Baptism’s Blessing
Matthew 28:19
Purpose: To explain the meaning of baptism.
Aim: I want the listener to see the importance of baptism and pursue it.
INTRODUCTION: It never ceases to amaze me how some people are willing to identify themselves with the Philadelphia Eagles. Some men will paint their bodies green, wear ridiculous hats, paint their faces, or sometimes six of them each paint letters on their bare chests to spell out Eagles.
Why is it some fans are willing to go to ridiculous lengths to identify with a football team and yet there are those who claim to be Christian who refuse to be publicly identified with Christ?
Baptism is God’s method of publically standing up for Christ.
I. Baptism Identifies You as a Christian
Many came to Jesus because He healed many, preached to many, and performed many miracles, but many people also came to Christ to be baptized. John 4:1 . . . the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (NAU)
The last words of Christ before He went back to heaven were, Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (NAU)
The first thing that new followers of Christ did was get baptized. Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (NAU)
This was also true of Paul. Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; (NAU)
This was true of the Philippian jailer. Acts 16:30-31 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (NAU) Acts 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. (NAU)
The Bible calls us the bride of Christ. Getting baptized is like a bride accepting a wedding ring. That ring identifies that the bride belongs to her groom.
A. Water pictures our sin being washed away
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for [i.e. because of] the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NAU)
Notice how the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation is described in, Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (NAU)
B. Immersion pictures a changed life
Romans 6 talks about Spirit baptism. Romans 6:3-5 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (NAU)
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU)
II. Baptism Fulfills Christ’s Command
Matthew 28:19-20 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NAU)
A. This command unites all believers “all the nations”
Baptism isn’t just for certain believers. Baptism pictures unity, because we are all baptized the same way for the same reasons.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (NAU)
B. This command teaches the trinity “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”
Notice that we are baptized into the “NAME” not “names”. There is only one God, but He has revealed Himself in there persons.
Each member of the Trinity has been involved in our salvation.
The Father choose us. Ephesians 1:3-6 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (NAU)
The Son died for us. Romans 5:9-10 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (NAU)
The Holy Spirit brings us to Christ. Titus 3:4-5 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (NAU)
C. This command promises Christ’s presence “I am with you always,even to the end of the age”
The Lord doesn’t ask us to stand up for Him without promising to stand with us.
Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” (NAU)
D. This command brings assurance “an appeal to God for a good conscience”
1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (NAU)
When we pursue obedience we grow in our confidence that we are believers. 2 Peter 1:4-5 4 . . . He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, (NAU)
2 Peter 1:8-9 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: In light of what we have learned, we should ask, as Saul was asked, Acts 22:16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’ (NAU)
