Why Baptism?

The Why’s series

Summaries the last few weeks of the Why’s series.

Why do we Read the Bible , Worship, Go to Church, and then our questions night with Val. Ask students for one thing they remember from each night.

Who knows what Baptism is? And have you seen it done?

Tonight i want to answer 3 questions for us all.

What is Baptism?

What does it do?

Why / When “should i be” baptized

Let’s start with this… What is Baptism?

Baptism - Is an outward expression of what has already changed inwardly.

Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

This is what we refer to as “New testament baptism” or “Believers Baptism”

Prior to this baptism we lived by Old Testament Law - Circumcision

Circumcision was a requirement for all the Jewish men before the death of jesus. It was a covenantal sign of their commitment to Jesus.

So here’s what it is.

a pool - filled with water “H2O” from the hose…

Now that we’ve talked about what is Baptism let’s chat about - What it does

A lot of different religious structures believe in baptism but they don’t all agree about when to do it, and what it accomplishes. Here’s what we believe it does NOT do.

Baptism does not save you… Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Baptism does not make you a better person…

Baptism Does

Serve as a clear line from death to life in Christ...Romans 6:3–4 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.”

So Why / When do i get baptized?

Why

So why do i do it if it doesn't really “Do” anything?

Jesus Commanded it - Matthew 28:19 “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,”

Jesus did it - Matthew 3:13–17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 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.””

To share my faith - Acts 18:8 “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.”

When

You must be saved - “John 3:1–7 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

That’s it...

Review

Baptism is an outward expression of what has already changed on the inside..

Baptism is a mark in the sand declaring your relationship with jesus..

We are called to be baptized from the example Jesus set for us..