Spiritual Disciplines
Living the Baptized Life
Last week we examined the Spiritual Discipline of Celebrating the Lord’s Table. One of the ways we discovered we do this was by making Communion a “Memorial”; a way of remembering what Jesus has done for us.
Today I want to continue on the idea of remembrance as a means to realize the significance of Baptism.
* Special Thanks to Norayr Hajian for the Excellent Illustration of Marking Points!
ILL. Marking Points
How many people can remember what you were doing on the morning of September 11th, 2001? I can remember quite vividly what I was doing.
There are moments in our lives that become “marking” points in our memory. Some of these moments have little to do with us, but then there are some marking points that are very personal. Some of them, can even become anchors to keep us grounded when things go awry.
I remember all the emotions of that day, and I’m drawn back to the promises I made to God to cherish my loved ones; to live a life more pleasing to God, or to just reach out more to those in need.
Another personal example of a “Marking Point” in my life is the day I felt God clearly call me into the ministry: In the Darien Jungle of Panama. So when the stress and discouragement comes in the ministry, I call my mind back to this “Marking Point” in my life, and I am reminded that it was not man who called me, but God—and until God calls me out, I’m sticking to it.
Why does this matter; because the act of Baptism should be a marking point in the life of every believer.
I think it’s important that we distinguish Marking Points from Turning Points. When someone gets married, his or her love doesn’t just start that day. Weddings are not a turning point in people’s love – but a marking point. Where the commitment was consecrated!
In the same way, getting baptized isn’t a turning point. No one is getting “saved” when they are being baptized. If someone isn’t a Christian before they are baptized, they’re not going to become one because of the act of baptism.
So baptism, as with weddings and ordinations, and even communion, are not so much “turning points” as much as they are “marking points” – an anchor point.
The Marking Point of Baptism reminds us who we are, and what we how we have been called to “Live the Baptized Life”.
Let’s examine what the phrase “Living the Baptized Life” means.
1. Baptism & Obedience
Matthew 3:13-15 (NIV)
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.
Jesus is identifying and establishing baptism as a fundamental part of making the lifetime commitment to God by doing it himself! He’s basically making a command for every believer to follow, but making the act of baptism the first step in a believer’s new life towards a lifetime of following after God.
How important is this command? Important enough that Jesus reminded his disciples before ascending back to heaven:
Mark 16:15-16 (NLT)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
When we are baptized, we are being obedient to our Lord’s Commands. This in turn creates a heart attitude that yearns to see God’s Will done in all that we do.
To live the Baptized Life is to draw back to this marking point that stated: I have submitted myself in obedience to Jesus’ Lordship, and this is my lifetime commitment.
2. Baptism & the Death of the Old Man
Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 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.
Here Paul is writing to a people who were struggling with sin and what he is doing is he is reminding them of their baptism.
Specifically, he is reminding them that when they were baptized they symbolically participated in the death of Christ. Because they have been “buried with him through baptism” now they “too may live a new life.”
There’s a story of a man who was selling an old warehouse. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Gangs had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and thrown trash everywhere. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. The buyer smiled and said “Forget about the repairs. When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.
(contributed by Jeff Strite)
God has torn down the old to make way for the new. This is a very important fact to keep in mind when we are struggling spiritually! God has changed us.
Colossians 2:11-12 (NLT)
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
Remember, just because you have been baptized it doesn’t mean that you won’t struggle with your sin nature.
Think of it in terms of a wedding ceremony: your wedding reminds you of who you belong to and who you are committed to, and therefore presumably, you will stay faithful to your spouse. So also baptism reminds you who you belong to and who you are committed to, and it too will help you stay faithful to your Lord.
When we feel as if we are struggling in our walk with God, Remember what he has already done. Use the marking point of Baptism to remind yourself to continually “Die to sin.”
Romans 6:11-13 (NLT)
So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
To live the Baptized Life is to draw back to this marking point that stated: I am a new creation in God’s Eyes, so I must live and act accordingly!
Baptism is the outward sign of the inward work!
3. Baptism & Deliverance
A. Live in the fullness of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT)
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
When we call back to our baptism story, we should be reminded that we are not alone in our struggles. We have been baptized into the Holy Spirit, and we now have access to that power! What does that power do:
- Guides
- Sharpens/Corrects
- Protects
Bill Bright writes:
“Suppose that you went to cash a check for a hundred dollars. Would you go to the bank where you have several thousand dollars on deposit, place the check on the counter, get down on your knees and say, “Oh Please Mr. Teller, cash my check!”
No, you simply go in faith, place the check on the counter and wait for the money that is already yours.
Millions of Christians are begging God for a life of victory and power that is already theirs—an abundant life just waiting to be appropriated by faith.”
We must be willing to Yield the Holy Spirit, and breathe the Spiritual Breath that is already freely available.
B. Realize Deliverance
Bob Beasley, who is a pastor in Ontario, Canada, tells the following true story: “Our three-year-old daughter, Rena, sat with us during the baptismal service last Sunday night, which was a new experience for her. She exclaimed in surprise, ‘Why did he push that guy in the water? Why, Dad, why?’ My wife tried to explain briefly and quietly, but Rena just wouldn’t be satisfied. Later that night we tried to provide an answer that a child’s mind could comprehend. We talked about sin and told Rena that when people decide to live for Jesus and ‘do good’ they want everyone to know. We then explained that water symbolizes Jesus’ washing people from sin; when they come out ‘clean,’ they are going to try to be ‘good.’ A moment later, we realized we’d have to work on our explanation a bit. Rena had immediately responded, ‘Why didn’t the Pastor just spank him?’”
Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
To live the Baptized Life is to draw back to this marking point that stated: I am not alone, and the Holy Spirit is always there to aid me.
I want to address baptism for the believer. If you’ve acknowledged Jesus in your heart as your Lord and Savior, but have never been baptized—it’s time.
Maybe you would like to renew your commitment to the Lord, and be baptized to publicly acknowledge your re-commitment to God—it’s time.
Or maybe you were too young to remember when you were baptized, and you would like to be baptized to create a new marking point—it’s time.
Create a Marking Point; Live the Baptized Life!
-Prayer
