Introduction
A Baptist congregation installed a new full immersion baptistery in the sanctuary as part of an extensive remodeling project. But the county building inspector wouldn’t okay its’ installation. “I can’t,” he said, “unless it has a separate septic tank.”
The trusties couldn’t understand why a septic tank would be needed for the baptistery. The building inspector saw their puzzled faced, so he explained, “It’s to avoid pollution in the ground.”
One of the church trustees finally said with a grin, “I guess it would pollute, with all those sins washed away!” (Helen Daley, 1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories)
That’s really what it’s all about. Baptism is the washing away of sins.
Today we’ve had the privilege of seeing another soul enter the Christian family through the baptism of Brendan Schlak. Last week, Christian Bressler was also baptized with a private ceremony between services. With two baptisms in eight days, I thought it quite fitting then, to take a moment from our regular scripture readings today and reflect on what baptism is and how it affects our lives.
No one here needs to be reminded that baptism plays an important role in the Christian church. Even before Jesus’ ministry began, John the Baptist preached to repent and be baptized. The greatest event in John’s career took place when he baptized the Lord Himself. It was one of his central teachings. But also one of the central teachings of the New Testament.
The apostles also baptized. On the first Pentecost, when 3,000 people embraced Christianity, Peter told the crowd to, “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Saul, after being blinded while speaking to Jesus, was told by Ananias to be baptized which changed the great persecutor of Christians to the great Apostle Paul and evangelist of the gentiles. And again, Peter preached to the household of the centurion Cornelius at Caesarea and the Holy Spirit fell on the group of people who heard him and there Peter commanded that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:48).
The words of Jesus and the letters of the apostles speak of Baptism in various passages. All indicate that this sacrament was in frequent use. Most, if not all of us, received baptism in a church very similar to this one. With all the references to baptism, there’s no doubt that this is an important part of our Christian lives. Today, I’d like to look at why this is an important aspect of the Christian faith.
Given by God
First, baptism is an institution given us by God Himself. In Acts the great Apostle Paul delivered an address to a multitude in Jerusalem (Acts 22:16). The Roman soldiers had rescued him from the hands of the mob and Paul asked for permission to speak to the immense concourse of people. When this was granted, he launched into an account of his life as a Jew, and of his conversion to Christianity. He told of how, after Jesus spoke to him on the way to Damascus, he was blinded. A devout disciple of Jesus, Ananias was sent by the Lord, came to Paul and said: “Brother Paul, receive your sight.” Following this, Paul had scales fall from his eyes and received back his sight. Then Ananias, after telling him that God had chosen him to be His witness to all men, said to him, “Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized.” It is God’s will that you be baptized. Why are you hesitating?
In Paul’s case, it was God’s explicit will that he receive Holy Baptism. But, not just him. We see from the Scriptures that this applies to everybody. In Matthew 28, Jesus gave us the Great Commision. He said to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism then, is not something we can choose to do, or not do. It’s a directive from God Himself that we as obedient sons and daughters of God need to follow. In many matters, God has given us no command as to the course we are to pursue. We may, for instance, eat meat or be vegetarians – that is to be decided by ourselves. God has not directed how we are to act in these situations. The congregation may determine to have many special events or festivals, or it may decide to have very few – God has not prescribed these. Baptism, however, has been directed and all should receive it. As faithful Christians, we should follow suit.
When God informs us Baptism is for all, the children are included. They are part of all nations, for whom Baptism is intended. What right have we or anybody else to exclude children, whom God has not excluded? In the Old Testament, circumcision was used to identify male children as sons of God. Only 8 days after their birth, this practice was administered to infants. St. Paul clearly tells us that baptism is the counterpart of circumcision (Colossians 2: 11-12). Similarly, baptism should be offered to infants as well as anyone else. All are subject to the mandate of Jesus. Preach to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Some haughty spirits refuse to be baptized. They say God can save them without their receiving this sacrament. These people wish to be wiser than God. Just the story we heard last week. They are like Naaman, the Syrian, in the first moments after his visit to the house of the prophet Elisha. How angry did he not become when Elisha told him to wash seven times in the river Jordan! He asked, why, are you asking me to wash in the Jordan river when there are so many cleaner waters closer to my home? But the outcome showed how that God had a plan for him to obey and submit to his rule. How disastrous it would have been for Naaman to refuse the simple order. We have been told by God to be baptized. We should be obedient and follow that as well.
