Getting Started Right

“Getting Started Right”

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It really does matter how you start:

· Race-In a race how you get off the starting line when the gun fires is important if you’re going to win the race.

· Golf- the T-shot is important it you want to make par.

· Building-to have a strong building, you need to start with a solid foundation.

Have you ever put on a shirt, and started buttoning it up, and got to the last button, and there is no hole, and your shirt is cat-t-wopus. You look down and realize you started wrong, and you were wrong the rest of the way. And you had to unbutton the shirt and start all over again.

Getting started right in the life is so very important! If you start your Christian life right, you will find that you are growing stronger in your walk with Jesus.

So how do you start right, and stay right and finish strong? You start by being obedient to Christ command to be baptized, and then you live your life in obedience to the Word of God.

Jesus started His earthly ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist. And the way you get started after you’re saved is by being baptized.

Jesus started his ministry by being baptized, and Jesus closed his earthly ministry by commanding us to be baptized.

-“Go you therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost…”

The bookends of Jesus ministry have to do with baptism. Baptism mattered to Jesus, and the early church, and it should matter to us.

There is some confusion about the ordinance of baptism, and differing opinions about baptism. Some people say; baptism is a Baptist teaching, no it is not! It is Bible teaching! There are two extremes concerning baptism:

· One group says, baptism is necessary to go to heaven; therefore it is a big deal.

· Another group says, baptism is not necessary to go to heaven, therefore it is not a big deal.

Both of these extremes are not biblical! And the truth is while baptism is not necessary to go to heaven, and baptism will not save you.

Baptism didn’t say the thief on the cross; he never got baptized, and it won’t save you either.

So while baptism doesn’t save you, it is a big deal to the Lord Jesus and the church. The Bible talks about baptism 74 times! Baptism is not a Baptist idea, it is a Bible idea. We must never minimize anything Jesus commanded, practiced and emphasized.

This morning I want us to look at the biblical teaching of baptism in general, and Jesus baptism in particular.

We will do that by asking three questions, and then allowing the Bible to answer them.

Are you ready?

1. What is the Method of Baptism?

V:21-“the people were baptized… Jesus also being baptized…

You find the word baptized over and over in this chapter. So does it matter how you’re baptized; what method is used when you’re baptized?

Some people say no, you can be baptized by sprinkling, christening, or immersion. But there’s only one kind of baptism taught in the Bible; and that is immersion. The method of baptism is not just incidental. Were told that John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River, and that Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized.

Jesus wasn’t baptized near the Jordan, or with water from the Jordan, but actually into the Jordan River.

-“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan”.

Then were told in -“And straightway coming up out of the water…

Now correct me if I’m wrong, if you going to come up out of the water; don’t you have to be down in the water? Jesus came up out of the water, because he had been down in the water. Jesus was baptized by immersion-Jesus is our example!

Jesus was not baptized by immersion in the Jordan River because it was convenience; he just happened to be in the neighborhood. No! No! Jesus began his earthly ministry by traveling some 60 miles on foot from Nazareth’s to be baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

Were told in -“John baptized in Aenon, near to Salem because there was much water there”.

John the Baptist chose a spot on the Jordan River deep enough to baptize people by immersion.

The Bible method is by immersion, and it takes a lot of water to immerse someone. Jesus was baptized by immersion.

Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.

One of my favorite baptisms in the Bible is found in;

-“ See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if you believe with all thine heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

The word baptize is the Greek word Baptizo-which means to immerse, or dip underwater.

Nowhere does the Bible teach sprinkling for baptism; you say pastor, does it really matter how a person is baptized? Yes it does, which leads me to our second question.

2. What is the Meaning of Baptism?

John’s baptism was, V:3-“The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”.

John was baptizing people, who came in repentance of sins. Obviously Jesus did not have any sin to repent of; he never sin!

John knew that Jesus didn’t have a sin to repent of; that’s why John resisted baptizing Jesus.

-“Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbid him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and you come to me?

Jesus answered John and said,

-“And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he baptized him.

Jesus baptism was different from all the other baptisms; Luke hints at this in the way he describes Jesus baptism in -“when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized…

There is the baptism of all the people; and then there is the baptism of Jesus, his baptism is for a different purpose.

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to put his stamp of approval on John’s ministry.

Jesus was baptized to identify with sinners.

