FOUNDATIONS OF THE FAITH: BAPTISM
MATTHEW 3:13-17
TODAY WE ARE CONTINUING WITH OUR SERIES ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH, BY LOOKING AT BAPTISM. BAPTISM IS A CONTROVERSIAL POINT OF CHRISTENDOM, AND IT IS NOT MY POINT TO ADD FIRE TO THE CONTROVESY, BUT TO EXAMINE WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT BAPTISM.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY STATING THAT BAPTISM IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE FAITH. IT IS A DRAMATIC PRESENTATION OF THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. IT IS ALSO A DRAMATIC PORTRAYAL OF OUR DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN A DEEPER WAY. IT SIGNIFIES OUR DESIRE FOR OUR OLD NATURE TO DIE AND BE BURIED, AND THEN TO BE RAISED TO A NEW MORE SPIRITUAL NATURE.
WHEN WE SPEAK OF BAPTISM WE OFTEN REFER TO IT AS TOTAL IMMERSION BAPTISM AND THIS IS CORRECT AS FAR AS THE METHOD IS CONCERNED. THE THEOLOGICAL TERM TO DESCRIBE BAPTISM IS “BELIEVER’S BAPTISM.” THIS TERM ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE THEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE IS FIRST FOR THE PERSON TO BE A BELIEVER AND THEN TO FOLLOW AS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE IN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE, NOR DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ANY SALVIFIC VALUE IN BAPTISM. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT YOU CANNOT GO TO HEAVEN JUST BY BEING BAPTISED. THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY “GET DONE”, THEN THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
A FORMER PASTOR ONCE SAID OF BAPTISM. IF THE PERSON IS NOT SAVED, IF THEY ARE NOT A BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER, AND ARE BAPTISED, THEN THE ONLY THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THEY START OUT A DRY SINNER AND END UP A WET ONE.
WHERE POSSIBLE WE TRY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PERSON WHO IS BAPTIZED IS A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN. THAT IS THE PROPER ORDER, A CONVERSION EXPERIENCE FIRST, AND THEN PART OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE CONVERSION IS THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN BAPTISM. I USUALLY HAVE PREPARATION CLASSES FOR BAPTISMAL CANTIDATES, AND THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A MEETING WITH THE DEACONS, SO THAT WHEN WE PROCEED, IF WE PROCEED, WE HAVE MUTUAL ASSURANCE THAT BOTH PASTOR AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP FEEL THAT THE CANTIDATE IS PREPARED FOR THIS STEP. I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE FOLLOW THIS PROCEEDURE THAT THERE IS NO SYSTEM THAT IS INFALLIBLE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODES OF BAPTISM, EACH HAVING THEIR OWN THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT THE PREFERRED MODE THAT WE USE IS TOTAL IMMERSION BAPTISM. IT IS A PREFERRED SYSTEM, BUT NOT THE ONLY SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN USED WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IT.
THERE IS ALSO NO SET AGE FOR A BAPTISM TO OCCUR. THE ESSENTIAL FACTOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON SHOULD BE BAPTIZED IS WHEATHER OR NOT THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPIRITUAL CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THEIR LIVES. I’VE KNOWN OF CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SEVEN AND EIGHT WHO WERE BAPTISED, AND OTHERS WHO WERE ASKED TO WAIT AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR ADULTS. THE ACTUAL TIMING OF BAPTISM IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS UNDERSTANDING WHY BAPTISM OCCURS.
LOCATIONS OF BAPTISM HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I WAS BAPTIZED IT OCCURRED AT GRAND LAKE. MORE CHURCHES HAVE BAPTISTRIES, SOME USE HOT TUBS, AND I’VE KNOWN OF MINISTERS WHO HELD BAPTISMS IN SWIMMING POOLS.
THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE BAPTISM CAN BE DETERMINED SOMETIMES BY WHAT YOU WISH TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR BAPTISM. IF YOU WANT TO USE IT AS AN EVANGELISTIC TOOL, YOU CAN HAVE IT IN A PUBLIC AREA. IF YOU WANT A COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE IT CAN HAPPEN AT CHURCH. THE BAPTISTRY IS ALSO BENEFICIAL IN THAT IT IS NOT DEPENDANT ON WEATHER OR SEASON OF THE YEAR.
BAPTISM IS USUALLY THE PRE-REQUISITE FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. THERE COULD BE SITUATIONS WHERE BAPTISMAL RECORDS ARE LOST, OR A PERSON MAY HAVE HAD A MODE OTHER THAN TOTAL IMMERSION. THESE SITUATIONS ARE RARE, BUT THEY CAN BE ACCEPTED ON THE BASIS OF EXPERIENCE, BASED ON THEIR TESTIMONY.
BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT AND DESIRABLE TO OUR FAITH, BUT IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL. THE MOST NOTED EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS THAT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS NEVER BAPTISED, BUT TOLD BY CHRIST THAT “TODAY, YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.” WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS THAT A PERSON BE BORN-AGAIN BEFORE THEY ARE BAPTIZED.
BAPTISM IS MENTIONED IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE BIBLE, BUT THE BAPTISM OF JESUS IS THE ONLY ACCOUNT THAT IS MENTIONED ON A REPEATED BASIS IN SCRIPTURES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BETWEEN JESUS’ BAPTISM AND OURS. EVEN THE MODE OF JESUS BAPTISM HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS TOTALLY IMMERSED AS THE SCRIPTURE STATES
MATTHEW 3:16: “AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER.”
MARK 1:10: “AS JESUS WAS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW HEAVEN BEING TORN OPEN AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING ON HIM LIKE A DOVE.”
