Baptism Into A New Birth

Christmas day is a little more than a week away. During this advent season, we have been preparing our hearts for the day of Christmas in which we celebrate the coming into the world of the savior. This time of the season causes us to think of babies, births, and new beginnings. A new year is just around the corner and we think of old habits to give up and new starts or resolutions to begin. It is a season of hope and new beginnings.

In reflecting on new beginnings, I am reminded of the births of my own children. I remember how unprepared I was for the birth of Austin. The week of his due date we were visiting our gynecologist. It was late morning and we were told that this baby needed to be born. The fluid was disappearing around him and he needed to come into this world or he would be lost. We were so unprepared we did not even bring an overnight bag to this appointment. Before I knew it my wife was in a gown and they had started a pitocin drip. Labor started that afternoon and continued into the late hours of the night.

The process was long, exhausting, and messy. New life entered into the world in the early morning hours of September. Then almost to the date the process repeated itself. We were expecting our second baby. This time it was a girl. Abby was born ten days shy of of our first child, Austin. She too was late and had to come with a pitocin drip. Although each of their births were unique the processes were similar. From both of their births I learned a few things.

The process was long, exhausting, and messy. New life entered into the world in the early morning hours of September. Then almost to the date the process repeated itself. We were expecting our second baby. This time it was a girl. Abby was born ten days shy of of our first child, Austin. She too was late and had to come with a pitocin drip. Although each of their births were unique the processes were similar. From both of their births I learned a few things.

First, I learned that some events in your life force you to change. Life was radically different for us after we had a baby. I was use to eight hours of sleep and watching movies late in to the night or playing video games. Now it was four hours of sleep at best and terrible headaches. No movies or video games. Just poopie diapers and regular feedings. You really do not realize your own selfishness until someone else takes center stage. It was not about us anymore. There was a profound realization that we were now responsible for another life.

Each of their births were unique but the processes were similar. From both of their births I learned a few things. I learned that some events in your life force you to change. Life was radically different for us after we had a baby. You do not realize your selfishness until someone else takes center stage. It was not about us anymore. There was a profound realization that we were now responsible for another life.

Secondly, I learned that you cannot remain in process forever. The second trimester of no vomiting and having a cute baby bump cannot last forever. By the time we reached the end of the third trimester there were only two options; death or birth. There was no third option of forever of the process to about have a baby. The process was coming to an end. I was learning that we are responsible for our decisions whether we want to or not.

I also learned that there are things that come in our lives that demand all of our attention. There was no ignoring this baby or scheduling the birth for another day. The time had come, the bell was ringing and we had to focus on what was to come next. Joy. Pure joy after hard work, pain, and suffering. Life had come into the world and we were different because of it.

I wonder if you can remember a time in your life in which you were forever changed by the circumstances. Maybe it was the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, or a decision that you made for your life. From that point on you knew things were different. Things may have been forever different for a man named Nicodemus. In we read of a Pharisee who is a religious ruler for the Jews. Jesus was in Jerusalem and had gained attention with many believing in his name when they saw the signs he was performing. Knowing something was up Nicodemus visits Jesus at night and we read the following starting in verse 2 of John chapter 3.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Can you imagine being an intelligent human being and being told you needed to be reborn. Crazy. As a parent you know as I do there is a no return policy when your baby is born. They expect you to take him or her home with you. There is no warranty, no 30 day trial period. What you receive is what you keep. So Nicodemus is stuck with a well what’s up Jesus. There is no way I can go back to being reborn so what is your point? So Jesus shares with Nicodemus that there are two births. The first is a physical birth and the second is a spiritual birth. We read this in . Jesus basically says, “Nicodemus, you cannot hang out and check this out forever. Make a decision. Believe in the signs and so believe in the Son of Man.”

Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Can you imagine being an intelligent human being and being told you need to be reborn. Crazy. As a parent you know as I do there is a no return policy when your baby is born. They expect you to take him or her home with you. There is no warranty, no 30 day trial period. What you receive is what you keep. So Nicodemus is stuck with a well what’s up Jesus. There is no way I can go back to being reborn so what is your point? So Jesus shares with Nicodemus that there are two births. The first is a physical birth and the second is a spiritual birth. We read this in . Jesus basically says, “Nicodemus, you cannot hang out and check this out forever. Make a decision. Believe in the signs and so believe in the Son of Man.”

Yet are we not like Nicodemus. We like process more than commitment. We like to hang around the fringes of exciting times, growing churches, new fads, but we fail to end the process and commit. It’s easier to date than to commit to marriage. It’s easier to babysit than to commit to being a parent. It’s easier to charge all your expenses than to commit to controlling your expenses, and it’s easier to change jobs when thing are hard than to commit to long term employment. It is why I believe we have so many people in church who have not committed to Jesus. It is easier to attend church than to commit your life to the Lord Jesus.

