Many of you are wondering if it is necessary to be baptized in order to be saved. Tonight we are going to look into the Word of God and see what we can find in answer to this question. We sometimes refer to baptism as the gateway to a new life. Baptism has significance. It was instituted by Jesus Christ before His death on Calvary's cross.

There are three days in the average person's life that tower above all the others: The day of his birth, the day of his marriage, and the day of his death. The ordinance of baptism is comparable to all three of these events in the spiritual experience of the believer. About two of these we have nothing to say, namely, the time of our birth, and the time of our death. We do have something to say about our marriage. But what do these three important events in the life of an individual have to do with baptism?

First of all, baptism has a connection with the spiritual experience known as the new birth. When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he asked Jesus what he must do to be saved. Jesus answered him: ". . . Ye must be born again." John 3:7. Some say, "The important thing is that we be born of the Spirit." Have you ever heard that? I have, many times. It is interesting how we take from the Bible what we want, and what we don't agree with, we disregard.

In John 3:5, Jesus said to Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Jesus does not say, "Except ye be born of the Spirit, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God," He says, "WATER AND THE SPIRIT," and He mentions the baptism of water first. So, really, the ceremony of baptism is the outward evidence of being born again. It is a ceremony instituted by Christ. When Nicodemus wanted to know how to be saved, Jesus said: "BE BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT." We cannot enter heaven unless we are born of both the water and the Spirit.

The Scripture says: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:25. We are not to trust to our own ideas, or our particular opinions. We should see what the Word of God says before we can come to any true conclusion. Some have a distorted idea of what the baptism of the Holy Ghost really is. They think it is a lot of shouting, dancing, gibberish, and speaking in unknown tongues. I do not believe Jesus taught that. Remember, we must be born of water first, and then be born of the spirit.

Baptism is the marriage ceremony which unites us with Jesus. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Gal. 3:27. So baptism is not only the ceremony which represents our new birth but it also represents our wedding to Christ. You have not put on Christ until you have had the marriage ceremony. You have been married to Christ only when you have been baptized.

Baptism represents a birth and a marriage. It also represents a death - the third outstanding event in the life of an individual. Baptism certifies the believer's death to sin. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH?" Rom. 6:3. "BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH." Baptism then represents a birth; it represents a marriage; it represents a death. It represents the new birth; it represents the wedding to Christ; and it represents the death to sin.

Baptism is important, for Jesus Christ instituted it. The Bible tells us very plainly that when we are baptized, we are baptized into His death. Then, dear Friends, baptism must be important. If it was necessary for Jesus to die, and we are told to be baptized into His death, then baptism must be important or it would never have been instituted for man. But lest some get the idea that a non-baptized person is certain to be lost, let me say right here that while it is necessary to be baptized, there are exceptions.

We think of the thief as he hung on the cross a short time before his death, He asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. That very moment Jesus assured him that he would be in the kingdom - that he was accepted. But I do not suppose that thief was ever baptized. I do not think he ever had a desire to be baptized, for he was a thief, a criminal, and not a Christian. But he gave his heart to Christ, and was converted at a time when baptism for him was impossible.

Now if the thief had had an opportunity to be baptized, that would have been different, Some point to the thief on the cross and say, "He got by without baptism, and so it is all right. May be I can too." Let us not go that far in presuming on the mercies of God. On the other hand, we do not want to limit the mercy and justice of God. I think that if a man accepts Christ at his last moment on earth and is truly converted, he will be saved.

But do not take that chance and wait until the last moment. You may be killed instantly in an accident, or you may die suddenly of a heart attack. I do not think it is possible to be saved without baptism if a person plans it that way. But if a person reaching the end of life's journey is really truly converted and cannot be baptized, I certainly would not limit the mercy of God by saying that the man cannot be saved any more than I would say that the thief on the cross cannot be saved.

