Sermon Central
-
Benefits Of Water Baptism
Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Jan 23, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This is an examination of the various spiritual blessings that the New Testament associates with water baptism. In addition, we consider how the early Church viewed this rite.
Tertullian (AD 155-222) - "It has assuredly been ordained that no one can attain knowledge of salvation without baptism. This comes especially from the pronouncement of the Lord, Who says, ’Except one be born of water, he does not have life.’"
Irenaeus (AD 180) - "(water) baptism is the seal of eternal life and is rebirth unto God, that we be no more children of mortal men, but of the eternal and everlasting God. The Holy Spirit... is given by Him in baptism."
Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 348-386) - "For as he who plunges into the waters and is baptized is surrounded on all sides by the waters, so were they also baptized completely by the Spirit. The water, however, flows around the outside, but the Spirit baptizes also the soul within completely."
V. ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM.
John 3:5, "Jesus answered, ’Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’"
Origen (AD 183-255) - "[Explaining the reason why people] are baptized. For ’Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven’.... In all persons the natural stains of sin which must be washed away by the water and the Spirit."
ACTS 8:12, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
VI. ADDS ONE TO THE BODY OF CHRIST (CHURCH)
1 Corinthians 12:13, 27, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,... Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually members of it."
COLOSSIANS 1:18 states that "the body" is "the church"; therefore, one is placed into the Church at baptism. Note the connection in ACTS 2:41, 47, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.... And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved." Christ is "the Head of the Church, He Himself being the Savior of the Body", having cleansed her by the washing of water." (EPHESIANS 5:23,26).
Having considered what the New Testament teaches concerning the benefits of faith-motivated baptism, there is no wonder that the Lord emphasized it in the Great Commission.
