Everyone who has ever been baptized (which I would guess is a percentage of this room) has a baptism story. You can remember the place, the time, if not the year. My dad was a church planter and we were meeting in a school, so we borrowed other churches baptistries until we had our own building. I was baptized at the Highland Park Christian church on a Sunday Afternoon with my brother and sister.
I especially like talking to older people about their baptisms---because most of them involved creeks, or rivers, or ponds.
Our baptism is a very special thing to us—rightly so. It’s why we put more time into the design and structure of this part of our building than any other part. It’s where it happens.
A few weeks ago we started this journey of looking at the Great Commission.
Matt 28—All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We are pulling the Greatest Parts out of the Great Commission.
Week 1-the Greatest need---obedience
Last week---the greatest direction---Go
To day—the Greatest Connection---baptism.
There is an old saying—we should practice what we preach. This morning I want to flip that around and preach what we practice. If you have been here long you have seen a baptism on a Sunday. Someone in this pool, confessing they believe that Jesus is God’s son and they are put under the water.
Jesus—started his ministry with getting baptized in Matt 3, and ended his time on earth by telling us to go baptize. As we track the early church we see that baptism was a part of the faith, disciple making process.
In Mark 16, in the commissioning passage, Jesus aid, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Believe what??? The good news—that Jesus, God’s son came to earth to fulfill the Justice requirement for our sin---death. And that he conquered death and rose again---and we can expect victory by being connected to the Cross and that sacrifice. And the connection given as a gift to us, is the gift of baptism.
One of Jesus teaching methods was to say something to his disciples---something they did not understand at the moment—but would later have one of those beautiful ‘aha’ moments. That was the case in John 3 with nicodemus. He came seeking Jesus at night. Jesus told him, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”
Nicodemus even ask Jesus—how can this be??? Jesus does not tell him.
But what a joy for Nicodemus later-----what an aha moment---to understand he had been given a preview, a glimpse into the plans for the future kingdom—the church.
Now---I know, depending on your heritage, and family history, even the word baptism could mean something completely different to you then it does to me.
You’ve heard the old saying---Practice what you ??? preach.
This morning I want to preach what we practice.
In all things---it’s our practice to go to the Bible. We don’t use anything else as authority—starting with the words of Jesus and on through the directions given by the apostles.
So—I this morning----I want to answer some of the most often asked questions about this greatest of connections---baptism.
Question #1----What Does Baptism mean??
This is a multiple part answer.
a. It is a cleansing. 1 Peter 3:21 says, “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Baptsim is a cleansing---inner not outer. It is a recognition that sin has marked us—and there is nothing we can do about it---but the blood of Christ can cleanse that sin. Erase it from us. Baptsim is the connection to that blood. Nothing special about the water—we don’t ship it in from the Holy Land or anything.
Baptsim is a cleansing on the inside.---
You see man does not need a little religion---we need a complete regeneration—a recreation and that can only be done by God. Jesus dying on the cross made that available for us.
When Saul, who later became Paul the apotle, was in Damascus, blinded by the great light of God speaking to him. God sent Ananias to instruct him. In acts 22, Paul telling the story gives Ananias words “Now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”
There is no other way given in scripture to wash our sins away---other than baptism.
Baptism is also a symbol,
Romans 6:3,4—don’t’ you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? WE were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raise from the dead through the glory of the Fathe we too may live a new life.
Baptism is the symbol of that death burial and resurrection.
Baptism is also a visible expression of our faith.
Faith is meant to be expressed and God gives us this great opportunity right at the beginning of our life with him to express our faith through baptism.
William James said, “An impression without an expression leads to depression.”
We were created to respond to things that impress us. It can be with cheers, or tears, smiles or frowns---but humans are created to express. To be impressed with God’s love and grace and not have a way to express that impression would be terrible.
On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2---it’s the very thing Peter told the crowd. After preaching to them that the man they cried crucify crucify a month earlier was the Messiah---the Christ the people----when they were impressed with this truth—were cut to their hearts and cried out—what??? What shall we do?? Expression---
And Peter’s answer---in line with Jesus instruction…
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in thename of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism is also a transforming.
2 Cor 5:17 says If nayone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!
How are we “in” Christ? Romans 6—we are buried with him
Gal 3:27—for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
#1—What does baptism mean?
It means I’m clean, Clothed, I’m connected.
Question #2---How is baptism to be done?
Depending on your church background you may have seen baptisms done in a variety of ways. Some faith traditions sprinkle people, some pour water over people. Those forms were not introduced in Bible times, and in fact were hundreds of years later. It was 1311 when the Catholic Church voted to accept sprinkling as a legitimate form of baptism.