A commitment reflects a need and many of us see no need for Jesus. Many of us live ScoreKeeper Card lives like Nicodemus. We do enough good in life compared to those around us that it outweighs the bad in our lives. We keep a running tally in our heads of all the good we are doing compared to others and justify it for our own gain.

It is easier to go to

It is hard for one to know they need a doctor if one does not know they are sick. So many times we misdiagnose our symptoms. There is a funny story of a man who ran into the ER saying that everything he touched hurt. He said when I touch my head it hurts. When I touch my chest it hurts, when I touch my arm it hurts, and when I touch my face it also hurts. What is wrong with me doctor? Am I going to die? After close examination the doctor told the patient that he had some good news and some bad news. The good news was that the gentleman was not dying. The bad news for his condition was that he had a broken finger.

The advent reading this morning from of John the Baptist was like this story of a doctor. The patient believed he knew what was wrong . Yet the doctor gave the correct diagnosis of a broken finger. John the Baptist stood before the people and told them that something was broken in their lives. They were living immoral lives and needed to repent before they could receive the coming Lord.

Baptism was and is that expression of repenting from our sin and being born again to live a new life that no longer is directed by our own desires but now by the Spirit of God. Yet many like Nicodemus misunderstand what being born again means because they have not received the correct diagnosis of their own lives.

John was a doctor calling all people, not just the obvious mess ups of life to repentance. He calls the religious elites a brood of vipers. He calls the tax collectors thieves. He called the soldiers extortionists.

John was basically saying, I know you think you are a good person and you will go to heaven because of the good you do. Yet I tell you that you are a liar for the lies you have told. You are an adulterer for all of your sexual acts outside the marriage bed. You are a murder for your hate against your fellow person. You have much yet you do not share it with those who have less. You live your lives for more rather than living your lives for others. You think you are great yet God sees you as small.

Repent from your ways and find salvation in the only one who can save you. The only one who has the authority to forgive you of your sins. The only one who can make you a new person from the inside out. The one who has come with mercy and grace. He stands before you offering you freedom. John says that a day of judgement is coming in which the wheat will be gathered into the barn but the chaff will be burned up with unquenchable fire.

We like Nicodemus have a hard time repenting and being born again. We are born into this physical world and do not realize our spirits are dead to God.

The wheat are those who repent and trust the gift of Jesus who has come into the world to free us from our sin. Those who come in the next few minutes today for baptism are those who have come to accept the words of Jesus to Nicodemus that unless one is born of the Spirit they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. These who are coming before you are stating that they have repented of there old lives and are stepping into a new life of trusting Jesus with their lives. In a spiritual sense they are saying before all of you that they have been born again.

They are a testimony to you today of a decision to follow the Christ. As they step out to prepare for baptism allow me to share with you who is coming. Lilly who is our youngest is age four. With the innocence of a child she has been telling her mommy and daddy Robert and Chelsie Kerr about how she loves Jesus and wants him to be a part of her life. Within the last week she prayed with her parents a simple prayer of Jesus being a part of her life. We also have my two children Austin and Abby who have made decisions the same as Lilly. Austin made a decision back when he was three and Abby made a decision after VBS this summer. For our situation it was not as I had expected. There was no formal prayer or tears or walking the aisle. They both told there mommy that Jesus was important and they wanted him in their hearts. I know this sounds crazy but I could just tell there was something different about them. Something had shifted. In not wanting to pressure them into a decision because their daddy is a pastor I waited to see if it was real and I waited for them to understand baptism. So here we are at this point. As we conclude today, Chris will be baptizing James and Erica. Both who are expressing through baptism a commitment of their faith to follow Jesus. Both have not until very recently been living lives that reflect a heart of repentance and a heart of commitment to Jesus. This day of baptism for them reflect these desires.

You see age does not dictate your capacity to receive the Lord Jesus. Nor does the capacity of your intelligence dictate your capacity to receive the Lord Jesus. That which does make the difference is a broken and humble heart. Many cannot say yes to the good news because of their heart. Their hearts are filled with pride. They know their own diagnosis and believe they can fix the problem. How is your heart? Only you can answer the question. So today the question is for you.

The question I leave for you today as Christmas is coming; What is the Christ to you? Have you found new life in Jesus? Or is today a reminder that you cannot remain in the process forever of checking out Christ. Is today the time for new birth to happen to your life. After our time of baptism we will offer an invitation to you to decide to repent and follow the Christ.

Please join me in prayer and reflection of where your life stands in relationship to all that you have heard today. Are you Nicodemus or are you one of those who heard the good news and decided it was time to step into the river and follow the Lord?