Derek finishes his look at water baptism by sharing about the spiritual significance of our identification with Jesus in this act of obedience. Going down into the water and coming back up is so much more than just getting wet. It accomplishes things in the Spirit realm for us as we act in faith.

Derek looks at baptisms in Acts to show that it should not take an extended period of teaching before a person is baptized. He actually points out that there seemed to be an immediacy for the new believer to be baptized. He also shows that baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit can occur in any order.

Today Derek goes into what is required of us as believers to be baptized in water, and what it means in our lives. Christian baptism is much more than just getting wet, and Derek stresses the importance of understanding all that is involved. According to Derek, Jesus never offered any guarantee of salvation to those who believe without being baptized.

Derek continues this look at John’s baptism into repentance pointing out the need for confession of sins and an evidence of a changed life. These are necessary for a truly repentant life. This baptism in water was a seal of what had been worked in their lives previously.

Derek begins this week’s study on the teaching about baptisms highlighting that it this word is plural. Actually, there are three baptisms. The first is the baptism of John the Baptist, which Derek notes has three requirements, the first being repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Derek finishes this week’s study of faith and works by looking at the only righteous requirement of the law. That is love—and is the objective in the Christian life. Love must be the motivation behind all we do and say as we continue to grow. Since your faith is accounted to you for righteousness, there is no guilt or condemnation, though you may stumble in your love walk. You are now free in Christ.

Today we look at the problem of those who have received the grace of God through Christ, but then try to keep their righteous standing through works. Derek uses the book of Galatians to show how legalism had come into the church. Then he stresses that the Holy Spirit is received by faith, not by works.

Derek addresses the problem of trying to live halfway between rules and grace, and shows there is no way for that to happen. Keeping a set of rules will never make you righteous. Through Romans, Derek explains that when we are alive in Jesus we have died to the law and it no longer has rule over us.

Today Derek talks about. There is a difference between what the law would have you do—although you can’t—and how grace has been provided to help you. The Law is needed to get you to the point where you see your need for grace. That is its purpose.

Derek begins this week’s message by looking at faith and its place in receiving the gospel, making clear just what the gospel is. He then goes into the relationship between faith and works, revealing the danger of legalism but also the misunderstanding of what grace is. We have been made new creations through faith in order to do the good works God has prepared for us.