37) THE RIGHT BAPTISM OF THE RIGHT PERSON
We Believe In One Baptism – Involving The Right Person.
Text: Ephesians 4:5
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”
BRIEF RECAP
Last week we looked at the fact that we Believe in the ordinance of Scriptural Baptism.
After all – “Baptism” is something clearly practiced and evident throughout the New Testament.
Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion today amongst wider Religions
About what exactly Baptism is - and what it signifies.
Ephesians 4:5 clearly states there is only: One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Now if there is so only One Baptism in the Bible,
Then it has to be the Right kind of Baptism for us to follow.
But what exactly is Baptism?
And what does it signify and picture in the life of a Believer?
Well in our last lesson - we looked at 3 separate truths and spiritual principles…
That the act of Scriptural Baptism conveys through the life of a believer.
You see, Baptism is not only incredibly significant – but it is spiritually pictorial,
And sadly – this is a level of truth lost on most people,
Including God’s own Children.
BAPTISIMS 3 SPIRITUAL PICTURES
1) The Gospel
The first thing illustrated through Scriptural Baptism - is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now the act of Baptism does not save a person!
You don’t get baptised in order to be saved.
Remember, there are only two key themes taught throughout the entire Bible,
One is the message of Salvation – and details how we can be saved through Jesus Christ.
The other key theme taught in the Bible relates to Service…
And teaches how after being saved – a believer can live a life faithfully serving God.
Now “Salvation” and “Service” are two entirely different messages…
And they relate to entirely different things.
But both are critical when it comes to understanding God’s greater plan for us,
And our Christian walk and relationship with Him.
After being “Saved” and accepting the Gospel truth of Salvation,
For those who have the heart to then follow and Serve Christ - Baptism is the next step.
And again I must be clear on this - Baptism is not what saves a person,
But the Gospel message of Jesus Christ…
That is pictured and portrayed outwardly to others through Baptism,
Well that Is what can save a person.
Remember how Paul defined the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. He said:
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
So this is how Paul defined the Gospel message he preached,
And this is the first spiritual picture that we see through Baptism.
When a believer is fully submersed under the water - and then raised up again,
It signifies to all the death, burial, and resurrection message of Jesus Christ…
And the salvation so freely offered, and accepted by a believer through Him. Amen!
2) Death To The Old Man
The second picture portrayed through baptism…
And again one spiritually significant to every believer,
Is how after being saved and redeemed by Christ – one can then move on to serve Him.
In Romans 6:3-5 Paul explains what serving Christ must involve saying:
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 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.
Now the word “Into” used in verse 3 is the Greek word eis - and it is a preposition.
It primarily expresses the idea of a motion, direction or focus towards something.
In this regard the “into” could be expressed with a view towards, or with reference to Christ Death.
On the other hand, the word like used in verse 4 – well that is the Greek term h?sper
And it used as a point of comparison. It speaks of a “like figure” or “example”.
Now when we put all of this together it is interesting how these verses read because we are told:
Those who are baptised are baptised “into” or with a view towards Christ’s death.
We are Baptised “into” or with a reference towards His death…
Because in “Like” figure or example – as believers…
Our old manner and way of living is to be put to death
As we are raised like Christ to live a new kind of life in service to Him.
The second picture then of baptism is one that symbolically represents…
The changes that are to take place in a true believers life as they seek to follow Christ.
Again in Baptism - there is the immersing under the water…
And then the raising of one up out the water,
And in light of what the Scriptures teach - this very act becomes hugely pictorial…
Of the Christian life and journey we are called to.
Scriptural baptism portrays how the old man and the sins of our flesh
Are to be dead and buried in Christ – as we are raised up to live a new glorious life following Him.
To all this Paul then declares in 2 Corinthians 5:16:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You see, Just as Baptism pictures the death of Christ for our sins…and His glorious resurrection,
So too does it portray in “like” manner the death of our sinful flesh…
And the glorious change that takes place as we are raised up by Him to live in Him.
3) Sign Of The New Covenant
The final picture of Baptism is one that represents and stands as a sign of the New Covenant.
Now please understand this - The Lord has always desired for His people to serve Him
Within a full covenant relationship.
Now today its the New Covenant that Christ is calling us as His disciples to follow under today…
And it is a Church Covenant.
You see, anyone faithfully seeking to serve the Lord today…
According to God’s greater plan and purpose for their lives,
Will be doing so within a Local New Testament Church.
And Baptism my friends - stands as a prerequisite for anyone seeking to join a local Church.
You see as we join ourselves to a local church – we are able to commune and fellowship…
With our Lord in a very special way.
And it is within the Church that we are able to experience full covenant relationship with God today.
