Baptism Sunday

Bottom line

Baptism is a necessary experience in the life of a disciple of Christ.

Opening Line

How many people have ever gone through an initiation process?

Introduction

In business, you call it orientation, but it essentially serves the same purpose. Orientation is the attempt of the business to inform you of the expectations and responsibilities the company has for you in the role you have accepted.

So I searched up some initiation practices from history that I thought were interesting, and I think it opens the door for some other conversations to be had.

Here are some of the examples I came up with, and I recognize that there are a lot more that I won’t touch on this morning.

In Europe during medieval times, knighthood ceremonies were grand initiations. Squires would serve knights and undergo a vigil before being dubbed 'Sir'. They would don their armor, which represented bravery and responsibility—a public affirmation of their status.

In the ancient Roman Empire, young boys underwent a coming-of-age ceremony called 'Toga Virilis'. At age 15, they discarded their childhood toga for an adult one, signifying their transition into manhood. Much like baptism, it marked a new beginning, a commitment to responsibilities, and inclusion in society.

In some African cultures, initiation ceremonies involve elaborate dances and rituals as teens transition to adulthood. During these ceremonies, they receive teachings and blessings from elders, marking their entry into a community of responsibility.

Did you know that in ancient Egypt, a form of initiation into adulthood was the 'rite of passage' ceremony where young Egyptians would enter a sacred pool of water? They believed this symbolized cleansing and rebirth. That sounds awfully familiar.

Main Point

Now with the exception of the medieval example, let me as you a question. If, at any point someone didn’t perform one of these rights of passage, would it have prevented them from growing up into an adult?

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No of course not. Physically speaking, the teen would continue to develop and grow into a young man or woman. But there is something significant that happens in the life of a young person when their parents and elders of the community recognize this transition. It is more then just a physical change. It brings clarity to their identity, it instills a sense of purpose and meaning, and it helps them understand that their are expectations of them as they step into this new season of life.

In fact, when a society does not practice a right of passage into adulthood, the result can be a lack of identity, prolonged adoloscence, increased risk taking in the form of substance abuse and recklessness, and a disconnection from their family and community… does that sound familiar to anyone? If anyone is interested, I think it would be beneficial for us as a church to revisit this idea of a rite of passage. I don’t like the idea of stunting the development of the next generation simply because we weren’t willing to go the extra mile.

Why it matters

But along with that, I believe that the move away from things like a rite of passage or initiations has actually fed into the loss of value when it comes to the importance of baptism. I would go so far to say that the move away from baptism within the Christian experience has actually stunted the spiritual growth of believers. So this morning, I want to unpack for you the history of baptism within scripture, and then I want to encourage you as the church to not take this practice lightly. For those that sat through my class, you will have heard most of this already, but I do have an added nugget to really drive home the importance of baptism.

Over the next three weeks, I am going to suggest to you that there are 3 experiences that every Christian should have in their journey with Jesus. They are not in order because of the completion of Revelation and the timing of the baptism service. Nonetheless, we will look at salvation, water baptism, and spirit baptism. This morning is water baptism, next week is salvation, and on June 8th, which is Pentecost Sunday, we will look at Spirit Baptism.

So this morning we are going to be looking at lots of different scripture. If you want to follow along in your Bible, please feel free. Otherwise it will be on the screen and on the app.

Scripture

Before we dive in, for those of you who know your bible, if you take the practice of baptism, which someone going into the waters of baptism one way and emerging the otherside another. What are some other examples of people going into water one way and emerging something new?

The Flood

Genesis 6:5–8 NLT

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the Lord.

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The Bible begins the story in Genesis 1 with the creation of the world. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sin against God by eating the fruit they were not supposed to eat of. Genesis 4 we meet the first sons of Adam and Eve, with Cain killing Abel out of jealousy. By Genesis 6, everything that humanity thought and imagined was consistently and totally evil. It was so bad that God regretted ever creating man. The pinnacle of God’s creation, creating in His own image, now so corrupt that He wants to wipe them out.

So what does God do? He speaks to Noah, tells him to build the Ark, and that he would bring the animals of the world to him to be saved, and he floods the earth. There is so much water that there is 22 feet of water above the highest peaks. After the water recedes, what is left? Noah, who is righteous in the eyes of God, and his family. The flood completely changes the world, and what emerges on the other side is something new, with all the wickedness washed away.

