IMMERSED, IDENTIFIED, INFLUENCED: BAPTIZED

John Foster Jr

Baptism • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Matthew 28:19

Baptism

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Call To Worship Scripture

Psalm 138:1–8 NASB95PARA

I will give You thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to You before the gods. I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord, When they have heard the words of Your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Sermon Scripture

Matthew 28:16–20 NASB95PARA

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Scripture

NASB

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

May God Bless The Reading Of His Word.

Studying, reviewing, revising the statement of faith, we are looking at scripture and practices as we have been called and thus committed to do so. That is to weight everything against the word of God.

The Vision of Revolution 12 Church is to be a traditional church ( … in so much as we hold the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God and our source for truth … ). In doing so, we will break all of the traditions of the modern church ( … just as we will defend the truth and life found in the Bible, we are not afraid to reject or let go of man-made traditions or practices that are not derived from the Bible … ). We seek to glorify Jesus in all that we do and encourage people to seek a deeper more meaningful relationship with their Savior. We center our service on the Jesus of the Bible and relinquish the thrones of our lives to He who paid our debts.

The following is from out baptism study:

Question & Answer

1. What is the gospel and what does it mean to be “saved”?

2. Does salvation come before or after baptism? (believers water baptism)

3. Why would someone desire to be baptized?

4. Do you desire to be baptized? (why or why not?)

Refer To Baptism Study Chart:

The exercise here is that you have to draw a line to connect the baptism type to the corresponding verse with some having more that one passage that the connect to. These passages in the study are then noted as the “proof text” or evidence of that type of baptism as being in the scripture.

Eventually the answers look like this:

Refer to completed chart

So now we naturally look at our chart having (in the study read each passage and matched it up) and we say that each of these baptisms are in the Bible.

This morning however to deepen our understanding of Baptism, I want to practice with you, what it is to as the Christians have phrased it “be Berean”.

The Bereans were residents of the city of Berea Macedonia, who were preached the gospel by Paul and Silas in . The Bereans had at least three very positive characteristics when it came to the Christian life and the hearing of the Word of God.

They were “more noble” because of their willing reception of the Word of God. They were eager to hear the teaching of Paul and Silas.They examined what they heard by comparing it to the Old Testament Scriptures. This means that they honestly listened and conducted further personal research which led many Bereans to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The Bereans continued to grow in their faith even after Paul’s departure.

Various Usages of Greek Baptism Word

Aristophanes - “Magnes...shaved his face and baptized it with tawny colors.”

Dion Cassius - “Those from above baptizing the ship with stones and engines.”

Aelian - “Having baptized with precious ointment a garland woven with roses.”

Anonymous - “The bladder was baptized by floating on the surface.”

Over one hundred meanings for the forms of baptizw - baptidzo exist in Greek literature; to list just a few:

Various Meanings For Greek Baptism Word:

washing, dyeing, poisoning, sinking, drawing water, overwhelm, terrify, deep in debt, wound (with a weapon),

etc.

Those who are much more experts than I in Greek study and who have studied specifically this word in all it’s usages have summarized a definition for it as follows:

Baptise/Baptism

1. to be immersed in, to be identified with or to come under the control or influence of another thing.

2. “Whatever is capable of thoroughly changing the character, state, or condition of any object, is capable of

baptizing that object; and by such change of character, state, or condition does, in fact, baptize it.” - James W. Dale

This meaning of “thoroughly changing the character, state or condition” appears in every use of the word, for example, when a ship sank it was immersed in or was identified with the sea. If a garment was dyed it was dipped in or identified with the dye. If one was poisoned, one came under the influence of or was identified with the poison. A person deeply in debt was immersed in or identified with the debt. A person terrified was immersed in or identified with the fear. In all these cases the “character, state or condition” of the object or person has been thoroughly changed.

What do we observe?

There is no water in the context.To suggest that we are baptized into the death of Christ by someone else placing water upon us would be to rob God of His grace.Clearly the meaning indicated here is “identification”“Baptized into”, “Buried with”, “become united”, “in the likeness of”

Lets look at more examples…

NASB

since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

The word “washings” is the Greek word baptismois - baptismois and refers to ceremonial cleansings, such as the red heifer, and the Day of Atonement which were not by immersion, but by sprinkling, (). These “baptisms” were imposed on them until the time of reformation, that is, until Christ came and fulfilled the law and washed away their sins.