Outward Act with Visible Elements
But, baptism is more than just instituted by God. Baptism is a religious ceremony involving an outward act. Ananias told Paul to arise and to be baptized. Something was to be done and it’s clear that he was referring to a ceremony of a religious kind; what was to be performed was addressed to Christ and involved prayer. He was to “call on the name of the Lord.” Ananias does not give a description of the baptism or method of the ceremony. It was not necessary. Paul, through his contact with the Christians, had full knowledge of the various features of this sacrament.
We see from the New Testament that baptism includes the application of water. More than that is not revealed to us on the outward act. The same word is used for baptizing people, washing of dishes and even the ceremonial cleansing of a couch. With such a widespread use of a single word, it would be difficult to say that one form is to be preferred over another. This is why we allow immersion, sprinkling and pouring as legitimate baptism methods. What is required is that water be applied in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as prescribed by Christ (Matthew 28:19). The mode of applying the water or the quantity of the water is not at all essential. Water and the Word is all that’s required.
Forgiveness of Sins
But, what is the real benefit that baptism gives us? Of course, we have obedience to the Word of God, but it’s so much more than that. Baptism confers the forgiveness of sins.
Ananias said to Paul, “Be baptized and wash away your sins.” Now, Paul had many sins. One long chain of wrong-doing was the persecution of the Christian church at Jerusalem. This weighed heavily upon him, even though he had done this work of the devil in ignorance. Wash your sins away in baptism, says Ananias. Now, no washing will help to rid us of our sins. All the waters of the ocean cannot cleanse our heart and conscience. And yet the little water of baptism because of God’s Word will do it will make us white as snow in the eye of our Heavenly Father. In other words, Baptism brings real forgiveness.
Is baptism such a good and pious act that it can atone for our wrong doing? No. The few words spoken, the little water applied, the short ceremony and the prayers offered cannot make amends for the wrong we have committed. Nothing can cleanse us from our own disobedience to the will of God.
But the truth is that baptism does grant the great treasures which God in His infinite love has prepared. To understand the benefits of baptism, you have to look to Calvary. On that cross was prepared both forgiveness of sins and salvation. Ever since Jesus died, there is God’s pardon. What we have to do, is reach out and accept what is offered.
Paul, in his letter to Titus, described baptism as the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). And that’s really what it is. Through the waters of baptism, our sins are washed away and we are regenerated in the process. Through baptism, we become new.
In Acts, Peter said “Repent and be baptized every one of you… for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 22:16). Time and time again, we find references to the washing power of baptism. Through this sacrament, we are washed clean as snow. Through this regeneration we are made clean in his sight. In the process, we are bestowed with the Holy Spirit who strengthens us and keeps on the straight and narrow. He works in the ears of those who come under the influence of the means of grace and enters the heart. There the Spirit affects acceptance of God’s gift, through all who accept the sacrament. Through baptism, God invests us with the merits of Christ and cleanses us from our past making us acceptable in His sight.
The pardon of God is the gift given to us in Baptism. That is the glorious thing which Baptism assures us of – God’s mercy and pardon, the forgiveness of sins and the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
What better gift could we have than the God himself descending on us and into our lives. But, such is the miracle of baptisms. Healing comes to us in many ways through the Water, the Word and the Spirit.
As we reflect not only on the baptism of these two blessed children of God, we should look to our own blessings as well. We should look back to our baptism with gratitude and joy. Our baptism was a gracious washing, cleansing us of the guilt we have and bringing into our hearts the Holy Spirit. We should cling to the forgiveness that was given to us on that day and remember that that blessing is still with us at this very moment. The promise stands. It is ours whenever we grasp it.
(Inspired by a sermon from W. Arndt, “Baptism,” The Concordia Pulpit 1932)
Water, Word and Spirit and through them we gain forgiveness, blessings and hope for the future. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, through your Son and the Holy Spirit, you have blessed us with the regenerating waters of baptism. Let us always reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf as the true living water. Thank-you for the blessings that you’ve bestowed on us and help us continue to recognize the hope that is in our lives today.
Amen.
