Baptism

Baptism

Sunday a.m. - March 30, 2008

1) Jesus Christ walked about 40 miles to the Jordan River to be baptized by John he Baptist.

a. If Jesus walked that far to be baptized it should tell us that baptism is very important.

b. Just before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave the disciples this command: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". That’s found in Matthew 28:19.

2) There are the two reasons every Christian should be baptized.

a. First, Jesus was baptized.

b. Second, as we just read in Matt. 28:19, He commanded everyone who follows Him to be baptized.

3) So water baptism is very important to the Christian life.

a. Matthew 3:13-15. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Optional Joke

A drunk stumbled along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeded to walk down into the water and stood next to the

Preacher.

The minister turned and noticed the old drunk and said, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, Preacher. I sure am."

The minister then dunked the fellow under the water and pulled him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks.

"No, I didn’t!" says the drunk.

The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"

"No, I did not Preacher."

The preacher in disgust holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Friend, are you sure you haven’t found Jesus yet?"

The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher..."Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

4) Baptism is one of two ordinances commanded by the Lord.

a. The first is communion and the second is baptism.

b. Most of the churches in this part of the world takes both of them too lightly.

c. In some parts of the world, such as Nepal, if authorities saw you being baptized they would throw you in prison.

d. For Christians in China or in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, baptism was like signing their own death warrant.

5) What is baptism for?

a. A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married.

b. A police uniform is an outward sign that a person in law enforcement.

c. In the same way water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as

a disciple of Jesus Christ.

d. But it is more than just a symbol.

6) What does the word “baptize” mean?

a. Baptize in the Gr. is “baptisma” and means “to immerse”.

b. Another way of saying it is to “plunge or dunk”.

7) When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are spiritually baptized (or immersed) into Christ.

a. Turn to Galatians 3:26 (NKJV) “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

8) Baptism is also a sign that we’ve been baptized into the Body of Christ, or the church.

a. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

9) Water is a symbol the Bible uses to represent an inner cleansing:

a. “Ephesians 5:25-26 Ephesians 5:25-26 (NKJV) “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

b. Also in Hebrews 10:22 (NKJV) “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Optional Joke

A young pastor, fresh out of seminary, was conducting his first baptismal service. He was so nervous he got his Scriptures confused concerning baptism and the Lord’s Supper: He said, “I now baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” As he lowered the convert into the water, he added, “And now drink ye all of it.”

10) When it comes right down to it, water baptism is a funeral.