Introduction: In 1 Corinthians 10:11, we read, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The witness of the Old Testament is an example to the New Testament church. In the stories of the Old Testament, we learn types and figures that have been fulfilled for us in Christ. When we read the account of Naaman the Syrian, we a type of sin and a symbol of baptism that can teach us some important truths.
Observe, first of all, that Naaman was a good man. Naaman was a commendable man. He was a “captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour. . .” (2 Kings 5:1). We know a lot of people like Naaman. Some of them are leaders in our country. Some of them are military heroes. Some of them are leaders in our community, or in our churches. There are members of our family that we look up to. I’m talking about good people. I’m not talking about criminals. I’m not talking slackers or hackers. I’m not talking about two-bit thieves or two-timers. I’m not talking about liars, or cheaters, or wife beaters. I’m talking about good people. Naaman was a good man. But . . .
Oh, then there is that “but.” Look what the Bible says next, “. . . but he was a leper.” Naaman was a good man . . . but he was a leper. Naaman was a mighty man . . but he was a leper. Naaman had a serious problem. Even though he was a good man, Naaman suffered from the deadliest, most despised disease imaginable. Leprosy was a disease that literally ate its victims alive. In the early states, there are often few symptoms and little discomfort. The process is slow . . . the average duration of the disease is 18 ½ years. The worst form of the disease begins
. . .with little specks on the eyelids and on the palms of the hands, and gradually spread[s] over the whole body; bleaching the hair white . . . crusting affected parts with . . . scales . . . causing swelling and sores. . . it slowly [eats] its way through the tissues, to the bones and joints, and even to the marrow, rotting the whole body . . . The lungs, organs of speech and hearing, and the eyes, [are] attacked in turn, till . . . at last [it brings] welcome death. (Pelobet’s Bible Dictionary).
What a picture of sin that is! Sin, like leprosy, is a most loathsome, polluting, disforming, unclean thing. It might start out with symptoms that are almost unnoticeable on the outside of your life. Maybe at first other people won’t see. If you don’t listen to your conscience, you might not suffer much discomfort. But in the end, sin will eat you alive and rot your soul. Sin will cause you to walk in a rotting spiritual death in this world, and condemn your soul death and torment in eternity. And friend, I don’t care how good your neighbors are, I don’ care how good your friends are, I don’t care how good your family is. It doesn’t matter one bit how good anybody thinks you are, or how good you think you are. Every one of us is just like Naaman. Whether we’re good or whether we’re bad, we all live with “but.” But . . . Naaman was a leper. You may be but. I may be good. BUT. . . we are sinners. The Bible says, “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12), and, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. . .” (Romans 3:23).
Naaman was a good man, but he was a leper. His life was one of accomplishment, yet all of his accomplishment was nothing but despair because of his dread disease. Leprosy was a disease for which there was no cure. Leprosy left no hope. And there are many who have lived lives of great deeds and great works and great accomplishments – only to find themselves in despair. In spite of all they have accomplished, sin has brought them to ruin. Sin has wrecked their marriage. Sin has squandered their finances. Since has wasted their health. Since has separated them from God until it seems their prayers go unheard. Sin takes the hope out of life, and without hope, life is empty and filled with despair. Naaman was there. Have you been there? Are you there? Listen to what comes next . . .
On one of his military campaigns, when Naaman had brought back captives, one of the captives was a little Israelite maid. She worked for Naaman’s wife. And she was a witness for the Lord. She saw the suffering of her master. She saw the despair. And she spoke to Naaman’s wife. She said, “Would God my Lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy.” What is that? A God in Israel, who can work through his prophet to cure leprosy? Can it be true? A God who can bring back hope to a hopeless life? A God who can turn back the effects of death-dealing leprosy? Naaman didn’t waste any time to find out. If there was going to be a cure for his leprosy, there was only going to be one place to get it – it would have to come from God. Friend, if there is going to be any cleansing of your sin, it’s going to have to come from God. And I stopped by to tell you today that there is a God who can bring back hope to a hopeless life. There is a God who can work through his Son to turn back the effects of death dealing sin in your life. Friend, if you are going to find a cure – if you are going to find forgiveness for your sin – if your are going to find life – there is only one place you’re going to get it – and that is from God!