Or…

ESV

I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

So back to our chart.

What we are observing in scripture here is that baptism cannot assume water and water cannot assume immersion nor sprinkle.

This is what I want us to remember as we return to our chart.

Church what I am preaching to you on is …

But to do this we must address what we know as “Believers Water Baptism”.

Now, when we look at our chart - what is our text for the instituted, commanded, “Believers Water Baptism”.

It is ,.

So when we turn to , we need to find the context of:

BelieversWaterBaptism

We need to find at least these to be able to move forward having ground to stand on if we are to let scripture speak for itself.

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [always, even to the end of the age.”

Let’s start (for the sake of time) by identifying some things in this passage, which many of us have already noted from previous study and focus just on verse 19.

Go is not the command. More literally this would read “As you are going”The verb or command is to make - disciplesI see baptizing as a present (ending in ing) participle (a word formed from a verb having the characteristics of a verb and adjetive)Baptizing is noting a continual actionThe word “in the name of” is “into”

Now lets ask our questions:

Do you find the context of baptism - yesDo you find the context of water - noDo you find the context of believers - The disciples (11) are there (yes), (could perhaps be more, some say the gathering of the 500) - but it must be noted that this is before the day of pentecost. This event, this context of the command is before the church (as in before what is existing today and who is exercising believers water baptism).

The observation of the text here that I am offering to you is that the command of is to teach or make disciples, not to be immersed in water.

This is if I am operation simply from this passage. I do not, I cannot find water in the context in order to define the word baptism as water immersion in this text.

It appears giving the language of this text and it’s context that the command is to, “make disciples of all nations identifying them with the Father, and with the Son, and with the Holy Spirit.

Not only this, but if I expand out from this text assuming the meaning to be “believers water baptism” then I cannot find a single example of it obediently applied as it is so specifically laid out in .

For example:

For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Simply observe that “the Father” and “the Holy Spirit” are left off here. I personally don’t believe that the Holy Spirit forgot them or is using short hand here and long hand in Matthew. (note: there is also context here to give understanding into why they were baptizing)

Or, what about the other passages or cross references which also refer to Christ’s command or commission to His disciples before He ascended?

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Here, as in Matthew, the command is to preach the gospel in all creation. Only in the next phrase does the word baptism occur. If the baptism in this passage is with or in water then, without question, only those who are water baptized will escape damnation and once again the work of Christ has been reduced to nothing.

Some suggest that since the passage does not couple baptism with the unbelief of the dammed this indicates that the baptism in this passage is only an act of obedience and is thus not absolutely necessary for the “saved.” However, the passage teaches just the opposite, only those that believe, that is His sheep, are the ones baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. Belief and baptism of the Holy Spirit are inseparable that is why this baptism can not be coupled with unbelief.

45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Here in Luke our Lord never mentions baptism of any kind. Regardless of what conclusions one draws from this omission, it is clear that the “commission” is the preaching of repentance and remission of sins. If water baptism is a requirement for the Church it is strange that the Holy Spirit does not have Luke at least mention this necessity here.

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Again, at this defining moment, no water baptism is mentioned.

But what does it matter for us? What is the application?

Am I saying get baptized or don’t get baptized? Am I saying be fully immersed in water or stay completely dry?

Church I want you to hear today that the scripture makes abundantly clear, and as a matter of fact, almost to clear for us to accept that salvation comes through Christ alone and is of no work of our own.

And of this clarity, salvation is not a passing event.

No friends, if you hear anything today then hear the grace of God as to what salvation is!

It is a baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is a baptism of the Holy Spirit indwell in every believer.

It is the work of Jesus Christ whereby we are thoroughly changed into His character, into His righteous state, and perfect condition of holiness. And that the work of Jesus Christ has done this within one, proving His eternal calling by the Father, and his current indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so then has this person been baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

This is God’s gift of grace to you and to me. This is the amazing work of the Almighty that He has caused us to be identified in Him, changed by Him, alive in Him.

