In his sermon titled 'Of Baptism, 1689 SLBC Chapter 29, Par. 1', Philip Long explores the theological significance of baptism as both a sign of fellowship with Christ and an outward proclamation of inward transformation. He references Matthew 28:18-20 to assert that baptism was instituted by Jesus Christ and involves being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, as highlighted in Romans 6:3-5, and signifies the remission of sins and the walk in newness of life. The sermon also discusses baptism's role in confessing that Christ has given believers a new heart, as promised in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and illustrated in Colossians 2:12-15. Through references to Galatians 3:27, Mark 1:4, and Acts 22:16, Long emphasizes that baptism is an act of putting on Christ and a witness to the remission of sins. The sermon concludes by comparing baptism to biblical events of divine judgment, such as Noah's flood and the crossing of the Red Sea, underscoring the believer's salvation through water as described in 1 Peter 3:20-21.

We'll look into the first paragraph there a little bit more thoroughly. First off as we read there, baptism is a sign of fellowship with Christ. In his death, burial, and resurrection, we're being grafted into Him, having remission of sins through Him raised to life, to walk in newness of life. First off, it was instituted by our Lord and Savior in Matthew chapter 28. We'll look at verses 18 through 20.

Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 through 20. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, amen. First thing, or one of the first things in the list of signs that we're, it's an outward proclamation of what has happened to you, what God has done in your heart and in your life.

And one of the things that you're confessing is fellowship with Christ. We'll look at Romans 6, 3 through 5. We did read that, but think of it as we read it more of what you're confessing as far as you have fellowship with Christ, you're confessing that his spirit lives within you and you have fellowship with Christ. So let's look at Romans six, three through five. Romans chapter six versus three through five.

Know ye not that so many of us, as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death. 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 also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, We shall also in the likeness of his resurrection Before we we're going to look at 2nd Corinthians 2 12 through 15 I found this pretty interesting here when we were talking about things that we're confessing Colossians 2 verses 12 through 15 You're You're confessing in this public proclamation that Christ has, before salvation we are dead in trespasses and sin, and we have an uncircumcised heart. And one of the things that you're confessing is that Christ has brought you to newness of life and given you a new heart, a heart of flesh, and has circumcised your sinful heart.

And we'll look at Colossians chapter 2 verses 12 through 15 and it says, 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 and you being dead in your sins and the Uncircumcision of your flash hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and Took it out of the way nailing it to the cross and having spoiled principalities and powers He made a show of them openly Triumphing over them. This is a promise fulfilled that Christ fulfilled if we turn to Ezekiel chapter 36, pretty recognizable passage, but in Ezekiel chapter 36 we'll look at verses 25 through 27, which this is a promise of what Christ would do for us. Ezekiel chapter 36, starting in verse 25. And it says, then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.

And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments and do them." And you know the, one of the best portions that I like about this verses that we just read that it has nothing to do with me he's that he promises that he will do it which if it was up to me boy we'd be in a mess you know so I like those a lot Going on with fellowship and the promises of God towards us, let's look at Galatians chapter 3 and verse 27. Galatians chapter 3 and 27, we're still on fellowship here. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. So fellowship we have put on Christ.

We did read Mark chapter 4 and it was a promise of and John baptized in the wilderness. This is John chapter, or I'm sorry, Mark chapter 1 and verse 4. It says John baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for the remissions of sins. And this is echoed in Acts chapter 22 and verse 16. Acts chapter 22 and verse 16, it says, and now why tearest thou?

Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." And probably should have put this verse first, but we're talking about the symbol was given to the church as a sign for an outward witness of what had been done within the believer. Let's turn to John chapter one. We're talking about the grace that we receive through Jesus Christ and what we are proclaiming has been done in us in baptism. In John chapter one, starting at verse six, Talking about John and the baptism that he was a pre-runner of Christ There was a man sent from God whose name was John the same care for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.

That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

And John bore witness of him and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake. He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. And of his fullness have we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came from Jesus Christ." So in that we're talking about the symbols and signs what we're proclaiming we're proclaiming that God as it says in verse Who was it there? 13 That we were born of the Spirit.

And let's turn to Revelation chapter 1 and verse 5. Revelation chapter 1 and verse 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and The prince of the kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood What else are we what other symbols are in that baptism? I found this pretty interesting. I've heard some of these, a couple of the scriptures I hadn't really thought of, in forms of submersion, us going fully under the water and being submerged, symbolizes God's judgment.

We can think back to Noah and the flood in Genesis chapter 7, verses 6 through 24. In 19, it talks about the earth being covered to where nothing living, everything was covered and nothing living was alive. God's judgment was upon all of it. Other verses that came to mind was the drowning of the Egyptians in Exodus chapter 14, 26-29. Moses stretched forth his hand there and the waters came back and covered the Egyptians that they were all drowned.

The last verse as far as signifying water and judgment, the judgment of God, which is a little more personal, I found it as far as a believer. Jonah, when he was told to do something and he rebelled against God's will, what happened was fish swallowed him, went into the deep, and was covered by the waters until he repented of it. Again, I thought that was pretty interesting there. We'll go ahead and leave you with 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 20 and 21, which sometime we're being more disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that was eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure were into even baptism, death also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And baptism is one of the first things that a believer can do as far as a public proclamation of what has happened to them or what God has done to them on the inside. Amen.