the wine signify what his

body and blood which is pointing to what exactly the cross.

Exactly just point to the cross.

So his death.

What is the initiating sign or oath in which we associate with christ in his death.

Romans 6 says it's baptism.

Okay.

So we are immersed into the death and life of jesus at baptism.

We talked about this last week.

Remember the imagery that is associated baptism.

Again.

The preacher holds you.

He dunks you into water.

That is signifying death.

Water in scripture often represents two things.

And two things are sometimes you would assume that dimensionally opposed to each other it represents

life and represents death.

Okay.

The sea in scripture represents the abyss the place of darkness the place where you know a leviathan dwells.

It's a place of where wickedness springs forth from from chaos.

Right.

So ancient people looked at the sea and they said this is no good.

This is dangerous.

Out there people go out there they never come back.

It's chaotic.

Out there there's storms that sweep in and destroy ships and destroy people.

Um you know there's great sea monsters and sea creatures.

Uh you know the sea was unpredictable it was a place of chaos.

But it was also associated with life.

Why.

Because civilizations sprang out of places where there was water.

And particularly you know you think of the euphrates.

Uh river basin where some of the earliest civilizations sprang forth out of.

You think of the nile river in egypt where civilizations sprang forth of anytime there's a river anytime

there is uh water.

You'll have civilizations that will come out as a result of that.

So life and multiplication.

Out of chaos out of darkness.

Water represents both things.

You go into the grave and then you come out with new life.

Okay.

Beautiful imagery.

And these are the initiating oaths of the new covenant.

Okay.

So baptism and the lord's table is a continuation.

It is a reaffirming of that oath that we partake in.

And so what needs to proceed the this we have two signs.

Which one needs to come first.

Okay baptism lord's supper.

Which one comes first.

The initiating or the affirming initiating which is baptism and then it is

affirmed in the lord's supper.

Does that make sense.

Okay.

That's a tough question to answer.

I'm not sure that the chapter addresses that.

Well enough for me to make a concrete answer.

Um what seems to be a play here.

So we have to understand that salvation.

There's an order of salvation.

We understand there is a um so let's let's let's put it in in

biblical reform terms.

There's regeneration.

Okay.

Uh justification sanctification glorification.

Are these four completely different things.

Or are these four things accomplishing one true beautiful big thing.

I think the latter.

Right.

Um because ultimately what is what are those four things working together congruently to accomplish

but our salvation and redemption in jesus christ.

Right.

And so if you want to look at the covenants at the covenant uh of the new covenant in particular

and the things associated with it whether it be regeneration whether it be baptism whether it be lord's supper i

look at this really as i look at it from the big picture of what it is accomplishing and what it is doing in

relation to our walk of the lord and so i would say this is really

there's components to it but it's really one big picture.

It's really one big thing.

And it's the obedience unto the lord for the multiplication of god's people.

Okay.

Um again underlining this theme of covenants is still

multiplication be fruitful multiply.

And we're going to see how that connects with what jesus says about the new covenant what jesus is about baptism.

And what jesus says about this.

Uh this new arrangement.

You got something to cook in

pastor.

Right.

Right.

Yeah.

And maybe what.

Yeah.

And i think maybe what you're might be thinking of rightly is ephesians 1 13 where it says the holy spirit is the seal of our redemption.

Right.

And so seal kind of is like a you know kind of work.

Uh yeah kind of using that language of what we're talking about today of in that imagery.

And so i could see how one could associate it with it but again i would i would lump this all with our redemption and salvation.

Right.

So this is all things that are ultimately working for that purpose.

Um and uh similarly we have a we have a trium god father son spirit.

We're not talking about three gods.

We're not talking about you know.

Um you know three you know uh agents in this in

that sense we're talking we're talking about one eternal god who has revealed himself in three distinct persons.

And so it is appropriate to speak of the triune god in his unity not just in the complexity of his

um of his being in terms of being three and one.

And so i think you know it could be appropriate to look at these covenants and salvation.

Uh holistically.

Uh than just try to always slice it in pieces.

Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

Exactly.

And so um let's go to page 61 in that middle paragraph there

kind of what we've been talking about those signs associate with those particular covenants.

Um so the question is is baptism also a sign of the new covenant.

So he says i'd argue it is for four reasons.

And we're going to examine what those four reasons are.

First remember that jesus inaugurates the new covenant and baptism pictures of believers union with

christ in his death burial and resurrection.

We just went over this.

If jesus death inaugurates new covenant it is fitting to infer that a sign of his death is a sign of that

covenant.

Second consider that all of the spiritual realities baptism symbolizes are bound up with the new

covenant namely forgiveness cleansing resurrection and the gift of the spirit.

You know jesus associates baptism with this with the gift of the holy spirit.

In john chapter 3 when he talks about being born again being born of water and spirit these are signs

that are closely associated with each other.

So he says the new covenant is what baptism means.

Third note that baptism was instituted immediately after the death and resurrection of christ.

It wasn't a standing religious right that just happened to make it into the new covenant era.

Instead it began with the new covenant when the new covenant began.

Fourth while baptism doesn't exactly replace circumcision the two rights both

identify god's covenant people and mark them off from the world.

Just as circumcision was a one -time act which conferred a lasting covenantal

identity.

So also baptism is a one -time act which marks a person as belonging to the new covenant.

And so i think this is pretty convincing as to why baptism

is a sign of the new covenant.

And it's the initiating sign of the new covenant.

Any thoughts or questions or push back on that.

Yeah

that's right.

Yeah you know the spirit is an inward sign that you have that you're a new covenant

member.

But baptism is the outward sign because it demonstrates it tells it declares to the church

and into the world that i've received the spirit i've been regenerated and being

sanctified and justified.

And therefore i can now you know be considered a part of the new covenant community of faith.

Right.

And so obviously faith precedes uh you know you know baptism.

And so regeneration precedes baptism.

We don't believe in what's called baptismal regeneration.

I think we talked about this a little bit last week.

I don't remember what baptismal regeneration is.

Yeah so it's basically it's once you're baptized that's when

you're saved where we believe that regeneration precedes baptism.

And so there's the baptism of the spirit that precedes baptism of water and so that that would be

the initial conversion from you know from of the believer by the

spirit.

So pastor

that's right.

That's right.

Emmanuel.

Okay you know.

And so in the page 63 and again we're we're not going to get through all the material so i'm just trying to put a

nice no pun intended bow over all of this in order to

kind of concisely express what the intent of this chapter is in relation to the initiating oath

sign new covenant.

And in page 63 in the fact that um you know second to last paragraph there in the bottom the

initiating oath sign of the new covenant it says this.

And i think this is important.

With these foundations in place we can put our previous point more precisely baptism is initiating

oath sign of the new covenant.

That is baptism is a solemn symbolic vow which ratifies a person's entrance into the new

covenant.

So what we're saying is that okay a person receives uh jesus christ saving faith

regeneration.

Now as a result of that they're inwardly christian.

They're inwardly born again.

Okay but in order to ratify so it's like in the i was liking it

to this thing it's like a in the point in the in the marriage or in the wedding ceremony you know i love weddings.

I always cry at weddings.

Okay so you want to see a pastor cry.

I always cry at weddings.

Uh and one of the things that uh that i love is that point in the certain in the

service where uh they say i do right.

And at that moment it's like oh it's it's beautiful like they they've said the words they're

married.

But there's a sign that's missing.

And what's the sign that's missing.

The ring and the kiss.

You see and so the ring symbolizing the dedication symbolizing

the union coming together.

And then it's sealed with the kiss.

Isn't it.

And in that kiss is a symbol of two becoming one is it's beautiful isn't it.

We'll have to google that later.

Yeah immanuel

say again there's always that one guy.

So the wedding ring serves as a sign.

The scripture doesn't give us any instruction on what a sign can look like.

And so it's not it's not a foregone conclusion that it needs to be a uh

but yes the the ancient greeks believed that there was a vein that would go

from the wedding ring all the way to the heart.