The baptism that you and I are looking for, the one that you desire for your children, the one that you ought not take communion until you are absolutely sure of, the one that the church should be standing firm on is indeed the identification of yourself with or in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

How such disciples are made is not by water or symbols, but by the grace of God. The commission that He has given for this then is the preaching and teaching of His Word.

NASB

3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Congregation, is that how you identify? Do you identify in Jesus, by the wonderful work of grace as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus? I pray that this morning, by the hearing of the word that you do and that you will. - Amen.

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And here again just before He left, His commission to His disciples was to” witness unto me.” Clearly the commission is the same but there is no reference to baptism which is difficult to understand if He considered water baptism a command or a requirement in Matthew.

40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

It is clear that the disciples understood His commission was to “preach” and “testify.” Once again it is difficult to understand why there is no mention of baptism, especially if baptism is a requirement for the Christian.

These passages do not suggest there is a problem with the commission in Matthew but I believe that they may even emphasize the truth that the baptism of emphasis in that passage () is not water baptism but that of the Father, and The Son, and Holy Spirit (specifically emphasizing that of the Holy Spirit) and is necessary for all as pointed out in .

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

But what does it matter for us? What is the application?

Am I saying get baptized or don’t get baptized? Am I saying be fully immersed in water or stay completely dry?

And of this clarity, salvation is not a passing event.

No friends, if you hear anything today then hear the grace of God as to what salvation is!

It is a baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is a baptism of the Holy Spirit indwell in every believer.

This is God’s gift of grace to you and to me. This is the amazing work of the Almighty that He has caused us to be identified in Him, changed by Him, alive in Him.

How such disciples are made is not by water or symbols, but by the grace of God. The commission that He has given for this then is the preaching and teaching of His Word.

NASB

OTHER NOTES

Context: Israel

Application: Us

11 disciples (perhaps 500)

designated mountain

All authority given to Jesus on heaven and earth (post-cross)

Go - aris passive participle (subject receives the action)

anacoluthren (no conjunctions)....as you are sent disciple, baptize, teach

save by biblical truth=teaching

all nations

teach - aris imperitive

baptize - present particple

to make a disciple is to teach and identify them into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

baptizing - present participle

teaching - present participle

a continuous teaching and a continuous baptizing...

the word “in the name of” is, ice…into

Mark says he that receives and is baptized will be saved

How are we redeemed:

Those whom He foreknew he....

This has to be the concept of spirit baptism - identification

I saw the spirit decending from Heaven like a dove…He is the one who is going to baptize with HS

- The Holy Spirit fell on them as in the beginging…HS

Then I remembered the words of our Lord,

Christ sent me not to baptize - Paul

Galatians 6 NASB95PARA

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Galatians 6

- John baptized for a sign to Jews

The Jews require a sign

Mark - go unto all the world...

luke - thus it is written and thus it behooves Christ to suffer

John - then said Jesus, peace be unto you, as my Father has sent me so I

- John baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the holy spirit

- and he commanded us to preach unto the people

- Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel

But - de (δέ - This can be translated “but” or used for emphasis, signifying “even”

Matt

de (δέ

The but is not a conjunction as in showing a rapid chain of events. It isn’t a timetable. We are given a picture of what is taking place between earthly kingdoms and those who identify with Christ. The earthly is seeking to lie and deceive, while those who identify with Christ are gathering themselves together.

Matthew 15:28 NASB95PARA

Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

is a separate issue which you will find written up in the links below; suffice it to say here that "baptizing [someone] into the Person of Jesus" and the rest of the Trinity is something no human being can do; only the Spirit can do this. That is to say, the Greek text of is not recording a verbal formula to be pronounced at a water ritual (as it is often wrongly assumed to be doing); it is in fact describing the act of a new Christian being united to Christ by the Spirit when he or she responds in faith to the gospel, so that it is the job of the disciples/apostles and of all of the rest of us to see to this Spirit baptism by sharing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not by engaging in John's ritual water-baptism.