BAPTISM IS KNOWN TO US AS “THE OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD GRACE.” BAPTISM IS A SACRAMENT OF THE CHURCH AND IS A COMMAND GIVEN TO US BY JESUS CHRIST.
BAPTISM, ACCORDING TO THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IS A “MEANS OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH, [A] TOKEN OF OUR PROFESSION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND SIGNS OF GOD’S GRACIOUS MINISTRY TOWARD US. BY [BAPTISM], [GOD] WORKS WITHIN US TO QUICKEN, STRENGTHEN AND CONFIRM OUR FAITH.”
IT IS THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM THAT WE ARE GIVEN OUR IDENTITY AS PEOPLE FOR WHOM JESUS CHRIST LIVED, DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED. IT IS THROUGH BAPTISM THAT WE ACCEPT THE BENEFITS OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST AND DECLARE OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR.
IN BAPTISM WE ARE INITIATED INTO MEMBERSHIP WITHIN THE UNIVERSAL, CHRISTIAN CHURCH; WE ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE COMMUNITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE, THE BODY OF CHRIST.
BY BAPTISM WE ARE COMMISSIONED INTO MINISTRY. BY BAPTISM WE ARE CALLED TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF CHRIST FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD.
GOD HAS CHOSEN TO USE THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AS ONE OF THE WAYS TO SHOW US HIS DIVINE LOVE. THE GRACE OFFERED TO US IN BAPTISM IS GRACE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED, WE BECOME WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED AND THAT, THROUGH REPENTANCE, OUR OLD LIFE IS PAST AND OUR NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN.
BAPTISM ANNOUNCES THAT WE HAVE CONFESSED OUR SINS, FOUND FORGIVENESS AND THAT WE ARE CLEANSED BY THE SAVING POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
THIS BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE RELATES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WHICH IS THE REALIZATION THAT WE ARE BROKEN AND SINFUL PEOPLE IN NEED OF GOD'S MERCY, GRACE, FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION.
BECAUSE OF SIN'S DESTRUCTIVE POWER, GOD SAYS THAT SIN IS STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH FOR THE RESTORATION OF OUR LIVES. UNLESS WE ACCEPT THIS REALITY OF SIN, THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL WILL NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE, NOT ONLY TO US, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REMAIN IN SIN’S DARKNESS.
WE MUST DEAL WITH SIN…PERIOD! SIN IS NOT SO MUCH SOMETHING WE "COMMIT" AS IT IS A CONDITION WE ARE IN. WE ARE IN A STATE OF SIN; WE ARE SINFUL CREATURES WHO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT WE HAVE MADE SINFUL. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. THIS "CONDITION" HAS A CURE! IT HAS A WAY OUT!
THIS IS WHAT MAKES BAPTISM SO BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT SPEAKS SO VIVIDLY OF GOD'S REMEDY FOR SIN. BAPTISM IS AN "OUTWARD SIGN" THAT THE ONE BEING BAPTIZED HAS DEALT WITH THEIR SINS THROUGH CONFESSION, REPENTANCE, AND BY ASKING JESUS CHRIST TO FORGIVE THEM AND THEIR SINS.
THE WATER USED IN BAPTISM IS A SYMBOL TO SHOW US THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS, THROUGH THE WATER, "WASHED" OUR SINS AWAY TO MAKE US CLEAN. THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE GOSPEL…FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION, AND RECONCILIATION!
GOD IS NOT WILLING TO LEAVE US STUCK IN SIN. GOD IS ALWAYS ACTING TO SAVE US. THE ENTIRE STORY OF THE BIBLE IS THE STORY OF GOD'S EFFORTS TO BRING US BACK INTO THE LOVING, PERSONAL AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE RESTORATION OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS BETTER KNOWN AS "SALVATION." THAT IS, CONFESSING OUR SINS, ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE US AND OUR SINS, AND THEN ASKING JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO OUR LIFE TO BE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE TO DO THIS WILL JOYFULLY EMBARK ON LIVING A SANCTIFIED LIFE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST THROUGH SURRENDER, RADICAL OBEDIENCE AND REPENTANCE.
IF WE WILL “GO ON TOWARDS PERFECTION” AND LIVE A SANCTIFIED LIFE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL FIND IT REALLY IS POSSIBLE TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, TO DIE TO SELF, TO REDIRECT OUR HEARTS TO GOD, AND TO PLEASE AND SERVE GOD EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THIS IS WHAT IS SYMBOLIZED IN THE COVENANT OF BAPTISM! BAPTISM CELEBRATES BECOMING A NEW PERSON IN JESUS CHRIST! THIS IS WHY THE CEREMONY OF BAPTISM EMPHASIZES PUTTING OFF THE OLD, RENOUNCING SIN, THE EVIL POWERS OF THE WORLD, AND PLEDGING LOYALTY TO JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
THE ONLY MEANING SURROUNDING BAPTISM IS TO PROCLAIM THAT SALVATION IS MADE POSSIBLE FOR US THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. THE ONE BEING BAPTIZED IS ENTERING INTO ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS. THEY ARE RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER TO BE ABLE TO SAY “JESUS IS LORD!” BAPTISM BECOMES AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THEIR FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO JESUS AS LORD.
