Baptism - Celebrate New Life In Christ

Dakota Community Church

August 02, 2009

Baptism

Celebrate New Life in Christ

This morning we will talk about one of the best events in the life of a believer – water baptism.

What is it and why do we do it?

How is baptism to be conducted according to the scriptures?

Is it merely a symbolic rite or is something supernatural actually happening?

Let’s begin by turning to the Word of God:

Romans 6: 1-7

1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

In baptism we are united with Christ in his burial and resurrection from the dead.

What is Biblical baptism?

(A.) Biblical baptism is a symbolic representation of our death and burial with Christ.

(Symbolic in that you are not physically dead and buried.) Eph.2 Seated in heaven realms

Dictionary definition: Serving as a symbol of something

i.e. Going down under the water symbolizes burial

Colossians 2: 9, 10, 12

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. …having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

(B.) Biblical baptism is submersion in water.

Greek:

Baptizo - to plunge under, dip, or immerse.

Two Greek words translated "sprinkle" are RANTIZO and ECHEO. Neither word is found in the Bible in relation to baptism.

Acts 8:26-40

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?" 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized [BAPTIZO] him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

(C.) Biblical baptism follows belief.

Mark 16: 15-16

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:40-41

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This is why infant baptism is not a biblical idea – acceptance of the message comes BEFORE baptism! God has no grandchildren.