DEAD, BURIED AND BLESSED

DEAD, BURIED AND BLESSED Romans 6:1-7 May 25, 2003 [Additional Notes] Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introduction There is a great story about Henry Ford and the early days of the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. It's about a machinist with the Company who, over a period of years, had "borrowed" tools and other automobile parts. Although it was, of course, against company policy, management knew most of their employees did it, and they did nothing about it (as long as profits were stable). One day this machinist was converted. He was baptized and was instantly one of those believers who took his baptism seriously. The day after his baptism, he gathered up all the "tools" he had collected over the years, loaded them into his pickup, took them to the plant and gave them to the foreman along with his confession and a request for forgiveness. The foreman was so overcome by the man's honesty that he cabled Henry Ford himself, who was visiting a European plant. After getting the whole story in detail, Ford immediately cabled back this response: "Dam up the Detroit River," he said, "and baptize the entire plant." The gist of Henry Ford's tongue-in-cheek order is also the gist of the passage of scripture before us this morning-that is, that there ought to be a detectable moral difference in a person after his baptism, distinctly improved from his behavior prior to his baptism. If that is not the case, it is a confusing situation indeed. And the reason for the confusion is that a believer undergoes a metamorphic change when he gives his life to Christ. Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Now, there appears to be a glitch in the system among the Roman Christians. They are continuing to flagrantly sin like they did before their conversion! Apparently, they are rationalizing their carnality in this way: Paul taught us that our sins are forgiven through Christ's grace, that His grace is boundless and that the more we sin the more grace there is. So, we'll just keep on sinning, and receiving more and more grace! That's a little like the boy whose theology was twisted. He was asked what He thought God's job was. He answered, "To forgive our sins"? The teacher then asked him what his job was and he replied, "I make sure He has plenty to forgive!" The Context Chapter five is an explanation of the way God's grace meets the need of sinners and brings them forgiveness and salvation when they repent and trust Christ. Paul closes that section with these words: "…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that…grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Then Paul takes the next step in his reasoning. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" [webmasters note Romans 6:1-2] There's the head-scratching part for Paul. He is saying that it is incongruous that someone should die to sin and then go on living in it. Either the believer is foolishly resurrecting his old dead nature so he can revel in sin, or he never really died to sin through conversion. In a classic cartoon in Leadership journal, cartoonist Mary Chambers shows two couples seated in a living room, engaged in Bible study. One of the women is speaking. "Well," she says, "I haven't actually died to sin; but I did feel kind of faint once." The point Paul is making is that if a believer makes this momentous decision to give his life over to Christ as Lord, it is not a trifling matter. It's no small potatoes! It's a big deal The transaction of coming to Christ brings not only the Lord's grace and power to forgive sins, but also the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower the believer to live in holiness. Over in verse 22 of this chapter Paul says, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." In the transaction, God agrees, on the basis of what Jesus has accomplished, and our faith response, to put to death our old person who was a slave of sin, and make us into new people who are voluntary slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18 - "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." So, it is inconceivable that a Christian would willfully go on sinning. That's not to say that any of us has become perfectly successful in sinlessness. But, as John put it: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9) Let's pick up at verse three of Romans six. Here Paul illustrates his point by referring to one of the two abiding sacraments of the church-baptism. "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death…" We'll pause here just long enough to crystallize the imagery in our minds. Baptism, which by definition in the New Testament, is immersion in water, is a picture-more, an acting out-of the process of conversion. One agrees to submit to Christ, he agrees to die to his old self in order to let Christ make him completely new. He then submits to baptism wherein he is lowered under water, as if buried in a water grave. The old man-the sinful nature-is being buried. Then the baptizee is raised up out of the water symbolizing his new resurrection life-just like when Jesus rose from the dead. Picking up at verse 4 - "…we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Christian baptism is really a reenactment of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When I join my life to Him, I am united with Him in both these aspects: the old me dies and I agree to bury him, the Lord's power raises me to a new life in Him. Next, Paul emphasizes that this new and empowered life in Christ is a reality. God is not going to settle just for a death and not complete His promise to raise us to new life. We're not just "dead