The Christian Life and Baptism

The Ordinances of the Church

When we discuss the Christian Life, we are looking at the what and why’s of “post-conversion life.”

We began our journey through this series as we looked at the reason for our Sunday worship. We saw that a day was set aside for us by God’s example to rest from the work that he does, we saw how later this was mandated in the law of Moses and how Jesus showed us that Sabbath was a gift to us. We looked how the Saturday Sabbath became the worship on a Sunday. Scripture reminds us in Colossians.

Colossians 2:8 CSB

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

Paul states this because we place our faith and trust in Christ, are in Christ who is sovereign. Paul continues that,

Colossians 2:16 CSB

Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

Even as I studied for those lessons I realized that I had many presuppositions as to what the Bible taught for worship and how it relates to the New Testament believer.

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Last week Jeff taught from Hebrews 3 and 4 that the Lord promised rest for those that believe and...

Hebrews 4:7 CSB

he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

Today if you hear God’s voice do not harden your heart, you can right now we are to enter into the Lord’s rest that we are to hear the Lord and trust.

Our rest in Christ is - that we are free from persistent worry and doubting.

Thank you again Jeff, for your wonderful teaching.

This week I want to introduce the next two topics that we will look at in the Christian life. I would like to look at baptism and the Lord’s supper.

Historically there are three things that we see that are central to most christian churches around the world.

Pulpit

Baptismal Fount

Lord’s Table

The pulpit has been for the ministry of the word and we can logically see the continuation in scripture and throughout history that the reading and the teaching of God’s word having a very important part of our lives as Christians because this is the apostles teaching.

However, if we see look at the baptismal font and the Lord’s table there is a strong Biblical reason for their presence. These are often referred to as the Ordinances of the Church.

An ordinance (by definition is a decree) in this sense is a specific act of worship as commanded or decreed by the Lord.

These ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

We will first look at Baptism. When it comes to baptism we understand baptism as a part or an initial part of the Christian life. We do not always see baptism service every week, but that does not mean this is any less important.

Romans 6:4–5 CSB

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

Before I dive in I want to know what questions come to mind when it comes to baptism? I will go through the teaching and if I do not answer it we can tackle it after.

Baptism in Scriptures

Matthew 3:13–17 CSB

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

We see earlier that John the Baptist, was baptizing people in the wilderness in the Jordan river.

John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sins.

In verse 7 we see the religious leaders coming to his baptism , John tells them to produce fruit consistent with baptism. All while he is doing this he is telling them that one who comes after John will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John teaches us that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.

We will discuss baptism of the spirit and fire in another lesson.

So when when Jesus tells John that he needs to be baptized by John, John is shocked. He is shocked because he knows who Jesus is, not just his cousin, but the Son of God a sinless man. John was performing baptisms for the forgiveness of sins, and now Jesus stands before him, and John tries to stop him because he did not need baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

Jesus says “Allow it for now;” He was acknowledging that this was highly unusual.

The Expositor’s Bible, Volume 4: Jeremiah to Mark Chapter IV: His Baptism (Matthew 3:13–17)

While then Jesus came simply in obedience to the will of God, He must have come with a very heavy burden.

Jesus Continues “because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” John and Jesus were fulfilling Righteousness - they were following the father’s will. What I think is amazing here is that throughout the Old Testament we see prophets give their prophecies, but we see John the Baptizing prophesying the coming of the messiah and here we see this happen in real time.

There are very distinct things we see here:

We see Jesus’ baptism in submersion (from the term baptizo) which foreshadowed his death and resurrection. This baptism was the submission to God’s will so that his righteousness would be fulfilled.

Above all we observe Jesus obeying his father’s will and we see evidence when the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and a voice from Heaven states

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Jesus’ baptism was his submission to the will of his Father. We then see this idea of water baptism and

For our understanding the proper application of baptism I think we need to understand the first someone must come to Christ before.

John 3:3–6 CSB

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Our salvation does not come from water baptism, but rather a spiritual birth. (I think we should spend more time with this passage but next week we will dive into that)

In the very next chapter we see baptism as a part of the ministry of Jesus.

John 4:1–2 CSB

When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John (though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were),

he left Judea and went back Galilee.

Jesus presided over the baptism of his disciples.

Here the stage is set or our understand ing how we go from the precedent set forth by Jesus’ own baptism and example to the decree for our baptism today?

Turn your Bible to Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:16–20 CSB

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This passage is such a great passage and I think often in the Church when we use this passage only for exhorting and building missionary work we narrow this down too far. Yes it applies to mission work, but more generally it applies to each one of us.

Jesus commands us to make disciples.

Making disciples - will be a lesson in the future, but I think as often this is the beginning of that .

Two important tasks are given by Jesus when it comes to making disciples: Baptize and Teach.

Soon after this we see at the end of Peter’s Sermon in Acts 2

Acts 2:37–40 CSB

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

This was the end of Peter’s first sermon we see. I am kind of in awe of Peter because his first sermon netted 3,000 people to the Church. The bar was set high here!

What is Baptism?

Baptism is an initiating ceremony where someone who has placed their salvation in Jesus Christ, publicly confesses and submits the whole of their life to Jesus as Christ. Symbolically during baptism as one is submerged in the baptismal water they are united with Christ in his death, and when they are raised out of the water they are united with Christ in His resurrection.

While still a symbol or ceremony, it

Who Can Be Baptized?

Baptism is for those people that have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Subsequently repented of their sins and submitted their life to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

What about infant baptism?

There is neither prohibition or recommendation of infant baptism in scripture. It has been a tradition of many d

How are we to be Baptized?

Baptism is done by submersion