Licensing of Lay Ministers at Lichfield Cathedral 2019. Ian Goodson being admitted as a Licensed Lay Funeral Minister Lichfield Cathedral 2019. Bishops Michael(Diocesan) and Clive (Wolverhampton Episcopal Area) Archdeacon Sue Weller (Lichfield). Friends Liz, Tess Hawthorne, Janet Stanley and John Stanley and Sheila visible on Front row in Cathedral. Rev Jane Dicker (Asst. Rural Dean) presenting me. Janet, John , me and Sheila photo taken by the lovely Melanie Dennis. https://www.flickr.com/…/72157710764844006/with/48704269916/

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The Baptism of Jesus and things we can learn from it

The Baptism of Jesus.

One of the “gotcha” questions unbelievers like to throw at Christians goes like this:

“If God is so loving and so powerful why didn’t He create a world of perfect creatures who would freely choose never to sin and so avoid the mess that we are in?”

At the end of this, I will give you what I think is the Biblical answer and we will have seen something of the power and the love of God for us.

John 1:29

Matthew 3:11 – 17

Three great reversals.

1. All this happens for us.

Believe – Lamb of God etc. Reckoned as righteousness

Repent – Of not believing, for us. On our behalf by Jesus.

Be Baptized

Receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:37 – 39

This my beloved Son etc.  Like a New-born,

Well pleased

Does this apply to us?

Then come the good works which God has prepared for us. Eph. 2:10

Religion says

Do good works

To please God

He might love you

And then He might save you.

Gospel says

God saves you when you believe

He loves You

He is pleased with you by your faith in Jesus

Gen.15:6, Romans 4:3

Romans 4:20 - 25

Then come the good works.  …That we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10

Good works are a way of living. The proof of an active faith is an act of faith. An act of faith is a life lived in faith. It may or may not include miracles at any given time, but it will include the supernatural at all times.

2. Baptism

Burial. Bath.  Birth

Burial into death of Jesus Rom.6:3 ff

– washed in the Blood 1 John 1:7, 1 Peter 1:19

Bath – washed in water   Eph.5:26, Heb.10:22

Birth and Holy Spirit.

The three witnesses of 1 John 5:7ff.

3.  Old Creation. God creates Heavens and earth and eventually man who messes up.

New Creation Man (Second Adam) fulfils all righteousness. Gets a Bride who is made righteous.

Then God creates the new Heavens and earth.

Rev.21:1 -7

We maintain our belief through devotion to the Apostles’ teaching

Our repentance through devotion to the fellowship (Good relationships with God and Man)

Our Baptism in Communion/breaking of Bread

And our relationship with the HS through prayer.

Acts 2:42

Then we begin to see the miracles, the radical giving, the restored families, the praise and favour and the growth.

Acts 2:43 – 47

And the answer to the unbeliever’s question?

We now have a perfect people who will freely choose not to sin in a new creation.

© G. Ian Goodson 16.02.2019/28.02 2019