“Why we do what we do”
Baptism
By
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- I am going to continue on “Why we do what we do” and explain a little more in detail about Baptism.
As you recall a few weeks ago I broke down Matthew 28:19 and compared it to Acts 2:38. In that breakdown I explained how in Matthew 28:19 we are given a command to teach and baptize in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. I explained how (Name) is a intransitive verb that does not have a direct object and how of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost are prepositional phrases that give a description of the name but do not reveal the name of the one we are to baptize in. In Acts 2 Peter reveals the name of Jesus Christ as the one and only name we are to Baptize in. Paul comes a re-baptized those in Ephesus that had been baptized unto John baptism. Phillip baptized the Eunuch in the name of the Lord. Cornelius was baptized in the name of the Lord. I said we are baptized in the name of Jesus because of such scriptures as 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God”. Acts 4:12 says “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. Baptism is a must in order to be saved.
There are those that teach that Baptism is not a requirement for being saved, but I promise you by the end of this lesson I will show you way it is a definitive requirement. I prayerfully will convince those that have been Baptized to re-evaluate their Baptism and if not desire to get re-baptized will look at the importance and significance in a new light.
Prelude:- I love golf, I like to play it and I love to watch it. I love to actually play it and then go home and watch how it is supposed to be played. One thing I noticed about golf is the interviews they have with the players after a round of golf. The interviewer will ask a question like “Why did you choose to use that club on this shot or why did you shoot that type of shot here”? the golfer will respond with an answer that says exactly why they did what they did and the reason behind it. What I am saying is they know why they do what they do.
Sadly many Christian are going through the motions without truly understanding why they do what they do. They often do it because of tradition, that’s the way mom and dad did it. Some do it because their friends are doing it. Some do it because it’s the in thing right now. Some do it because the preacher said to. However; I strongly believe that you need to know without a shadow of a doubt why we do what we do. In this day and time there is a lot of false teachers, false doctrines, and just plain blatant lies and you need to know why you do what you do. Paul said in Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.
Baptism:- 1). It must be understood that baptism is an outward proclamation of an inward conversion. In other words, baptism is a ceremonial act undertaken after a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. You proclaim by baptism that you have been changed on the inside and now are going to follow Jesus. This is key to understanding why we do what we do. Because you can’t see what has happened inside I am being baptized to show you what is going on inside me.
Baptism is a gospel ordinance commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism public testimony is given to the effect that the one baptized has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and is raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Only one mode of baptism can rightly represent these facts of experience, and that is immersion, - the mode followed by Christ and the early church.
Now that you know that baptism is an outward showing of what is actually taking place inside a person. Let’s find out more about Baptism and why we do what we do.
Understand that Baptism did not begin with John the Baptist, although he used it. The origins of baptism go back to the Book of Leviticus the 16th chapter when the priest were about to serve in the Tabernacle they had to cleanse themselves in water, it was form of baptism or purification.
Purification is the foundation of Baptism. Purification means to make pure, free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates something, to be free from guilt or evil, to make clean for ceremonial service or ritual use.
Remember we are learning why we do what we do.
Understand that the church is the Bride of Christ. Often times in the Bible the Jewish Wedding Ceremony is referred to when God is dealing with the church because it gives such a detailed picture of the relationship between Christ and His church. Example the Ten Virgins is an example of the return of Christ for His bride the church and how some will be ready and some will not even though they go to church and do everything the others are doing, but they only had a form of godliness. There are those that go to church but don’t know why they do what they do those are the 5 foolish one.
Baptism is another beautiful picture of the marital relationship between Christ and His people.
WATCH THIS:- In every Jewish community there is what is called a Mikvah in Hebrew. A Mikvah is an immersion pool that is used for purification.
Mikvah is a pool of water (Jesus is the living water) that is derived from a living source like a spring, stream, river, or rain.
The Mikvah must be made of natural resources like stone (Jesus is the stone hewn out of the mountain). It was made with steps that led down into the water.
