Baptism 4 When all is said and done
Baptism 4; When all is Said and Done. NV 5/30/99 am
Colossians 2: 9-15
OS: Over the centuries Christians have debated what baptism accomplishes, to whom it should be administered, and how much water should be used.
The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual."
I. Review the Series – Handout
II. This morning – When all is said and done.
A. What is it like when we come up out of that water? What has actually happened? What is different?
B. Beyond the book of Acts all references to baptism are in past tense. Because you were baptized . . .
TS] Let’s take a look at one such passage this morning for our lesson – Colossians 2 : 9 – 15 & 3 : 1 – 4
Three important issues that we need to understand and believe with all our heart. (Baptized? Believe these things about who you are today. Not? This is what God has to offer you.)
I. Looking Back we have a concrete action that identifies us as one of God’s people. (as a person who belongs to God)
A. Circumcision’s Religious connotation?
1. Genesis 17 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
2. Colossians 2 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
3. I can look back on that day and read in my Bible and know that I have beyond a shadow of a doubt obeyed God.
4. 1 Peter 3 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
B. Illustrate:
1. Like – Bank Statement (balanced)
2. Would you buy a piece of land you had not seen?
C. Baptism should be administered exactly as the Bible says so we have this piece of mind.
1. Matt. 28 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2. Acts 2 38 Peter replied, “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.
3. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of sins.”
TS] Forgiveness of sins reminds me of something else we find in this passage that we need to understand and believe with all our heart. (Baptized? Believe these things about who you are today. Not? This is what God has to offer you.)
II. Looking Back we have a concrete action that promises forgiveness.
A. When God makes a promise you can count on it!
1. Not like: “Now James, before you go to bed you’re going to have to forgive your brother.” “Well, OK, I’ll forgive him tonight, but if I don’t die before I wake up, he’d better look out in the morning!”
2. Micah 719 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
3. Under the terms of the new covenant in Hebrews 8 God said, “I will remember their sins no more.”
B. Our sins are like a Credit Card account.
1. From the time we become accountable every sin, no matter how small, is debited to our account. It must be paid for. We don’t have the money!
2. That’s the picture of verse 14, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
3. He paid it off for us because we couldn’t and because He loves us so much.
4. Vs. 13, “He forgave us ALL our sins”
C. If you are struggling with forgiving yourself it may be due to not fully understanding the forgiveness of God.
1. Spend some time with these passages.
2. Express your thanks to God for forgiveness.
3. Try to find one occasion in the Bible where God did not keep a promise.
TS] The only way we are made alive is through the forgiveness of sins. What about when we sin after becoming a child of God? (Baptized? Believe these things about who you are today. Not? This is what God has to offer you.)
III. Looking Back we have concrete action that assures us of the presence of Jesus in our lives. (3:1-4)
A. The presence of Jesus brings continual cleansing.
1. 1 John 1 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
2. Walking in the light = when our hearts are set on things above.
B. Imagine being at camp and you’re in the shower, and someone comes along and dumps a bucket of mud on you. It just washes away as long as you stay in the shower.
TS] I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful that God has given us something concrete to sink our teeth into.
I. Looking back I can know for sure beyond a shadow of a doubt:
A. That I am a person who belongs to God. I’m in His family, and He is my Father.
B. That I have been forgiven for that other life. The life I died to. And God has made me alive with Christ. Forgiven ALL my sins.
C. That I have the presence of Jesus in my life, and when I make mistakes and sin that His blood continually cleanses me.
II. If you are here this morning and you haven’t been baptized God offers you these things.
If Jesus were to come back right now are you sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that you would go to be with Him through eternity?