Water Baptism Devotional
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Welcome to our celebration service for The Gap! We are all about reaching the lost and discipling the found!
This evening is about discipleship. So, I would like to talk about water baptism for a few moments just so we all know why we are doing what we are doing this evening.
Body:
Transition: What is water baptism?
Water baptism is a public declaration of a private decision.
Illustration:
Next Sunday is the start of NBA free agency. The player and team and, and probably are already negotiating a deal and, once that deal is agreed upon, he can sign it and he will officially be part of the new team. Everyone can report what happened and what they the details are but once the player has a press conference with his new team and new uniform, then it is made public by the player and team. The press conference doesn’t confirm his agreement with the new team. It is a public announcement of what has already been done in private.
OR
Let’s say you get married in front of a judge at the courthouse. You say your vows and then say “I do.” Right then and there you are married after you sign the marriage certificate. You never have to have a public ceremony and party to be married.
In the same way, when you put your faith in Jesus Christ you are saved (private: Romans 10:9-10) even if you aren’t baptized (public ceremony).
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Making a public declaration in water baptism is mainly letting everyone else know that you mean business. It is a public celebration of what has privately taken place in your heart.
It’s important to note that there is a distinction between water baptism and salvation. Getting water baptized does not equate to being saved or result in salvation.
The Bible is clear that salvation is a free gift from God and is received simply through faith in Jesus.
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
We get water baptized, not in order to be saved, but because we have already received the gift of salvation. Salvation precedes water baptism.
Transition: Why do we get water baptized?
Four reasons to get water baptized:
I. Jesus modeled it
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
In verse 15 Jesus said it was to fulfill all righteousness/to do the right thing
As disciples of Jesus, we are to follow His example!
II. Jesus commanded for us to practice water baptism in Matt 28:19-20
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As disciples of Jesus, we need to be obedient to the mandate we have been given!
III. It is symbolic of our old life being buried with Jesus Christ and raising again to new life in Christ
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
It is a reminder to us and others that our old man is gone and we are walking a new life in Jesus Christ.
IV. It is inviting the community of believers as a spiritual family we are walking life with to hold us accountable and to encourage us along the way
God does not expect us to be alone ranger Christian but to be a part of a community of believers
25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
As a result in walking a new life with Christ, we need others in the body of Christ to encourage us and walk with us.
Conclusion:
When should we get water baptized?
After we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart, we can get baptized.
The scripture doesn’t tells us specifically when to get baptized but we see the majority of the time it was immediately after someone came to faith in Jesus Christ. I personally believe doing it as soon as you can is best because we know if we procrastinate on anything it usually doesn’t get done and that includes getting baptized in water. ROFL
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Water Baptism Testimony Guidelines (2-3 min):
1. MY LIFE BEFORE JESUS WAS...
2. I GAVE MY LIFE TO JESUS BECAUSE...
3. SINCE DECIDING TO FOLLOW JESUS, I...
Words to say when baptizing:
Because of your profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Buried with Christ in baptism…
Raised to walk a new life in Christ