The Mikvah had 2 channels of water the inlet then at a higher level was the outlet. The person would go into the Mikvah and the water would come in the inlet channel as the water level rose the dirt, filth, and grime would be washed off the person, when the water reached the level of the second channel it would be carried away (signifying the washing away of impurities).
Remember we are the bride of Christ. Under the law when a woman was experiencing her menstrual cycle and she was now finished she had to go through a purification process before she could be re-united with her husband and have sexual relationship. She would have to go to the Mikvah and be cleansed. The Mikvah would wash away the impurities of her body and afterward she would be re-united with her husband.
Without a Mikvah there is no relationship!!!!!!!!!
When we are Baptized it symbolizes what was done at the Mikvah, the place of purification.
Now Baptism doesn’t wash away your sins only the blood of Jesus can wash away your sins.
At Calvary when Jesus was pierced in His side while on the cross the Bible says out came blood and water. Since I can’t stand at the cross I can symbolize with the water the washing away of my sins.
Before Baptism I was dirty, filthy, polluted with sin, but down on the inside I repented of my sins accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior now I don’t know how He does it, but when I go down in His name, that name that is above all names, that name that became sin that knew no sin that I may be the righteousness of God, that name Jesus I step in the water (the Mikvah) and by the supernatural power of God that water symbolizes the blood of Jesus and all my sins are washed away. I have died out to sin, buried them under the blood in the name of Jesus and when I rise I rise a new creature old thing are passed away and behold all thing have become new. Now I can enter into a relationship with Jesus. If there had been no Baptism there could be no relationship.
WHY I DO WHAT I DO:- When I went down in His name I put on Christ - Galatians 3:27"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.". I have taken off the filthy dirty grimy clothing of sin and I have put on Christ. I have put on beauty in the place of ashes.
WATCH THS:- WHY I DO WHAT I DO:- Let’s go to Romans 6 - When I went down in His name I was baptized into His death Romans 6:3 says "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?"
When I came up out of the Mikvah I had a new walk - Romans 6:4 says "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
When I went down in His name now I am expecting to raise up in the resurrection – Romans 6:5 says “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”.
Why do I do what I do.
Baptism is done in the name of the Rabbi that you followed. When the people that John the Baptist Baptized they were Baptized unto repentance unto John’s baptism. In other words they took on what John was teaching.
1st Corinthians 1:-18 Paul talks to the Corinthian people about Baptism he says some say they were of Paul and some say of Apollos and some say Cephas (which is Peter) they were trying to say it’s the person, but Paul said was I crucified for you, did I die for you did Apollos die for you no Jesus did. That’s the name and it is the only name.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. The word “YOKE” means teachings, doctrines, way of life. It implies the yoke that is around the ox neck he is led by the one controlling the yoke.
When I am Baptized in Jesus name I am taking the yoke of Jesus His teaching and doctrines and way of life and I am being led by Him for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
IN CLOSING:- If anyone ask why do you believe in the Baptism in Jesus name tell them:- because he was wounded for my transgressions, he was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon him and by His stripes I am healed.
He became sin that knew no sin so that I may be the righteousness of God. He took my place on Calvary’s cross. He paid a debt He did not owe for me that had a debt I could not pay. If it wasn’t for baptism in His name I would not be in relationship with Him.
For Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Jesus is God.
He is the God of Mercy
He is the God of Justice
He is the God of Grace
He is the God of Peace
He is the God of my Salvation
He is my joy in the time of sorrow
Jesus is my hope for tomorrow
Jesus is my shelter in the time of storms
He’s my bridge over troubled water
He is closer than a brother
He will never leave me nor forsake me
Jesus is my way out of no way
He is my peace that passeth all understanding
He is my Jehovah Jireh my provider
He is my Jehovah Rapha my healer
He is Jehovah Nissi my banner
He is my friend when I don’t have a friend.
He is the Alpha and Omega
He is the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world.
He is the bright and morning star.
He is the living water
He is the bread of life
He is my kinsmen redeemer
He’s the I Am that I Am
And that is why I do what I do.
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
