The Meaning of Baptism

4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.

6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.

10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.

11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Introduction:

There is a lot of confusion about the subject of baptism. Men teach a number of different things about baptism. Some go to seed on the subject while others ignore it altogether.

The story is told of the preacher who went to pastor a particular church. He was one who was fond of preaching on water baptism. Week after week he would preach about baptism. Finally in desperation, the deacons requested that he allow them to pick his scripture text for the following Sunday’s message. He agreed. They assigned him the text Genesis 1:1. “There“, they said, “let us see him get a sermon on baptism out of that verse.” When he got up to preach, he announced the agreed upon text. His opening sentence then followed, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth is two-thirds water. Today’s subject is Water Baptism.”

While we chuckle at his persistence, and realize that he had gone to seed on the subject, to ignore the Biblical teaching on baptism is also wrong.

What does the Bible teach about Baptism? It is one of the basics of the faith. Our text helps us to understand some truths about baptism.

A. The word “Baptize” indicates us the mode.

1. “βαπτίζω” means, “to immerse, to submerge .”

a. This is the only word used for the practice of baptism.

B. The practice shown in the New Testament demonstrates the mode.

1. Jesus was baptized this way (Matthew 3:13-17)

2. Jesus Commanded this type of baptism for those who believe

(Matt. 28:18-20).

3. Peter Commanded it at Pentecost (Acts 2:38).

4. Every time believers were baptized in the book of Acts, this is how it was done

(Acts 2:41; 8:12,38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:33).

C. The Picture presented in the act of baptism mandates the mode.

1. It pictures death, burial, and resurrection.

What does baptism really mean?

I- BAPTISM IDENTIFIES US OPENLY WITH CHRIST (Romans 6:3, 5)

A. It is a public identification with the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross

(Romans 6:3).

Romans 6:3 (NLT)

3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?

1. When we are baptized, we are openly expressing our faith in the substitutionary death that Jesus died for us on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

B. We are identified as becoming united with Jesus (Romans 6:5)

Romans 6:5 (NLT)

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.

1. Notice Paul’s words, “Baptized into Christ”. This denotes the fact that we are in union with Christ.

* When the husband and wife are united at the marriage altar, they become “One flesh”. When we are baptized, we become one with the Savior. Baptism identifies us with Christ as the wedding identifies the bride with her groom.

II. BAPTISM ILLUSTRATES THE IMPACT OF OUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE (Romans 6:4, 6-8)

A. Baptism illustrates the Gospel message.

(Romans 6:4)

Romans 6:4 (NLT)

4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

1. Christ died for us.

(Rom. 5:8)

Romans 5:8 (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

2. He arose so that we can be made right with God.

(Romans 4:25)

Romans 4:25 (NLT)

25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

B. Baptism illustrates the believer’s testimony.

(Romans 6:6-7)

Romans 6:6–7 (NLT)

6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

1. The believer is a new creature in Christ.

(2 Cor. 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2. The key to living the Christian life is to let Jesus live through you

(Gal. 2:20).

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

C. Baptism illustrates that the believer’s destiny. (Romans 6:8).

Romans 6:8 (NLT)

8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

1. When we are saved, we are guaranteed a home in heaven.

(1 Thess. 4:13-17).

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (NLT)

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.

17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

III. BAPTISM IMPRESSES UPON US THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR COMMITMENT (Romans 6:11-14).

A. It is a call to commitment for us to forsake the ways of the world (Romans 6:11a, 12-13a).

Romans 6:11a (NLT)

11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:12–13a (NLT)

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

1. You must commit to see yourself as “dead” to sin .

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. The choice must be made not to let sin have dominion over you.

a. Living like the rest of the world should be an unimaginable choice.

Romans 6:2 (NLT)

2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

B. It is a call to commitment to completely live for Christ (Romans 6: 13b-14).

Romans 6:11b (NLT)

11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:13b–14 (NLT)

14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

1. You must commit to live for Jesus. (Col 3:5-10)

Colossians 3:5–10 (NLT)

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

2. You must surrender your entire being to serve Christ.

(Rom. 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(1 Pe 2:24)

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Conclusion:

Baptism is a beautiful picture. It is a witness. It is Powerful. Today we have seen what baptism really means.

I- BAPTISM IDENTIFIES THE BELIEVER OPENLY WITH CHRIST.

II- BAPTISM ILLUSTRATES THE IMPACT OF OUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE

III- BAPTISM IMPRESSES UPON US THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR COMMITMENT.

Are you a Christian? Have you followed the Lord in this beautiful ordinance? If not, why not come and request baptism? Take your stand openly with Jesus in the waters of Believer’s Baptism.

Christian, are you living what you professed at the time of your baptism? Why not commit to living in the newness of life that you have received in Christ?

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