This morning I want to talk to you about Baptism. Because on Resurrection Sunday we're going to have a baptism service. We have decided to have baptisms during our Sunday service. I haven't talked about baptism in the last year and, honestly, it's a critical thing for Christians for believers to understand the importance and the priority of water baptism. Why is it important that they're baptized? I know I've met people over the years who love Jesus and are committed to the Lord who have never been baptized and never understood the priority of baptism, but it is so important.
The Lord gave us two ordinances, or two ceremonies, that he wanted us to observe as we worship together. One is Holy Communion, and that's why every first and second Sunday we have communion, and the other is water baptism. Baptism is something that Jesus commanded us to do. Matthew, chapter 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." You could say this baptism is as important as the Great Commission because it's a part of the Great Commission. When it comes to baptism, the word of God is very clear.
Everybody needs to be baptized. Some people just don't understand how important it is and so on. The Word of God over and over and again says this is incredibly important. People who love Jesus would be baptized. [What is baptism, and how is it important?] From a physical viewpoint, baptism is an act that signifies what is actually happening, in which a person is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins; it is a submersion in water. That's why the primary word used there in the New Testament in Greek is baptizo. It's used 77 times in the New Testament, and it always means to dip completely to submerge or immerse. John Calvin said that "the word baptize means to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the early church. The word "baptism" in Greek means "dip" or "immerse."
Baptism in water is an outward representation of inward realities. Today, I would like to clarify why baptism is so important. That is, baptism is an evidence of our faith, evidence of obedience, and evidence of salvation.
I. Baptism is evidence of our Faith
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1 But without faith it is impossible to please him. v.6.
Both the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are signs of God’s love that awaken faith in us. Since faith is God’s creation, baptism is entirely God’s work. We only receive it by trusting in God’s promise.
"Baptism is faith in action." ~ Watchman Nee. Baptism is important not only because it's a command of Christ, but also because it's a declaration of your faith and your identity with Christ. I'm a Christian. I'm a follower of Christ, but it is also an illustration of what happened to you in Christ. 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.
"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
He who believes and is baptized will be saved. but he who doesn’t believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
By Faith we are spiritually baptized into Christ and into His body. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” - Galatians 3:27. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13. Baptism is an expression of faith and therefore only for those who desire to be forgiven.
II. Baptism is evidence of our Obedience
John 14:15. "If you love me, keep my commandments." Baptism is a simple, but profound act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
Matthew 3:15 "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness". Well, what does that mean? How did Jesus fulfill all righteousness? He did that by dying on the cross, so whatever baptism means, it is connected to what Jesus did on the cross. It is symbolic of Jesus' death and his resurrection. Therefore, Jesus answered by saying, in Luke 12:50, "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!" Because Jesus viewed his death on the cross as a dying and resurrection, of which baptism is the perfect picture. Baptism illustrates what Jesus did, so when Jesus told John by being baptized it would fulfill all righteousness, he did it. Here's what he was saying: My death and resurrection will fulfill all righteousness, and my baptism will be an illustration of that death and resurrection.
Baptism is a part of obedience. The early church understood that Peter preached that first sermon in the book of Acts. 3,000 believed it and 3,000 were baptized. So, baptism is immediately linked to salvation. Baptism and salvation become synonymous. For example, you see an example of this in Ephesians 4:5 "one Lord one faith one baptism.One salvation" It means go and bring them to salvation, which means by a willingness to be baptized, We are saved by grace through faith, not that baptism itself saves you but it does demonstrate your willingness to obey Christ.
Here's another question: when should I be baptized? More people delay their obedience to Christ, and the enemy loves it because delayed obedience results in disobedience. "God’s people should be baptized because God commanded it, not because some church requires it." ~ John R. Rice
Michael Green is a British theologian and an Anglican priest. He has said that in his book, "The Message of Matthew." By submitting to baptism, Jesus acknowledged God’s claim on him, as on others, for total consecration of life and holiness of character.
III. Baptism is evidence of our Salvation
Being immersed in water for salvation is very important. Baptism is like a wedding ring: they both symbolize transactions. A wedding ring symbolizes marriage, just as baptism is a picture of salvation.
Baptism is none other than God’s Word in the water, commanded by God’s institution, or, as Paul says, “washing of water by the Word” (cleanse with the washing of the water by the Word –Eph. 5:26).
What is baptism? St. Augustine says, “Let the Word be added to the element, and a sacrament results.”Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is enclosed in God’s command and connected with God’s Word.
When Philip the Evangelist spoke to the people of Samaria, and when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12). When they believed in baptism, they did not wait, for they were immediately immersed. In Acts chapter 8, we look at the Ethiopian eunuch. As soon as he heard the gospel message, he said, "See, here is the water." Why shouldn't I be baptized? And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:38). The next verse says, "Now when he came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away.
Paul the Apostle tells his salvation and baptism story, which is in Acts 22:16. A devout man, Ananias, said, "The God of our Father has chosen you, for you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard." And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins.
Acts, chapter 10 Peter was preaching at a Roman centurion’s house so that the gospel would reach the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit was poured out on them when they received the Spirit, for they were speaking in tongues. That's in verse 46, and then he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter 16, here, Paul takes the gospel to Europe, and so, as he's now preaching the Word of God in Europe for the very first time, there's a woman who is a merchant of expensive purple cloth who worships God and listens to the Lord, and He opens her heart. She accepted what Paul was saying, and she was baptized along with other members of her household. She opens her heart, and she's baptized. When you are baptized, you are saved, and your sins are washed away.
This is maybe the most compelling story in the book of Acts 16. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. They were beaten there, and their legs were put in stocks. Paul tells Silas, "Let's thank God for everything." Give thanks, for this is the will of God. So, they started singing and praising God. The Bible says the other prisoners were listening. In the middle of the night, there's an earthquake, and their chains fall off, the prison doors open, and the jailer is about to fall on his own sword because he thinks the prisoners have all escaped. But Paul tells the jailer that they were all there. Then the jailer asked them what they must do to be saved, and they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved along with everyone in your household." Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. In the middle of the night, they were immersed. We believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again, celebrating a new life. This baptism remains forever.
Conclusion:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
Martin Luther once suggested that we should remember our baptism every time we wash our faces. Every time we take a shower, we should remember our baptism. Just as the dirt is washed away from our bodies, God promises to wash away our sins through the blood of Jesus and offers us a fresh beginning each day. This can be a powerful sign, as we are reminded each day of God’s love and eternal blessing.
Baptism is putting our faith into action. We are proving our faith and executing God’s plans for us. We are spiritually baptized into Christ and His body through faith.Baptism is the most basic element of our salvation. Through baptism, we are saved by grace through faith. By submitting to baptism, Jesus acknowledged God’s claim on him, so shouldn’t we, as Christians, submit to baptism? We need to wash away our sins. We need to wash away our sins with the Word of God. When we are baptized, we are saved. So let us be saved. Amen.