Most churches who accept the authority of the Bible alone as their rule of faith choose to immerse a person under the water. This was what was commanded by Jesus, and is what the word actually means—to dip or plunge beneath or to immerse.
Which fits with the verse we read earlier—to be buried with. Also we have multiple times in scripture when it says the person being baptized “came up out of the water”
We have chosen to practice immersion only as a mode of baptism because it’s what the early church did.
Question #3—Who should be baptized?
Any individual who comes to the point of believing that Jesus is God’s son, who is willing to repent of their sins, confess the name of Jesus and commit to follow him as Lord----should be baptized. It’s not about knowing all the different doctrines of the Bible or all the views of how the world will end. It’s not about being able to explain deep spiritual truths---if a person realizes God loves them and he’s the only one that can take care of their sin problem and they want to follow him----they are ready for baptism.
Which prompts the question---why do some churches practice infant baptism?? Short answer---infant baptism came about in the 6th century after a Christian named Augustine of Hippo concluded that un-baptized infants might not go to heaven because of original sin.
We believe that the Bible teaches we are born with a sin---it’s the self centered nature we have—but not the guilt of Adam’s sin on us. We do not believe that a baby is guilty of sinning or in jepordy. Jesus himself said that unless we become like a little child, we would not enter the kingdom of God.
We do not practice infant baptism because in every situation in scripture it was a person being able to recognize their sin problem, repent of that and make the personal choice to be baptized. We do have a baby dedication day twice a year where parents can dedicate themselves to raising their children to follow Jesus.
We do require anyone who wants to be a member of FCC to be immersed. If you did that at some point at another church—we certainly don’t require you do that again here. We believe that you are baptized into Christ—not a church.
Question #4—Should a person ever be re-baptized?
I don’t think there is a believer here that at one time or another has thought about being baptized again. A couple common reasons given to me are: I’ve had a bad spell in my life and want to get reconnected to God.
Or, I know a lot more now then I did then.
I think it’s important we work through the purpose and plan of God in this area. We all have bad spells and we all know more now then we did then---
1 John 1:9—John writing to the church reminded them, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
The beauty of our baptism is that it connects to that promise for all time. We don’t have to be rebaptized every time we have an off day or we would all be lining up a lot more. Jesus died, once and for all for man’s sins and when we are buried with him---that blood covers our sins for once and for all time.
But----there are times when someone says they did not know what they were doing---they just did it because a friend did or a parent wanted them to, or grandma offered them $10 to get baptized on Easter. Some people are continually plagued with doubt and want to do it for the right reason---their commitment. And we do. My advice in this area??? Follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting and your heart and settle the issue.
Question #5—Is it necessary for me to be baptized??
Jesus did to do the right thing. Jesus told us to go make disciples baptizing them. Jesus said he who believes and is baptized will be saved. Peter told the people at Pentecost—Repent and be baptized. Even when we don’t see a teaching on baptism we see the connection. In Acts 8—a treasurer from Africa is reading a passage of the Old Testament. Isaiah. The Spirit tells Philip to go to the chaiort. Philip hears him reading and ask if he understands what he is reading. He says no—Philip gets in the chariot—begins to explain the passage and tells him about Jesus. Vs 36—as they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “look, here is water, Why shouldn’t I be baptized?? And he was. Obviously part of the teaching of Jesus dying as the lamb involved baptism.
Same situation in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were in jail. God sends an earthquake—the jailer ask what must I do to be saved. Paul responds—Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Is it necessary? Maybe a better question is—What’s stopping me?
Jesus said—If you love me—you will keep my commands.
Question #6—last one. When should I be baptized??
The pattern in the New Testament was when a person came to an understanding of their sin, realized Jesus was the only answer, had a desire to repent and make Jesus Lord of their life. Also—when people were told about buring the old person, dying to the old self, receiving forgiviness and the gift of God’s Spirit----it was something they wanted right a way.
I have found 2 or 3 reasons through the years why a person hesitates at being baptized.
1. They have never been taught what the Bible has to say about it.
2. They are afraid it might ruffle some family feathers if that has not been their heritage.
3. They know they are not ready to make Jesus Lord of their life, deep down know they are not ready to give up control—and this is what they use to put it off.
Some people exert more energy putting off their baptism then they have in pursuing and studying what it means. But that can change—in an instnant.
Jesus asks that those who choose to follow him, express their faith by humbling, passively, letting someone bury them in water.
It’s the bench mark of our lives, that we never forget. And it’s something Satan will do all he can to keep you from doing it.
Satan will never tell you there is no hell, and he won’t tell you there is no heaven. But he will tell you there’s no hurry.