Ephesians 3:21 - Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Jesus wants to share an intimate love relationship with all who have the heart to serve Him,
And so precious is the kind of relationship He desires to have with us,
That He likens it to that of a love relationship shared between a husband and wife.
In fact, the Scriptures depict Christ as being the Bride Groom…
While all those who have been saved and baptised, who are faithfully serving Him
Within Scriptural Church Assemblies - are depicted as being a part of His Bride.
Now brethren we haven’t got time to get into all of this today,
But so precious was Christ’s desire to share this kind of relationship…
With His saved children - under a New Covenant,
That He was willing to shed die and shed His blood to seal it.
Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it;
THE RIGHT BAPTISIM
So then, Scriptural Baptism clearly pictures something in the believers life,
And should stand as deeply symbolic to all who witness and observe it.
And Brethren this is what we believe – because this is what the Scriptures teach!
When Paul declared through the book of Ephesians that – “There is only One Baptism”,
This should stand as deeply significant to us…
Especially given all Baptism spiritually pictures and represents.
Brethren please understand there is only One Baptism taught in the Bible…
And it is the Right kind of Baptism. There can be no other!
It’s this One Baptism that we must come to know and practice,
Because it is this one Baptism that Christ Himself left as an example for us to follow.
Any other form of Baptism that does not follow the same steps Jesus took,
Or hold to the Scriptural model given in it’s practice and application – is not real baptism at all.
There is only One Baptism and it is the Right Baptism!
So this then leads us to a very important question…
What does the Right Kind of Baptism look like?
What must true Scriptural Baptism always have in order to be Right?
Well thankfully God does not leave us in the dark about this,
And as we open the Scriptures to study the One kind of Baptism Paul spoke of,
We discover that true Scriptural Baptism will always have three things.
Three things must be present in order for Baptism to be right.
It must involve: 1) The Right Person; 2) The Right Practice; and 3) The Right Authority.
This then is what I want to talk to you about today.
1) THE RIGHT PERSON
First of all Baptism must involve the Right Person.
You see, Contrary to popular religious belief – not just anyone can be baptised at any time.
No - the right person must first be duly considered for Baptism.
Now what determines the “Right Person” – will always come down to the same two things:
1) Are They Saved?... and… 2) Do They Want to Follow Christ?
These are the only two Scriptural Criteria I can find for a person who wants to be baptised.
So lets talk about this in light of the Scriptures.
a) Be A Saved Believer Of Jesus Christ
The proper candidate for Scriptural baptism is always someone who must first been saved.
One must believe in Jesus Christ – before choosing to follow Jesus Christ.
Accepting Christ as your personal saviour – “by Grace through Faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9)…
Will always be the first step to entering into any kind of relationship with God.
Then having established a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ,
One can stand in a position to Serve the Lord with your life.
Please know and understand this…
You will never be able to serve or please a Holy and Just God while you are still under the condemnation of sin.
Your sins must first be forgiven and atoned for – and that can only happen through Jesus.
What do the Scriptures declare in John 3:17-18 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This must be the order of things.
Salvation has always been the first step in God’s plan for mankind.
First you come to know Christ – then you can follow and serve Christ.
First you get saved…and have your sins forgiven,
Then – having been justified through Christ – you can move forward to serve the Lord with your life.
Salvation must always come first – then Service can follow.
Now knowing this – it’s easy to see how Salvation will always stand a key prerequisite for baptism.
A person must be saved – in order to be baptised.
But please don’t just take my word for it – lets see this in the Scriptures.
Let’s turn to Acts 8:35-38.
The Scriptural account here finds us with Philip who was ministering to an Ethiopian Eunuch.
Now notice the detail that we are given here in this account:
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. [Philip begins to share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ]
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Now notice the order of things here.
The Gospel was preached and then the Eunuch wanted to be baptised.
And the Ethiopian’s question was “what doth hinder me to be baptised”
In other words – what is stopping me from being baptised now so that I can follow and serve God.
And Philip responded in saying nothing will hinder you – “if”….
So there was a criteria here. There is a condition that must first be met.
If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest…Philip declared,
To which the Eunuch responded…I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Here we see faith from the Eunch being first placed in Christ,
Something Philip clearly insisted on before he was baptised.
Of course, this is not the only place where we see this either. Lets turn now to Acts 16:29-34,
In the immediate context here we find a Roman Jailor who was solemnly tasked with the responsibility
Of keeping and holding fast Paul and Silas as Prisoners under his care.
However, during the night the Scriptures record how the Lord sent a great earthquake…
Which loosened their bands and to opened all the Prison doors to set them free.