Jesus was baptized to picture his future baptism on the cross; where all the waves of God’s wrath would come over him.

-“He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

If we are amazed to see Jesus being baptized, we’re more amazed to see Jesus crucified.

The very first thing Jesus did at the start of his ministry, was to give a living object lesson of what he had come to this earth to do. Die for our sins, get buried in a tomb, and rise up from the dead!

The method of baptism, and the meaning of baptism are connected. If you change the method, you destroy the meaning.

Baptism is a picture of Jesus death, burial and resurrection, and your identification with him.

-“As many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

· When Jesus was baptized he was picturing his death, burial, and resurrection for us.

· When we are baptized we are picturing identification with his death, burial, and resurrection for us.

The meaning of baptism is seen right here in .

· V:3- we were baptized into his death”.

· V:4-“we are buried with him”.

· V:4-“raised up from the dead”.

Baptism is an outward expression of the inward experience.

When Jesus saved me, I died to the old life; and was raised to walk in newness of life.

The first person I ever baptize was Tess. I put her under the water, and I pulled her up and hugged her; and I said I am sure glad you got saved, you needed it! It was her funeral service, I buried the old Tess, and got a new Tess. A saved Tess! Hallelujah! The first test was pretty good; the spiritually alive Tess, is even better!

Here is the order of baptism; you get saved-then- you get baptized. Every time you read about someone being baptized in the Bible, it was always after they had believed in Jesus; never before.

-“then those who gladly received his word, were baptized…

-“Cornelius and his family heard Peter preach the gospel, they believed in Jesus and were baptized”.

First they hear the gospel, then they believed in Jesus, and then they were baptized.

That is the Bible pattern for baptism!

A person must hear the word of God, that they are a sinner, and that their sin separates them from God. Hear that Jesus took their sin and died in their place; and he was buried and rose again. The Bible says it you will confess Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

And when you’re saved, you need to be baptized! When you are baptized you are picturing your death with Jesus, and your burial with Jesus, and you resurrection with Jesus.

Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian, it just shows, testifies that you are a Christian.

I wear a wedding ring, this wedding ring doesn’t make me married. I wear it to show that I am married. When I said, “I do”, to Tess she put this ring on my finger, and I’ve been wearing it ever since. Just as a wedding ring shows I am married; baptism shows I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I belong to him, and I am not ashamed to openly, publicly declare that. The meaning of baptism, it pictures Jesus death, burial, and resurrection; and it pictures our new life in Jesus.

This leads us to our third question:

3. What is the Motive for Baptism?

There are three things that should motivate you to be baptized.

1. To make a public confession of your faith.

Baptism is the way you publicly confess that you have accepted Jesus. That you have been raised from spiritual death, to spiritual life. The true confession of your faith is baptism.

One Sunday morning in Sunday school a little boy prayed and invited Jesus into his heart. The teacher said, go tell the pastor that you have been saved, and you want to get baptized. The little boy went to the pastor and said, pastor, I got saved in Sunday school, and I need to get advertised; I like that.

When you get baptized, you advertise, I belong to Jesus- it is a public confession of your faith!

Motive #2:

2. To picture your salvation.

Baptism is a silent movie; without saying a single word you are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ when you get baptized. You are also picturing death to the old man, and new life in Jesus.

Who wouldn’t want to preach that message before their love ones and God’s people? If Jesus hung neck on the cross dying in agony and blood for me; why wouldn’t I walked down this aisle confess my faith in him, get baptized to portray the change He has made in my life!

If there is one message the devil would like to delete from the church; it is the gospel! Baptism preaches the gospel over, over and over again. The devil wants to delete the gospel message, he doesn’t want people to be saved and baptized!

Listen to me, if he can’t delete the message, he wants to distort the gospel message; that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone!

Scriptural baptism betrays the gospel of Jesus, and your conversion.

Which means scriptural baptism involves:

· The right person.

The person who understands the gospel, and trust in Jesus and his saved.

· The right method.

Immersion.

· The right meaning.

Baptism is a picture of our eternal union with Jesus Christ through faith in his death, burial, and resurrection.

-“For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection”.

We are united with Christ, and baptism pictures this union with Christ. Salvation is by grace, through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works unless anyone should boast.

There is no salvation in the waters of baptism; for this reason, Crossway Baptist Church rejects baptismal regeneration, and baptism from any church or denomination that teaches baptismal regeneration.

