Basics of Baptism
October 14, 2007
“Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then
teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and
be sure of this--that I am with you always, even to the end of the
world."
Matt 28:20 (Living)
The act of water baptism is a very important first step in the Christian
life. It is a sign that we are putting our faith in Jesus. In Matthew
3:13-17, we see Jesus Himself coming to John to be baptized, in order to
"fulfill all righteousness." John asked Him why He was coming to be
baptized. He said, “I should be baptized by you!” Jesus didn’t NEED to
be baptized - but He wanted to leave us with an example to follow. If HE
was baptized - all of His followers should be baptized as well.
Today in America and in most of the world, baptism doesn’t seem like a
big deal. But in the Early Church’s day, it could cost you your life to
be baptized. Even today, in some places of the world, baptism is a
dangerous thing. Chuck Colson points out:
"Most Westerners take baptism for granted, but for many in the world the
act requires immense courage. In countries like Nepal it once meant
imprisonment. For Soviet or Chinese or Eastern bloc believers, it was
like signing their own death warrant."
A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married. A military
uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular
branch of service. Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God
to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ. The Word says,
“For now we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and
we who have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by him.
We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men
or women, but we are all the same--we are Christians; we are one in
Christ Jesus.”
Gal 3:26-28 (Living)
When you become a Christian, you become one with Christ through baptism.
You are enveloped by Him. The King James version of that Scripture say,
“You have ‘put on’ Christ. In other words, you have taken on His
qualities and character. You have become Christ-like. Not that we are
perfect or have reached perfection - but that is the mind set we need to
have. We have died to self - and now Christ lives in and through us.
Baptism is an outward representation of these inward realities. In Bible
symbolism, water represents inner cleansing:
“... Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water and by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.”
Eph 5:25-27 (KJV)
“let us go right in to God himself, with true hearts fully trusting him
to receive us because we have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make
us clean and because our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
Heb 10:22 (Living)
Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which
we testify, both to God and to the world, that the person we were before
is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ. The
Bible says,
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should
walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:4
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
Colossians 2:12
When you are baptized, you need to understand that the old you is dead.
You have buried that old you in the water of baptism. When you come up
from the water - it is a new you. You are a new creation in Christ. You
have been born again. Now you talk differently and you walk differently.
You have a new heavenly home and a new purpose in life. The old has
gone. The new is come.
We need to understand, also, that being baptized is a command from God.
It’s not an option. It is an act that God requires of every believer. In
fact, among Jesus’ last recorded words on earth were. "He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved...." (Mark 16:16.) Think about that for a
moment. Jesus’ very call to believe on Him includes a call to be
baptized. I would say Jesus made baptism very important - don’t you?
You never read of an unbaptized Christian anywhere in the Bible. In fact,
baptism immediately followed a person’s salvation. They didn’t see it as
something to be delayed or put off. Jesus said we were to make disciples,
BAPTISM, them, then teach them to be obedient. Let’s take a look at some
of the conversions described in the Book of Acts.
When the people respond to Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the
first thing he instructs them to do is "Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
We read in verse 41 that they "gladly received his word, and were
baptized...."
Acts 8:26-40 is the account of Phillip leading the Ethiopian eunuch to
Christ. As they finish their discussion, the eunuch enthusiastically asks
"What is hindering me from being baptized?" to which Phillip replies "If
you believe with all your heart, you may." Then they come to a body of
water, and Philip promptly baptizes him.
In Acts 22:16, the first thing Jesus tells Paul to do when he is
converted is to be baptized. Listen
“And now, why delay? Go and be baptized and be cleansed from your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.’“ Acts 22:16 (Living)
Did you notice that cleansing from sin came AFTER baptism? I think Paul
needed that act of faith and commitment - and so do we.
There are a number of other instances we could look at as well. In Acts
10:46-48. Cornelius is baptized. In Acts 16:14-15 Lydia is baptized. In
Acts 16:33 the jailor and his whole family was baptized. Acts 18:8
records Crispus, the leader of the local synagogue, being baptized along
with many others. And in Acts 19:1-5 Paul baptizes some more people.