Upon discovering this, the Jailor became distraught and was ready to commit suicide supposing all had escaped
When Paul cried out to stop him. And this is where we pick up our reading now in verse 29:
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Again – please notice the progression here.
First, the Jailor enquired how he could be saved…
Upon which Paul and Silas shared the Gospel proclaiming that he, and all his house only need…
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” in order to be saved.
Then and only then – do we see baptism being followed into.
Turn to Acts 18:8.
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, - and were baptized.
So again, we see this same pattern followed within the Scriptures.
First you get saved – then you get baptised.
First people hear the Gospel and believe – then they commit to Baptism.
First people come to know Christ – then they decide whether they want to follow and serve Christ.
Turn to Acts 8:12+13,
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Notice what we are told…
First people believed in Jesus Christ – then they were baptised. Verse 13:
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Again – what’s the process?
A person first believes – then they get baptised.
Last verse - Acts 2:41,
Then they that gladly received his word - were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The people spoke of here first believed in the Word of truth that was preached to them about Jesus Christ…
Then they got baptised.
So all of these verses stand as a clear reference to us regarding not just the correct format for Baptism,
But also of the criteria every person must first meet before Scriptural Baptism can be undertaken.
The Right candidate for Baptism will always be a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to the Gospel truth the Right Person must be saved by grace – through faith in Jesus Christ,
Then and only then – are they in the right position to be baptised.
The Bible reveals to us clearly that this is God’s plan for us.
First you get saved – then you get Baptised.
First you get Saved by Jesus Christ – then you can move forward in your life to follow and serve Jesus Christ.
2) Desire to Follow and Serve Christ
Now just before we move on,
I want to talk briefly about the second criteria a person must meet before they are baptised.
And remember I said there were two criteria…
Firstly, a person must be saved in order to be baptised,
We know that now - and we’ve seen it plainly in the Scriptures.
But secondly, a person must also have a genuine desire to follow and serve Christ.
Baptism is no idle thing – it is a commitment that means something.
Please remember all that Baptism is…and just what it pictures.
In one respect – Baptism portrays the Gospel.
And because of this, a person who doesn’t understand the Gospel,
And who has never accepted the Gospel…Will never be in a position to be baptised.
All that baptism spiritually pictures and represents,
Must be correctly upheld according to the Scriptures.
Remember there is only one Baptism and it is the right kind of baptism.
Therefore any person wanting to be Baptised – must first be saved,
So that the true biblical picture given can be upheld.
Failure to do this – means the spiritual picture behind baptism would be lost
And the true significance of Baptism would have no meaning.
This also calls into question somewhat the practice of infant baptism -doesn’t it.
How many infants do you see baptised in the Bible?
And how many infants do you know – who have believed in Christ and understood the Gospel?
There is only one Baptism and it is the right kind of baptism
And it’s the only baptism that can be practised and followed.
Please also understand that on another level…
Scriptural baptism also pictures a new kind of life and way of living.
The old nature and sins of the flesh are to be left behind.
Our previous impulses and sinful lifestyle is to be considered dead and buried in the past.
Why – because baptism stands as outward sign of a believers desire and commitment
To live a new kind of life as they seek to follow Jesus.
So there needs to be a willingness for a person to change,
And a desire for them to want to serve Christ before they are baptised.
Not everyone who gets saved wants to baptised.
Not everyone who accepts the Gospel of Christ – wants to go on to serve Christ.
Remember baptism is always separate from salvation and is a part of Service.
To put things bluntly – some people are satisfied with merely getting saved,
But have no real desire to commit their lives to God.
And that’s ok – God gives people the choice.
And for some – the pull of the world and the desires of the flesh are so great,
They would rather not change their life or manner of living.
Baptism is for those that want to serve Christ.
Baptism is for those who want to live a new life following Christ.
Unfortunately, baptism is not for everyone because not everyone has a desire to do this.
John 6:66 simply declares - From that time many of his disciples went back,
and walked no more with him.
Not everyone wants to follow in the footsteps of Jesus,
But for those that do it will always lead to baptism.
I want to finish by also reminding everyone - that baptism is a sign of the New Covenant.
True disciples and followers of Christ are called to serve Him under this New Covenant.
And so important was Christ’s desire to share this New Covenant with us,
That He was willing to bleed and die to secure it.
That makes Baptism and all that it represents important.
It is important to God – and it should be important to us.
It should not be treated flippantly – and it should not be considered lightly.
For this reason there is only One Scriptural Baptism…
And it is Baptism that will always involve the Right Person:
- Someone who is saved…and…
- Someone who has a desire to follow Christ with their life.
Thank you brethren – join us next week when we will look at the Right Practice for Baptism.
