Sermon Tone Analysis

Hello

welcome, to GRBC

its Baptism Sunday we have a number of people who will be getting baptized today, they having professed trust and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

have asked to be Baptized.

and in light of this I thought I would take this opportunity gain a deeper understanding of what baptism is.

so what is Baptism?

do we Submerge, drip, pour, natural body of water, or perhaps some VOSS water.

Do we even need to do it, and if we do why whats the reason?

today we will look at what it ment in the Bible though time to the differnt people, and how , what and why it should look and be like today.

But, before we go any further in service let us stop and as God to bless his service for it is because of him and his love, and his willingness to extend grace to un-deserving sinners who, without it would be dammed to an eternity in hell,

let us pray.

Baptism in the Old Testament

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Please stand if you are physically able for the reading of Gods word,

Naaman, the story’s main character, is introduced as a great man

who struggles to overcome a physical affliction.

He is successful in his military career, for he commands Syria’s army, a unit that allows Damascus to dominate the region.

His king duly praises him for his work.

44 His king duly praises him for his work.

He exhibits courage.

Only one issue mars his life: he is a leper.

;45 but it was serious enough to him,

The author states that the Lord gave Naaman his victories.

At first this claim may seem startling because Naaman is not an Israelite.

However, 1, 2 Kings emphasize repeatedly God’s sovereignty over all nations and all people.

The Lord has already laid claim to ownership of Syria’s political future ().

Surely he can work on behalf of a Syrian, if only to discipline Israel for idolatry (cf.

).

The Lord also has sent the prophets earlier to non-Israelites (), so it is not surprising for him to deal with Naaman here.

5:2–3 A rather obscure source becomes the key to Naaman’s healing.

Raiding parties into Israel have provided a servant girl for Naaman’s wife.

This girl tells her mistress that Naaman could be cured if he would see “the prophet who is in Samaria.”

Long notes the contrasts between the great man and the maid who helps him:

This leprosy may not have been an extremely advanced type, since he could continue his work but it was serious enough to him,

;then a captive servant shares the knowledge that her master needs most.

She is an Israelite, he is an Aramean; she is a “little maiden” (naʿărâ qětannâ), he a “great man” (ʾîš gādôl); she is a captive servant, he a commander; he has fame in the king’s estimation, … she has none, for she simply “waited upon” … Naaman’s wife (cf.

;

Power and glory cannot save Naaman, but this information can.

Still, she shares the knowledge that her master needs most.

Power and glory cannot save Naaman, but this information can.

Perhaps the book’s first readers would have noted that the girl in the text is an exile too.

Despite her captivity, she is not bitter or unhelpful.

Rather, she shares what she knows about the Lord and the prophet out of concern for Naaman and her mistress and desire to see God’s glory magnified.

In this way she acts like Daniel, Mordecai, Ezra, Nehemiah, and other exiles who care for the spiritual and physical well-being of their conquerors.

Anxious for any possible avenue of healing, Naaman tells his king what the girl has said.

Elisha’s fame has spread from the lowest rung of society clear to the palace.

Syria’s king acts the only way he knows—like a king.

He writes a letter of introduction and demand, loads Naaman down with gifts, and sends his commander off to be healed.

He does not know that true prophets do not work for money, nor are they paid by the king, nor does the king have authority over them.

Thus, sending Naaman to Israel’s king does Naaman no good.

Israel’s king certainly understands the futility of the letter, for he knows he is no healer.

He too thinks like a king and suspects that Syria is looking for an excuse to renew old hostilities.

He has no idea that deep personal pain and a child’s pure motives have caused this trip.

Elisha views Naaman’s presence as an opportunity to prove there is a real prophet in Israel, which is the same as saying there is a real God in Israel.

the prophet does not come to meet him.

Instead, he sends a messenger to instruct him to wash seven times in the Jordan if he wants to be healed.

Certainly it is a great test of humble faith and one that Naaman understandably misinterprets as an insult.

National pride and personal expectations of a spectacular, magical display lead the commander to stomp away in rage.

Once again it is Naaman’s servants who come to his rescue.

They attack their master’s pride with common sense.

He would do something difficult, they reason, so why not try this rather small possible cure?

What can it hurt?

Naaman follows their advice and is healed.

His quest for healing has been fulfilled.

House, Paul R. 1, 2 Kings.

Vol. 8. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.

Print.

The New American Commentary.

House, Paul R. 1, 2 Kings.

Vol. 8. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.

Print.

The New American Commentary.

טבל βαπτίζω

טבל

here we have in the LXX a use of the Greek word for dipped is in greek βαπτίζω in Hebrew it is טבל (taval)

both words contain the meaning to be dipped or immersed.

though out the rest of the Old Testament it is almost exclusively used for in relation to ritual cleaning the big take away he is the did “baptize” in the OT it did not look the some and it had a much more spiritual meaning it was part of there rituals for going to temple, giving offering , etc washing was an important part of every day life wash before you eat after you eat, when you breath after you breath it had a more vivified or Holy implication not salvific but certainly skirting the edges at least in the way it was viewed especially as we move closer the life of Jesus.

it was important to the Jews to bath or Baptize them selves before a myriad of religious ceremonies because of the fall .

There is an inherent uncleanness which No provision had been made.

The yearly sin offerings and other offerings that allowed the Jews to cover the sins of the people, but not washing away a part of this was the ritual bathing and as we move forward in time it becomes more and more about the effects of the washing , not the things that came after.

New testament

as we move into the new testament we see the meaning and function of baptism change from a spiritual ritual to a symbol of the christian life.

Jhon the baptist

The word baptize and its various forms are used betwen 118 and 126 time in the new testament,

please turn to

Jesus

so here we see people hearing the gospel repenting of there sin accepting Christ as there savior and being baptized, and they continued this activity.

but why please turn to

Paul

Here are Christs lasts words on earth he tells his Apostles to go teach and baptize.

would you remember the lasts words someone said to you.

I can on several caissons recall that last thing a friend said to me before they were killed and these were just men this is God should we not pay his words as much heed?

and what about today what do we do with this today.

well first let us look back to a church father Didache who gives us THE TEACHING OF THE LORD TO THE GENTILES BY THE TWELVE APOSTLES

But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.

Having first recited all these things, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living (running) water.

2But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water; and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.

3But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

4But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able; and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.

so we should be baptized not because it will give us super powers or save us from Hell but because God commands us to just as he does with the last super it is an outward expression of an inward decision,.

{do the arm gestures}

we being baptized into Christs death, burial and resurrection,

it is a symbol of this a reminder for all of us who have accepted Christ that we were unworthy sinners

dammed to hell but because of the work of Christ on the cross we are given grace.

we were washed clean by the blood of the Lamb so for