Reflections: On Baptism (2022)
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Reflecting on the Scripture
Reflecting on the Scripture
We should reflect on the scripture, we should be prepared to share the scripture. We don’t have to argue the scripture, it speaks for itself. This morning we continue our series on reflections and we are going to be looking at baptism. But first the scripture authority for us to reflect, ponder, consider, meditate and think on.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
We have looked at reflecting on (below not on slide)
Bible, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, The Gospel, Sin, and repentance.
This morning we will be looking at Baptism, one of the commands given in the scripture. But without the other commands baptism avails nothing. The others are
Must hear, must believe, must repent, must confess, must live obediently
Baptism is not more important, nor less important than the other things. It cannot be neglected in the preaching today, but it should be emphasized with the other commands. So now let us get into our study this morning about the command of baptism.
I. The Command of Baptism
I. The Command of Baptism
If you believe the authority and the authenticity of the scripture then you will believe the Words Jesus spoke regarding baptism.
To His disciples to go into all the world. (Mt28:19-20; Mk16:15-16)
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Not only into all the world, but to every person.
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
How about the command by His Apostles?
Preaching it to the Jews (Act2:38)
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Preaching it to the Gentiles (Act10:44-48)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Commanded by Jesus; Commanded the the Apostles - So, if commanded by Jesus, and commanded by the Apostles it must be important, so now lets press on and look at baptism itself for a couple of minutes.
II. Baptism: What is it?
II. Baptism: What is it?
Outside of religion baptism means nothing, there is no application outside of religion. Even within religion it could be confusing, some say sprinkling, some say pouring, while other say immersion. So what is it? What does the scripture say?
Baptism involves water
Jesus implies it involves water (Jn3:5)
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Paul does too (Tit3:5)
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
OK, going beyond implied, how about these (Act8:35-38, 10:47-48
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Or
47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Baptism involved immersion in water
Baptism involved immersion in water
What water? How much water, How is the water to be applied?
The definition according to Strong’s Concordance is;
Strong's Concordance
baptizó: to dip, sink
Original Word: βαπτίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: baptizó
Phonetic Spelling: (bap-tid'-zo)
Short Definition: I dip, submerge, baptize
Definition: lit: I dip, submerge, but specifically of ceremonial dipping; I baptize.
In scripture, it is likened to burial (Rom6:4; Col2:12)
In scripture, it is likened to burial (Rom6:4; Col2:12)
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
and then again
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
We need to be careful about changing the word from what the Bible says to what man says.
13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
That is what the Jews were doing, they were changing things, handing things down that God did not intend.
You do not see in the scripture baptism as sprinkling, or pouring, it is by immersion and involves water.
So now, moving one, we know the command, we know the mode, how about the subjects of Baptism
III. Baptism: The Subjects
III. Baptism: The Subjects
Who are the subjects? It’s the people being baptized. Are there conditions?
The Subjects (people) must have faith (Mk16:16)
16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
They must believe the gospel (Rom1:16; Act8:36-37)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Faith, belief is a prerequisite for baptism. How about another scripture to back that up?
36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
The Subjects must repent of their sins (Lk24:47; Act2:38)
Jesus told people, wanted the preaching to include repentance.
47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
In keeping in context in Lk24 this is after the resurrection before the ascension when the apostles had their minds opened to understand the scripture.
Then we are familiar that repentance was linked with baptism
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Now you cannot repent of your sins if you don’t know your a sinner (expand on this, age appropriate) Now that brings us to the purpose of Baptism.
IV. Baptism: It’s purpose
IV. Baptism: It’s purpose
Short and to the point, the purpose: For remission of sins as the scripture says
We know from Act2:38 it is forgiveness of sins. And this is further proved by (Act22:16)
16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
For the washing away, away by the blood of Christ (Eph1:7)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Purpose: To enter into union with Christ (Rom6:3-4)
To be united with Christ
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
To be clothed in Christ (Gal3:27)
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Purpose: To walk in newness of life (Rom6:5-6)
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
To be made alive together with Christ (Col2:12-13)
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
And we have already mentioned this one, but worth mentioning again
Not on basis of our works, but God’s mercy (Tit3:5)
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Purpose: For Freedom From Sin (Rom6:7, 11-14)
This is freedom from the power of sin in your life. How? By your death with Christ
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
You are dead to sin if you have been baptized because you repented and that happened only because you believed, you believed because you heard the gospel message.
all of this bring to the purpose
Purpose: to be saved! (Mk16:16; 1Pt3:21)
we hear, believe and now we obey so we can be saved
16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Or as Peter put it
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Baptism works with other commands and is the point of salvation.
Conclusion: Is Baptism Necessary?
It is commanded (by Jesus, by Apostles)
It has a purpose and will accomplish it’s purpose
Summary: When you are baptized
Sins forgiven (Act2:38)
Sins washed away (Act22:16)
United with Christ (Rom6:3-6)
Clothed in Christ (Gal3:27)
Washing and regeneration by Spirit (Tit3:5)
Made free from power of sin (Rom6:7)
Have appeal for good conscience (1Pt3:21)
Lead to invitation; put up invitation slide, Song, prayer, Close