The Miracle Of Water Baptism

The Miracle of Water Baptism

November 10, 2019

1. Baptism is surrender.

Matthew 3:13-17 NIV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

• This is a coronation moment for Jesus, who comes out of hiding and his first act is to be baptized in the muddy waters of the Jordan.

• For the Jewish people, this is a reminder to them that they were once set free from slavery in Egypt after passing through the waters of the Red Sea.

• Jesus, the sinless one, is unleashed on the world after baptism!!

2. Baptism is belonging.

• Baptism is when we go public with our faith!

• In many cultures, people will believe in Jesus, but will not be water baptized.

Our faith is very personal but was never meant to be private.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

• Water baptism marks us as a part of the family – we belong.

We are allowing another person to immerse us in water!

3. Baptism is new life.

Romans 6:1-4 NIV

“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.

• We get to participate in his death and resurrection – so we too may live a new life!

• Jesus surrendered himself to death on the cross. We surrender ourselves to death in baptism.

• In baptism, we identify with Christ’s death, which He suffered for our sins

• We also identify with Christ’s resurrection, which achieved victor over sin and death

The history of the Easter Vigil – Sundown on Holy Saturday, with candles lit, people would be baptized as a sign that they, too, were participating with Christ in his resurrection!

• Baptism has the appearance of a “public bath” – removing the old clothes of our past and putting on the new clothes of a redeemed future.

Baptism is not begging for forgiveness of sins but receiving the forgiveness that is already ours!!