Which is what baptism represents in the life of the believer. It is leaving the life of sin behind, and coming out of the water something new, filled with the righteousness that is found in Christ alone.

The Exodus

Exodus 14:21–22 NLT

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

Exodus 14:29–31 NLT

But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

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The Israelites started their journey as slaves with the armies of Egypt bearing down on them. When they emerged on the other side of the Red Sea, the Egyptians had been washed away and they were now free from slavery.

The Apostle Paul uses the language of slavery in the book of Romans when talking about you relationship with sin. Before becoming a Christian, you were a slave to sin. No matter how much you think you are in control, the truth is that sin controls you. It is only by the power of Jesus that you can be set free. See instead of being a slave to sin, you become a child of God. Slavery carries the image of bondage and restriction, where adoption carries the image of freedom and privilege. So in baptism, you go into the water a slave, and come out a child of God.

Ceremonial Washing

In Leviticus 14-17, God gives Moses clear instructions for ceremonial washing. There were several things that would make someone unclean, such as touching a dead body or various skin diseases. If you were considered unclean, you were unable to enter the Tabernacle, which was the central place of worship for wondering Israelites. The only way you would be permitted to enter is if you followed the protocols given by the priest, which ended with a ceremonial washing. Then and only then would you be made clean and could resume worshiping.

This was the practice that John the Baptist was using. It was the idea that due to sin, the people were unclean and needed to be washed in order to be ready for the coming of the Messiah. It is a recognition that sin has a lasting effect on you, and so baptism is a washing of the uncleanness of the world and emerging clean and set apart for God and his kingdom.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19 NLT

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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Jesus linked making disciples with baptism, that you couldn’t have one without the other. This flies in the face of what I would consider the typical understanding of baptism in the west. I have often gotten the impression from people that baptism is a good idea, and if you want to do that you can, but it really isn’t necessary. If it wasn’t necessary, then why did Jesus include it in his final instructions to the apostles?

Now I want to be clear. I don’t believe that baptism is necessary for salvation, otherwise how do you explain the thief on the cross that Jesus said would be with him in paradise? However, I do believe that if you are given the option and opportunity, it is a necessary part of your development and experience as a disciple of Christ.

I want to finish the biblical evidence with a passage from Galatians.

Galatians 3:26–27 NLT

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

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All of you. The entire church has been united with Christ in what? In baptism. Baptism is a representation of what has already happened within you when you declare Jesus as you Lord and savior. It is a death to the old ways, and becoming alive in Christ, like putting on new clothes.

Transition to Application

In light of all this, what does baptism mean today? Where salvation is a private decision, made between you and God, baptism is public declaration of what has already happened. It you standing before the church and declaring that you are now a believer in Christ and you are not only committing to follow Him all your days, but you are going to do that as a member of our church. By extension, baptism is also the opportunity for us as the church to speak into the life of those being baptized. It is our opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the good work that is already started in their life. It our chance the validate them and recognize that they are now part of our community.

Main To Do

So there are couple of ways you can respond this morning. I believe that there are some people here who have not been baptized but are seriously considering changing that. Awesome! I would love to baptize as many people as want to be baptized this morning. Maybe some of you recognize that you need a new start in your walk with Jesus. I would encourage you to not let pride get in the way and take this all important next step in your walk with Jesus.

If you are not feeling pulled to participate in baptism, then I have another request. I would encourage each person in the church who has been baptized to congratulate and speak life into each person who goes through the waters of baptism. Pray for them, give them a hug, whatever the spirit lays on your heart. This is a significant moment in the life of these believers and they are going to need your support.

Why it matters

I believe that there are believers in the church today who are spiritually stunted because they have not made the public declaration to be baptized. I also believe that there are people who have been baptized, but when life got hard, didn’t have the support to help carry them through. I’ve watched so many young believers get baptized and fall away because life got hard. Let me tell you, there is a spiritual enemy, the devil, that is going to try and make you regret this decision. But I want to encourage you, this is the best decision you will ever make in your life, and you have the support of the church behind you. Your faith is meant to be lived out in community, and this community is here to walk with each other every step of the way.

Closing Line

So with that, who is ready to be baptized?

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?