Baptist and Baptism
Matt 28:18-20
INTRO: *mud hole baptism After the great rainstorm the other night. A There was a good size hole of water in the back yard of two little boys. A 5yr old and yes younger brother was back there playing in the water. Mom looking out the kitchen window, when the older grabbed his younger brother and shoved his face in to the water hole. As the younger brother recovered and stood laughing, dripping wet.. mom came running out of the house yelling at her oldest son and grabbed him and began to shake him. “Why on Earth did you do that to your little brother? ‘We were just playing church mommy” He said. “I was baptizing him like the preacher did in church last Sunday and said I nopw baptize yo in the name of the father, the son and in-the-hole-you-goes!’
A. Deal with a topic that historically has been controversial
1. It even makes some a little uncomfortable because it is one
that has been so divisive over the years.
2. Now in recent weeks it is in the news with Baptist churches
drifting away from the ordinance and all that it means
a. There has been an ever increasing number of Baptist
Churches accepting what use to be called “Alien Baptism”
1. No not baptizing aliens from outer-space or illegal aliens
2. But accepting into the church member ship those that have been
baptized in another denomination,
a. What is wrong with that? Baptism means different things to
different denominations
1. Some it is part of salvation, or required to keep saved
b. We will see why we don’t agree, but also that baptism is a
statement of faith that one agrees with the church they are being
baptized into.. There is a need to be re-baptized so as to make that
statement of like-faith
3. Ac 19 reveals some people getting baptized a 2nd time when
their faith changed.
a. They had been baptized in John’s baptism of looking for the
coming Savior
b. But once they learned that Jesus is come. They put their faith
in Him & was baptized again.
4. I want to make clear, my goal is ALWAYS to be biblically
grounded
a. All doctrine, standards and understandings for faith is to be
based on what the BIBLE teaches
1. NOT Baptist traditions or ideology
5. While Baptists practice "believers baptism by immersion,"
a. Most other churches utilize other methods such as
sprinkling or pouring,
1. Also they will usually baptize people when they are infants.
6. In the past, this difference was seen literally as a life or
death issue.
a. Leaders of other churches often advocated executing
Baptists as dangerous heretics,
1. And Baptists were usually willing to die for their convictions.
B. Importance
** “The six-year-old told his mother that he had been baptized. Well, Mom knew he hadn’t been formally baptized, so she probed further into the issue. She asked him to explain what he meant by ‘baptized.’ Little Blake then enlightened his mom, ‘Last night in the bathtub I put my face under the water and thought about Jesus’.”
1. There are probably some people here today that think that
baptism is sticking your head under the water and thinking
about Jesus.
2. There are a handful of folks who argue that baptism was
only intended for 1st Century Christians,
a. Or that the Bible commands only spiritual baptism, not
water baptism,
b. But they don’t have much evidence to support their case &
have not been very convincing.
3. Though we differ about the mode & objects of baptism,
a. How it should be done and to whom it should be done,
b. Most Christians agree that it is important that we be
baptized.
4. After all, the Great Commission, the job that Jesus has given us,
involves going and making disciples and, v19
a. Also, because Jesus Himself was baptized by John Mt 3:13
1. Also the disciples were baptized.
5. In Acts 2:38 the Apostle Peter commands the crowd “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”
a. Throughout the Book of Acts & the rest of the NT,
1. The clear expectation is that anyone who is a Christian is going to
be baptized.
b. As far as we know, the thief on the cross is the only NT
believer who was never baptized.
1. Therefore evidence of not necessary for salvation, though
important, is NOT required to be saved
I. Standard of Baptism
A. What about infant baptism then?
1. Well, we believe the Bible teaches that an individual is to
baptized after he/she becomes a Christian
a. IOW after he/she expresses faith in Jesus.
2. That is the pattern throughout the Book of Acts & the rest of
the NT.
a. An infant is clearly incapable of expressing faith in Christ,
3. Why do so many Christians practice infant baptism then?
a. I’m not sure, although I know there is a variety of reasons.
b. There are 2 types of texts that I have heard used to support
this practice.
1. The 1st is a passage such as Matthew 19:13-15 where Jesus blesses
the children.
a. I certainly think it is a wonderful thing to bless little children,
1. But this text doesn’t mention anything about baptism, & blessing
& baptizing children are two different things.
