WHY DO WE DEDICATE CHILDREN AND BAPTIZE ADULTS?
Various Scriptures
INTRODUCTION: I would hazard to think that we all have stories about why we do some of the things we do. Sometimes we do things because this was the way others in our family did them, or perhaps we tried multiple ways ourselves and stumbled across the way that is best for us. Often there is no rhyme or reason for doing things the way we do, except for habit and personal preference.
Within the confines of the church though, there is a reason behind many of the things we do. There is a reason for membership – the Scriptures speak about the authority of the local church and evidence over and over how believers were baptized and then brought/added to the church. There is a reason for serving Christ through the church – The Great Commission. There is a reason for giving – God declares that a portion of all he has given us is to be returned to him, in fact when we do not, the book of Malachi says that we have stolen from God!
Child Dedication and Baptism also have their reasons. We dedicate children because Jesus blessed them and encouraged them to come to Him. Dedication is more than a promise between church and parent; it is a blessing on the life of the one being dedicated. Likewise Baptism is not done without reason. Both its timing and mode are important. In a Baptist Church, baptism is done after salvation. That is the biblical pattern. No where in Scripture do we see baptism occurring before salvation. The mode is also important. We baptize by immersion because that is the meaning of the word, and only immersion fulfills the meaning an imagery of baptism.
Today though is a special day. As a church we will be celebrating both of these events; we have already dedicated two children, and at the conclusion of this message, will baptize three in the pool. So, with this in mind, I believe it would be reasonable to look a little more in depth at these two activities of the church.
I WHY DO WE DEDICATE INFANTS
Psalms 139:13-16 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
A God is the Author of life
1 God knows each child before we do
2 God knows each child from the moment of conception
3 God is involved in our creation
B Dedication follows a Biblical Pattern
1 Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord
1 Samuel 1:11 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
2 Children are a heritage given to us from the Lord
Psalms 127:3 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
a Literally they are the RECEPTION of God’s Property
b Children become a permanent possession of the receiver
C God has parental instincts
1 God wants to gather His children under His protection
Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
2 God is the one who waits patiently for us.
Luke 15:11-32 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. … 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. … 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
D Christ SPECIFICALLY asks for the children to be brought to Him
Matthew 19:13-14 13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
1 Even if it bothers the adults
2 Jesus desires to bless children
a Uniquely
b Individually
E Jesus is SERIOUS about the Spiritual Life of Children
Matthew 18:1-6 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:10-14 10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
1 Jesus promises retribution against those who harm the spirit of children
2 Jesus promises individual care and concern for children
3 Jesus makes His desires known to his followers
II WHY DO WE BAPTIZE THE WAY WE DO?
A We have a God-ordained obligation to Baptize
1 Baptism was instituted by Jesus
Matthew 3:13-16 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
2 Baptism was instructed by the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
3 Baptism was practiced by the apostles
Acts 2:38 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
4 Baptism was submitted to by the church
Romans 6:3-5 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We 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. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Colossians 2:11-12 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 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 Baptism has significance
1 Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – Rom 6;Col 2
2 Baptism signifies
a Our regeneration and newness of life
Romans 6:4 4 We 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.
b Our death to our Old Nature
Romans 6:6 6 For 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--
c Our oneness with Christ
Galatians 3:27 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
C Those ready for Baptism
1 Those who have trusted Christ
Matthew 28:19 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Those who understand the meaning and symbol of Baptism
Acts 10:47 (47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
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