and buried". We are dead, buried and blessed! We have new life in Christ! "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:5-7) The Central Place of Baptism Along with Communion (the Lord's Supper), Baptism is an ordinance which has been given directly to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ. That is, these are things that Jesus specifically and emphatically said for us to do. In the case of Communion, He said, "Do this is remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19). In Matthew 28:19-20, the command of Christ is clear concerning Baptism: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…" Baptism occupies an important place in the scriptures. John was the forerunner of Jesus, and a type of Elijah. He called the people and particularly the religious establishment to repentance and baptism. So prominent was this practice that for centuries he has been known as John the Baptizer. Those disciples who committed their lives to Jesus were baptized. For example, those who heard and believed were baptized (Acts 18:8). Those who were willing to repent of their sins were instructed to undergo baptism. Acts 16:13-16 reads like this - "On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate tot he river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home…" The Philippian jailer with his entire household was baptized the same hour of the night when they believed (Acts 16:33). The Ethiopian treasurer whom Philip evangelized was so certain of baptism's importance that, when he believed in the gospel, he volunteered for baptism as soon as he saw enough water to be baptized in (Acts 8:36-38) Saul was baptized by Ananias as soon as he was able (Acts 22:16). Cornelius and his household were baptized after God gave ample evidence that they had already received the Holy Spirit in power (Acts 10:47-48). That's not to mention the more than 3,000 who were baptized in the public pools of Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2:38-41). The first public act of Jesus was his baptism (Mark 1:9-10), and his last command was to go, teach and baptize (Matthew 28:19). And for two thousand years believers have been baptized into Christ upon their faith, repentance and confession of His name. Every time someone is baptized into Christ, they preach the simple gospel through their symbolic death, burial and resurrection. By the way, Romans 6 makes no sense at all if baptism is performed in any other way than immersion in water. Like the scripture recorded Jesus' baptism, He went down into the water, and came up out of the water. Now, some in more modern times began to think such a practice is a bit simplistic or socially embarrassing, and therefore unnecessary, and have chosen to downplay its importance. They say that whole idea of being dipped in water while others watch is so crude, so gauche and uncouth. That's a dangerous practice-thinking God's way is too unrefined. At MECF we practice believer's baptism, by immersion in water, and urge those who decide for Christ to be baptized at the earliest convenience. Many choose to be baptized immediately upon conversion. That has made it a bit inconvenient for us at times, since we have never occupied a facility with a baptistery. We have borrowed the use of other church's baptisteries (in fact, I think we've had multiple baptisms at five different church facilities). We've also baptized many in the lake near the Mathews' home and in the lake at Bond Christian Service Camp. Some have been baptized in the pool at the YMCA, or in a swimming pool at one of our members' homes. We've baptized in livestock tanks, bathtubs and hot tubs; anywhere there is enough water to immerse a believer in Christ. Why would we make such a big deal out of water baptism? Part of the answer lay in what we've briefly covered: the New Testament makes a big deal out of it. Another indicator is this passage in Romans 6. Paul is quite deliberate about putting the drama of their baptism right at the heart of the re-birth and regeneration of believers in Christ. And we have no other authoritative word but scripture. Pastor Rich, you're not saying that baptism is really the time when our sins are forgiven, are you? I'm only saying what Ananias told Saul, "Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16). I can only teach what the scriptures writers teach, like Peter, who said, "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins…" (Acts 2:38); and "…this water [flood waters which saved Noah and family][webmasters note: from verse 20] symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by he resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21). But, you're not saying that baptism is essential to being saved, are you? I can only say what Paul says in Galatians 3:27 - "…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Or, what Paul wrote in Colossians 2:12, that we were "…buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead." Mark 16:16 quotes Jesus Himself saying, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved…" It may sound to some like baptism is very important to me. But, I'm not here to tell you what's important to me. I'm here to tell you what's important to God. He is the One who attached spiritual importance to being lowered under water as an initiatory rite for Christians. Jesus is the One who sent His disciples out to teach and to baptize. Jesus is the one who told the church to make disciples and baptize them when they come to saving faith. It is the Spirit of God who, in the passage before us this morning, wraps the twin blessings of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit all up in the imagery of the Christian's