But, says one, "I believe in baptism, but how are we supposed to be baptized? Some people believe in pouring, some in sprinkling; some believe in being baptized as a babe; some believe in being baptized face up, some face down; some think we should be dipped under the water three times; others think we should be immersed just once with our backs down and not our faces. Which form is correct?"

Baptism is one of the essential steps to salvation. Jesus says: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16. How can anyone say, "I don't think it makes any difference." How we trifle with the Word of God and the direct commands of God! Some do that with the Sabbath commandment. They say, "I don't think it makes any difference which day we keep) I will not worry about that !"

When Jesus comes, many will say: "Haven't we gone to church every week and given good gifts and prophesied in Thy name?" Let us read Matt. 7:22: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" These people had made a profession of Christianity, had been zealous church workers, and had thought themselves to be pretty good people.

But Jesus will say to them: "I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Iniquity is transgression. Some deliberately refuse to accept the teaching of God's Word on baptism and other doctrines. They accept what their fathers believed, and they believed what their fathers believed. But go back far enough and these erroneous beliefs take you right into the Catholic Church. The only safe way is to believe and follow what the Bible teaches.

Jesus says: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. There is no way to know the will of God without studying His Holy Word. It is through the Bible that the will of God is made known to us, and God has made known to us that it is His will that we be baptized.

Are you willing to follow all the way in the footsteps of Jesus? Let us read what Jesus did: "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and WAS BAPTIZED of John IN JORDAN." Mark 1:9. I believe that John the Baptist was baptizing by immersion, for if not, I do not know why he was baptizing in the River Jordan. If he had been baptizing by sprinkling, all he would have to do would be to carry a quart bottle of water around with him and baptize any place he wanted to.

Jesus went down into the River Jordan and was baptized. In Mark 1:10 we read: "And straightway COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him." The Bible says, "COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER." If Jesus were sprinkled, I do not see any need for Him to walk down into the water and then came up out of the water again. If He were sprinkled, John could have put a few drops on Him BY the River Jordan.

As Jesus came up out of the water, He received the Holy Ghost. In Mark 1: 11, it says: "And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." It pleased God that Jesus was baptized, for as soon as He was baptized God told Him so.

While Jesus quietly knelt in prayer on the bank of the Jordan He received the anointing of the Holy Ghost. There is no record that He started jumping, dancing, clapping His hands, shouting at the top of His voice, or rolling around in the dirt like a dog. Some think that receiving the Holy Ghost means having a lot of excitement, making a lot of noise, rolling around, climbing up and hanging onto the ropes - maybe breaking a window or two.

When a minister was preaching one evening he broke a small mirror to illustrate the breaking of the law. A man walked out saying, "This meeting is too rough for me." The minister said to himself, "Have I driven a man away from the Word of God?" But the very next night in another part of the city an unusual meeting was held where they were supposed to have received the Holy Ghost. That man got so excited he broke out a window with his fist and cut his hand. We need not be deceived. There is the Spirit of God and there is the spirit of the devil.

And the devil has deceived millions of people. He is clever and shrewd; and unless we accept God and His way, we will surely be deceived. The Bible says in 1 Cor. lb:33: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." So if you see confusion in the church service, be sure it is another spirit than the Spirit of God that has control there. When the apostles received the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, there were no demonstrations like we see nowadays in these pretended Holy Ghost meetings. They did not roll on the floor, speaking some peculiar gibberish, jabbering like monkeys in phrases nobody could understand. In fact, Paul tells us not to do that, for God does not want confusion in the church.

The Bible says that Jesus went down into the water. The church followed this method of immersion for centuries. Dean Stanley says: "For the first thirteen centuries the almost universal practice of baptism was that of which we read in the New Testament, and which is the very meaning of the word 'baptize,' -- that those who were baptized were plunged, submerged, immersed into the water." -- Christian Institutions, Chap. 1, par. 2, p. 19. The word "baptize" comes from the Greek word "baptizeih" which means immerse, or cover over. You cannot immerse by sprinkling a few drops of water on somebody's head.

