The Amen of Baptism

Psalm 29 / Matthew 3:13-17

What are the three pictures we should see in Baptism?

God’s provided visual representation of the Gospel.

Not unlike instituting the Holy Communion, Jesus was in His Baptism being prophetic; showing what must and was to become of him, namely His death, burial, and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

God ordained the death and accomplished the resurrection of Jesus for our eternal salvation.

Acts 2:23–24 “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

In the Ordinance of Baptism, God has provided a visual representation of the Gospel for us.

God’s acceptance of and identification with the one being baptized.

Centuries before Jesus walked the earth, God sent word through His prophets of the coming savior, and God’s audible voice at Jesus’ baptism confirms the identity of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”

Matthew 3:16–17 “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; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

God in many ways identified Jesus as the only savior; the only-begotten of the Father. In submitting to John for baptism, He was truly submitting to the Father, exemplifying the obedience we ought to have toward God, and even more: Identifying with us!

God knows all who are in Christ.

God claims all who are in Christ as His own.

God is pleased with all who are in Christ.

Acts 10:34–35 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

In the Ordinance of Baptism, God speaks through ceremony just as authoritatively as He spoke audibly at the Jordan river that the one being baptized is His Child, and is pleased in them as they follow Jesus.

The Amen of Baptism: Our pledge to God to live as His children.

In pictures 1 and 2, we see what God is doing in baptism. He reminds us of the gospel and He declares parentage and delight.

Finally in the third picture, we find the “Amen” of baptism; our response to all that God has done in and for us, for herein we both publicly attest to our being saved AND pledge our lives to rightly live in light of this precious truth.

1 Peter 3:21 CSB

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge (KJV = answer) of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

What type of lives are we pledging then in baptism? Let us continue to hear from the Apostle Peter on the matter:

2 Peter 1:5–9 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

In other words, Looking at what Peter tells us, we pledge in our baptism to strive for godly living.

Make no mistake; it is a striving, a lifelong struggle with our flesh. This is why I sometimes say that struggling with faith is evidence of faith.

Those who don’t strive in this way are living either in denial of the salvation they have received, or have not received a salvation to live in light of.

An excerpt from an old Christian prayer says it this way:

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up our selves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

Here’s the good news getting better: This Amen of baptism, pledging lives of obedience, is for our own good.

Assurance of our salvation can be found in living out this pledge.

Joy and Peace in our relationship with God can be found in living out this pledge.

Increase in faith can be found in living out this pledge.

2 Peter 1:10 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

Are you saved and baptized?

Remember your “Amen” to God’s saving you through Christ Jesus and continue striving, knowing that He will enable and bless.

Are you unsure you are a child of God, even if you’ve been in a baptistry?

Confess this and ask others to pray for you and with you as you seek the answers you need in prayer and consideration of the scriptures.

Are you a child of God who has never been baptized, or maybe you’ve never even told others that you are a child of God?

Maybe now is the time to tell others, even if for the first time what God has done for you. If you have questions about baptism and church membership, I would be honored to walk you through a fuller understanding that you too may add your “Amen” to the saints of God of all ages who have followed the Lord Jesus in the waters of Baptism.