Baptism: A Matter of Death and Life

TEXT: ROMANS 6:1-11

TITLE: “BAPTISM: A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE”

INTRODUCTION: A. A drunk stumbled along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon
down by the river. He proceeded to walk down into the water and stood
next to the Preacher.
The minister turned and noticed the old drunk and said, "Mister, Are
you ready to find Jesus?"
The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, Preacher. I sure am."
The minister then dunked the fellow under the water and pulled him
right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks.
"No, I didn’t!" says the drunk.
The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him
up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"
"No, I did not Preacher."
The preacher in disgust holds the man under for at least 30 seconds
this time brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Friend,
are you sure you haven’t found Jesus yet?"
The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher..."Are you
sure this is where he fell in?"
1. That fellow didn’t know what he had gotten himself into.

2. There are a lot of people who don’t understand what it’s all about.

B. Baptism is taught clearly in Scripture but has been confused and
contended for a long time.
1. The Scriptures are the best and most obvious authority on this
issue.

2. Let’s shake away some of the confusion and clarify what God wants
us to understand concerning this subject

3. Have to understand that this sermon not meant to be the most
comprehensive study of all times.
a. Time constraints keep me from it and I’ll bet you’re glad that it
does.

b. We are going to concentrate on the most basic but most
important parts.


I. THE MANDATE
A. As you read the New Testament, baptism is an obvious command
1. “Mandate” – “an order or command”

2. A command is something that must be followed

B. Let’s look at what the Scriptures have to say concerning baptism:
1. Mt. 28:18 & 19 – “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on