And this is why that this particular finger was chosen as the sign for that particular covenant.

Um and so this it does come from from greek uh you know mythology and paganism.

Uh but uh but so there's a lot of things and i don't think that that necessarily disqualifies us from from from

having to um use a similar tradition.

Uh i think the importance is is the is the outward sign because again when you're married and you

got a ring on it demonstrates an outward sign to the world that i'm i'm in covenant.

I'm taken.

Right.

Similarly baptism is that outward sign which declares to the world which declares to the spiritual

powers and principalities which is oftentimes overlooked because collagen's tube in roman six

talks about baptism being assigned also to the powers and principalities because we're joining

jesus in his death burn resurrection.

There's no mark on your forehead that says i've been baptized.

Right.

No one like unless you know some churches and i've done this they'll give you a certificate that says you're baptized in this

day.

But you don't go around you know with that certificate everywhere you go.

Right.

But it's a spiritual mark.

Okay.

It's a spiritual mark you've been marked and also it is demonstrated in your

uh membership in the local church i'm a member of such and such church and this is an affirmation

that you've been uh born again affirmation that you've been baptized publicly

upon profession of faith.

Okay.

And so i think i think we we have a pretty solid case here

for the thesis that baptism is initiating

sign of the new covenant.

Okay i think it's clear.

And there's so much more things that we can say on this.

There's so much more evidence here.

And and if you're doubting any of this i really encourage you to you know come chat with me or any of the pastors

because i think that the implications here are just very strong.

So let me close with this back in matthew chapter 28.

Let's again look at that text and look at how this theme of

covenants comes to fruition in the great commission.

Okay so again underlining every covenant is this idea of being

fruitful and multiplying.

Okay.

Essentially it's dominion that is the underlining theme of the covenants

god's dominion over creation.

With this we see that with the no with the adamic covenant when god made adam and eve in his image and he

says go have dominion go be fruitful multiply rule over the earth.

Same thing with with noah be fruitful and multiply.

Same thing with abraham be fruitful multiply.

I'm going to i'm going to give you c that will that will uh that will fill the earth.

They'll be as numerous as the stars.

See it again with israel that though they were as as um uh i forget what the

term is in exodus that's used uh but he uses the same terminology.

Though you are few you will become many.

Essentially you'll be like this like the sands of the sea was a promise that god made

expansion dominion growing again with the davidic uh

the davidic covenant that god's rule through david would fill the earth that

not only would he be a geographical king over a certain particular area but that his ring will be over the

nations.

That is fulfilled in jesus christ and the new covenant.

This is how it's fulfilled jesus having all authority in heaven on earth.

He says go therefore and make disciples of all nations multiply

multiplication baptizing them.

That's the initiating sign of the new covenant in the name of the father and of the son of the holy spirit teaching them

to observe all that i commanded you and behold i'm with you always to the end of the age.

You see how that is fulfilled in this covenant theme of dominion of

growth of multiplication comes to fruition here in the great commission.

Ours is a call a decree a command a calling a commission to go

and make disciples of all nations and to baptize them.

Which is why we are baptist.

Okay.

Not just a play on words here.

This is our commission this is our job is to make disciples and baptize them not

baptize babies baptize those who will walk onto the obedience of the lord jesus christ.

And this is again the initiating sign of the new covenant.

Therefore god's covenant with man will be sure it shall fill the world until he returns.

And what a glorious day that would be.

Any last thoughts or questions on this subject

that put a nice bow over it.

All right.

Amen.

All right.

Well let's pray.

Father thank you for your word which is so consistent

which is a true reflection and a revelation of your heart and your mind.

And lord we thank you that it is clear.

And father we thank you for the clarity of your word.

We thank you lord for this material that you've given us through the study of this book.

And of course chiefly and principally in your word father we pray that we would continue

to walk unto the obedience and teaching the nations the obedience of christ until the

whole world is filled with the knowledge of the lord as the waters cover the very sea.

We say lord may you have your way in our hearts and our lives and do with us as you may

for your glory and your kingdom sake in jesus name amen.