The Lord directed Philip to Gaza, and there he met the eunuch of Ethiopia. Philip studied the Scriptures with the man, and told him of Jesus. Then in Acts 8:36 it says: "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, HERE IS WATER, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" They no doubt had drinking water with them in the chariot, but they waited until they came to a pool where the Ethiopian could be immersed.

The story continues in the 37^th verse: "And Philip said, IF THOU BELIEVEST with all thine heart, THOU MAYEST. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Here is emphasized the necessity of believing before baptism. To believe in Christ means to accept Him and to follow His example in all things. The Bible tells us that even the devil believes and trembles. But this will not save him because he will not follow the example of Christ. When we believe in Christ with all our hearts, we will delight to obey Him in all points.

Philip thoroughly instructed the Ethiopian, and when he willingly accepted Jesus, he was baptized. In Acts 8:38, we read: "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and THEY WENT DOWN BOTH INTO THE WATER, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." If Philip had baptized the eunuch by sprinkling, what need for both to go down into the water? The Scriptures say, "THEY BOTH WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER." Because the Ethiopian eunuch believed in Christ with all his heart, he wanted to follow the example of His Saviour. Therefore he went down into the water as Jesus did, and was baptized by immersion.

In Col. 2:12 we read: "BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Many do not want to accept what God says. They do not want to keep the day God tells them to keep, so they substitute another day. They do not want to be baptized just as God says, so they substitute a few drops of water, saying, "God is not so particular." But God says, "BURIED WITH HIM." How can you baptize, immerse, or bury anyone by sprinkling?

Suppose one of your loved ones had died and when you went to the cemetery you saw the casket on top of the ground as no hole had been dug. You turn to the one next to you and say: "I wonder why no hole has been dug?" Then after the service the undertaker sprinkles a handful of dirt over the casket and says, "Now I bury this man " How can anyone be buried by putting a handful of dirt on his casket? And how can you bury a poor sinner who is dead to sin by putting a few drops of water on his head?

The Bible says we are "BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM." In Rom. 9:4 Paul says: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ "as raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." The Christian should say: "What was good enough for Christ, is good enough for me." Since Jesus was buried in baptism, why should we hesitate to follow in His steps? He has not asked us to suffer and die as He did, but He merely asks us to imitate His death, burial, and resurrection in baptism. We are to be brought up out of the watery grave to newness of life, just as Jesus was raised from the grave so that we might have life.

In verses 5 and 6 of Rout 6 Paul continues: "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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." Now, dear Friends, we cannot plant something in the likeness of the death of Jesus Christ by sprinkling or pouring. Our old self is buried with Him, and we are raised to newness of life.

Jesus says, in John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The truth shall make you free if you believe what God says and do it. Jesus was baptized by immersion, and His example is all we need. I do not find one word in the Bible about sprinkling. Single immersion is the only mode of baptism that really sets forth the burial and resurrection of the believer with his Lord, and it must be the one true form of baptism.

The believer is buried beneath the water, out of sight of the world, with his eyes closed and his breath held in complete representation or likeness of a burial. Then as he is raised out of the water, he opens his eyes, catches his breath, and mingles again with friends in complete likeness of a resurrection. Some baptize face down, but I cannot see much resemblance between baptizing face down and a burial. I never heard of anybody's being buried upside down.

Some believe in trine-immersion, or triple immersion. That is, you must be baptized three times. What would you think if you went to the cemetery for the interment and the undertaker put the casket down and then brought it up, put it down and brought it up again, and then put it down the third time? You would not think that was very sensible. That certainly is not Biblical. That is not being planted in the likeness of the burial of Jesus Christ, for He was buried just once.

