What is Baptism?
Romans 6:4
Baptism is a ceremony which pictures our union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. When we stand in the water to be baptized, we testify to the fact that we have been crucified with Christ, when we are placed under water, we picture our burial with Him and when we lifted up out of the water, we picture our resurrection with Him.
The Lord Jesus commanded everyone who believes on
Him to be baptized. By baptism we give public testimony to the fact that we belong to Jesus and that we are united
with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.
In regards to the Church Baptism three questions are important;
1) Who should be baptized?
2) How should it be done?
3) For what reason?
So we are considering the Who, How and the Why.
Let’s look at these:
1. Who is a valid candidate for baptism?
There are two examples from Acts 16: 13- 15
It tells of the story of Lydia, the first European convert.
a) Paul gathered the women outside the city gate to the river to find a place for
prayer.
A place of prayer was the synagogue but evidently there was no synagogue in
Philippi because there were no Jews there. So they gathered by the river on the
Sabbath verse 13, in verse 14 Lydia’s heart was opened to respond to Paul’s
Message. In verse 15 Lydia was baptized. She became a believer.
b) Verses 25 through 33, Recount the story of the Philippian jailor. He was either
the Roman soldier or a Greek hired by the Romans to guard the prison. He was
not a believer in God or in Jesus. Paul responded to his inquiry v 31….
Immediately he repented and as baptized. Vv 32- 33
2. Who then is the valid candidates for baptism?
a) Those who have heard the preaching of the gospel of Christ and have believed
it and are willing to commit their lives to Him.
b) Acts 8: 37, a testimony of what the church believed and practiced.
So baptism is based on the confession of Jesus as the Son of God.
Notice: Only believers were baptized.
Negatively:
1) Not for infants – praise God our parents are concerned about our spiritual well
Being. Now you have read the Scriptures and you see that baptism is always a
Choice that someone made, it was an immersion. Now I need to complete my
Obedience . I need to be truly baptized. Only a believer in Christ is entitled to be baptized and that only those who gave incredible evidence of faith in Him.
Objection to Infant baptism;
1) No explicit command from the Scriptures that children should be baptized. An abuse of baptism as a sacrament that put the power in the water and left out the power of the blood. Hebrews 9:22, 28 and 1John 1:7
2) No example of infant baptism in the New Testament.
3) Baptism is conditioned in the faith revealing itself in a credible profession of faith.
Active faith is prerequisite of baptism and infants can not exercise faith.
The misconception about baptism:
1) To become a christian.
Illustration:
In 1980 when I was a pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Magsaysay Palawan, I visited a home of my friend who belonged to another religion for a special gathering. When a grandmother came to attend the occasion, she immediately asked her daughter, the mother of the child, if her grandchild which was so small had been subjected to Water Baptism. When the mother of a child said the child was not yet baptized as a baby, she scolded the mother saying, " Why did you make my grandchild a pagan." She had a strong belief that water baptism can make her grandchild a Christian.
2) To wash away sin. 1John 1: 7
3) Gives new birth. John 3: 5
4) Baptism can be added to faith for salvation. Luke 23: 39 – 43
11. How should Baptism be done?
Some say it is enough to simply sprinkle a little water on one’s head. They say, it is what is in the heart that counts. Certainly, if your heart is not right with God , no baptism will be right for you. If your heart is right – would you not do what the Lord commands?
A. The Gk. " Baptizo" – means to dip, to immersed – it was never translated but transliterated. We are not Greek scholar but the Scripture is clear.
a) Baptism requires plenty of water. John 3: 23
b) Jesus – went up out the water. Mark 1: 10
c) Both Philip and the Eunuch came out of the water. Acts 8: 38- 39
Let us look carefully Romans 6: 4- 6
d)Paul was arguing for the thoroughness of the true conversion and he says figuratively we share in the death of Christ through baptism. He indicates baptism is the picture ( an object lesson) of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When we see a baptism they see a picture of death, burial and resurrection.
Illustration: When I die I do not want that someone put a soil on my head and call it a burial. I told my wife to bring me back to Negros. So that they will believe I am dead.
111 Why one should be Baptized? Or what is the benefits of Baptism?
The answer vary- it depends on the theological position of a person
Illustration: How can I be saved? Acts 2: 38 Repent and be baptized for the remission of sin. Some said you must repent and be baptized to be saved. Well, baptism is not an addition to faith, it is an expression of faith. Ephesian 2:8-9, 1 Peter 3: 18- 21
V21 And this water now saves you. Were the people of Noah saved through water. The answer is no. The water destroyed them. It was the ark that saved them. The ark speaks of Christ. Getting into the ark speaks of faith in Christ that saves. Well, the believer is saved by what baptism symbolizes. It symbolizes the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Placing our faith in Christ, we identify with Him in His death, burial and resurrection.
1V. What is the benefit of Baptism?
A. Acts 2: 41 It is a door of entry into the Church.
Conclusion:
The story is told that when the gospel was first preached in the island of Barbados, several accepted the invitation to be baptized. When they arrived at the water for the Baptismal service – the women were dressed in nightgowns and the men in pajamas. The missionaries were afraid this might be misunderstood and urged the candidates to change their clothes but they refused. The missionary allowed and decided to be sure this will not happen the next time. Before next baptism- the missionary attended the funeral – and noticed the corpse was dressed in pajamas. It was explained that they believed that when a person dies, he goes to sleep, so we are buried in our sleep wear. Then the missionary understood. If you are ready to bury the old man of sin and begin a new life for Jesus, why not now?
