Untitled Sermon (29)

Baptism is an event

For these folks who are going to stir the waters today July 22, 2023 will be a special day. Baptism is an event that happens in a particular place and time. I hope that for these folks today is a day that they mark on their calendar.

You know, Doug H has his baptism date on his license plate. It was such a special day for him that he wanted to commemorate it and celebrate it in that special way. Today is a day of celebration and like a birthday or an anniversary it should carry some special meaning for us.

But baptism is more than just a date on a calendar.

Baptism is a confession

Baptism is a confession. Today we are witnesses to 10 people who are making a confession of faith.

Romans 10 tells us that there is power in confession. Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Some would say that this is too simple. Nothing could be finalized on word of mouth! Yet that is exactly what happens in a wedding. The simple confession “I do” seals the union, bonds two into one, causes the children to leave father and mother and to cleave to one another. It is legally recognized. I tell you, Heaven recognized the lowly sinner that will profess the Christ!

I did a little basic and brief research on Islamic faith and the Muslim lifestyle. I wanted to know what a Muslim has to do if they want to obtain salvation from Allah. So here’s some highlights:

The Declaration of Faith (shahada): The first act of worship is the declaration that "There is no deity except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." Muslims repeat this statement many times a day during their prayers. If someone wants to become a Muslim, he or she makes this profession of faith as an entry into Islam. Prayer (salat): Islam prescribes a brief prayer or ritual worship five times a day: at dawn, noon, late afternoon, sunset and night. Muslims perform ablution before prayer -- a brief prescribed washing of the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms and feet. One may pray alone or in a group in any clean location, including a mosque. The Friday noon prayer is special to Muslims and is done in a mosque if possible. Muslims face in the direction of Mecca when they pray. Charity (zakat): Muslims are required to give to the poor and needy. Islam prescribes an obligatory charity, known as zakat, based on two and a half percent of one's income and wealth. In addition to this prescribed charity, Muslims are encouraged to give as much as they can in voluntary charity throughout the year. Fasting (sawm): Muslims are required to fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj): Every Muslim is required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, once in their lifetime if financially and physically able.

Now, check this out- Muslims do not have a concept of grace. They do not believe in absolute forgiveness or any kind of assurance of salvation on this Earth. So, you follow these commands and try to live a life where the good outweighs the bad, and if Allah so chooses he will forgive you- but there is no guarantee.

That is insane! Now, let me read Romans 10:9 to you again....

This is radical grace friends. Confess- believe- salvation. It is that simple.

Too often we complicate baptism. We act as though we need to have it all together when we are baptized, but that is simply not true. The only requirement for baptism is confession of Jesus as savior.

When we are baptized we are stating things that we believe to the world around us, we are declaring our faith in Jesus Christ and our hope in his work on the cross.

Baptism is a covenant

But Baptism is also a covenant, because in baptism we also state our intentions to follow Jesus.

Many of us are familiar with the old hymn I have decided to follow Jesus-

I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.

Tho' none go with me, I still will follow, Tho' none go with me I still will follow, Tho' none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus, My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus; No turning back, No turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.

This is the covenant we make- to follow Jesus. See this is where most of the thoughts of the Christian lifestyle get flipped on their heads.