Reformed & Expository Preaching

The apostle Paul exhorts fathers, wives, and bondservants to live out their lives before the Lord’s face. The Lord does not only exhort adults to life a life pleasing to the Lord, but Paul also exhorts children. Why would Paul exhort children to obey their parents for that pleases the Lord? Could there be implications in this exhortation for baptism?

We believe that Jesus is Immanuel or God with us. He is enters history to save his people from their sins. So, if Christ’s mission is to save his people from their sins then why is he wasting his time in the wilderness? Why would Christ spend this time being tempted rather than just go to the cross? How can these temptations be so essential for Christ’s mission? How can these temptations be essential for Christ’s mission to save his people from their sins?

Peter takes his stand in the midst of the skeptics in Jerusalem. Peter makes the point that the Lord was sent to the cross by these wicked men who listen to Peter’s sermon. What does baptism have to do with Christ’s mission and the reception of the Holy Spirit? Does Baptism have any correlation to the Old Testament? Why does Peter say that the promise is for you and your children?

The apostle Paul exhorts us to walk in the Spirit as people who have moved from death to life in Christ. He also exhorts us to walk in light of our baptism moving us from death to life in Christ. Is Paul teaching that as one receives baptism that one necessarily receives the Holy Spirit? Why would Paul use such strong language regarding baptism?

John calls the current leaders of Israel a brood of vipers. This is not very flattering. In fact, such speech would most likely put you at odds with the current leadership. Why would John use such language? What can we learn from such a harsh sermon?

One can see the force of the argument that circumcision is a fleshly covenant which is tied to the flesh while Baptism is a sign that communicates spiritual renewal and spiritual washing. It is conceivable to think that maybe Paul is making a historic progression meaning that we move from circumcision, fleshly covenant, to baptism, a true spiritual realization, after Christ’s coming. So, why would people baptize infants if the Lord has changed the significance of the covenantal sign?

Herod, the king of the jews, is someone who should love that Christ has entered history. You see if the Messiah has arrived in history this means that all those who embrace the messiah in faith have life that will never end. However, Herod does not react in joy, but he acts in a horrific way to what should be joyous news. Herod demonstrates the horror of human depravity. How can the Lord triumph over this tyrannical man? Is this man able to usurp the Lord’s power?

So often people think of the sacrament of circumcision as a physical sign while baptism is a sign of Spiritual renewal. So, these signs might point to Christ, but they have radically different intentions. When we survey scripture we find that this is not necessarily a true distinction with circumcision being physical while baptism is spiritual. In fact, Moses teaches that one being uncircumcised is stating that one is not walking in power of the Lord. So, can we really say that circumcision is not a spiritual sign?

Strange star gazers from the east come to worship Christ. These are men that we would expect to be hostile to the mission of Christ, and do everything possible to destroy Christ.  We would expect that Herod who is the king of the jews embrace the Messiah for the Messiah is God with us. How can strangers expected to be opposed to the Messiah's mission show the power of the Messiah's mission?