Into Waters, Into Life
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans 6:3-
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans
Introduction
It might seem a weird topic for some to be talking about baptism and even more to be conducting baptism on a day set aside for giving thanks. However, I can’t imagine why this has not been a common tradition in our churches. You see, inherent in the act of baptism is a celebration. Baptisms and thanksgiving should go together like the Patriots and Superbowl Wins, or Boston and championship parades or even the Detroit Lions and bad Thanksgiving Day football games.
Into Water, Into Life
Paul in writing to the Romans reminds them that when we are baptized into the body of Christ, were are also baptized into his death, and if into his death, then also into His resurrection.
Baptism is a declaration of our faith. The faith that Christ, the Son of God, was crucified, buried, and on the 3rd day he rose from the dead. That in his resurrection, He defeated both spiritual and physical death. That in His death and resurrection, Christ Jesus bore the burden of our sin and conquered over it. That in His victory, we have freedom. That through our faith in Christ Jesus we are justified and receive eternal life, that in His victory we are no longer slaves to sin.
This is the great celebration in baptism. That when we enter these waters we commemorate that we have died with Christ, and are also raised with him. This act has no sacramental salvific element. But it is a shout into the world...
A shout that says TODAY....
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galat
This Baptism is my shout of victory to satan, that today I live free from the bondage of sin! That today I live!
I Shout...
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15
55 ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro, tu victoria?
What Must I Do?
So then the next logical question might be, what must I do?
All you need to do is believe! Believe in the Gospel of Christ. Believe and be saved. This is the only biblical pre-requisite.
But Pastor, don’t I need to get my life right. Don’t I need to be old enough, saved enough, sanctified enough? NO.
You must just believe. Baptism is the testimony of your belief, the testimony of your forgiveness. Baptism is the public testimony of your commitment to follow Jesus.
At the house of Cornelius… they believed..were baptized with tongues..and then baptized in the waters.
There was a man..
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
Acts 8:35-38
Acts 6:
Only unrepentance, only un-belief stands in the way of the baptism celebration.
If today you question and ask, what prevents me from being baptized? All I ask in return is DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST? IF you do, then be baptized.
CONCLUSION
On this day of thanksgiving, I think it is fitting that we celebrate with the open witness of baptism. That we celebrate and give thanks for those that have decided to make public their faith in Christ Jesus. That today, we thank God for there yielding to Him. Pastor J.D. Greear said “the offer of baptism crystalizes the decesion itself and the act of baptism catalyses the discipleship to follow”. Baptism impulses us to move from “consumers” of church and the gospel to “deciding for Christ”.
I can think of no more appropriate reason for which to thank God today, no greater reason than the victory of the cross, and our participation into it.
Thank you Jesus! Let us stand and celebrate.