Also our union with Jesus Christ is eternal; we are eternally united to Jesus Christ in salvation.

-“my sheep hear my voice… And no man is in the snacks him out of my father’s hand…

-“we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption…

For this reason, Crossway Baptist Church rejects baptism from any church or denomination that teaches that our union with Christ is not permanent and eternal.

We believe the Bible has very specific teachings on baptism. In order for a baptism to be biblical; the person must be a believer, they must be immersed, and the baptism must signify the believer’s eternal union with Jesus through faith in his death, burial, and resurrection.

If a person’s baptism does not align with these three biblical teachings, we believe that their first “baptism” was incomplete and that they need to be baptized according to Scripture.

A common objection from people who are asked to be Scripture baptized is: the church or denomination I was baptized in believed in baptismal regeneration, or in losing your salvation, but I didn’t believe that. The issue is while baptism is a personal matter; it is not a private matter, baptism is a public declaration of your union with Jesus Christ. So your baptism takes on the meaning of the church, are pastor who baptized you.

(I have posted on the city, and our Facebook page an article about baptism that further explains the importance of scriptural baptism, I would encourage you to read that article if you have further questions)

There are three things that should motivate you to be baptized:

1. To make a public confession of your faith.

2. To picture your salvation.

3. To personally obey Jesus command.

Jesus did not request you to baptized, he commanded you to be baptized!

-“Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

“Go you” teach-that is an imperative, command.

“Baptizing them”-that is an imperative, command.

These are the Lord’s last words, and they are important! Baptism is not necessary for salvation; but it is necessary for obedience, and obedience is necessary for joy and fruitfulness in your Christian life!

No one obeyed God like Jesus; Jesus always did those things that pleased his father.

We see that as Jesus is being baptized at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus baptism was different than any other baptism, and there was a different response from heaven when Jesus was baptized:

John the Baptist earlier in this chapter said that Jesus was mightier than he was, and he wasn’t worthy to untie his shoelaces. But John is a mere man; what we see and hear at Jesus baptism is a divine endorsement!

Its one thing for John to say that Jesus is mighty; the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

But it’s an altogether different thing; for God Almighty to endorse Jesus as his son, the Savior of the world, but that’s what he does!

V:21-22-Read.

Notice several things that speak of the divine endorsement of Jesus. Jesus enters the waters of baptism and He is praying!

· The heaven opening.

· The Spirit descending.

· The father speaking.

You have one of the clearest pictures of the Trinity in the baptism of Jesus.

You have God the son- in the water.

You have God the Spirit- descending in the form of a dove.

You have God the father- speaking from heaven.

God, is one God expressing himself in three persons. -“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”.

God the father spoke from heaven and said:

V:22-“you are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased”.

This divine endorsement from God is connected to two quotes from the Old Testament. The first quote come from -“you are my chosen servant and whom I delight”

This speaks of Jesus being the suffering servant who brings salvation.

The second quote is from -“you are my son; today I have begotten you”.

This verse speaks of Jesus being Israel’s king.

Jesus was God’s unique, only beloved son; the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ alone is the eternal son of God. No person can become the son of God in the sense that Jesus was the only begotten son of God.

Jesus is the only son of God, the only eternal, sinless one who completely pleased to God,V:22-“ in you I’m well pleased”.

On three separate occasions God spoke and said this is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased. God was pleased with everything that Jesus ever said or did! Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins; was placed in a borrowed tomb! And on the third day God raised up Jesus from the dead! The empty tomb and the resurrected Lord Jesus; is another way of God saying; this is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased.

God was pleased with the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our sins; and we know that because he raised him up from the dead!

And here’s some more good news, as soon as you trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you stand before God accepted in the beloved; and God is pleased with you because Jesus Christ righteousness has been applied to your heart!

Let me speak to several people here today:

· There are some here today, who have not only, not been baptized, you have never been saved. I’m going to ask you to come forward this morning, and allow us to pray with you to receive Jesus Christ.

· There are some of you who are christened are baptized as a baby, but you have never been saved. The first step toward true baptism is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, it is a definite act of faith, at a definite period in time. Come today let us pray with you to receive Jesus Christ.

· There are some of you were baptized before you are saved. But you have not been scripturally baptized since you are saved; you to come this morning, and tell one of the pastors that you want to get your baptism on the right side of your salvation.