Jesus was buried and came forth from the tomb in newness of life, so we are to be buried as Jesus was. We are to die to sin and be buried in the watery grave. Our sight, hearing, and breathing are cut off for a moment, and then we are raised out of the water. That is real baptism. That is what the Bible teaches. Jesus was buried, arid came up out of the sepulcher early in the morning of the first day of the week after the Sabbath was past. So we are to come forth from the watery grave to live in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

When He was here in this world Jesus told His followers to preach the gospel, and to baptize. In Mark 16:15, 16 it says: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Baptism should be administered only to those who have been taught the gospel, have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have repented of their sins.

Again in Matt. 28:19, 20, Jesus commanded His disciples: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Jesus said to go and teach them whatsoever He had commanded them, not what the pope commanded, or what the minister commanded, or what somebody else commanded.

Jesus says: "TEACH," AND THEN BAPTIZE THEM. How can you teach a little baby all that Jesus has commanded? In the "Methodist Theological Compendium," p. 103, we read: "It is true there is no positive command for infant baptism, . . . nor is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week." Ministers recognize that there is no command to baptize babies. If you tried to teach a baby the gospel of salvation, he would probably start playing with your necktie, or holding onto your finger. You would not expect a baby to understand the things that Jesus has commanded, so he should not be baptized.

But, some say, why not baptize people immediately when they are first interested in the truth? Because Jesus says: "Go and teach them all things, and then baptize them." So the first step toward baptism is to hear the gospel ---- all of it. If we baptize people without preaching all the gospel to them until they understand and believe, we would be baptizing them before they knew the plan of salvation as revealed in Christ. This we are not to do.

The second step taught in the Bible that an individual must take before baptism is to believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as his Saviour. Now suppose I hold up this baby and say, "I want you to believe on the Lord Jesus and receive Him as your Saviour." What would he say? He would probably say, "Goo, goo." How can I teach a little child to believe in Jesus when he does not even know he needs a Saviour. In fact, he does not need one yet, for he has not yet reached the age of accountability.

The third step a man must take before baptism is to give evidence of his faith, by repenting and forsaking his sins. Peter says in Acts 2:38: ". . . Repent, and be baptized. " But can I say to this baby, "Baby, I want you to repent before I baptize you. You must experience conversion and confess your sins and repent." That would be unreasonable. An infant in arms cannot understand these things. And he is too small to have sins that require repentance.

No, dear Friends, infant baptism is not taught in the Bible. We will mention the origin of this custom again, in a sermon called, "Baptized Paganism." This is just another custom that has been taken into the church without careful study of the Word to see what God really teaches. The custom is based wholly on tradition, --- tradition of the Roman Catholic church. 'What a pity that we are willing to take the teachings and doctrines of men, wandering so far from the truths of God's Word!

Some have asked, "Is it ever necessary to be baptized twice?" The Scripture tells of certain believers who at the Lord's direction were immersed twice at different stages of their experience. Let us read in Acts 19:1, 2, of these people who were re-baptized; ". . . Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." These faithful believers accepted all the light they received. And as they heard more they gladly accepted it.

Continuing in verses 3 and 4 we read: "And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after, that is, on Christ Jesus." Here were people baptized by John the Baptist, and it was right that they should be. They accepted all of John's preaching. But now Paul. is teaching them advanced light, things which John the Baptist had not preached.

Now as these people heard Paul preaching, something happened. Acts 19:5 says: "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." These people had not learned of Jesus when John baptized them. Now they are re-baptized. Paul taught them of the death and resurrection of Jesus for their sins, and they gladly accepted and were baptized. So the Bible teaches that some will need to be re-baptized. Many who have been keeping only some of the commandments, arid have now decided to keep all, feel that they should be re-baptized into the whole message of light from God's Word.

The only safe, reasonable way, then, is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. If we do this, we cannot go wrong, Jesus has never commanded any mode of baptism other than the way He was baptized by John. And He has never commanded us to keep a Sabbath other than the seventh day Sabbath that He himself observed. We must do all things that He has commanded us to do. If we claim to be servants of His, believing in Him and claiming Him as our Savior from sin, then we ought to be willing to walk in His ways without argument or question. Whatever we find in God's Word should be willingly accepted.

