The Deepest Sea

1. The Deepest Sea Mt 3:1-6

2. “I was in the army, an officer in the infantry during Viet Nam. I saw & did things that no man should see or do. I wanted my sins buried in the deepest and coldest place . . . .”

3. We need our sins buried in the deepest & coldest place!

4. Being in sin is a despicable, horrible experience.

5. Being in sin is a despicable, horrible experience. • Paul describes that experience in Ephesians 2.

6. “You were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph 2:1-3, ESV).

7. “You were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph 2:1-3, ESV). • Those in sin are “dead” & “children of wrath.”

8. “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12, ESV).

9. “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12, ESV). • Those in sin are separated from Christ, alienated from God’s people, without the promises of God, and without hope.

10. Thankfully, our God desires to bury our sins in “the deepest and coldest place.”

11. Thankfully, our God desires to bury our sins in “the deepest and coldest place.” • “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, ESV).

12. Thankfully, our God desires to bury our sins in “the deepest and coldest place.” • “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, ESV). • We want to examine John’s baptism & see parallels to Jesus’ baptism.

13. We know there are great differences between John’s baptism & Jesus’ baptism.

14. We know there are great differences between John’s baptism & Jesus’ baptism. • Paul encountered 12 men in Ephesus who had received John’s baptism.

15. We know there are great differences between John’s baptism & Jesus’ baptism. • Paul encountered 12 men in Ephesus who had received John’s baptism. • “Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4-5, ESV).

16. There are also great similarities between these two baptisms.

17. There are also great similarities between these two baptisms. The greatest similarity is that both are for the remission of sins.

18. There are also great similarities between these two baptisms. The greatest similarity is that both are for the remission of sins. • “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4, ESV).

19. There are also great similarities between these two baptisms. The greatest similarity is that both are for the remission of sins. • “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4, ESV). • “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38, ESV).

20. There are also great similarities between these two baptisms. The greatest similarity is that both are for the remission of sins. • “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4, ESV). • “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38, ESV). • This morning, we shall see other similarities.

21. A BAPTISM OF PREACHING. • A BAPTISM OF PENITENCE. • A BAPTISM OF PROPHECY. • A BAPTISM OF THE PUBLIC. • A BAPTISM OF PROFESSION.

22. A Baptism of Preaching v 1

23. “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea” (v 1, ESV).

24. John’s preaching preceded his baptism.

25. John’s preaching preceded his baptism. • Preaching is essential to baptism.

26. John’s preaching preceded his baptism. • Preaching is essential to baptism. • Without preaching, there can be no salvation.

27. John’s preaching preceded his baptism. • Preaching is essential to baptism. • Without preaching, there can be no salvation. • “How are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rm 10:14, ESV).

28. John’s preaching preceded his baptism. • Preaching is essential to baptism. • Without preaching, there can be no salvation. • “How are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rm 10:14, ESV). • “It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Cor 10:21, ESV).

29. In this passage, preaching precedes baptism.

30. In this passage, preaching precedes baptism. • John preaches & then people come to him to be baptized.

31. In this passage, preaching precedes baptism. • John preaches & then people come to him to be baptized. • Only when the people heard John’s preaching did the people come to him.

32. What does this passage say to us this morning?

33. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning.

34. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea.

35. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea. What does this text say to us?

36. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea. What does this text say to us? • We need more John the Baptists!

37. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea. What does this text say to us? • We need more John the Baptists! • We have already mentioned that without preaching people cannot be saved.

38. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea. What does this text say to us? • We need more John the Baptists! • We have already mentioned that without preaching people cannot be saved. • “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38, ESV).

39. If you have not yet been to “The Deepest Sea,” our earnest prayer is that you will be pricked to come to that sea this morning. • But, most of us have been to that Sea. What does this text say to us? • We need more John the Baptists! • We have already mentioned that without preaching people cannot be saved. • “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38, ESV). • “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:20, ESV).

40. Are we leading others to that "Deepest Sea"?

41. A Baptism of Penitence v 2

42. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v 2, ESV).

43. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v 2, ESV). • There were many baptisms in the Old Testament.

44. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v 2, ESV). • There were many baptisms in the Old Testament. • “According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings [Gr=“baptisms”], regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation” (Heb 9:9-10, ESV).

45. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v 2, ESV). • There were many baptisms in the Old Testament. • “According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings [Gr=“baptisms”], regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation” (Heb 9:9-10, ESV). • John’s baptism differed in that his was for repentance.

46. John’s message was repentance.

47. John’s message was repentance. • His baptism was into repentance.

48. John’s message was repentance. • His baptism was into repentance: “I baptize you with water for repentance” (Mt 3:11, ESV).

49. John’s message was repentance. • His baptism was into repentance: “I baptize you with water for repentance” (Mt 3:11, ESV). • The preposition “for” is the same one used in Acts 2:38 to explain the purpose of baptism.

50. John’s message was repentance. • His baptism was into repentance: “I baptize you with water for repentance” (Mt 3:11, ESV). • The preposition “for” is the same one used in Acts 2:38 to explain the purpose of baptism. • John’s baptism, then, placed individuals in a state of repentance.