What is the Church? Part 5

Baptism

Illus: Adoniram and Ann Judson. February 1812 set off from Massachusetts to India on a 4 months journey. Both had been baptized as infants and while on that boat they studied the word baptizō. When they arrived to India they made contact with Baptist missionary, William Carey and were baptized.

Illus: Adoniram and Ann Judson. February 1812 set off from Massachusetts to India on a 4 months journey. Both had been baptized as infants and while on that boat they studied the word baptizō. When they arrived to India they made contact with Baptist missionary, William Carey and were baptized.

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A correct view of baptism is the initiation rite into Christian church. In other words the church is clear on who is in and who is out of God’s kingdom. Who IS and WHO IS NOT the church.

Baptism is the outward sign that you have believed the gospel. That is why Baptist are so adamant about BELIEVER’s BAPTISM. Against infant baptism.

The Lord’s Supper then (as we looked at a few weeks ago) is a means of grace to remind you that there is grace and forgiveness through the blood of Christ. It is to remind you to walk in that grace and to continually repent from your sin. ___________________________________________________

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Now with our passage today we have a Voice crying out!

Words are more than just sounds…they have meaning, purpose, depth.

The Voice of God is powerful…creating.

The idea of ‘voice’ is noticeable in this passage. 

It starts with a voice in the wilderness…John crying in the wilderness for repentance…this passage ends with the voice of God proclaiming His son…but also in the middle is the voice of water that we often miss a sign of water. 

John baptizes people under water as a sign for the kingdom of God.

1. Baptism is a word of condemnation.

John is out speaking to the people in fulfillment of the prophecy…here is the KoG. People are coming out and getting baptized in the Jordan confessing their sins. 

John is out speaking to

the people in fulfillment of the prophecy…here is the KoG. People are coming

Easy to miss the fact the baptism is not just a ritual or rite of passage...baptism speaks of condemnation of a drowning…

out and getting baptized in the Jordan confessing their sins.  Easy to miss the fact the baptism is not just

Israel was brought through the waters of judgment and were baptized into the Promised Land. 

a ritual or rite of passage baptism speaks of condemnation of a drowning…Israel

Peter notes that baptism corresponds to the flood where God judged the earth and yet 8 people were baptized under water. 

where God judged the earth and yet 8 people were baptized under water.  People coming to John were confessing “I

deserve death” baptism means to submerge. 

People coming to John were confessing “I deserve death” baptism means to submerge. Water points to death and judgment. Baptism is a sinner saying “I deserve death” and the church responding back in agreement “we agree”.   

Water points to death and judgment. Baptism is a sinner saying “I

was brought through the waters of judgment and were baptized into the Promised

deserve death” and the church responding back in agreement “we agree”.   

Baptism in undignified—it’s not pretty—it is a washing of a dead man a corpse, it is a sign of the fact that apart from God we are undone and in Christ we have already gone through judgment. 

dead man a corpse, a sign of the fact that apart from God we are undone and in

Christ we have already gone through judgment. 

Land. 

Being baptized is a identification of death to our self and sin and life in Christ.  To be baptized is to say publicly that I have been crucified and buried in Christ.

in Christ.  To be baptized is to say

publicly that I have been crucified and buried in Christ.

2. Baptism is a word of resurrection.

Christ comes to John to be baptized. Jesus seems to saying something to John that John can’t understand.

Christ comes to John to be baptized. Jesus seems to saying something to John that John can’t understand. Jesus comes to John because he is identifying

Jesus comes to John because he is identifying himself with us. He is having in acted here in a drama exactly what will happen to him shortly. 

something to John that John can’t understand (illustration-starting a prostitution

program and telling all of the wives and daughters of church members to come). Jesus comes to John because he is identifying

God is in acting in advance what he is going to be doing when he raises Jesus from the grave after the crucifixion and declares him to be the Son of God in power.  He is voicing in this baptism His acceptance of Jesus. Visibly sending

himself with us. He is having in acted here in a drama exactly what will happen

The waters of baptism are announcing that we are found in Jesus death and RESURRECTION. We have new life. That’s what the water is announcing and signifying.

That’s what the water is announcing and signifying. That is why Peter can say Baptism saves you. It is an announcement and proclamation that our lives now belong to God. It is a voice and an announcement. Not just to the church and the community but to the demonic powers…HE is Mine. She is mine. It is the voice of Christ. That is why it is for believers and not for babies.

That is why Peter can say Baptism saves you. . It is an announcement and proclamation that our lives now belong to God. It is a voice and an announcement. Not just to the church and the community but to the demonic powers…HE is Mine. She is mine. It is the voice of Christ. That is why it is for believers and not for babies.

to him shortly.  God is in acting in

Scriptures say the baptized people of God are announcing that we are not just identified in his death but in his life in newness of life and creation.  The water is pointing to this.  Baptism is a voice an announcement that we are no longer ours we are God’s.

advance what he is going to be doing when he raises Jesus from the grave after

the crucifixion and declares him to be the son of god in power.  HS is sent in a sign of new creation and the

Scriptures say the baptized people of God are announcing that we are not just identified in his death but in his life in newness of life and creation.  The water is pointing to this.  Baptism is a voice an announcement that we are no longer ours we are God’s.

acceptance of God is found in this baptism as God announces this is my beloved

Son. Scriptures say the baptized people of God are announcing that we are not

just identified in his death but in his life in newness of life and

creation.  The water is pointing to this.  Baptism is a voice an announcement that we

are no longer ours we are gods. 

3. Baptism is a word of declaration.

That is why Peter can say Baptism saves you. . It is an announcement and proclamation that our lives now belong to God. It is a voice and an announcement. Not just to the church and the community but to the demonic powers…HE is Mine. She is mine. It is the voice of Christ. That is why it is for believers and not for babies.

Christ is showing the evil one…he/she is mine.  That’s why we don’t baptize infants or

Baptism is for those who experience repentance and is an announcement of truth and filled with meaning.

unbelievers.  Baptism is for those who

Christ is showing the evil one…he/she is mine.  That’s why we don’t baptize infants or unbelievers.  Baptism is for those who experience repentance and is an announcement of truth and filled with meaning.

experience repentance and in an announcement of truth and filled with meaning.

Wedding ring example ; some use it to say that baptism is just a symbol but baptism is not like a wedding ring it is more like a wedding ceremony.

baptism is not like a wedding ring it is more like a wedding ceremony. RM has

RM has authority to marry a male and female not a male and male and not multiple people together. Even if he did the words don’t have meaning. An unbeliever cannot be baptized even if they go under the water a person must be repentant and believe and with the authority of the church given by Christ Jesus is speaking to you telling us what is true about us now in Christ.

authority to marry a male and female not a male and male and not multiple

people together.  Even if he did the words

don’t have meaning. An unbeliever cannot be baptized even if then go under the

Baptism is listening to the voice of Jesus.  Some people are not willing to be identified with Christ even though he has identified with us. 

water a person must be repentant and believe and with the authority of the

church given by Christ Jesus is speaking to you telling us what is true about

us now in Christ. Baptism is listening

If the brood of vipers where willing to be baptized by John what does that say about you who won’t be baptized.  You can go to heaven w/o it but do you really want to say that you do not want to identified with Christ.

to the voice of Jesus.  Some people are

not willing to be identified with Christ even though he has identified with

us.  If the brood of vipers where willing

to be baptized by John what does that say about you who won’t be baptized.  You can go to heaven w/o it but do you really

want to say that you do not want to identified with Christ.