I want us to focus in right now on verses 9-14:
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
I want you to notice here that in order to be made clean from his leprosy, Naaman had to dip himself in the Jordan. I’m here to tell you this morning how you can be made from sin. I want to talk to you a little bit about baptism, and answer just a few questions: 1. Why should we be baptized; 2. How we should be baptized; and, 3. When we should be baptized.
I. Why Should I Be Baptized?
A. To follow our Lord’s example (Matthew 3:13-17)
1. If Jesus, who knew no sin, was baptized to “fulfil all righteousness,” how much more do we, as sinners need to be baptized?
2. When Jesus was baptized, God confirmed his sonship, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” When we are baptized, it is our public confession of Christ. We are declaring to God and to the world that we are identifying ourselves with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.” (Romans 6:3-4).
3. To reject baptism is to reject Christ. Jesus says, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33). If the Son of God submitted to baptism, why should we think we are above it?
B. Because the Lord commands it. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15
1. Many want to be saved just by making a confession.
2. Many would like to be saved by coming to a mourner’s bench or by responding to an altar call.
3. Some think they are saved because they regularly attend “the church of their choice.”
4. Naaman was angry because he had to dip in the Jordan. He thought he was to dignified for that. He thought other rivers were better than that. He had set his mind to disobey and walk away. I’m here to tell you today that if he had walked away he would have walked away a leper. He would have gone home a leper. He would have died a leper. To be healed, Naaman had to be obedient to what Elisha, the prophet of God, had said.
5. Friends, if we want to be saved, we have to be obedient to the Lord. When we come to God, we’ve got to come on God’s terms. If we want to be saved, we’ve got to be baptized. We need to be baptized because
a) Baptism is for the remission [forgiveness] of sins (Acts 2:38)
b) Baptism is to save us (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:40; Mark 16:16)
c) Baptism is to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16)
d) Baptism is the means by which we are reborn to new life (John 3:5; Rom. 6:3-6)
e) Through baptism we clothe ourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27)
f) through baptism God resurrects us from death (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-6)
g) baptism is a requirement to enter heaven (John 3:5)
h) it is baptism that puts us into Christ (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
II. How Should I Be Baptized?
A. The words used in the Greek for “baptize” and “baptism” are baptizo and baptisma, which mean “to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet)”.
1. Martin Luther said, “Baptism is a Greek word, and may be translated immersion, as when we immerse something in water, that it may be wholly covered.”
2. John Calvin said, “The word baptize signifies to immerse, and it is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.”
3. John Wesley said, “We are buried with him in baptism – alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion.”
4. Even Brenner, the Catholic historian, states that “for thirteen hundred years was baptism an immersion of the person under water.”
B. Traditions of men – sprinkling and pouring, infant baptism. The first time anybody was every baptized by effusion (or pouring) was in 251 A.D., when Novatian was baptized as he lay sick unto death in bed. This was the exception and not the rule, and was in a case of extreme necessity. Sprinkling for baptism never became a common practice until 1311 A.D. The plain fact is that immersion is the only “form” of baptism taught in the bible. No religious council, denomination, or individual has the authority to alter the plain teaching of the Bible in order to develop their own “rites” or “customs.” To practice baptism by sprinkling or pouring is to keep the traditions of men, and not the commandment of God! (see Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13)
C. There are four elements that constitute Scriptural, Bible Baptism
1. The proper mode: a burial (immersion) (Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 2:12)
2. The proper authority: in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5)
3. The proper purpose: for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
4. The proper subject: a penitent believer (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37; Mark 16:15)
D. Let’s take a look at just one example of scriptural baptism: Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35-39)
When Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 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? 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. 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. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
E. There are those who would say, well, Brother McCaffery, I don’t need to be baptized. I’ve already been baptized. I stopped by to tell you . . .
1. that if you were baptized by sprinkling or pouring as a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Presbyterian, an Episcopalian, a Methodist, or anything else, your baptism lacked the proper mode (immersion).
