Beautiful Baptism

When Jesus gave the great commission to spread the Good News, it was not just a command to tell people about Jesus but it included a very important command:

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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.”

Jesus said that as we spread the Good News, those who receive it by faith must be Baptized.

Peter himself took up this same message when he preached and said:

Acts 2:38–40 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

We see this played out beautifully in Acts 8 where Phillip explains the gospel to an Ethiopian official:

Acts 8:35–38 NASB95

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

But what is Baptism?

Baptism is what is called a Church Ordinance.

What is an Ordinance?

An Ordinance is an Authoritative Order for those within the Organisation.

There are those who teach that Baptism is not an ordinance but a sacrament.

A sacrament is an act which results in a dispensing of grace from God.

So they believe that in order to be saved by grace, they need to be baptized in water so that God can release that grace to be save you.

This teaching is demonstrably biblical.

The bible tells us plainly how grace is given:

Ephesians 2:8 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

So Baptism is not a sacrament it is an ordinance.

And as we have seen: An Ordinance is an Authoritative Order within an Organisation.

Let me illustrate both what an Ordinance is and why the sacramental model is false.

Army:

Steve Amrose Easy Company.

The CO makes a statement: Is it an ordinance or sacrament?

“If you want to stay in this company, you will run up that hill in under 10 minutes.”

“If you want to join this company, you will run up that hill in 10 minutes.”

Can you see the difference?

An Ordinance is an authoritative order but only for those already within the company

Could the CO of Easy Company have given this Order to Dog Company?

No.

So how do we get “In the company”?

Baptism is an authoritative Order given by God to those who have repented and trusted Jesus as their Savior.

Acts 2:38 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So a person who has repented and called on Jesus for forgiveness is now part of the “company” that is called The Church, and they have Jesus as their Savior.

Baptism, therefore is so important because, is it their first act of obedience to Jesus Christ, not as their Savior (which He is) but as their Lord!

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Anyone can claim to have Jesus Christ as their Savior and many do.

The problem is that since Salvation is an internal act of God’s grace - there is no evidence of it.

However, when Jesus Christ is BOTH your savior and Lord there is always be evidence.

The Lordship of Jesus Christ in a persons life is ALWAYS accompanied by obedience!

Luke 6:46 CSB

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?

So each of you having called on His Name confesses that Jesus Christ is your Savior.

By being your savior he has made you part of the Divine Company called the Church.

Now that you belong to the church, you are under the authoritative order to be baptized - an order than you are following, NOT to go to Heaven, but simply because Jesus Christ is your Lord and you are making a decision to live in obedience to the Lord Jesus.

Why the methodology of water baptism?

Water baptism symbolizes the dynamic of our first birth and our second birth.

John 3:3–5 CSB

3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

1st Birth:

No your will or decision.

The Family you were born into was not your choice.

The role models and value system of your culture were not up to you.

Even the human nature you were born with was not up to you to chose.

Baptism is the death of that life.

The waters represent the soil of your grave and when you go under the water, the bible calls that a burial.

Colossians 2:12 CSB

12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

But of course Baptism is not just about death but about life!

And this new life is completely different.

2nd Birth:

You are here to be born but by your own choice.

You have now chosen your family: The Church.

You have chosen not to follow the culture of your birth but to follow Jesus.

You have chosen not to act according to your old fleshy nature but to partake of the Divine Nature.

Conclusion: