Dakota Community Church
August 02, 2009
Baptism
Celebrate New Life in Christ
This morning we will talk about one of the best events in the life of a believer – water baptism.
What is it and why do we do it?
How is baptism to be conducted according to the scriptures?
Is it merely a symbolic rite or is something supernatural actually happening?
Let’s begin by turning to the Word of God:
Romans 6: 1-7
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We 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.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For 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-- 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
In baptism we are united with Christ in his burial and resurrection from the dead.
What is Biblical baptism?
(A.) Biblical baptism is a symbolic representation of our death and burial with Christ.
(Symbolic in that you are not physically dead and buried.) Eph.2 Seated in heaven realms
Dictionary definition: Serving as a symbol of something
i.e. Going down under the water symbolizes burial
Colossians 2: 9, 10, 12
9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. …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.) Biblical baptism is submersion in water.
Greek:
Baptizo - to plunge under, dip, or immerse.
Two Greek words translated "sprinkle" are RANTIZO and ECHEO. Neither word is found in the Bible in relation to baptism.
Acts 8:26-40
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."
34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?" 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized [BAPTIZO] him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
(C.) Biblical baptism follows belief.
Mark 16: 15-16
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:40-41
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
This is why infant baptism is not a biblical idea – acceptance of the message comes BEFORE baptism! God has no grandchildren.
If baptism follows belief how is belief defined scripturally?
Romans 10:9-14
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Is there any age restriction then? How young is too young?
There is no set age limit, the condition of baptism is that the believer is able to understand the sacrifice of Jesus and is old enough to submit to His Lordship.
Acts 2: 38-39
38Peter 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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
1 Corinthians 1:16
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
We don’t know if this household had children in the pre-teen age (Usual source of contention) but I think it is best to leave it to the parents who can best gage the readiness of their own youngsters. I would not want to refuse someone’s strong desire to follow Jesus in obedience. We are always saying that the children are NOT the church of tomorrow, they are fellow members of the church now with us and in training.
(D.) Biblical baptism is a matter of obedience.
We all need to be taught to obey. Jesus was baptized even though he was without sin (to “fulfill all righteousness” he said), he has commanded us to be baptized – why would you not obey him in this?
Matthew 28: 19-20
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
(E.) Biblical baptism is a celebration of new life in Christ!
Galatians 2:15-21
15"We who are Jews by birth and not ’Gentile sinners’ 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