What is the significance of baptism? Paul says in Rota 6: 6-8: "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. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." We are to be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ and then come forth to walk in newness of life to live with Jesus and for Jesus, following Him all the way.

Dear Friends, when we have been born again, baptism is the ceremony that initiates us into the Christian life, and from that moment forward we are to live a different life, growing in the grace of Jesus Christ. The trouble with many people is that they are buried before they are really dead. What would you think of a funeral director who would bury somebody before that person were really dead? But preachers are burying hundreds of thousands of people today who have never died to sin, who have never been really converted.

It is a terrible mistake for a person professing to be a servant of God to place an individual in the grave as a symbol of the Bible burial of Christ when the individual is not really dead to sin. In some great revivals, under the stress of emotionalism and excitement, many people are baptized. When the call is made they come forward, but they do not know all that Jesus has commanded His followers to do. They are baptized, and are supposed to die to sin; but many have not fully understood and have not put off their sins. They are still smoking their cigarets, drinking cocktails, going to night clubs and all the rest. There has not been any change in their daily lives, - they were not dead to sin.

In many of these revivals it is all froth. The people love to have it so. Isaiah foretells of this: "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." Isa. 30:10. They want to hear foolish things, things that will tickle their ears; but the message of God will affect men's hearts, will work a change in their lives, and lead them to Christ, There will be a moral transformation under the new birth experience. We should expect that there will be a chance, and we should expect to see the fruits of salvation.

When an individual comes to the foot of the cross, accepting Jesus Christ by faith, and is ready to go all the way, laying aside his sins, dying to self and living anew in Christ Jesus, letting Jesus come into his heart, then that individual is ready to be baptized. When a man has been born again, saved by grace, and baptized, he is then ready to walk in the ways of righteousness, in that straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. He is ready to serve God in everything, to obey all His commands, walking always as Jesus walked.

When an individual has been truly converted and baptized, there is no sacrifice too great for him to make. His sincere desire is to please God. But if he still loves to carry tales, to tell lies, has hatred in his heart, and is committing all the sins he perpetrated before he was baptized, that person has made a terrible mistake. He has not been fully converted. He has not been born again. He has just been deceived. I wonder if any of us have had that experience.

When a man has been truly converted and baptized, he will enjoy speaking to his heavenly Father in prayer. He will love to talk to his Maker and his Friend. God will speak to him by His Word, and by His Spirit will lead him on, if that man is willing to be led. That is what it means to die to sin, aid to be buried in baptism, and to rise again from the grave to walk in newness of life. It is a wonderful experience to talk to God as to a friend. Prayer is such a privilege and blessing.

We read in 1 Peter 4:1, 2: ". . . He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." Dear Friends, the intemperate habits of tobacco using, liquor drinking, gluttony, and the pleasures of this world, attending shows, theaters, dances, and other worldly amusements are still indulged in by many. We need to say with Peter: "I will no longer live in the flesh according to the lusts of men, but will live according to the will of God."

I can truthfully testify to the power of God because it was not many years ago that I used to delight in the pleasures of the world. But these temptations with all their attractions, bright lights, thrills, excitement, and allurements of the devil attract me no longer, thee a man has been born again and baptized, he will turn away from all these things and live differently. These shackles of sin will be broken, and he will live a new life in Jesus Christ, losing all desire for such worldly entertainment.

0, I am so thankful to God for the apostle Paul who knew what it was to be born again, to be really and truly converted. He says in Gal. 2:20: "1 am crucified with Christ.; nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Paul was one of the worst persecutors of the Christian Church in that early day. He was a hard-hearted old Pharisee. He was anything but a Christian until the Lord converted him. Then what a change came over that man! He became an apostle of God, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, a good Christian man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with power. Yes, Paul knew what true conversion means.

