What is baptism and why is it important?

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Caleb Mayfield

Webster Student Ministries

Topical • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago • Presented 4 years ago • 24:35

Baptism

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Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Next week, WBC is having a baptism.

There may be some in this room who need to be baptized. So I thought it would be a good idea to talk about baptism tonight.

The question I hope to answer tonight is “What is baptism and why is it important”.

Four important things regarding baptism

“Baptism” Means Something

Understanding the meaning and origination of the word “baptize” can help you form your own opinions about what baptism should look like.

A lot of drama and disagreement has formed on the idea of baptism.

Some groups say you can sprinkle someone. Some think you can do it to a baby. etc.

The word’s origination can help settle some of these questions.

We get our English word baptize from a transliteration from the Greek word Baptidzo.

Baptidzo was a word used to describe the process of immersing cloth in a liquid in order to dye it a different color.

So, quite literally, the word baptize means to immerse something.

In the ancient times, strict Jewish people would literally take immersive baths as a purification ritual.

It was a huge part of the Jewish religious experience. I’ve actually been to Israel and seen these baths.

By the time Jesus showed up on the scene, John the Baptizer was using baptism as a symbolism for repentance and God’s response to it in washing people clean.

John 3:23 ESV

23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

Notice, how it says “water was plentiful there”? Thats because they would literally dunk people underneath it.

“Baptism” Means Something: Immerse

Baptism Was Commanded

Some would call it an “ordinance”… Meaning, an order.

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 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,

We were commanded to be baptized

People who become disciples of Jesus get baptized

We were commanded to go baptize

People who make disciples of Jesus baptize those disciples

Baptism was commanded: by Jesus for those who would be His disciples.

Baptism Represents Something

For Christians, Baptism wasn’t a ritual that purified you but became an external sign that declared that Jesus has purified you.

It was a one and done thing that Christians did publicly in order to proclaim their allegiance and relationship to Jesus.

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

The idea of going under water (immersed) represented Jesus’ burial in the grave. Then coming out of the water represented Christ’s resurrection and our new life with Him.

Baptism was so closely linked with profession of faith in Christ, that in some cases, it was the profession of faith in Christ.

Not only does baptism represent what Christ did: Death, Grave, Resurrection. But it also professes physically what God has done by the Spirit spiritually to us with Faith in Christ and something that is awaiting those who refuse to put their faith in Christ.

Matthew 3:11–13 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.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

John mentioned three types of Baptism here:

Water, Spirit, and Fire (Judgement).

John baptized with Water point and prepping the way for Jesus baptisms:

Spirit baptism for those who believe.

Fire baptism for those who reject.

When we participate in Water Baptism we are declaring what Jesus has done to us by His Spirit and what he has promised he will do with Fire.

Water Baptism Represents Something: What Jesus did in death and resurrection, what he did to us when we believed, and what he will do at the end of time.

Baptism Identifies You

Faith in Christ is our means of salvation and being identified with Christ.

Water Baptism is one of the ways we express and show our identification.

At public award ceremonies, when someone wins, the dark room get lit up with a spot light shining on the person who won. That’s how everyone knows who the winner is that they just called out.

Baptism is sort of like that. Your name has already been called, you know you’ve been identified as the winner, but then the spotlight gets shown on you to reveal to everyone else that you’ve won.

Here’s another illustration from Pastor John Piper:

Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014) What is Baptism, and How Important is It?

An analogy would be saying, “With this ring I thee wed.” When we say that we don’t mean that the ring or the putting of the ring on the finger is what makes us married. No, it shows the covenant and symbolizes the covenant, but the covenant-making vows make the marriage. So it is with faith and baptism.

Baptism Identifies You: You shine the spotlight on the fact that you are now Christ’s.