2. that if you were baptized by the authority of anyone other than Jesus, whether it was Joseph Smith (Mormons) or the Watch Tower Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) or Rev. Moon, or even John the Baptist, then your baptism lacked the right authority (Jesus Christ)
3. that if you were baptized because you thought you were already saved, because you answered an altar call or sat on a mourners bench, then your baptism lacked the proper purpose (remission of sins)
4. that if you were baptized, not because you repented of your sins, but because your friends were doing it, or your spouse or your fiancé, or you parents were pressuring you to do it, or if you were just “done” when you were a baby because grandma made our parents get you “done”, then your baptism lacked the proper subject (a penitent believer)
F. Friend, if you are sitting here today, thinking that you don’t need to be baptized, saying in your heart, “Preacher, I’ve already been baptized,” and your baptism lacks any of the four elements I’ve been talking about, then you have NOT been baptized according to the Bible, and you are still in your sins. Just as Naaman was a leper until he dipped himself in the Jordan, you will be a condemned, alien sinner until you are baptized the Bible way. You can kick and scream and ball and squall, but in the end, remember the advice of Naaman’s servants, “. . . if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith unto thee, Wash and be clean?”
III. When Should I be Baptized?
A. When did Naaman want to be clean? Now! As soon as he obeyed, and dipped in the Jordan, he was healed.
B. “Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41. When you have heard the Word of God, and you believe the Jesus Christ is the Son of God; when you repent of your sins are ready to confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, that is the time to be baptized!
C. When the Philippian jailer was converted, the Bible says that he was baptized in that same hour (Acts 16:33).
D. I’m here to say to you tonight the same words that Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus, “and now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord!” (Acts 22:16)
Conclusion:
Baptism is how we get into Christ.
Baptism is always accompanied by faith and repentance.
Baptism is God’s terms of surrender.
Baptism is the external washing with water and the internal washing away of sin by God.
Baptism is “calling on the name of the Lord.”
Baptism is being united with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
Baptism is “clothing” ourselves with Christ.
Baptism is “accepting” Christ (on his terms, not ours).
Baptism is when our sins are forgiven.
Baptism is when we receive the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is how and when we come into contact with the blood of Christ
Baptism is when we are born again.
Baptism is an act of faith.
Baptism is how we enter the kingdom of god.
Baptism is when we are added to the body of Christ (the church).
Baptism is when we die to ourselves and receive new life in Christ.
Baptism is the washing of regeneration, and the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is the point in time when we become saved.
Baptism is when we stop living for ourselves and start living for Jesus.
Baptism is how and when we scripturally make a conscious decision to dedicate our lives to Christ.
Baptism is how we scripturally enter into a relationship with Christ.
Friend, you have heard the Word of God tonight.
You believe that when Jesus died on that cross, He, who had no sin, paid the death penalty for our sins. Jesus died for my sins. Jesus died for your sins.
Do you repent of your sins? Are you sorry for the sins in your life that held Jesus to that cross just as surely as the nails that pierced his hands and feet? Can you say tonight, Lord God, I want to turn from my old life – I want to turn from my sin – I want to turn from my shame – I want to be cleansed of my spiritual leprosy – and Lord, I want to leave that all behind? Do you repent of your sins tonight? Do you want to follow Jesus? Do you want right now to confess Him as your Lord and Savior?
Through baptism, we are united with Christ in paying the death penalty for our sins. We, who are unable to return from death because of our sin, are joined to Christ – and since Christ is sinless, since death could not hold him, and since Jesus Christ is victorious over death, we, being united with Him through baptism are made victorious by being united with Him in His resurrection!
Friends, all Naaman had to do to be cleansed from leprosy was to be obedient and dip himself seven times in the Jordan.
All you’ve got to do to be cleansed from sin tonight, and set free, is come and be baptized.
You have heard the Word of God. If you believe in Christ tonight, and repent of your sins, I invite you to come and confess Him as your Lord. We’ll baptize you tonight – this same hour – you’ll be buried in baptism with Christ, and when you come up out of that water you will be a new creature. Hallelujah!.
“. . . and now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord!” (Acts 22:16)