Conversion and regeneration are great mysteries to the angels of God. They do not marvel at the great scientific feats of man, at the atomic bombs, or anything of that nature, but they do marvel as they see the transformed lives of Christians as they turn to God in this dark world of sin. In this world, more wicked than ever before, they see people honest and true and pure, living Christian lives, and they marvel that there are still some who love God enough to be crucified with Christ, and to live a new life in Jesus.

Jesus says: " . . . Come, take up the cross, and follow me." Mark 10:21. Dear Friends, let us take up the cross of Jesus Christ, ready to make any sacrifice! Let us die to the allurements of the world, to those things which lead downward into ways of sin. Let us crucify self and let the unselfish love of Jesus show forth in our lives. That does not mean that we will never stumble and fall. He may stumble and fall, but the important thing is that we must not stay down. By the help of the Lord we can get up again, and we can fight the adversary- until finally the victory is won.

The apostle Paul says in Col. 3:1: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," By the help of God we may live the life that counts and have that wonderful joy of knowing that all is well between us and God. Only by the help of God can we reach perfection. It might be well for us to ask ourselves the question. "Am I seeking those things which are above since I have been baptized, or am I still grappling for the things of this world?"

In verses 2 and 3 of Col. 3 we read: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Dear Friends, we should desire above everything else in the world to be true witnesses for God. There are some listening to my voice who were living in the depths of sin a few years ago. But these individuals here tonight have the peace that passeth understanding. They are now striving for a place in that heavenly kingdom.

In verse 4 of Col. 3 we have this promise: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Dear Friends, we are but strangers in this world, pilgrims in a foreign land, waiting for the better world, getting ready to live in the presence of the Almighty God. 0, I want to live in that better land! I want God to transform my heart and my life so that when Jesus comes He can truly say to me: "Well done." Could we appear with Him in glory if when He came He found us drinking intoxicants, dipping snuff, chewing tobacco, or participating in immoralities, lusting after the sinful pleasures of this world?

We are told in 1 John 2:6: "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked," Do you walk as Jesus walked? "Well," you say, " I don't think it is wrong for me to take a friendly cocktail." But if Jesus Christ were here tonight, would you invite HIM to your house and give HIM a cocktail? Do you think that if Jesus were here He would go out of this meeting tonight and light up a cigar or a cigaret? Do you think He would go to the honky tonks or be jitterbugging and sipping a bottle of beer?

Many people say, "Yes, I have put on Christ. I am a Christian. I have come to Christ." And yet they are walking in the ways of sin. They are still without hope and without God in the world. It would be better if they had not known the way of righteousness than to have known and yet failed to follow the light. The standard is high, but by the help of God we can come up to that standard. If we love Jesus enough, we will really want to, for we will delight to do His will.

We are told: "Jesus Christ is the sane yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb. 13:8. Do you think that if Jesus Christ were here on earth today you would invite Him to go with you to some crime show, or to see a sexy picture where some man steals another man's wife? Do you think you could invite Jesus to go dancing the precious hours away in a darkened dance hall? We are told to "WALK EVEN AS HE WALKED." If we love Him we will walk as Jesus walked, and we will find happiness doing it.

The Bible says in Amos 3:3: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Can we walk with Jesus unless we are in agreement with Him? Can you? Can I? I want so to walk with Jesus that some day I will have the privilege of walking with Him in the kingdom. I want to see Jesus face to face; but I would not want to see Him with a big chaw of tobacco in my mouth, a whiskey bottle in my hip pocket, or a couple of tickets to some wild--west show or dance in my hand.

If we do die to the sins of this world, some day we will live in that better land that Jesus has gone to prepare. We will see sights we had never imagined could be so beautiful, and music we little dreamed would ever be heard by the ears of men. We will see Jesus and we will see God. We will see the holy angels and the universe of God, with its unnumbered worlds. We can travel for centuries and still not reach the end of God's universe. It is well worthwhile to live for Jesus.

