Into Newness of Life
The sermon explains the significance of the baptism of the 120 on the Day of Pentecost and how it marked the beginning of the new Church era.
G.W. North emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit baptism that began on Pentecost, marking a significant shift from individual water baptisms to a collective immersion into newness of life through Christ's death and resurrection. He explains that while water baptism offered forgiveness, the baptism of the Spirit brings believers into a deeper relationship with God, enabling them to function within the body of Christ. The sermon highlights that the Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled in Christ, making way for a new understanding of baptism that symbolizes death, burial, resurrection, and life in the Spirit. North asserts that the events of Pentecost are essential to understanding the fullness of Christ's work and the establishment of the Church. Ultimately, he calls for believers to be immersed in the Spirit to fully experience the life God intended for them.
Text
The age of the Baptism commenced dramatically on the day of Pentecost, with Jesus baptising the 120 in the Spirit. Each of these had been previously baptised in water, but not having been baptised in Spirit were not born again. Their water baptism had been an individual experience. Almost certainly it had been administered to each at different times, but on the day of Pentecost by one act in one moment of time they were collectively baptised into and through the Lord's death into newness of life and were born from above. When they had been previously baptised in water, all they were taught to expect was forgiveness or the remission of sins, and that is all they received. But when they immersed the 3000, baptism had changed its meaning and use, and the apostles knew it. Calvary, because of which the Old Testament sacrificial system, as well as baptism, had been ordained, was now history.
Blood sacrifices and Temple worship were abolished by what took place at the cross, but not baptism. Baptism had come to remain, for its symbolism speaks of so much more than the death of birds and beasts could possibly portray. So because of its serious weaknesses and limitations, the Old Testament had to be done away; but because baptism shows forth death, burial, resurrection and life in the Spirit, it may properly remain.
How right God is in all He does. What God wrought in Christ was established by Christ in the Spirit, and because all was wrought in Him, into Him must all be baptised who would know life and function in the body of Christ. Pentecost is as obviously vital to Calvary as the Holy Ghost is to Christ. The things of Christ's person can only be known by immersion into Him and them in the Spirit. So on the day of Pentecost the new Church era dawned as men and women were baptised in the Holy Spirit out-poured from on high. In one great comprehensive work of God, by total inward immersion in the Spirit they were both given and filled with the Spirit and they visibly and audibly demonstrated that fact.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Baptism of the 120 on the Day of Pentecost
- A. A collective baptism into the Lord's death and newness of life
- B. A baptism that went beyond forgiveness of sins
- II. The Change in Meaning and Use of Baptism
- A. Baptism was no longer just about forgiveness of sins
- B. It symbolized death, burial, resurrection, and life in the Spirit
- III. The Abolition of the Old Testament Sacrificial System
- A. Blood sacrifices and Temple worship were abolished by Calvary
- B. Baptism remained because of its symbolism
- IV. The Importance of Pentecost
- A. Pentecost is vital to Calvary and the Holy Ghost is vital to Christ
- B. The things of Christ's person can only be known by immersion into Him and them in the Spirit
Key Quotes
“Baptism had come to remain, for its symbolism speaks of so much more than the death of birds and beasts could possibly portray.” — G.W. North
“Pentecost is as obviously vital to Calvary as the Holy Ghost is to Christ.” — G.W. North
“The things of Christ's person can only be known by immersion into Him and them in the Spirit.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We must immerse ourselves into Christ and His person in order to know Him and function in the body of Christ.
- Baptism is not just about forgiveness of sins, but also symbolizes death, burial, resurrection, and life in the Spirit.
- We must be baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to be given and filled with the Spirit and demonstrate that fact visibly and audibly.