2. The 2nd type of text consists of those Scriptures which talk about
"household baptism."
a. 4 times in the Book of Acts Luke says that a believer & the
members of his/her household were baptized.
b. Of course, none of these passages indicate there were infants or
even children in any of these families.
B. How? Immersion vs. Sprinkling & pouring
*Joke: Reporting on baptisms at a local baptist church, the pastor said "The whole atmosphere of the day was a blessing to all" All, that is, except one. The small granddaughter of one of the baptismal candidates said to her mother afterwards: "I do not like that man!" "Why ever not?", asked her mother. "Well", replied the child "he tried to drown my grandma in that pond, and she had a new dress on"
1. Immersion: putting the person completely under the water.
a. The Greek word “baptismo” means to immerse or to dip
under.
b. This is something which most Christians who are not
Baptists freely admit.
1. *Luther & Calvin, for example, both acknowledged that "baptize"
means to immerse and that the early church certainly baptized by
immersion.
2. *Brenner, a Roman Catholic historian, writes, "For the first 1300 years of church history, baptism was generally and regularly an immersion of the person under water, and only in extraordinary cases a sprinkling or pouring with water. The latter were disputed modes of baptism and often forbidden."
2. The reason then that sprinkling or pouring became the
common mode of baptism in various churches seems to be
convenience.
a. It is a lot easier to sprinkle water on someone than it is to
immerse that individual in a pool of some type.
1. To be blunt, Following Christ isn’t about convenience but
Commitment
3. Styles of the act of Baptism
a. Now, there is a wide variety of opinions about how baptism
by immersion should be done.
1. Trying to imitate John’s baptism of Jesus, some say that baptisms
should always be done outside, not in an indoor tank, & a few even
insist it should be done in running water, a river or stream, not a lake.
a. Some of you are thinking: Well, if baptisms had to be done outside,
then we could only do them in the summer here.
b. Also in the past baptism was a private family thing
1. They only allow the family to gather and those being baptized
would be dunked in the nude
c. Churches also have waited to have a one time a year
baptismal service.
1. All those needing to be baptized had to wait till that service
d. Most churches believe the individual should be put under
the water once, in the name of the triune God,
1. But other churches dip the person three times, once each for the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
e. In some churches, the individual squats down & the pastor
just kind of pushes on his head to make sure he gets all the way
under the water.
f. One Brethren group baptizes "three times forward" instead of
one time backwards like we do here. I have no idea why.
g. The NT does not give us details about how baptisms were
done other than that it was by immersion.
1. We know there is symbolism in death burial & resurrection
therefore the laying backwards like a dead person would lay
2. I am fine with whatever style of immersion someone wants to use.
II. Submission to His Command
A. Is a Matter of Obedience
1. Baptism is really ’first step".
a. 1st steps for those who are really serious and want to go on
to 2nd & 3rd steps
2. NOT first step to Salvation, but 1st step after Salvation
a. Blessings, maturity, power, holiness are dependent upon
our obedience
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
b. Baptism doesn’t put away the filth or sins of the flesh
c. But when obedient we have a clean/good conscience
toward the living Lord
3. It is a matter of standing up and being counted
a. When one is baptized they are stating their allegiance to
Jesus in a very public way
Mk 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
B. After Salvation: Salvation does not save nor keep us saved
1.It symbolizes the salvation we receive through Jesus Christ,
a. Though some people claim that the act of baptism by itself
washes away our original sin & provides the occasion on which we
experience regeneration by the Holy Spirit,
2. The instrument of Salvation is God’s GRACE
a. If we mix any kind of works in it we no-longer have grace
but works
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
b. There is no mention of baptism or even a drop of water
c. Baptism is the outward symbol of this inner reality.
3. It’s a sign that distinguishes all Christians
a. They may do it differently.
1. But all around the world Christians show their obedience to Jesus…
and their public desire to follow Him
4. Example set by Jesus for us to follow
a. Jesus himself was baptized, Mt 3:13-17
b. Jesus commanded all believers to be baptized when he said
in Mt 28:19-20
1. In fact, notice he told the church “to baptize” not optional
c. Christians of the early NT Church practiced baptizing
from the very beginning.
