052106 What great and precious things are given in Baptism
What great and precious things are given in Baptism?
There are always times in our lives when we might wonder, “Why are we doing this?” Among people today, that question has turned many to a specific decision, be it good or bad. What we hear about most are the bad decisions. Decisions people make that lead them into some kind of trouble. We see these kinds of things happening everywhere, even in the midst of our own families: experimentation with drugs and alcohol; experimentation with sex; experimentation with credit cards, and the list of bad things keep accumulating. For those of us who have raised children, we might even begin to wonder where we as parents failed. Was it when we failed to understand why we did something? Perhaps! But this point applies to when we make decisions that are good too.
Today, I do not want to talk about our failures. As I look at mine, the list is much too long to cover in one sitting. No, today I want to talk about something that is right and good and precious to each and every one of us. I want to talk about our affiliation with our church, and why we are here today. I want to answer the question “Why are we doing this?”
What better time than when a babies are baptized to ask this question: “Why are we doing this?” What great and precious things are given in Baptism that we should want our babies to undergo the process? There are three important ones. Baptism works forgiveness of sins; Baptism rescues from death and the devil; Baptism gives eternal salvation. This is why we bring our little ones here to baptismal fount. You see …
I. Baptism works forgiveness of sins; This is perhaps more difficult to rightly understand than some might think. Acts 2:38 is instructive as Peter speaks in the imperative to the people who had been listening to his Pentecost Day sermon. He says …
Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for (into) the forgiveness of your sins.
The words, “repent and be baptized” are in the voice of command. There is a fundamental change effected upon the status of the person being baptized, in other words. That change, however, is not as some might think. It is not a change in the person but in the person’s status with respect to God.
Here’s what I mean: the words “for the forgiveness of your sins” indicates that the baptized are translated, moved, into a new status with God. What is that status? It is the status of having one’s sins covered by the very Righteousness of Jesus Christ, Himself. What a tremendously blessed gift this is. This gift is a gift of power. It’s like a branch being grafted into the True Vine so that the branch is enabled to bear fruit that is God-pleasing and will last. This is effected by the bestowal of God’s Spirit in baptism. The final phrase in Acts 2:38 tells us “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The point in this: the voice of command used by Peter is actually the voice of bestowal of grace. The gift is received by all who accept the words spoken as God’s will and promise for them. This is why we say, “Baptism works the forgiveness of sins.” It’s because it does! You can count on it. Eric and Christi, your children will never get a more blessed washing than this. You have done a very good thing to bring your children here to be touched by God in such a unique and special way. What great and precious things are given in Baptism. But the blessings have not yet ended. There is more.
II. Baptism rescues from death and the devil; There is no magical mumbo-jumbo in baptism. There is a spiritual transformation that begins in baptism. Paul says it this way:
Rom. 6:3, 5 Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? … If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.
What does it mean to be baptized into the death of Jesus? Well, consider what Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished. Romans 6:10 says, “For the death He died He died to sin, once for all.” Being baptized into Jesus’ death means just that. We are joined with Him in His death to sin, once for all. Again we see what great and precious things are given in baptism. Death of any kind no longer holds mastery over the one who has been raised from death. Jesus will never die again. Neither will those who remain connected to Him. It is a spiritual impossibility. What great and precious things are given in baptism!
What a precious truth is stated here. Listen carefully as Paul explains the spiritual and eternal effects of the gift.
Col. 1:13–14 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Compare Col. 2:11–12.)
The expert and exact spiritual hands of God perform an operation on the human heart that rescues the person from eternal death and from the devil. This doesn’t mean that the strife is over, or the battle against sin is done. No, what is done with is the control of death and the devil over the baptized. They cannot keep a person separated from God. They cannot overcome the work of God, unless the person becomes a willing and faithless participant against God. Prior to life in Christ, a person remains outside of this protective power of God, no matter how good they may appear in external matters. God’s justice and judgment are always right and proper and for the good of His people. And, by virtue of the promises given in baptism, you are His people. Thus it is that …
III. Baptism gives eternal salvation. Christ Jesus, who was made sin and suffered death in our place has arisen. He is no longer dead, but alive. Everyone who is connected to that life lives forever. Please believe this. Jesus said it this way: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Eric, Christi, and Staci, in faith and trust in God, you gave your word today that you would see to it that these children are brought up in the Christian faith. This is what God wants you to do. Today the process begins for these babies. And today you have shown yourself faithful to God’s will for them. As they grow up there will come a time when they will not always want to go to church. But church is where their life in Christ is confirmed and nurtured and that means spiritual growth and strengthening faith for these little ones, and for you.
As your pastor, I am very proud of what you do here today. I’m also very excited about what God is doing here today. My prayer for you all here at Trinity is the prayer Paul spoke for those he loved at Ephesus:
" For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:15-23, ESV)
What great and precious things are given in Baptism? Now we know. It works forgiveness of sins; rescue from death and the devil, and eternal salvation. That’s the “what” of baptism. That’s what it delivers. But how can the application of a little water do such great and precious things? If the effectiveness of baptism depended on what we do, we are all doomed. But it doesn’t depend on us. Baptism is not our work. It is God’s work. And with God at work we are allowed to believe and so receive all the great and precious things God has given in and through Baptism. This is why it is such a joy to see our parents fulfilling a part of their Christian vocation by bringing their babies to be baptized. Eric and Christi, you might not realize the fullness of blessing you have brought your children to this very day. But what you have done here has eternal significance for your children. May God continue to bless you and us with the will and the strength to do what is good in His sight. Amen.