TEXT:  Mark 16:15-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE SCRIPTURES TEACH:

          1.       In baptism the penitent believer receives remission of sins( Acts 2:38 ).

          2.       And finds a new life in Christ( Rom. 6:3-4 ).

B.      BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL – STANDS BETWEEN DEATH IN SIN

          AND A NEW LIFE IN JESUS.

C.      BECAUSE OF WHAT BAPTISM STANDS FOR, WE OUGHT TO DO CERTAIN

          THINGS.  BAPTISM IS NOT ALL OR THE CONCLUSION.

D.      WE WANT TO NOTICE SOME THINGS BAPTISM LEADS TO.

I.      A NEW LIFE( Rom 6:3-4 ).

A.      HOW IS THIS LIFE NEW( vs. 5-8, 17-18 ).

B.      IINVOLVES A NEW CHARACTER( Eph. 4:22-24 ).

C.      A NEW ATTITUDE( Rom. 12:9 ).

D.      NEW DEEDS( 1 Pet. 2:9;  Eph. 5:7-8 ).

II.     UNITY WITH OTHER PENITENT BELIEVERS( 1 Cor. 12:13 ).

A.      MANY MEMBERS – ONE BODY( vs. 12;  Eph. 4:16 ).

B.      NO DIVISION( 1 Cor. 1:10-13 ).

III.    WORSHIP( Acts 2:41-42 ).

A.      JOY AND GRATITUDE RESULT FROM BAPTISM( Acts 8:35-39;  16:32-34 ).

B.      TOO MANY USE THE EXCUSE, “I DON’T GET ANYTHING OUT OF

          WEDNESDAY OR SUNDAY NIGHT”( Heb. 10:25 ).

C.      WE DON’T JUST COME TO GET SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES, BUT TO

          GIVE SOMETHING, TOO( Heb. 10:24;  13:15 ).

IV.   BIBLE STUDY.

A.      BEGOTTEN AGAIN( 1 Pet. 1:3 ), BY WHAT?( vs. 23 ).

B.      LEADS TO THE NEW BIRTH( John 3:3-5 ).

C.      A NEW LIFE AS BABES IN CHRIST( Rom. 6:4 ).

D.      BABIES MUST EAT AND GROW TO SURVIVE( 1 Pet. 2:1-2 ).

E.      CAN’T LIVE ON MILK ALONE( Heb. 5:12-14;  6:1-3 ).

V.    A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

A.      BAPTISM IS A BURIAL AND A RESURRECTION( Rom. 6:4-5 ).

B.      IF THEN YE ARE RAISED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST( Col. 3:1-4 ).

C.      OUR TREASURE IS NOT ON THE EARTH( Matt.6:19-21 ).

D.      Matt. 6:33.

CONCLUSION:

A.      HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED?( Mark 16:16;  Acts 2:38 ).

B.      HOW DID IT CHANGE YOU?  WHAT DID LEAD TO?