Spring Life 2008
Part 9- Be Baptized
Pastor Ryan Akers
*parts of this sermon where borrowed with permission from Pastor Joe Colaw of First Wesleyan Church in Bartlesville, OK.
Matthew 3:1-17- Amazing transition in people’s lives, beginning of Christ ministry, proof of the trinity(3 distinct persons)
“The practice of baptism is actually connected to the Old Testament practice of Jewish purification. They did not use the word baptism but they called it “mikvah”- ritual immersion. In the Jewish Bible immersion in water for ritual purification was established for restoration to a condition of “ritual purity” in specific circumstances. For example, Jews who became ritually defiled by contact with a corpse had to use the mikvah before being allowed to participate in the Holy Temple. Immersion is required for converts to Judaism as part of their conversion. Immersion in the mikvah represents a change in status in regards to purification, restoration, and qualification for full religious participation in the life of the community, ensuring that the cleansed person will not impose uncleanness on property or its owners. This change of status by the mikvah could be obtained repeatedly. But, Baptism as we know it is seen as creating a definitive change of status and is thus not repeatable.” Wikipedia
The baptism John is giving is a baptism of salvation in that people were repenting and believing that the time of the Messiah was close. His message had to be strong and the Spirit had to be with him because his look and lifestyle were not that attractive. (Camel hair clothes, ate bugs). Not exactly like modern day’s preacher’s who wear 3 piece suits and drive Mercedes.
John’s baptism was a serious event of salvation and purification of sins. A rebirth from an old life to the new. His message was dead serious and the people took it very seriously and they took baptism very seriously. I think we have lost the power and understanding of the importance of baptism in our lives as believers. It might be because we just don’t have a very good understanding of it.
Chuck Colson once said, “Most westerners take baptism for granted, but for many in the world the act requires immense courage. In countries like Nepal it once meant imprisonment. For Soviet or Chinese or Eastern bloc believers, it was like signing their own death warrants.”
Water baptism is a symbol designed by God Himself to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Just like a wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married. A uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in a particular branch of service, job, or school. Baptism is not to be taken lightly and not to be seen as just a “symbol” but is to be seen as a major step in any new believers life to show the world in a very public way exactly who they now belong to.
How many of you can remember your baptism like it was yesterday?- My baptism
Like all other biblical rituals baptism has had its share of being abused by “christians” through out history.
The famous Roman Emperor Charlemagne became a Christian and felt it was his responsibility to make the world Christian. While the idea sounds quite admirable, the method was deplorable, “Charlemagne chose to force all those he conquered to become Christians. Into the rivers and lakes near the battlefield he drove his defeated enemies to be baptized. Thus thousands of Saxons were made to profess the Christian faith. Naturally it did them little good for they did not know what they were pledging and they had no desire to accept it.” “One scheme Charlemagne hit upon to persuade the Saxons to be baptized peacefully was to give every convert a clean, white shirt. So numerous were the requests for these shirts that the supply ran out, and the newly-baptized began receiving instead a coarse yellow shirt. This was not so attractive, as we gather from the disdainful remark of a Saxon chieftain who was offered a yellow shirt: "I have been baptized already twenty times and received white shirts. I refuse to be baptized any more and will have nothing to do with a religion that is so stingy with its clothes."
Christians are not made by marching them into rivers and lakes—the marvelous work of salvation happens by the work of the Holy Spirit changing hearts. We never intend to use tactics similar to the Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, but we do want Christians to understand the Who, Why, When, Where and How of Baptism. Because this is not just a symbol but it is an incredibly important act for every believer in Christ to participate in. If you have never been baptized or maybe you have been baptized but didn’t understand why then I hope this will speak to you today.
1. Who?
One of the most common questions we encounter is; “Who should be baptized?” We find the answer in the Bible. Every person who has repented of their sins and received forgiveness should be baptized. Acts 2:38
2. Why?
Baptism is an outward and tangible, public witness to a previous decision we have made to commit our life to Christ (Acts 8:12-13; Acts 2:41).
Baptism has great symbolism. It is symbolic of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. It is also symbolic of a spiritual surrender of one’s life to the will of God and His work in our lives (Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:12). It is directly associated with a recognition for the need to be cleansed inwardly (I Peter 3:21). You don’t dunk yourself, you surrender yourself fully trusting someone else to lower you in the water and raise you up.
Second, it is a means of identifying your life with the church of Jesus Christ and the importance of the Christian life itself (Luke 3:21-22 and Acts 2:41-46).
