Sermon Tone Analysis

*Topical: Baptism: Repentance and Entrance~/Rebirth*

*/October 12, 2008/*

 

 

*Prep:* 

 

·         DPL, baptism passages

·         Early church baptism

·         Sermon: 06-11-12

·         Repentance: DJG

·         Child dedication~/infant baptism (Col.

2:12-13)

 

 

*Opening*: Response to Alfred

 

*Prayer*: Alfred, India, & Kaplan’s

 

 

*Let’s talk about baptism *

 

Next week we will have my *first* *baptism* her at TG; this is such a *celebration* of what God is doing in our midst.

·         My first baptism...

So to prepare for baptism, *today’s* *sermon* is about *baptism* and what it means, because I hate it being only just a *ritual*.

Ä  But if you already baptized, you may wonder why you have to listen to this.

 

 

*Of baptism and weddings*

 

Baptisms are kind of like *weddings*, though less romantic.

The attention is centered on the *few* *people* that are getting baptized, but *everyone* there is a part of *event*.

·         We are not *observers*, but *participants*, who *celebrate* with them and support them.

So we all need to be *reminded* of what we are holding them to.

It’s also a great *reminder* of what we’ve committed ourselves to.

·         It’s like wedding *vows* which mean more to the *older* *couples* than the *bride* and *groom*.

\   It’s good for us *all* to be reminded of the meaning of baptism.

In a sentence: Baptism is a symbol of repentance, rebirth, and entrance into the Body of Christ.

·         There will be time for *Q & A* at the end.

*Symbols*

 

Baptism is a *symbol* – a *simple* thing as a *reminder* of a *greater* thing.

·         Not *sacramental*, doesn’t “do” anything.

We do not believe that baptism actually *takes* *away* *sin*, and hence it is *not* *required* for salvation.

Baptism is “only” a symbol, it does not *change* us or *save* us, but it is a still a *real* and *powerful* reminder of a *spiritual* *reality*.

It’s a *mistake* to confuse “*symbolic*” with “*not* *real*.”

Symbolic things can be *very* *real*.

There’s another symbol that we all use on a *daily* *basis* and, good or bad, it *drives* most of our lives.

*Q:* Any guess what that is it?

*A:* Money.

·         It symbolizes *goods* and *services*, but has no intrinsic value.

*Teaching moments *

 

The use of symbols to teach us is a key theme of the OT.

Baptism is one of two *ordinances* of the church.

That means that is a *physical* act that *symbolizes* a *spiritual* reality.

While He was on earth, Jesus gave us only two ordinances.

*Q:* Baptism is one, what it the other?

*A:* Communion

 

*Communion* and *baptism* both take something from *ordinary*, earthly life – a shared *meal* and a *bath* – to *demonstrate* and *symbolize* *extraordinary*, heavenly truths.

Baptism probably had roots in Jewish Mikvot, a ritual bath symbolizing *washing* away *sin* and *repentance*.

What made baptism so *unique* was it was a *one*-*time* act for Jews.

·         *Ancestry* did not *guarantee* a *relationship* with God.

Ä  This leads us to ask, and answer, what it symbolizes: repentance, rebirth, and entrance into the Body of Christ.

*Repentance *

 

Baptism is a symbol of our *repentance*:

 

*Acts 2:38 ESV* And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

To repent means to *turn* *away* from self-centered ways and *turn* *to* God and His ways.

·         This isn’t a change of *behavior*; repentance is a change of *belief* and *allegiance* that brings a change of behavior.

At baptism, we all remember our *desperate* *need* of Jesus and choose to *follow* and *obey* him with all that we have.

*Genuine* *repentance* is not very *popular* these days, nor has it ever been.

It requires *humility* and *change*.

·         Baptism is us coming to God with *nothing*, cap in hand.

That is too *bitter* of a *pill* for many to swallow.

Without repentance, baptism is as *meaningless* as a *bath*, so only people who call Jesus Lord and Savior should be baptized.

·         Baptism, whether ours or someone else’s should *inspire* *repentances*.

*Child baptism*

 

This obviously assumes that a person needs to be *old* *enough* to repent, which is why TGCC does *not* *baptize* *infants*, rather we *dedicate* them (or more so the parents *dedicate* *themselves*).

There is no Biblical age limit, but the person being baptized must be old enough to *make* that *decision* for *themselves*.

·         I was about eight when I was baptized.

Ä  But to leave it at repentance makes it sound like it’s *all us*.

*Rebirth *

 

Baptism also symbolizes the *salvation* God give all who believe in Christ.

Baptism symbolizes several *key* *aspects* of salvation.

*burial and RESURRECTION*

 

Baptism symbolizes that all believer have *died* with Christ and are *raised* to new life with Him.

Romans 6:4  ESV We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Jesus was our *representative* in death.

Because *His* death was *accepted* in payment for our sin, we know that *we* will also be *accepted*.

And as He was raised to *new* *life*, so we will be.

*Change of attire*

 

Baptism symbolizes a *change* of *attire*.

In these next two verses, notice the two actions that accompany baptism:

 

Colossians 2:12 ESV ...been buried with [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Galatians 3:27-28 ESV For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

·         Baptism symbolizes God removing our *sinful* *nature* and giving us *Christ’s* *righteousness*.

In the early church, they *pressed* this symbolism by having the participants strip off their old clothing as they went into the water and putting on *new* *clothing* as they came out.

*summarize* the all the symbolism of baptism as rebirth this way:

 

·         As we go under the water, we die to our old way of life.

·         As we come up from the water, we are raised to our new life.

*by immersion*

 

Because of this symbolize, it is best to completely immersion is the preferred methods of baptism, even though others have been used historically, such as *sprinkling* or *pouring* *water*.

·         This isn’t always possible; there’s room for *exceptions*.

But situation permitting, *immersion* gives a better picture of salvation.

Additionally, it was also the method used in *Jesus’* *day*.

Throughout the NT, baptism was done by immersion.

*Entrance into the Body of Christ*

 

Baptism also *demonstrates* our *connection* to church, the body of Christ here at TGCC and *across* the *world*.

It breaks down all barriers of *race*, *gender*, *class*, or *nationality*.

All these are *washed* *away* in the water, uniting us in Christ.

*Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV*  4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--  5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

·         Baptism served as the original “*membership* *covenant*.”

*Public declaration *

 

Baptism is also a *public* *declaration* of our *repentance* and *salvation*.

Throughout history, new believers would suffer *persecution* or even *death* for being baptized.