LET US TURN OUR ATTENTION FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO CONSIDER WHY JESUS WAS BAPTISED. LETS BEGIN WITH THE REALIZATION OF WHAT IT WAS NOT. JOHN PRACTICED BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE, BUT JESUS WAS SINLESS AND THEREFORE HAD NO SIN TO REPENT OF.
WHY THEN WAS JESUS BAPTIZED?
SOME SAY IT WAS TO BRING JESUS INTO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HIS MESSIAHSHIP. I’M NOT SURE THAT I AGREE WITH THIS. IT MAKES THE IMPLICATION THAT JESUS WAS NOT FULLY AWARE THAT HE WAS GOD INCARNATE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I KNOW OF TO SUPPORT THIS.
JESUS BAPTISM THEN WAS NOT A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE, NOR IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT IT HELPED JESUS GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HIS MESSIAHSHIP. WHY THEN WAS HE BAPTIZED?
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU TODAY THAT JESUS BAPTIZM WAS AN ACT OF SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE. AS SUCH WE CAN FOLLOW IN JESUS’ EXAMPLE OF SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER, BECAUSE WE MUST REMEMBER THAT JOHN AS WELL ACTED IN SUBMISSION.
THE KEY VERSE IS VERSE 15:
MATTHEW 3:15: “JESUS REPLIED, "LET IT BE SO NOW; IT IS PROPER FOR US TO DO THIS TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS." THEN JOHN CONSENTED.”
NOTE THAT JESUS INCLUDES JOHN IN THIS STATEMENT. HE SAYS IT IS PROPER FOR “US” TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
CONSIDER WHAT THE PASSAGE TELLS US. JESUS DOES NOT DENY THAT JOHN NEEDED TO BE BAPTIZED BY HIM. THIS WAS THE TIME THAT JESUS CHOSE TO SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. BOTH MEN WERE IN A STATE OF HUMILIATION AND JESUS WILLINGNESS TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUS PRECEPTS. A COMMENTATOR WRITES:
“OUR LORD THUS PLEADS FOR THE ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION OF JOHN AND HIMSELF TO EVERY PORTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AS IT MAY BE PROPOSED TO THEM BY GOD TO PERFORM; HIS WORDS THUS SOMEWHAT RESEMBLING THOSE TO ST. PETER, "IF I WASH THEE NOT, THOU HAST NO PART WITH ME" (JOHN 13:8). THY DUTY IS TO BAPTIZE, MINE TO BE BAPTIZED”
IT IS IN SUBMISSION THAT YOU AND I SHARE IN THE EXAMPLE OF BAPTISM WITH JESUS. FIRST WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD THREE DAYS LATER, TO PROVIDE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SALVATION, WHICH WE NEED TO ACCEPT.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-4:
“1 ¶ NOW, BROTHERS, I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE GOSPEL I PREACHED TO YOU, WHICH YOU RECEIVED AND ON WHICH YOU HAVE TAKEN YOUR STAND. 2 BY THIS GOSPEL YOU ARE SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD I PREACHED TO YOU. OTHERWISE, YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN. 3 FOR WHAT I RECEIVED I PASSED ON TO YOU AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE: THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, 4 THAT HE WAS BURIED, THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES,”
BEING IMMERSED IN WATER PICTURES THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST DYING FOR OUR SINS. BEING RAISED FROM THE WATER IS PORTRAYAL OF JESUS' RESURRECTION IN WHICH HE CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH. THUS, BEING BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION THE BELIEVER VISUALLY SHOWS THE SPIRITUAL DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF THE BELIEVER'S LIFE. BAPTISM EMPHASIZES TO THE NEW BELIEVER, AND TO THOSE WHO WITNESS THE BAPTISM, THAT AS A CHRISTIAN AND CHILD OF GOD THE CHRISTIAN NOW IS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE, RESISTING SIN, AND NOT GIVING IT PLACE IN THEIR LIVES.
THERE IS ALSO AN ELEMENT OF PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVED IN BAPTISM. PAUL TEACHES THAT IF WE PROCLAIM OUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST, THEN WE ALSO PUBLICLY PROCLAIM OUR RESPONSIBILITYY TO FOLLOW HIM.
ROMANS 6:1-4:
“1 ¶ 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.”
THIS THEN IS WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT BAPTISM:
1. WE BELIEVE THAT BAPTISM IS A NATURAL PROGESSION FOR A PERSON TO FOLLOW ONCE THEY HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD. BAPTISM IS FOR THE BELIEVER ONLY.
2. THERE IS NO SALVIFIC VALUE IN BAPTISM. IT IS A VISUAL PORTRAL, OF THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. IT IS FOR THE BELIEVER THEIR STATEMENT THAT THEY WISH TO DIE TO THEIR OLD NATURE AND BE RAISED IN A NEW SPIRITUAL NATURE BY CHRIST.
3. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE PREFERRED METHOD OF BAPTISM IS TOTAL IMMERSION.
4. WE CAN FOLLOW IN THE METHOD OF JESUS BAPTISM AND ALSO IN THE REASONING FOR JESUS BAPTISM AS WE TAKE THE STEP IN SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHER.
A TRUE BELIEVER WILL NOT BE ASHAMED OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD. THEY LOVE THE LORD AND WANT TO DO AS HE SAYS AND THUS THEY WILLINGLY AND EAGERLY SUBMIT TO BELIEVER'S BAPTISM BY IMMERSION. BAPTISM IS A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF BEING SAVED AND IDENTIFYING ONESELF WITH THEIR SAVIOR. WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE A TRUE BELIEVER WILL OBEY THE LORD AND NOT BE ASHAMED OR HIDE THEIR SALVATION.
