Evidence Of Baptism

This morning I want to talk to you about Baptism. Because on Resurrection Sunday we're going to have a baptism service. We have decided to have baptisms during our Sunday service. I haven't talked about baptism in the last year and, honestly, it's a critical thing for Christians for believers to understand the importance and the priority of water baptism. Why is it important that they're baptized? I know I've met people over the years who love Jesus and are committed to the Lord who have never been baptized and never understood the priority of baptism, but it is so important.

The Lord gave us two ordinances, or two ceremonies, that he wanted us to observe as we worship together. One is Holy Communion, and that's why every first and second Sunday we have communion, and the other is water baptism. Baptism is something that Jesus commanded us to do. Matthew, chapter 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." You could say this baptism is as important as the Great Commission because it's a part of the Great Commission. When it comes to baptism, the word of God is very clear.

Everybody needs to be baptized. Some people just don't understand how important it is and so on. The Word of God over and over and again says this is incredibly important. People who love Jesus would be baptized. [What is baptism, and how is it important?] From a physical viewpoint, baptism is an act that signifies what is actually happening, in which a person is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins; it is a submersion in water. That's why the primary word used there in the New Testament in Greek is baptizo. It's used 77 times in the New Testament, and it always means to dip completely to submerge or immerse. John Calvin said that "the word baptize means to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the early church. The word "baptism" in Greek means "dip" or "immerse."

Baptism in water is an outward representation of inward realities. Today, I would like to clarify why baptism is so important. That is, baptism is an evidence of our faith, evidence of obedience, and evidence of salvation.

I. Baptism is evidence of our Faith

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1 But without faith it is impossible to please him. v.6.

Both the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are signs of God’s love that awaken faith in us. Since faith is God’s creation, baptism is entirely God’s work. We only receive it by trusting in God’s promise.

"Baptism is faith in action." ~ Watchman Nee. Baptism is important not only because it's a command of Christ, but also because it's a declaration of your faith and your identity with Christ. I'm a Christian. I'm a follower of Christ, but it is also an illustration of what happened to you in Christ. Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which we testify, both to God and to the world, that the person we were before is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ.

"Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."- Romans 6:4

"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."-Colossians 2:12

He who believes and is baptized will be saved. but he who doesn’t believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

By Faith we are spiritually baptized into Christ and into His body. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” - Galatians 3:27. 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. 1 Cor. 12:13. Baptism is an expression of faith and therefore only for those who desire to be forgiven.

II. Baptism is evidence of our Obedience

John 14:15. "If you love me, keep my commandments." Baptism is a simple, but profound act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

Matthew 3:15 "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness". Well, what does that mean? How did Jesus fulfill all righteousness? He did that by dying on the cross, so whatever baptism means, it is connected to what Jesus did on the cross. It is symbolic of Jesus' death and his resurrection. Therefore, Jesus answered by saying, in Luke 12:50, "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!" Because Jesus viewed his death on the cross as a dying and resurrection, of which baptism is the perfect picture. Baptism illustrates what Jesus did, so when Jesus told John by being baptized it would fulfill all righteousness, he did it. Here's what he was saying: My death and resurrection will fulfill all righteousness, and my baptism will be an illustration of that death and resurrection.