1. After Peter’s first sermon, see what happened to the new believers
Acts 2:41-42
III. Symbol of Salvation
A. For the Saved
1. Because there is no example in the Bible of anyone except a
believer being baptized. Just listen to these verses”
Acts 8:12-13: But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, ….
Ac 8:36-37 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.
Ac 16:30-33 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Ac 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.
a. Ok Baptism doesn’t save
b. But we are commanded to be baptized
1. First step in the new life is submission to the King
2. Why else are we to be Baptized?
2. Because of the symbolism the act of baptism produces
B. Symbolism of the Death Burial & Resurrection
1. baptism is the rite that signifies our union with Jesus Christ.
a. It symbolizes that we share in the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection. Rom 6:3-4 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.
2. Washed by the blood
a. I try to stress that there is nothing magical about the water.
1. If the person who is being baptized is not a Christian when he steps
into the water, he is not going to be a Christian when he steps out.
a. Baptism doesn’t have that power.
b. That doesn’t mean there is no spiritual benefit in being
baptized, however.
1. Sometimes Baptists have made the mistake of saying "it is only a
symbol."
2. But you see, when someone is baptized because of a desire to obey
& follow Jesus Christ, that is not "only a symbol."
a. I am confident God honors that act of obedience and so, being
baptized can indeed strengthen someone’s soul.
c. But again, it is not the water, but faith motivating the action
which is the key.
3. Changed Life
*A3-year-old girl, Rena, sat watching a baptismal service, it was a new experience for her. She exclaimed in surprise, “Why did he pushed that guy in the water? Why, Dad, why?” Mom tried to explain briefly and quietly, but Rena just wouldn’t be satisfied. Later that night we tried to provide an answer that a child’s mind could comprehend. We talked about sin and told Rena that when people decide to live for Jesus and “do good” they want everyone to know. We then explained that water symbolizes Jesus’ washing people from sin; when they come out “clean,” they are going to try to be “good.” A moment later, we realized we’d have to work on our explanation a bit. Rena had immediately responded, “Why didn’t the Pastor just spank him?”
4. It is Jesus that changes the life
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
a. Not the water, but the Spirit of Christ who resides in us.
B. The Symbolism of the Immersion into the Holy Spirit
Ac 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
IV. Statement of Faith
A. The individual being Baptized is stating to the world
1. I believe in Jesus, I am now a follower of Christ Jesus
**Wedding Ring In many ways it is like a wedding ring. This ring on my finger is a sign to remind me and everyone who looks at my hand that I am married, that I have one wife,
a. To World, BIG Step, Divisive
b. Commitment to Him and Him alone. No other gods
1. Leaving old life: sin, religion, beliefs and trusting Jesus
c. Think what that means, Families may not appreciate that
1. Break with customs, traditions, culture, history
d. Repercussions: Rejection, excommunicated from family,
old religion, loose business, or have to change jobs
1. Many were & are today threatened of bodily harm & death because
they have been saved and baptized as a follower of Christ
2. A Statement can be made multiple times
a. Usually only baptized once, but there are examples of
people being baptized more than once Ac 19:1-5
1. Gained a new understanding of the savior
2. Their faith changed, beliefs changed, apart of growing
b. Why would you be baptized more than once
1. 1st: got baptized thinking were saved, but then God revealed really
wasn’t saved.
a. Because baptism follows salvation, need to be baptized again, but
then that makes the first time not really a baptism but a religious
dunking
2. 2nd: Beliefs changed: had been baptized in one denomination that
teaches one thing about Jesus
a. Come to a new understanding of Jesus & want to make that
commitment to Jesus with the new understanding
b. So by being baptized by the new church, making a statement
B. Statement of Agreement to the church
1. To Church, I believe like you. I am now of “like faith”
a. Many are dropping this requirement of membership
1. But is important for preservation of the faith
2. If want to be part of the church, is important to agree in the
basics of the faith & to state so
a. Just another great opportunity to state to family and friends
1. Jesus means all the world to me
CONCLUSION
1. Jesus is worthy of our life
2. He is worthy of our total allegiance
3. Baptism is public declaration of your allegiance to Jesus
a. He made his allegiance public for you. On the cross
b. Make yours known today, come ..
