Being Buried with Christ

INTRODUCTION.

A.        Salvation is more than just a state of mind, more than just being labeled a Christian, more than going to worship services at your convenience, etc.

B.        There are REAL changes, REAL acts of obedience, REAL commitment on the part of the individual choosing to answer the gospel's call. The REAL changes, REAL acts of obedience, REAL commitment begins with the reality of being buried with Christ Jesus.

C.        With this lesson, we will consider the reality of being buried with Christ.

I.         THE DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

            A.        The Death of Jesus Christ. (John 19:28-33)

                        1.         Jesus was nailed to the cross. (John 20:24-25)

                        2.         Jesus suffered from dehydration. (John 19:28)

                        3.         Jesus gave up the spirit. (John 19:30)

                        4.         Jesus died. (John 19:33)

            B.        The Burial of Jesus Christ. (John 19:38-42)

                        1.         The body of Jesus was wrapped in linen. (John 19:40)

                        2.         The body of Jesus was placed in a sepulcher or a tomb. (John 19:41-42)

            C.        The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

                        1.         One the first day of the week, the tomb was found empty. (Luke 24:1-12)

                        2.         Christ appeared on the road to two men. (Luke 24:13-35)

                        3.         Christ appeared to his disciples who were gathered together. (Luke 24:36-49)

                        4.         Christ was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-53)

                        5.         Consider the other witnesses to the resurrected Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

            D.        The Exaltation of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:6-11)

                        1.         Before Christ came to this earth, He was in the form of God. (vs 6)

                        2.         Christ came to this earth and existed in the likeness of man. (vs 7)

                        3.         Being in the fashion of man, He humbled himself and died on the cross for man. (vs 8)

                        4.         God has exalted Christ. (vs 9-11)

II.       THE SPIRITUAL DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF A CHRISTIAN. (Romans 6:l-ll)

            A.        The Death of the Old Man of Sin.

                        1.         What do we mean by death? Notice the following passages.

                                    a.         vs 2 - “. . . How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (NKJV)

                                    b.         vs 4 - “ . . . we were buried with Him through baptism into death, . . .” (NKJV)

                                    c.         vs 5 - “. . . For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, . . .”

                                    d.         vs 6 - “. . . Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

                                    e.         vs 7 - “For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (NKJV)

                        2.         The death must begin by hearing and believing the word of God.

                                    a.         Hearing the word. (Romans 10:17)

                                    b.         Believing the word. (John 3:16)

                                    c.         The next step in this process is repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

                                                (1)       What is repentance? Repentance is an attitude of sorrow that is brought about after realizing that one has sin, an attitude that provokes a change in one's life.

                                                            (a)       The old self or old man worked to satisfy himself, the repentant man puts to death that old man or old self and works to satisfy God.

                                                            (b)       The body of sin is an attitude of serving and desiring that which is sinful or contrary to the law of God. Repentance causes the body of sin to be done away with, and replaces it with the mind to serve God.

                                                            (c)       We are slaves to sin when following the ways of the word comes before God, when we forsake the will of God and follow our own selfish wills. Repentance causes one to desire to no longer be a slave to sin but rather, it desires to do the will of the almighty God.

                                                (2)       When an individual wants to become a Christian, they must first put to death their love of sin by repenting and making a change of attitude and a change of life. An attitude or a change which affects everything that one does in one's life.

            B.        The Burial.

                        1.         Once an individual has developed his belief in Jesus and the desire to change his life, he must obey Jesus’s command to be baptized. He must be buried with Jesus Christ.

                                    a.         Mark 16:16 - belief and baptism

                                    b.         Acts 2:38 - repentance and baptism

                                    c.         I Peter 3:21 - baptism

                                    d.         Galatians 3:27 - baptized into Christ

                                    e.         Romans 6:3-4 - baptized into Christ’s death

                        2.         Why baptism?

                                    a.         Jesus commanded baptism.

                                    b.         A person gains entrance into Christ by baptism.

                                    c.         Baptism is a burial, from which one rises to walk in a newness of life.

            C.        The Resurrection. (Back to Romans 6)

                        1.         Notice the following passages:

                                    a.         vs 4 - “. . . that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

                                    b.         vs 5 - “. . . we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

                                    c.         vs 7-8 - “. . . we believe that we shall also live with him:”

                                    d.         vs 9-11 - “. . . dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NKJV)

                        2.         After we are baptized, we rise to walk in the newness of life. We are dead to sin, but alive unto God. Our attitude and desire should be to reject sin and embrace a life of faithfully serving God.

CONCLUSION.

A.        Read Romans 6:12-23.

B.        If you have not obeyed the Gospel's call, then take this opportunity to make the repentant change, confessing to all your belief in Christ as the son of God, and then be buried with Him through baptism, so that you will rise up to walk in the newness life.

C.        If you have obeyed the Gospel's call, then you are a Christian. Live your life as such, serving only God.

Being Buried with Christ -- July 4, 2004 -- File # 2043

by John M. Duvall – Lawton ,OK