baptism. Exhortation Honestly, I can't fully explain to you why God consecrated this act of immersion in water. But then again, I can't explain a lot of things God does. I can't explain why He chose to have the church commemorate Christ's death and resurrection through emblems of bread and wine, and not roast lamb and vinegar water. But He tells me clearly He wants us to practice the Lord's Supper in this way, and we do. I sometimes wonder, for example, why God doesn't announce the Good News to people through angels. But He chose to use imperfect vessels like us human beings. And when He charges His church to go and make disciples by preaching the unadulterated and offensive word of the cross, it's just not our place to stew about it or question it. We are to do it. Sometimes it is just blind obedience to something that only God understands. How do you suppose Abraham felt about the wisdom of sacrificing his only son and heir? But God said, "Just do it and trust me." (Genesis 22) When God spoke through his prophet Elisha and told Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, that he would heal his leprosy, Naaman was thrilled. Then God said, "Just go down there to that muddy Jordan River and dip yourself seven times. He didn't like that-it didn't make sense to him. And, guess what? He remained a leper until he did what God said to do. Then he was healed (2 Kings 5). I am under the Holy Spirit's prodding to urge you to be obedient to God. Some of you have trusted Christ for years, but have never been baptized in water. The question isn't "Why should I be baptized?" so much as it is "Why shouldn't I be baptized, when His Word is so clear?" Some of the children in our congregation have come to personal faith in Jesus through the godly influence of Christian parents, augmented by some very good teaching in Kid City and in Cell groups. Many of them have even confessed the name of Jesus in public forums. They should be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Why do I say that? Because I'm a pastor, and the church I pastor takes seriously what Jesus told us to do: "Make disciples, baptize them and keep on teaching them…" [webmasters note: Matthew 28:19] I can remember the day I accepted Christ. I was baptized within 20 minutes of admitting my faith in Him. To be real honest, I didn't feel much of anything when I went down into the water and came back out. Some people get all excited, but for me it was simple obedience. The only difference I felt was I was dry before I was baptized and I was wet when it was over. One woman wrote in to a Christian magazine reporting, "Recently my 7-year-old son was baptized at nearby Lake Tahoe. With tears streaming down my face, I watched as he came out of the water, then excitedly asked if he felt any different. 'Yeah, Mom, I do,' he replied. 'Now I have water up my nose!'" I had gone forward at the invitation following a sermon. The gentleman who met me there asked if I had come to give my life to Christ and I said yes. He said, "Are you prepared to confess your faith in Christ before these witnesses?" I said, "Should I?" He said, "Yes," quoting scripture. I said, "Then I'm ready." He said, "Are you prepared to ask Him to forgive your sins?"; "Should I?" He quoted scripture again and said, "Yes." "Then I'm ready." He said, "Are you prepared to be baptized in water this morning?" "Should I?" "Yes." "Then I'm ready." I went home with my Christian wife, Charlotte, my wet hair, a few new questions. But I also went with a great sense of wholeness. I knew that I had done what God wanted me to do. God had saved me from my sins, and I did what He wanted me to do! "In baptism we are initiated, crowned, chosen, embraced, washed, adopted, gifted, reborn, killed, and thereby sent forth and redeemed. We are identified as one of God's own, then assigned our place and our job within the kingdom of God." (Leadership Magazine) There are a few individuals here who have recently accepted Christ. That is, they have been discipled for awhile and they have come to the place in their spiritual walk where they have made a faith decision to give their lives to Christ as Savior and Lord. You need to follow that faith up with obedience in the matter of baptism now. There are some among us who I'm sure have never given a thought about baptism because they were never taught about it from the scriptures. You need to act on what you now know. We are scheduling a baptismal service on Sunday, June 22 (week after Father's Day), when anyone who is ready may be baptized by immersion. We will make arrangements and plan the service for 5:45 that afternoon. If you are a candidate for baptism on that day, please sign the list on the back table or call in to the church office soon, so that plans can be made. If there are further questions on the subject of baptism-it's purpose, method, and timing-see one of your elders soon about taking part in a study. Or, if you are ready to obey the Lord in this issue of Christian baptism, and you don't want to wait for June 22, good for you! See one of us right away and we can arrange a immediate, personal baptism. Meanwhile, there may be an individual or two among us this morning who just recently have come to the place in their spiritual journey where they are ready to make that all-important step of faith. You've encountered the gospel through the witness of Christian friends, you've heard it taught, and faith has risen in you. If you are ready to receive Christ today, we encourage you to make your first step now. Someone at the front will help you through the process of obedient faith, confessing Christ, repenting and making arrangements for baptism.   [Back to Top]