In each of these cases, notice the sense of urgency that is attached to
baptism. These people all responded to Jesus in simple faith. However,
they didn’t see their faith as complete until they had obeyed God by
being baptized. Keep in mind that faith without works is dead (James
2:17.) A living faith produces an obedient heart (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:
46; 1 John 2:3-4) and water
baptism is to be our first act of obedience.
Christians who do not follow Jesus in water baptism have a much higher
rate of backsliding than those who do. After all, if our walk with God
didn’t begin with the most basic act of obedience, it got off to a shaky
start in the first place. Baptism is a very special way of God
communicating His love to us. When we receive God’s saving grace, it is
no accident that He calls us to identify with Him in a way that makes it
real to us. Are you struggling with guilt over your past? It may be
because you haven’t yet given the person you once were a proper burial!
Water baptism is a very powerful reminder of God’s wonderful grace. The
person we were before is dead forever, and we are raised with Jesus as a
totally new creation:
"Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a
new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and
spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
(2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible)
Ultimately, it all goes back to Jesus’ statement in John 14:15. "If you love me, keep my commandments." Baptism is a simple, but terribly
important act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of
your life.
Of course, we cannot take baptism without first embracing the reality
that it represents: A living relationship with Jesus Christ. Without
this, baptism is simply getting wet. There are a lot of people who get
married and don’t live up to their marriage vows. The marriage ceremony
doesn’t mean much in that case. And there are a lot of people who get
baptized and don’t walk with Christ. Baptism
doesn’t mean much if you don’t walk the walk. In Matthew 3 the bible
records an instance like this. It says,
“and when they confessed their sins, he (John) baptized them in the
Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be
baptized, he denounced them. "You sons of snakes!" he warned. "Who said
that you could escape the coming wrath of God? Before being baptized,
prove that you have turned from sin by doing worthy deeds.”
Matt 3:6-8 (Living)
Baptism is important, but it is only as important as the heart. It needs
to be a sign of faith and a sign to the world that you are going to live
for Jesus from this day on. Baptism is the beginning of the journey.
After baptism we need to continue on for the rest of our lives seeking
Jesus and desiring to walk in His way. If you are willing to do that -
as a sign of your faith - would you come now to be baptized.
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Basics of Baptism
October 14, 2007
“Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then
teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and
be sure of this--that I am with you always, even to the end of the
world."
Matt 28:20 (Living)
The act of water baptism is a very important first step in the Christian
life. It is a sign that we are putting our faith in Jesus. In Matthew
3:13-17, we see Jesus Himself coming to John to be baptized, in order to
"fulfill all righteousness." John asked Him why He was coming to be
baptized. He said, “I should be baptized by you!” Jesus didn’t NEED to
be baptized - but He wanted to leave us with an example to follow. If HE
was baptized - all of His followers should be baptized as well.
Today in America and in most of the world, baptism doesn’t seem like a
big deal. But in the Early Church’s day, it could cost you your life to
be baptized. Even today, in some places of the world, baptism is a
dangerous thing. Chuck Colson points out:
"Most Westerners take baptism for granted, but for many in the world the
act requires immense courage. In countries like Nepal it once meant
imprisonment. For Soviet or Chinese or Eastern bloc believers, it was
like signing their own death warrant."
A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married. A military
uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular
branch of service. Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God
to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ. The Word says,
“For now we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and
we who have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by him.
We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men
or women, but we are all the same--we are Christians; we are one in
Christ Jesus.”
Gal 3:26-28 (Living)
When you become a Christian, you become one with Christ through baptism.
You are enveloped by Him. The King James version of that Scripture say,
“You have ‘put on’ Christ. In other words, you have taken on His
qualities and character. You have become Christ-like. Not that we are
perfect or have reached perfection - but that is the mind set we need to
have. We have died to self - and now Christ lives in and through us.
Baptism is an outward representation of these inward realities. In Bible
symbolism, water represents inner cleansing:
“... Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water and by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.”
Eph 5:25-27 (KJV)
“let us go right in to God himself, with true hearts fully trusting him
to receive us because we have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make
us clean and because our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
Heb 10:22 (Living)
Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which
we testify, both to God and to the world, that the person we were before
is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ. The
Bible says,
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should
walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:4
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
Colossians 2:12
When you are baptized, you need to understand that the old you is dead.
