Baptists, baptizing Believers, boldly and "baptistly" (but not babies).

NOTICE: Just this week I have had two different men from two different denominations or belief systems, ask me about my thoughts/reached out to discuss God's plan and command for the Matthew 28:19-20. So I thought I would simply get the ball rolling here as I prepare to discuss the similarities and differences in our understanding of God's Holy Word. This is not to stir division but to seek truth genuinely and humbly.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon Meme (source unknown)
June 19, 1834, ~ January 31, 1892,

I believe that the Bible clearly states the fact that baptism happens after Salvation has taken place. In order for Salvation to take place one must hear the Word of God preached and as God calls evil men and women to Himself, convicts these rebels of their sins, and by His Grace alone saves sinners when He ultimately converts them to Himself. What role do we play in our Salvation? We are the sinners.  It is He that is the Savior! Jesus came telling all to Repent and Believe the Gospel, the wrath that He took on the cross was for evil slimy-souled sinners who deserved Hell the day they were born.
Once God allows us to humble ourselves and admit desperation and need for Jesus and we truly are born-again, then we are a part of the global and eternal church! Right then. At the moment of sincere confession of sins before an all righteous God, we who are unrighteous


"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 English Standard Version


Did you catch verse 1️⃣1️⃣? Because we can now become righteous due to the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ alone?? Hallelujah. Sinners can be saved. Not one sinner deserves a beautiful loving relationship with the God of all Creation.  What does mankind deserve, rather fine-tuned specifically to, what do sinners (Romans 3:23) deserve?

Hell.

Forever.

This is a horrifying reality for all of us. We have earned this, it's our wages for working day in and day out, with every bad attitude, every sinful sexual thought, deed or condoning of others doing the same. With the list above in Romans, it is clear that we are all not fine, but in grave trouble...apart from (I just love that phrase, "apart from") Jesus; the substitute for us.

 In my personal opinion, the most concise and pointed sermon on the doctrine of baptism is from the current (2018) IMB President, Dr. David Platt. An expositional preacher and my personal favorite teacher of the Word who is alive today. take some time to listen, download the sermon notes, and consider if the Word is being explained correctly.

I have dear friends and brothers in the faith who have slightly different views on whether it should be Credo-baptism (which is the Southern Baptist's believe and adhere to) as well as dear Brothers in the Faith who disagree with me and support Paedobaptism , yet in spite of this particular disagreement, I trust them with my life and we agree on the essential primary doctrines that make it orthodox Christianity.


But enough of this talking, please take a moment and watch this video sermon and pray that God would open your eyes to the truth and that we can all agree that Baptism is an act of obedience for those who follow Jesus! May we prayerfully, passionately, and proactively seek, in this order, to know, to love and to obey God with all we have.

For resources links below are copyrighted by Radial.net and I own none of it. 

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• Video (MP4)
• Audio (MP3)
• Small Group Guide
• Message Notes
• Transcript

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 David Platt. Copyright David Platt. Used by permission. Website: Radical.net.

Let me know in the comments what you think about this post and the sermon. But don't comment on the sermon unless you've watched it all the way through. SO we can have intelligent and informed discussions. Also, post your favorite sermons or articles below that are Baptism related. Be cordial, and let's lovingly, genuinely, and truthfully make attempts to find truth from the Holy flawless Scripture of revealed by God, the Bible itself.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Zack Anderson

Y'all should be mindful of this devout thesis: All of the Bible is about Jesus"-Shai Linne

The title of this post(and lyrics of my favorite hiphop song and artist) is evident from the promise from God, the 300+ prophecies fulfilled in Christ but also in the words  Of Jesus Himself in Doctor and disciple of Jesus, Luke' Gospel account in chapter 24. We come in to this historical account suseded shortly after the Cruxifiction and Resurecttion of Jesus Himself. We find here the inspired Word of God explaining the brisk walk of two downtrodden believers of Jesus on the road when a Man joins them and strikes up an amazing conversation that should define how we view, study and teach all of the Holy Scriptures. As we enter this account take great notice of the verse 27!


13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. - Luke 24:13-27 English Standard Version.

My pastor is doing a series of sermons on this very Biblical Truth I highly recommend it here is the link to the first one.

