A New Look At Your Baptism

A NEW LOOK AT YOUR BAPTISM

Introduction

On the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, it is good to take a new-look at our baptism. When I

was a pastor, I often had a renewal of baptism vows on this Sunday. Baptism is a

significant event in the life of every Christian. We often take it for granted. This Sunday

gives us an opportunity to take another look at our baptism to discover or re-discover

some things we may have forgotten, overlooked or cast aside.

A NEW LOOK AT THE CONCEPTION OF BAPTISM

Baptism is not mentioned in the Old Testament. There is some evidence of early people

who practiced baptism. The records show that the Jewish law authorized baptism as a

practice to restore ritual purity for instance when one had touched a corpse. Later, the

practice was used during the Babylonia captivity to immerse converts to Judiasm.

John the Baptist used baptism for the repentance of sins. He pointed to Jesus who

would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. There is no indication that Jesus ever

baptized anyone. Jesus himself submitted to baptism to fulfill righteousness, referring

to the Servant of God in Isaiah 42. Jesus' baptism inaugurated his mission on earth.

A NEW LOOK AT THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

Baptism celebrates a born again experience as someone becomes a new person upon

receiving Christ as Savior. Baptism of new Christians becomes a special day in many

churches as recipients, sometimes dressed in white array, are immersed in the water.In

churches using pouring or sprinkling, baptism day is also a special occasion with

friends and relatives attending the services. In churches that practice infant baptism,

the day is special with parents and relatives looking on with joy as the minister sprinkles

water on the forehead of the baby. Sometimes the celebratory meaning is lost in the

excitement of the day. A celebration is in order because sins have been washed away.

A celebration is in order because someone has passed from death to life. A celebration

is in order because night has been turned into day in someone's life. A celebration is in

order because someone has been saved, saved, saved! The Bible confirms the

legitimacy of celebration because the kingdom of God is good news.(Acts.8:12) We

celebrate because someone has been saved through the preaching of the word. (Acts

18:8} Other reasons for celebration are

a A clear conscious through the resurrection of Christ. (1 Peter 3:21

b. United with Christ (Galations 3:27)

A NEW LOOK AT CONVERSION IN BAPTISM

Conversion means that we have changed our actions. We have been traveling one way

and turned around and went the other way. We had one way of thinking and changed our

minds. Conversion means to repent of our sins and receive forgiveness through Jesus

Christ. ( Acts 2:38) Conversion means to believe in Christ for salvation.(Mark 16:16)

Conversion means to be sincere about our change of direction and leave our sins

behind. Stories are told about dry sinners who are baptized in the water and come out

wet sinners. Real conversion results in real change. George Whitefield writes that we

should not accept converts too early. We should wait awhile and see if they bear fruit.

Conversion should be observable and permanent. I remember the story of Joe who was

a drug dealer on the corner of a tough city street.Everyone was afraid of Joe as he was

no one to be crossed the wrong way. However, one day Joe disappeared and was

missing for a long time. No one knew where Joe was. One day someone saw Joe going

down an alley. The next day a woman walked down that same alley looking for Joe.

Much to her surprise the alley led to a small church. There in the back of the church she

found Joe ushering. After the service, the minister gave the invitation. The women

went up to the altar where the minister asked her if she wanted to accept Christ.

However, she said, "All I want to do is to see the man who changed Joe!" Joe had

experienced a true conversion. The man who changed Joe was Jesus Christ.

A NEW LOOK AT CONFIRMATION IN BAPTISM

Confirmation services are held in those churches who baptize infants. Children and

young people who have been baptized as babies confirm for themselves the pledges

their parents gave for them at their baptism. Infant baptism goes on the assumption

that God has his hand upon us even as infants. This is called prevenient grace, the idea

that even in infancy God has his eyes on that child and desires its salvation. The parents

in turn promise to raise the child in such a way that when they are of the age of

understanding, around early teens or later, they will confirm the vows their parents made