Many are traveling down the broad way to destruction. But Jesus foretold this condition. "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all." Luke 17: 26,27. In those days they were eating and drinking, marrying and remarrying, and lusting after the things of the world; so the Lord destroyed the world by a flood.

In Luke 17:28-30 we read: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." It will be just that way when Jesus comes the second time. Would to God that somehow the Spirit of God would speak to our hearts tonight aid help us to realize how near we are to the end of all things. How much we need Jesus and His saving grace and power!

I think of that great ship, the Titanic. Some years ago that luxury liner was built by men who said that the mighty steel ship was unsinkable. People were anxious to get on the Titanic for its maiden voyage, not because they had to cross the ocean but because they wanted to have a good time. They would have the best orchestra in the country, and the best drinks that could be served at the large bar in the bar room. The world's greatest celebrities made up the passenger list. Many who were clamoring for passage were turned away.

Finally the time came for the ship to make its maiden voyage. As she was about to sail, the passengers were on the spacious deck bidding their friends farewell. With the whistles blowing the people on the wharf called out, "Have a good time." And the passengers shouted back, "Yes, we will make whoopee." The people were going on this trip for a big splurge. They would drink all they could hold; they would dance all they pleased. They said, "This ship is unsinkable." The women put on their best backless gowns, and the men dressed in their evening clothes, all going to the big ballroom.

That ship was loaded with whiskey and gin and beer and wine. The band was playing the jazziest music, and the people that night were having a wonderful time, drinking and dancing. Some were so drunk that they stumbled around, bumping into the tables and knocking the glasses on the floor as they made whoopee. The room was filled with smoke, arid the men and women stood about the bar clinking their glasses together and toasting the ship that even God could not sink. They were having a wonderful time, THEY THOUGHT, laughing and shouting and pushing and shoving.

The next day the water was calm, and the passengers were soaking up the sunshine, trying to get the poison out of their systems so they could again make whoopee. The next night they went into the ballroom for more hilarious activity. The people were swinging and swaying aid saying in their toasts, "This is to the ship that even God himself cannot sink." The next day they spent in recuperating from another wild night. Then the third night they were again in fine spirits and were soon swinging around again and toasting their magnificent ship that even God could not sink. How that must have grieved God!

Suddenly there was & thud. The people were jarred. The captain sent the first mate to investigate. The passengers said, "0, nothing can happen to this ship, " so they went right on dancing. But the first mate returned, talking to the captain excitedly. Then the captain called for silence. The orchestra stopped, and the captain said, "We have struck an iceberg. This ship is taking water rapidly. Every man for himself, but let us try to get the women and children out first."

There was a wild scramble as the passengers all went to the deck. They tried to lower lifeboats, but many of these boats were stuck. They had not expected to need them, and they could not get them loose. The passengers were crying out to God to help them. The ship was tilting to one side. The people were hanging on; some were so drunk they did not know what they were doing. That great luxury liner was going down. Instead of the jazzy music of the orchestra, singing was heard in the darkness on that cold night on the North Atlantic; the people in the water were singing "Nearer, My God to Thee." Then the passengers on the ship took up the strain.

Just a few minutes before, the passengers thought they were on a ship that God himself could not sink. But the judgments of God are inescapable. Some of the passengers had millions of dollars, but that did not save them that night. And it will be that way when Jesus comes. Millions of people who are now rejecting the mercies of God will in that day call on the mountains and rocks to fall on them, to hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. A mere profession of religion is not sufficient. 0, how sad to hear Jesus say, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity, you that refuse to obey my commandments."

How many of you tonight are willing to surrender all to God and gain the peace that passeth understanding? How many are there here tonight who want to make a complete surrender to Christ? I invite you to come to this altar if you feel a conviction in your heart and want to get right with God. Even though you have given yourself half-heartedly before, make a full surrender tonight. Come as we sing, "Just as I am without one plea."