Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

General William Nelson, a Union general in the Civil War, was consumed with talking over the battles in Kentucky when a nearby brawl ended up with him being shot, mortally, in the chest.

He had survived many battles, but his fatal blow came while he was relaxing with his men.

As such, he was caught fully unprepared.

As men ran up the stairs to help him, the general said just one phrase, “Send for a clergyman; I wish to be baptized.”

He never had time as a young man.

He never had time as a private or after he became a general; and his wound did not stop or slow down the war.

Everything around him was left virtually unchanged - except for the general’s priorities.

With only minutes left before he entered eternity, the only thing he cared about was preparing for eternity.

He wanted to be baptized.

Thirty minutes later he was dead.

- Christianity Today, October 3, 1994, p.26

Baptism, such a seemingly small thing, carries such large significance....

There are a multitude of traditions surrounding Baptism.

These days, it seems like every denomination has a different tradition regarding the practice.

Sprinkling of water,

pouring of water,

immersion in water,

infant baptism,

no infant baptism, etc.

However, we are not going to focus on these traditions in our study today; my goal is to leave time to discuss them in the questions after, if you’d like.

Rather, our study today is going to look to God’s word for direction and guidance about baptism.

In particular:

Matthew 3:11–17 (ESV)

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Then he consented.

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

What are the origins of Baptism?

Who should be baptized?

Why should we be baptized?

These are the questions I’d like to consider this morning.

To begin:

What are the Origins of Baptism?

Chiefly, the origins of Baptism can be traced back to two different practices in the Old Testament.

Ceremonial Cleansing

First, we are going to take a look at ceremonial cleansing.

Much of the Old Testament Law deals with the concept of being clean versus unclean.

There are clean and unclean animals,

clean and unclean foods,

and clean and unclean people.

In order to participate in worship at the temple, people had to be cleansed as a reminder of God’s holiness and perfection and their need to be cleansed from sin.

Numbers 19:17-19

For example, Numbers 19:17-19 details one of these ceremonies:

In fact, Numbers and Leviticus are littered with passages that speak of the concept of ceremonial washing and bathing in order to become clean.

These Old Testament concepts are the foundation for what we see in New Testament baptism.

They identify a person as being clean and ready to worship God.

Matthew 3:11

It’s important to realize that we see this magnified in John the Baptist’s words in verse 11 of our passage:

In light of the Old Testament, John’s water baptism was a ceremonial cleansing to identify those who had repented and were ready to follow Christ.

Covenant Signs

Second, there are a few times in Scripture when God gives us signs, or outward symbols that can be seen, to identify the people who are under His covenant.

Notably in Genesis 9:8-13, after the flood, God gave Noah the rainbow as a sign of His covenant to never again destroy the world by flood.

Genesis 9:8-13

Likewise, in Genesis 17:3-10, God gave circumcision to Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, as a sign of His covenant to make them distinct from the rest of the world, that they were His chosen people.

Genesis 17:3-10

Further, in Colossians 2:11-12, the Apostle Paul directly connects circumcision and baptism.

Colossians 2:11-12

Obviously, baptism is a sign that identifies Christians with Christ.

The rainbow did not save Noah, it is a sign of how God saved Noah and the promise He made.

Just as circumcision did not form a covenant with the Israelites, but rather was a sign, a reminder that God made this covenant;

so too, baptism dos not save us, but rather is a sign, a physical reminder that God saves us through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Next we arrive at the question of:

Who should be Baptized?

Christ commands all His followers to be baptized

Significantly, Jesus gave us His command in Matthew 28:19 to answer this question.

Matthew 28:19

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines “Disciple” as: A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example.

i.e. “followers of Christ”

It stands to reason that if Jesus is commanding to baptize all His followers, He is therefore commanding all His followers to be baptized.

Example of the early church

Thus, we have the example of the early church baptizing new believers as soon as they repented.

Acts 2:38-41

Who should be baptized?

The scriptures are clear.

Everyone who believes in Jesus as their savior should be baptized.

Now that leaves us with the question of:

Why should we be baptized?

To follow Jesus’ example

To repeat, Easton’s Bible Dictionary says that a disciple of Christ is one who imitates Jesus’ example.

Certainly, in verses 13 - 15 of our passage, Jesus sets the example for us:

Matthew 3:13-15

To be obedient to God

Do you remember what we learned in Week 1 (“But God”)?

God does not save us just so we can be internally righteous and get a ticket to heaven.

He saves us so that we can live righteously as His children.

He wants us wants us to identify as His children and obey Him.

Ephesians 2:8-10

In particular, Paul says in

I think baptism is our first step of obedience as believers.

Faith and obedience go hand in hand,

therefore baptism is one of the first works God has prepared for us beforehand.

Furthermore, those who obey God receive the benefits of being obedient.

What benefits?

Well, think of your relationship with your parents.

When you were obedient, what was your relationship like?