CELEBRATING BAPTISM FOR ANY OTHER REASON CHEAPENS, IF NOT BLASPHEMES, THE WHOLE POINT OF GOD LOVING US SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD COME FROM HEAVEN BY SENDING HIS SON TO TAKE ON AND EXPERIENCE OUR HUMANITY IN ORDER TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR OUR SINS.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE BAPTISM WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT REDEFINE IT OR DEGRADE IT DOWN TO NOTHING MORE THAN A HOLLOW RITUAL.
WE CANNOT USE BAPTISM AS IF IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE INITIATION CEREMONY FOR “JOINING THE CHURCH” OR THAT BAPTISM IS SOMEHOW THE SAME THING AS SALVATION.
YES, BAPTISM INITIATES US INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST BUT BAPTISM, BY ITSELF (WITHOUT SALVATION), DOES NOT SAVE US NOR MAKE US MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST…IT JUST WOULD JUST MAKE US "WET SINNERS AND DAMP ASSOCIATES."
THE WATER IS NOT A MAGIC POTION OR A SUBSTITUTE FOR JESUS CHRIST. IF IT WAS, THEN WE REALLY WOULDN'T NEED JESUS IN THE FIRST PLACE. ALL WE WOULD NEED TO DO IS TO HAVE SOMEONE DOUSE US WITH A LOT OF WATER.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS: WE CANNOT SKIP THE SALVATION PROCESS…WE CANNOT SKIP DEALING WITH THE "SIN" ISSUE…WE CANNOT SKIP DEALING WITH THE ISSUE THAT WE MUST REPENT. WE CANNOT SKIP THE FACT THAT BAPTISM IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO, BUT IT IS GOD AND GOD ALONE WORKING IN AND THROUGH THE BAPTISM AS A MEANS OF GRACE THAT HE FORGIVES AND ACCEPTS US AS HIS CHILDREN.
BAPTISM, THEREFORE, IS NOT A SPECTACLE FOR MAN TO MAKE SPORT OF, BUT RATHER A WAY IN WHICH GOD SHOWS THAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE ALL THAT IS NECESSARY THROUGH THE ATONING SACRIFICE OF HIS SON, JESUS, TO PUT ALL OF US BACK INTO A PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
THIS IS WHY BAPTISM IS A COVENANT. THIS IS WHY WE BELIEVE IN ONE BAPTISM FOR ONE LIFETIME. BAPTISM IS A BINDING AGREEMENT…AN UNBREAKABLE PROMISE…THAT GOD HAS MADE WITH US SO THAT IF WE WILL REPENT, TURN FROM SIN, AND BECOME BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE WILL HAVE OUR SINS FORGIVEN AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD DOES IN THE COVENANT OF BAPTISM, WE TRUST HIM FOR WHAT HE DOES, NOT IN "HOW MUCH WATER" IS DISPENSED, OR WHAT THE AGE, DISPOSITION OR CONDITION OF THE ONE BEING BAPTIZED MAY BE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHETHER THE WE SPRINKLE, DIP OR POUR, OR IF IT IS AN ADULT, INFANT, PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY CHALLENGED PERSON IS NOT THE ISSUE…THE ISSUE IS GOD'S GRACE BEING DISPLAYED IN THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN THROUGH THE SYMBOLISM OF WATER THROUGH THE COVENANT OF BAPTISM.
LET US REMEMBER: IN BAPTISM GOD OFFERS AND WE ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS. WITH THE PARDONING OF SIN WHICH HAS SEPARATED US FROM GOD, WE ARE JUSTIFIED…THAT IS…FREED FROM THE GUILT AND PENALTY OF SIN AND RESTORED TO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THIS RECONCILIATION IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST AND THEN MADE REAL IN OUR LIVES BY THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE RESPOND BY CONFESSING AND REPENTING OF OUR SINS, AND THEN AFFIRM OUR FAITH THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS FULLY AND COMPLETELY ACCOMPLISHED ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR SALVATION AND OUR ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S KINGDOM.
THROUGH BAPTISM, WE CAN PROUDLY AND BOLDLY EXCLAIM THE WORDS OF EPHESIANS 2:19, "[WE] ARE MEMBERS OF GOD'S VERY OWN FAMILY…AND [WE] BELONG IN GOD'S HOUSEHOLD WITH EVERY OTHER CHRISTIAN."
LET THOSE OF US WHO ARE ALREADY BAPTIZED AND IN THE FAMILY OF GOD "REMEMBER OUR BAPTISM." FOR THOSE OF YOUR WHO HAVE YET TO BELONG, THE TIME IS NOW TO "REPENT AND TURN TO GOD, AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS." SO, THEREFORE, LET US ALL RESPOND TODAY TO THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT.
