Rudy was a good guy but he did the bare minimum with hygiene. Ladies, would you date fellas with bad hygiene? Could you ride around in the car with windows up on a hot summer day?
-Doing the bare minimum in important areas isn't just bad for us; it’s bad for those around us.
We all know the bare minimum of salvation.
Romans 4:5
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
But remember—doing the bare minimum in important areas isn’t just bad for us; it’s bad for those around us.
4 Things We Need to Know about Baptism; 1. You must be saved. 2. Baptism is good discipleship.
3. Baptism is a set of specific practices to be observed. 4. What happens in baptism?
1. You must be saved
a. This point in itself assumes salvation is a separate event from baptism
i. Account of Cornelius’ Household-Acts 10:34-48; 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
ii. Account of the Thief on the Cross [Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27-28,32, Luke 23:33-43, John 19:18]
Luke 23:42-43
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
b. What about these verses?
i. John 3:5-8
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
ii. Mark 16:15-17
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
iii. Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Baptism is good discipleship
a. Almost every opportunity for salvation included an opportunity for baptism
i. Multiple times in the Book of Acts and the Gospels; excluding the Repentant Thief.
b. Jesus commanded baptism
i. Mark 16:15-17
3. Baptism is a set of specific practices to be observed
a. It is a public ceremony
i. Baptisms were not held secret. In the Book of Acts; not hidden even though the person would be in danger of social ostracized or death.
b. Water- Acts 10:47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
i. Immersion vs. Sprinkle. Baptizo does not mean fully immersed. Luke 11:38; wash.
ii. Speculated that perhaps The Household of Cornelius (Acts 10:47-48), and The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:29-34) were not fully immersed.
c. Baptizer and candidate for baptism
i. Baptizer does not have to be a minister or ordained. Any disciple of Christ and saved person can practice baptism.
ii. Infant- Speculated that the Household of Cornelius (Acts 10:47-48), and The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:29-34) had infants in them.
d. Dedication to God
i. Father, Son and Holy Spirit-Matthew 28:19-Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
1. Father --John 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
2. Son-- John 1:49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
3. Holy Spirit-- Luke 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness; Colossians 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
4. Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
ii. In the Name of Jesus
1. Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Acts 8:16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
3. Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
4. Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
TO NOTE: I believe it is a one-time thing. Rededication does not appear to require another baptism.
4. What happens in baptism?
a. Buried in Christ and Die to Sin
i. Romans 6:1-6
6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
b. Born into a new family and identity
i. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
ii. Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
c. Put on Christ
i. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Life application:
Brother had a death dream. Put things in perspective as well as instilled fear. People who have near death experiences most typically will institute some type of change in their life.
Baptism is our near death experience. Death, Burial and Resurrection. Your life is no longer your own. You are dead to sin and alive in Christ. We should live in a manner that
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Goal and Aspiration/Call to Action:
What if we could do it? What if we could live a life further than the bare minimum of salvation? What could we accomplish as a family in Christ? Realizing how we are intertwined via the new life we share in Christ? Moving from Glory to Glory!
Can we live a little closer to Him this week; a little more in acknowledge of His presence that we’ve put on through baptism?