Soli Deo Gloria my dear readers,
Zachary Anderson.

“Be like the Bereans” Acts 17:11 Breakfast at NCB Church Oct, 21st 2017

My sister graciously filmed most of the sermon on her iPhone, 

You can watch the video by clicking here.

I was recently invited to speak at the "Breakfast day" at New Center Baptist Church. I spoke on the theme verse for all of the book studies we do at the Bible study I co-teach at. It is imperative for the discerning believer in Christ to be cautious when listening, reading, or studying any and all sources that say something about God, man, or anything that falls within the bounds of worldviews. It was a humbling blessing to be invited or even able by God to talk about Him and His Word. Just as it is every time I have the privilege to teach and preach solely on the authority of God's Word enabled by the Holy Spirit. I have a great passion for preaching and hope to do so in some capacity full-time someday, but only if the Lord Jesus Christ has decided that be my lot in life.

Below is the message notes that go along with the sermon.

"fill-in-the-blank Sermon Notes" 

Brotherhood Breakfast at New Center Baptist Church Oct, 21st 2017

“Be like the Bereans”

Guest Speaker: Zack Anderson

Acts 17:11

One point sermon: Study the Bible.

Four applications for every single one of us…

    Know God______________________.

How can one know God?*

    Read the ________ of God for yourself daily.
    Obey the Word __________________.

    Spread the Word_________________.

Fundamental Truths about the Bible

·         It is Inspired by God: -2 Tim. 3:16-17

·         It is Absolute truth: Psalm 119:151

·          It is forever unchanging: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”- Isaiah 40:8

·         It is Complete Revelation: Deuteronomy 4:2

·         It is all about Jesus: Luke 24:44-49; Ephesians 2:19-20

·         It is preached to make faith, repentance, and Salvation possible: -Rom. 10:14-17; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21

·         It is alive and judges our actions: -Hebrews. 4:12.

*How can a sinner know God? Romans 10:9,13-15

God Calls, Convicts, and Converts sinners into saints.

 Sinners must repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

                                  Mark 1:15; John 3:16-17

"A true disciple inquires not whether a fact is agreeable to his own reason, but whether it is in The Book." -Adoniram Judson, Baptist missionary, who served in the country of Burma for almost forty years.



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Other quotes on the supremacy and importance of Scripture: 

“Whatever the Bible says, God says”- Dr. Benjamin Warfield

"When God has spoken, that settles the matter. No room is left for debating or reasoning. It is vain for us to discuss and dispute. Our duty is to submit. The Word itself must regulate our worship and service, as well as everything else. Human opinions, human traditions, custom, convenience, have nothing to do with it. Divine revelation is our only Court of Appeal."~ Arthur Pink, "Gleanings in Exodus"

[Talking to a room of pastors]

"Their greatest need is not tips from you. Their greatest need is Truth from God!!"-IMB President. David Platt 

Jesus; the better David. Preaching to a local church in Jacmel, Haiti

Above is a short sermon I had the privilege to preach twice while in Haiti in 2015. First to the children for a Vacation Bible School-style bible study and then again for the local men who had gathered outside of the building where this particular church met every Sunday. 

The story I told was the historical account of David and the large enemy known as Goliath. The story is not the first time David is mentioned but it was a turning point in the boy's life. In the video, I briefly recap all of 1st Samuel Chapter 17. 

1.      We taught stories from the old testament about God’s deliverance of his people in the account of David and Goliath. Each day we made clear that the Bible stories we were telling were actual historical events and not fantasy. We also stressed the Biblical truth that all of the Bible is about Jesus.And that is a good reminder for us here today. Who is the hero of the Old Testament? Jesus is. David knew this! He gave credit for the win to God. You see God is the hero, not David. God delivered Israel that day! Not David. Now David was obedient, but it is a dangerous fallacy to think that God needed David to accomplish this. God doesn’t need us. Right? He chooses to use us, but not because he is in need in any way whatsoever.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the point of all the Bible and if that is true then the Gospel should be what every sermon points to.

Every day after the first day I asked the following questions, first,  "do yall remember what we talked about from the Holy Bible yesterday?" and second "do yall remember who the main Character of the story was?" Jesus is the ultimate answer to the question every time we ask that and they did recall it!