Finally, this ancient and powerful tradition is an opportunity for each believer to give a public testimony relating to their faith and forgiveness. (Matthew 3:5-6)
3. When?
The question of “when” can relate to two ideas: first the “when” following conversion and secondly the “when” related to age.
A person who has repented of their sin should make an effort to be baptized as soon as they could feasibly arrange it after their conversion. There is no try before you buy….
Since we do not practice “regenerational baptism” (the idea that you are not really saved or spiritually regenerated until you are baptized) we do not insist that a new convert to Christianity should be baptized immediately in order to secure their salvation. Some denominations will dispute that baptism is necessary for salvation but if that is true then it must be true for all people which means that the thief on the cross who repented could not be in heaven with Christ. The person who accepts Christ on their deathbed could not be in heaven today. That argument doesn’t have much to stand on as I don’t believe that God would condemn someone to hell for not making a public confession. You may disagree with me and I would be happy to hear your reasons for why I’m wrong. There is no question baptism is strongly recommended with salvation as a public confession of your new life but there is no scripture which says it is absolutely required for salvation.
The second “when” revolves around age. At what age should someone be baptized? A person should be old enough to have a basic understanding of what personal faith in Christ means. This is also called the age of accountability. If the child understands the decision they are making in committing themselves to a realtionship with Jesus Christ then they should be baptized. That age is different for everyone. Sometimes a child will accept Christ at 5 or 6 but may not fully grasp their commitment and you may choose to wait until they are a little older like 10-12 to see if their commitment is truly evident in their life.
4. Where?
This issue is of less concern to most, but some people are concerned about the location of a baptism. I will always say, “in the water”. There is no scriptural demand to tell us where we need to be baptized. Acts 8:36-38 (Philip and the Eunuch)
5. How?
This simple one word question raises quite a bit of interest. Does baptism require immersion? Wesleyans endorse three modes of baptism; immersion, sprinkling and pouring. While we endorse all three modes of baptism, our history embraces immersion as the primary means of baptism. Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, an anonymous book of 16 short chapters, is probably the earliest known written instructions, outside of the Bible, for administering baptism. Most scholars date it to about the year 100. It indicates a preference for baptizing in "living" (i.e. running, as in a river or stream) water at its natural temperature, but considers that, if necessary, it is enough to pour water of any kind on the head: "Concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit."
Many scholars believe immersion, whether partial or complete (submersion), was the dominant mode of baptism in the early church. Other forms were also admitted in certain circumstances, as today in the East, where submersion and immersion continue to be prevalent.
In imitation of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, early Christians preferred rivers for performing baptisms, and this was also suitable for the baptism of large crowds. Since rivers were not available everywhere, some important writers of the second and third centuries remarked that seas, lakes, ponds and springs are equally proper baptismal sites.
APPLICATION:
What do we do with this information about baptism? Do we just say its good and forget it? If so, we are a disobedient Christian. We are like the Christian who claims faith but has no works (James 2). However, it is imperative that we follow the example and command of Christ to be baptized. Such a faith act identifies us with the finest this world has ever known and gives us the public opportunity to tell the world, “I am a Christian!”
This is a dynamic spiritual experience of which simple water cannot explain. Each of us need to know the, who, why, when, where and how. What are you going to do with what you know? If you have not yet been baptized I would encourage you to do so very soon as a public confession of your faith to the world. That confession then becomes a challenge to each of us here to help one another in accountability. Baptism is me crying out that my life is all about Christ but I also need the help of the fellowship of believers to stay the course and win the fight.
CONCLUSION:
John Sung, the "Billy Graham of China," was asked to baptize at Peniel Mission Church in Hong Kong. "But I have never been baptized by immersion myself." Therefore, on his request, missionary Rev. Reiton baptized him first, and he in turn baptized 21 women and 12 men! —Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
For those of you whom have been baptized, live your life in such a manner that it truly represents the life of full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When you truly surrender your life you will be set free. If you have never been baptized, now is the time to show your obedience and follow Christ’s example. The old is gone, the new has come.
POEM- You’re taking this step of faith, In obedience to the Lord, To be baptized in His precious name, And heed the Master’s call, To rise up with faith in God, And go where He may lead, To share God’s love to everyone, And touch them in their need, May God pour out His blessings, Upon your life today, So you may walk in His abundance, As you commit to Him your way, Keep on trusting in the Lord, No matter what you face, And keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, And live in His sweet grace.
Because of his grace we are made new, because of his grace we are clean, fresh, And because of baptism we can proudly proclaim to all who will listen and to all who will see we are His child, we have been set free. In the words of a great man of history, “Free at last, free at last thank God almighty we are free at last.”
