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Baptism

The Priority of Identification

 — Cliff Herring

Message Notes

Baptism: The Priority of Identification
Mark 1:9-11, 14-15, Acts 18:5-8

The Model of Identification 

Mark 1:9-11, 14-15 
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John  in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The Command of Identification

Matthew 28:19-20 
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

Ephesians 2:8-9 
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ezekiel 36:26 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

The Priority of Identification

Acts 18:5-8
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

The Function of Identification

2 Corinthians 5:14b 
14  …Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 

2 Corinthians 5:15a 
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves.  

2 Corinthians 5:15b 
Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Acts 8:35-36,38 
35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”  38  …Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.