We Need Help

This was a 10-minute sermon given at the Men’s Spiritual Leadership Class at Sure Foundation Baptist Church on 4/4/23.

The title of the sermon is “WE NEED HELP.”

• Please turn to Romans Chapter 6. I’m going to start there in verse 3.
• I want to talk about being buried with Jesus Christ in baptism first.
• As we read this think about who is doing these things.

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

• When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are fully immersed in Him. He is the only way to heaven.
• We know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We fully believe in Him alone for salvation.
• There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.
• This is baptism “IN” Christ. He fully surrounds us and we are “IN” Christ. Our soul is sealed.
• We are baptized into Jesus Christ as verse 3 says and we are baptized INTO His death.

Notice that this is not our death. We are buried WITH HIM by baptism into death. Our flesh is to be crucified.

• We are buried. Die to self, bury the flesh, crucify the flesh, and be raised up to walk in newness of life.
• The baptism that saves us is of the Holy Ghost. There are those who baptize with water.
• But there is ONE that baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
• When we believe in Jesus Christ, we receive this baptism of the Holy Ghost.
• We receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and sealed unto the day of redemption.

Why then should we get baptized in water? We know this baptism in water doesn’t save us.

• This baptism in water is for us to show others that we understand. We’re saved, and we know why.
• We are to be baptized in water because this is a picture of HIS death, HIS burial, and HIS resurrection.
• But, this water baptism is showing that we want to die to self, bury the desires of this flesh, and arise to walk with Jesus Christ in newness of life. We SHOULD walk in newness of life. NOT MUST. But should.

We are born again when we are saved by believing in Jesus Christ.

• But this baptism in water is the part when we declare we will walk in the new man. Crucify the old man daily.
• We will arise out of the water, and we will walk forward with Jesus Christ. We won’t be perfect.
• But, hey, we’re going to give it our absolute best shot. And that’s the part I want to focus on. Doing our best.

I want to focus on the fact that we need help. We need Jesus Christ first to be saved.

• But think about it. Afterwards, we need God and we need each other. OR, NO SUCCESS AT ALL.
• We can’t be saved on our own, and we can’t walk in newness of life on our own. Impossible.
• How shall we hear without a preacher? How shall we baptized without a preacher?
• Let me explain here.

When you’re baptized in water, could you do it on your own? Is it possible?

• You could go down into the water and bring yourself back up. You could. You’ve done it when swimming.
• But guess what? It doesn’t count because God instructed us to do this His way.
• Could Jesus Christ have dunked Himself under water? Sure. But He was baptized by John the Baptist.
• He chose John the Baptist. He didn’t go down into that water on His own and come back up on His own.
• Notice how God gives this job and this responsibility to men.

Notice exactly what verse 4 says there in Romans Chapter 6 in the middle of that verse.

• “Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of THE FATHER.” He didn’t do it on His own either.
• Could He have done it on His own? Yes, He’s God. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. But He didn’t.
• Please turn to Colossians Chapter 2. As you turn there, let me ask you a question.

Who was responsible for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? GOD HIMSELF.

• His death, burial, and resurrection would have never happened without God.
• There are two parts to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. There is a physical and spiritual side.
• The body of Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead.
• The soul of Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead. He fully arose from the dead. Body and soul.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

• God raised Jesus from the dead. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are 3 that bear record in heaven.
• Jesus showed us that we need others with His baptism by John the Baptist.
• He shows us we need a preacher to be saved. A preacher gives us the Gospel.
• Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together. We need others, or we won’t be the best we can be.

You can’t get Scripturally baptized without someone else. You need someone else to do this.

• We all know that water baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
• But think a little deeper. How is it done? Another man baptizes you. You can’t do it on your own.
• Another man puts you under the water. Another man lifts you up out of the water.
• The church is there with you as you arise out of the water to walk in newness of life. You need that.
• And you will be attacked before, during, and after. Satan hates everyone, and he attacks everyone.

I get many people who contact me from all over the world looking for help. And yes, they need help.

• They get saved but they have no one around. They want to be baptized, but they have no one there.
• They get away from wicked family members, but they are out there on their own. We need to find them.
• They are seeking good churches. They need them. We need to get them to good churches.

Or, they really have no chance of walking in this newness of life. They have no chance of becoming a soul winner.

• Others will go to hell because those saved people didn’t walk in the newness and preach the Gospel.
• Jesus is showing us this picture with water baptism and the requirement for help from others.

The ordained man buries you in that water, crucifies that flesh, and lifts you out of that water.

• You go under that water and everything is dark or blurry. You arise out of that water and it is very clear.
• Why? Because you have people there with you who helped you and guided you to the truth.
• You need a preacher to hear the Gospel and get saved. You need a preacher to baptize you.
• You need a preacher and a church to walk in this newness of life.

A works based salvation in any way, shape, or form really pisses me off beyond belief. Understand that.

• We can’t do it on our own. God gives us so many examples of that within the Bible.
• Water baptism is yet another example. We can’t walk in newness of life on our own. We must find the people.
• We need the Bible. We need the Holy Spirit. We need Jesus Christ. We need a local church.
• We need teaching. We need each other. WE CANNOT DO THIS ON OUR OWN. We need help.

Let’s pray.