You have buried that old you in the water of baptism. When you come up
from the water - it is a new you. You are a new creation in Christ. You
have been born again. Now you talk differently and you walk differently.
You have a new heavenly home and a new purpose in life. The old has
gone. The new is come.
We need to understand, also, that being baptized is a command from God.
It’s not an option. It is an act that God requires of every believer. In
fact, among Jesus’ last recorded words on earth were. "He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved...." (Mark 16:16.) Think about that for a
moment. Jesus’ very call to believe on Him includes a call to be
baptized. I would say Jesus made baptism very important - don’t you?
You never read of an unbaptized Christian anywhere in the Bible. In fact,
baptism immediately followed a person’s salvation. They didn’t see it as
something to be delayed or put off. Jesus said we were to make disciples,
BAPTISM, them, then teach them to be obedient. Let’s take a look at some
of the conversions described in the Book of Acts.
When the people respond to Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the
first thing he instructs them to do is "Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
We read in verse 41 that they "gladly received his word, and were
baptized...."
Acts 8:26-40 is the account of Phillip leading the Ethiopian eunuch to
Christ. As they finish their discussion, the eunuch enthusiastically asks
"What is hindering me from being baptized?" to which Phillip replies "If
you believe with all your heart, you may." Then they come to a body of
water, and Philip promptly baptizes him.
In Acts 22:16, the first thing Jesus tells Paul to do when he is
converted is to be baptized. Listen
“And now, why delay? Go and be baptized and be cleansed from your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.’“ Acts 22:16 (Living)
Did you notice that cleansing from sin came AFTER baptism? I think Paul
needed that act of faith and commitment - and so do we.
There are a number of other instances we could look at as well. In Acts
10:46-48. Cornelius is baptized. In Acts 16:14-15 Lydia is baptized. In
Acts 16:33 the jailor and his whole family was baptized. Acts 18:8
records Crispus, the leader of the local synagogue, being baptized along
with many others. And in Acts 19:1-5 Paul baptizes some more people.
In each of these cases, notice the sense of urgency that is attached to
baptism. These people all responded to Jesus in simple faith. However,
they didn’t see their faith as complete until they had obeyed God by
being baptized. Keep in mind that faith without works is dead (James
2:17.) A living faith produces an obedient heart (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:
46; 1 John 2:3-4) and water
baptism is to be our first act of obedience.
Christians who do not follow Jesus in water baptism have a much higher
rate of backsliding than those who do. After all, if our walk with God
didn’t begin with the most basic act of obedience, it got off to a shaky
start in the first place. Baptism is a very special way of God
communicating His love to us. When we receive God’s saving grace, it is
no accident that He calls us to identify with Him in a way that makes it
real to us. Are you struggling with guilt over your past? It may be
because you haven’t yet given the person you once were a proper burial!
Water baptism is a very powerful reminder of God’s wonderful grace. The
person we were before is dead forever, and we are raised with Jesus as a
totally new creation:
"Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a
new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and
spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
(2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible)
Ultimately, it all goes back to Jesus’ statement in John 14:15. "If you
love me, keep my commandments." Baptism is a simple, but terribly
important act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of
your life.
Of course, we cannot take baptism without first embracing the reality
that it represents: A living relationship with Jesus Christ. Without
this, baptism is simply getting wet. There are a lot of people who get
married and don’t live up to their marriage vows. The marriage ceremony
doesn’t mean much in that case. And there are a lot of people who get
baptized and don’t walk with Christ. Baptism
doesn’t mean much if you don’t walk the walk. In Matthew 3 the bible
records an instance like this. It says,
“and when they confessed their sins, he (John) baptized them in the
Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be
baptized, he denounced them. "You sons of snakes!" he warned. "Who said
that you could escape the coming wrath of God? Before being baptized,
prove that you have turned from sin by doing worthy deeds.”
Matt 3:6-8 (Living)
Baptism is important, but it is only as important as the heart. It needs
to be a sign of faith and a sign to the world that you are going to live
for Jesus from this day on. Baptism is the beginning of the journey.
After baptism we need to continue on for the rest of our lives seeking
Jesus and desiring to walk in His way. If you are willing to do that -
as a sign of your faith - would you come now to be baptized.
