Back to the Basics - Baptism
May 20, 2012 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Baptism is the first outward demonstration of the salvation that has happened on the inside.
Focus Passage: Romans 6:1-7
Introduction: The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual." Source Unknown.
1. Meaning of Baptism
a. Identify with Christ
i. Christ’s example - But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he *permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Matthew 3:14-17 NASB)
ii. Christ’s death & burial - Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Romans 6:3-5 NASB)
iii. Put on Christ - For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27 NASB)
b. Testimony of Salvation
i. Figure of salvation - These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat---eight in all---were saved by the water, which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:20-21 GNB)
ii. Newness of life - Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 NASB)
iii. Working of God - having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12 NASB)
c. Act of Obedience
i. Great Commission - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NASB)
ii. Repent & Baptize - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NASB)
iii. Believing & being baptized - Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. (Acts 18:8 NASB)
2. Mode of Baptism
a. Immersion
i. much water - John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized-- (John 3:23 NASB)
ii. coming up from the water - After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, (Matthew 3:16 NASB)
iii. went down, came up - As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:36-39 NASB)
b. For Believers Only
i. already received Holy Spirit - All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. (Acts 10:45-48 NASB)
ii. disciples - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NASB)
iii. received word, then baptized - So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41 NASB)
3. Confusion about Baptism
a. Not necessary for Salvation
i. “eis” because of, at, for - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NASB)
ii. according to mercy - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7 NASB)
iii. grace through faith - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
iv. believe - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB)
v. thief on cross - And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:42-43 NASB)
b. No Scripture evidence of infant baptism
i. none by command
ii. none by example
iii. based on a misunderstanding of meaning of baptism
c. Sacrament versus Ordinance
i. Sacrament = vehicle of grace
ii. Ordinance = expression of faith and obedience
Invitation: Have you been Scripturally baptized? That is, have you been saved THEN baptized by immersion? Do you have your baptism out of order, that is, you were once baptized then were saved at a later time? That, dear friend, is not a Scriptural baptism. Perhaps you have never been baptized. Maybe it is for a fear of water. Maybe it’s because you’ve never been saved. The Bible says that “Today is the Day of Salvation”. Do not put it off. Be saved today!
