Come Sojourn with Us
This is where you will find sermons and updates for our church. Our mission is to preach expository sermons focusing on the gospel of Christ. We are a church that is tied to the reformed tradition and seeks to submit to the scriptures so we walk in the Lord’s wisdom rather than our own.
We would love to have you join us on our Christian sojourn if you are in the Belgrade, MT area. If you are not in area then join us by listening to our bi weekly free sermon podcast.
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Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of the washing that will go forth. This washing is not just for the adults in the community, but their offspring. The wilderness normally is associated with death, but our Lord will overturn it with life.
#waterbaptism #Infantbaptism #baptism
Zechariah promises that there will be a fountain that is opened. This fountain will open on the day of the Lord where the Lord will establish the true cleansing. The Lord will care for us, and the Lord will redeem. This fountain is the symbolism of the true definitive washing. Baptism is the sign of the time that is shown in covenant history.
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are baptized into Christ. This seems to imply that at the moment of baptism we are brought directly into communion with Christ. If this is the case then how can we baptize infants? We need to read this exhortation in the context of the church. We should note that that covenant and election are not the same thing. Further, the Apostle Paul is simply exhorting us in light of this sign of consecration. Paul’s exhortation is similar to the the prophets exhorting Israel to circumcise their hearts. The Apostle Paul is simply exhorting us to see that we are a people set apart in Christ. Christ has undergone the definitive ordeal of death and he emerged triumphant from the sea. This sign is showing us that we are identified as a community of people in Christ Jesus.
Peter tells us, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." This is a pretty strong statement as it sounds like this baptism actually gives us the blessings of Christ. However, Peter says after this, "not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." We are those who make a pledge to God and then we are baptized. This sounds like we first profess, and then we receive baptism. However, we notice the precedent is actually quite different. Scripture actually teaches us that first someone professes, and then the household if baptized. How does Noah's flood teach us this very promise?
This is our seventh and final part of our series on baptism. We considering some of the things that we have learned and wrap up this series. If you have any questions please reach out to me through the contact us section on our webpage http://urcbelgrade.com
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is the fourth part of our seven part series on baptism. In this teaching we explore whether there is a correlation between the sign of circumcision and the sign of baptism. So, is there any continuity between these signs? If so what could such a correlation imply?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
This is the third part of our seven part series on baptism. In this teaching we consider whether baby dedication is a more biblical alternative to baptism. So, why would we baptize infants if baby dedication may be a potential middle ground?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
Our Lord commands that the church would go forth baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The church is called to make disciples and baptize in the name of the trinitarian God. What is the significance of this sign of baptism? What does this sacrament communicate? Why does the apostle Paul say that were were baptized into Christ’s death and also his life? Does this baptism automatically work, does it merely symbolize something, and so what is the purpose of baptism? How does baptism encourage us in our Christian walk?
This is the second part of our seven part series on baptism. We continue to give an introduction to a biblical case for infant baptism. In this teaching we consider the household of God and what it means for God to work in the context of a household. So, why does God work in the context of a household?
Here is a link to the “Introduction to Baptism” playlist.
The Apostle Paul mentions baptism and circumcision as two signs of Christ’s work. Does Paul mention circumcision first to show that there is something more basic or inferior to this sign tied strictly to the Old Testament? Does he mention baptism second to communicate we have really arrived in history? Is it possible that Paul sees these two signs as having similar implications, but looking to the coming of Christ from different viewpoints in history?
Peter presents Noah’s flood as precedent that shows God’s deliverance and judgment. However, Peter also appeals to the flood story as a baptism. What does the flood teach us about baptism? How does this ultimately encourage us in our Christian walk? What does this teach us about covenant theology?
Paul exhorts us through his letter to Titus reminding us that he saved us, washed us by regeneration, and renews us by the Holy Spirit. This is a paraphrase, but it certainly sounds as if those who are baptized are those who necessarily have the Holy Spirit. If this is a sign that affirms our possession of the Holy Spirit why would we apply this sign of baptism to infants when we cannot know if they have the Holy Spirit?
Many people in the church today think that baptism is merely a New Testament symbol demonstrating that the church is different from Israel. However, the Apostle Paul does not see such a distinction in the people of God. Is the church the replacement for Israel? Is the church something that is radically different from Israel? What does the sacrament of baptism have to do with Israel and the church?
The apostle Paul tells us that we were baptized into Christ’s death. This is strange language considering we associate the sacrament of baptism with regeneration or spiritual renewal. Why would Paul speak of us being baptized into Christ’s death? What can this teach us about the meaning of baptism?
Ministers do not like to be wrong, and we really do not like the find out that we missed the point of a text. We could say this is pride, but the honest truth is we want to handle God’s word competently. I wonder how John the Baptist felt when Christ came to him for baptism. It must have been strange to see the one who delivers his people from their sins to be identified with sinners. Why does Jesus need to be baptized? Does this contradict John’s message regarding the fire baptism that is coming?
Peter takes his stand in the midst of the skeptics in Jerusalem. Peter makes the point that the Lord was sent to the cross by these wicked men who listen to Peter’s sermon. What does baptism have to do with Christ’s mission and the reception of the Holy Spirit? Does Baptism have any correlation to the Old Testament? Why does Peter say that the promise is for you and your children?
The apostle Paul exhorts us to walk in the Spirit as people who have moved from death to life in Christ. He also exhorts us to walk in light of our baptism moving us from death to life in Christ. Is Paul teaching that as one receives baptism that one necessarily receives the Holy Spirit? Why would Paul use such strong language regarding baptism?
One can see the force of the argument that circumcision is a fleshly covenant which is tied to the flesh while Baptism is a sign that communicates spiritual renewal and spiritual washing. It is conceivable to think that maybe Paul is making a historic progression meaning that we move from circumcision, fleshly covenant, to baptism, a true spiritual realization, after Christ’s coming. So, why would people baptize infants if the Lord has changed the significance of the covenantal sign?
So often people think of the sacrament of circumcision as a physical sign while baptism is a sign of Spiritual renewal. So, these signs might point to Christ, but they have radically different intentions. When we survey scripture we find that this is not necessarily a true distinction with circumcision being physical while baptism is spiritual. In fact, Moses teaches that one being uncircumcised is stating that one is not walking in power of the Lord. So, can we really say that circumcision is not a spiritual sign?
The Apostle Paul exhorts children to obey their parents for this is pleasing to the Lord. It is not a surprise to us that Paul would exhort children to obey their parents, but what does this imply about their status in the church? Why is the context of their exhortation so significant? Why is it important that this exhortation seems to echo the Old Testament? What could this imply about children being in covenant with the Lord?
We are a bible believing church in the Belgrade, MT. We are a Reformed Protestant church who desire to build one another up in love as we sojourn under the sun.
