The Importance of Being Baptized
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Welcome
Announcement: My trip to … Pray
…Rebeka will share the word of God next Sunday.
12/14 I will be Preaching “Are you Ready for Christmas?”
Introduction: (Comment on the day's event… Baptism. Perhaps you have never witnessed a Christian ceremony like this, perhaps you have witnessed one but don't fully understand the biblical meaning of baptism.)
Why should I be baptized?
What does baptism mean?
How should I be baptized?
Who should be baptized?
I. WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
I. WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
a. To follow the example of JESUS Mark 1:9
a. To follow the example of JESUS Mark 1:9
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
b. Because Jesus Christ commands it Matthew 28:19-20
b. Because Jesus Christ commands it Matthew 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
What is a disciple? A person who follows the teachings of a master.
Examples: the Old Testament speaks of the “Disciples of the prophets”; in the New Testament, the Pharisees had disciples, John the Baptist had disciples – Jesus had his disciples. (Mark 2:18)
In the New Testament, Disciple refers both to the APOSTLES (Matthew 10:1) and to Christians in general (Acts 6:1).
c. To show that I am truly a DISCIPLE of Jesus. John 12:26
c. To show that I am truly a DISCIPLE of Jesus. John 12:26
26 Quem me serve precisa seguir-me; e, onde estou, o meu servo também estará. Aquele que me serve, meu Pai o honrará.
Anyone who wants to follow Jesus must be baptized.
Jesus calls disciples to himself. The commission for the church is: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
A disciple is not just a frequent listener of Jesus, he is a follower, he is where Jesus is.
There are many who want to “follow” Jesus – singing… playing… cooking… taking care of the church children… but refuse to follow Jesus in baptism.
Baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus.
Why should I be baptize? Because Jesus commanded it, gave us an example, and because I am truly a disciple of Jesus.
II. WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN?
II. WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN?
a. To illustrate the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Col. 2:12
a. To illustrate the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Col. 2:12
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
b. Illustrate my NEW LIFE as a Disciple of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4
b. Illustrate my NEW LIFE as a Disciple of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Some Considerations before moving on to the next point:
Baptism doesn't make you a disciple – but it shows that you already are.
Baptism doesn't save you. Only through your faith in Jesus are you saved.
Baptism is like a wedding ring – it's the symbol of the commitment you've already made in your life. heart.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith... it is the gift of God... it is not from works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
III. WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?
III. WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?
a. Because JESUS was baptized by immersion. Matthew 3:16
a. Because JESUS was baptized by immersion. Matthew 3:16
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
b. All baptism in the BIBLE was by immersion. Acts 8:38-39
b. All baptism in the BIBLE was by immersion. Acts 8:38-39
38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
c. The word “baptize” means to IMMERSE in water.
c. The word “baptize” means to IMMERSE in water.
John Calvin: Founder of Presbyterianism, wrote: "From the words of John 3:23, it can be inferred that baptism was administered by John and by Christ, by immersion of the whole body under water." Comment on John 3:23. "The word baptize means to immerse. It is correct that immersion was the practice of the early church."
John Wesley: Founder of the Methodist Church, says: "Buried with Him, alludes to the ancient way of baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the early church." Note on Rom. 6:4.
IV. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
IV. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
a. He who has had Conviction of his Sins. Acts 2:37
a. He who has had Conviction of his Sins. Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
II. What does it mean to be convicted of your sins? The Bible says that those who heard Peter's sermon were "cut to the heart."
The phrase "cut to the heart" means "to be pierced, to be stabbed, to be greatly agitated or disturbed."
What they heard that day caused them to be troubled in their hearts.
That's why. This refers to the conviction of sin.
The word "conviction" means "to persuade or convince the mind through evidence."
Conviction means convincing a person of error or truth.
In Acts 2, they were convinced of the truth of what Peter was preaching!
When they heard what Peter was preaching about Jesus Christ, they were convinced it was true and were deeply touched in their hearts.
(Note: If you are saved today, or if you are lost but will be saved someday, you need to know that God will use these methods and others to bring you to conviction. See, before you can be biblically baptized, you must first be brought under conviction of your sins and your sinful condition, John 6:44. You can never be saved until God opens your eyes to what you are and Whom you need, Eph. 2:1–3; 2 Cor. 4:4.
So, what is conviction?
It is God Himself taking the necessary steps to convince you that His claims about Jesus are true.
It is God bringing you to the place where you can see yourself as a lost sinner in need of a Savior and where you can see that Jesus Christ is your only hope.
It is God bringing you to the place where you cry out, “What must I do to be saved?”
By the way, this is not a negative thing! Note what Jesus Himself said about conviction, John 16:7–13.
The greatest day of Your life begins when God shows you that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
That is the day your life begins to change forever for the better.
That is the day you take your first steps toward Christ and His salvation.
b. Anyone who has BELIEVED in Christ.
b. Anyone who has BELIEVED in Christ.
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Mark 16:15-16 - Points to two essential things for salvation:
Believing and Baptizing. Mark 16:15–16
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
There are two lines of interpretation regarding baptism:
first, a person needs to be baptized to be saved;
and second, baptism is a symbol or external sign of someone who has believed and been saved.
Note the following:
Something that may go unnoticed by many people.
Believing is an act of obedience to a requirement of God for those who wish to be saved; and baptism is also an act of obedience to a requirement of God for those who believe.
Baptism is an act of obedience to a demand of God just as believing is.
Very simple: if a person desires to be saved, God says (commands, demands...): Believe, and if the person believed, God says (commands, demands...) be Baptized.
A question we need to answer: "Is it possible for a person to sincerely say 'I believe' and then immediately rebel against their Lord on the issue of baptism?"
How can a sincere person simultaneously believe and rebel by disobeying the Lord in baptism?
When the Scriptures confront the reality of this situation, they are firm and objective.
The person who truly believes in the Lord Jesus will not refuse to follow Him in baptism or anything else. (Luke 9:23).
Believing and obeying are two sides of the same coin.
Hebrews 5:9. "(Jesus)...became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."
There is no faith without works or without fruits.
Faith without obedience is not what the Bible teaches about faith.
Biblical faith is the faith that embraces the Lord with the heart and diligently seeks to do His will because it believes that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.
A person who truly believes follows the Lord in Baptism, or wherever it may be.
Note for parents here…
In our church, we expect children to show the capacity to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism so that we can baptize them.
Some churches practice “confirmation baptism” for children. This ceremony is understood as a covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. The parents promise to guide the child in the faith until they are old enough to make their personal confession of faith in Christ. This custom began 300 years after the Bible was completed.
This is different from the type of baptism the Bible speaks of.
What we are doing here today is only for those who believe. The purpose is the public confession of their personal commitment to Christ.
In our church, it is required that all members be baptized in the way Jesus was, even if they have had some kind of previous “confirmation.”
c. When should I be baptized?
c. When should I be baptized?
As soon as I accept Jesus by faith. Acts 2:41
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ (...) They went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38
There is no reason for a long wait.
As soon as you have received Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life, you can and should be baptized.
If you wait until you are “perfect,” you will never feel “good enough” for baptism.
It is our first opportunity to show God and the world that we are with the Lord through thick and thin.
This is our first opportunity to show that we want to see His plans fulfilled in our lives.
Conclusion:
We live in a time when our generation lives to do what God disapproves of, but we want God's approval in our lives.
Invitation: Besides those who are here to be baptized, is there anyone else who has already confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and today wishes to be baptized as the Bible teaches?
