Water Baptism: The Gospel Promises of Christ's Cleansing & New Life Signed & Sealed to You

Why are we talking about the Church and its mission and its tools including the discipleship and and the sacraments ? Not because nice club of human origin, have our traditions, make up our missions statements each find nice way to organize. No, the church exists because of what the first two-thirds of our Confession describes as the main events of the cosmos, a loving and holy God moves towards a world He made for communion, and then even in this world gone mad torn up in sin, and alienation, captive - He still moves toward us in Christ with justification that is more than just as if I never sinned, but totally accepted, and He continues to move toward us in the second half of salvation sanctification - not just our effort to say thank you back to God, live good life, but been regenerated, the Holy Spirit begun a new life within us. And we’re concerned about the church, because God is the One who birthed the church! It is God who when moving toward His people, takes an individual and incorporates that person in the Body of Christ - so they gathered, empowered, equipped, washed and sanctified and sealed by the Spirit - get to work and also await eagerly our fuller salvation in Christ!

God does this primarily by the preached word - which also has to get down into our knotty-gritty lives with discipleship and discipline among the membership. But that preached Word - God also appends to it - two powerful tools for nourishing and sustaining our faith and Communion and sharing in Christ. Those are what Jesus commanded Baptism and the Lord Supper. The first is for initiating individuals into the community of grace, of salvation, - done once and to be a tool for a new convert or a child of a believe, to commence life walking with the living God, in grace, in the covenant community of His people. The other is only for those who have been born again and not for initiating into the covenant community but sustaining their faith, again and again. Both work the same way, signing and sealing the gospel promises in Christ, calling us to participation in Christ. And both are operative not by physically receiving them, but spiritually and inwardly the Holy Spirit through the operation of perosnal faith establishing us in those realities.

Puritan John Trapp, the sacraments are to “be neither trusted, nor neglected,” Not to be relied on as giving salvation or grace through outward physical elements, but also not to be ignored emptied of how God would use them. This means LS, and Baptism, do not give salvation, but they do point to the One from whom it comes.” This evening it is our privilege to see how God uses our baptisms as a tool to nourish our strength in Christ, to sign and seal the gospel promises, the covenant blessings and curses to us.

Key Truth: Water Baptism signs & seals, to believers and their children, the promises of the circumcision performed by Christ.

Now every sacrament there are two things: the sign, and the reality signified. Do you get that? So let me ask you what is the sign in baptism, and what does i point to too?

We will begin with the reality it points to: both sacraments, as signing and sealing realities point beyond themselves to the same thing to Christ and the salvation accomplished through His blood on the Cross. And the shocking truth from our text in Galatians is that gospel, the reality of faith in Christ as substitute bring a righteousness not by our works, but by faith in God’s substitute, that gospel reality was already there in the OT. Look at what Paul says in Gal 3:8

Galatians 3:8 ESV

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

We saw that so powerfully in Romans 4 last Sunday night too, Abraham was saved not by keeping the law or by rituals like circumcision, but righteousness that is by faith, and only then did God add to that gospel reality - a tool years later but intend to nourish sand strengthen the gospel reality - . Circumcision was a picture of the cutting away of the old flesh accomplished by blood, like all the OT rituals of sacrifice - that God provides the blood that cuts away our sinful nature - forgiveness and cleanses us.

But look what other gospel promise was given to Abraham - in that covenant of grace all the way back in the OT, Paul says the promise of the Spirit comes by the hearing with faith, not the law. Look a Galatians 3:13-14, Christ fulfilling all that was promised in the gospel to Abraham but he only had it in shadowy figures, Christ brings the fulfilled blessing and promises of the covenant with Abraham to us!

Galatians 3:13–14 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

And Christians are heir to that promise in Abraham when we have the faith of Abraham.

This is speaking of the reality that the sacrament points too. Our confession makes it clear that baptism, like circumcision, and actually the circumcision that Christ accomplishes on the Cross that baptism signifies, the reality that it points to the forgiving sacrifice, the cleansing from the old self, but also this renewal of the Holy Spirit. These realities promised are what marks us as belonging to God’s community, set apart from those who follow idols, just worshipping the stuff in creation and not the living God. Now a sacrament is going to sign and seal those two basic realities - forgiveness and renewal by the Spirit!

And the first thing that our confession calls us to see is a Continuity Between Circumcision & Baptism.

They point to the same spiritual reality - they serve the same spiritual purpose, though the tool that God is using looks different, like… a simple wrench, verse socket …do the same thing, but one is superior.

A. Continuity: How is Baptism and Circumcision Alike

And now we have to move from the reality being symbolized, and more sealed and signed by God to those coming into His covenant community, and we have to consider that sign used. So what is the sign in circumcision: it is blood shed and flesh removed. Blood is a sign of a judgment and death. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And what is this cutting away of the flesh … picture of the organ that sustain line of life - that sin is to be removed - that that line that household - live by way of the kingdom. Know grace and as the covenant sign given to Abraham - now walk in my ways. And those who refused the sign - God said cut off from my people. But those who received the outward sign - whether had faith already or not, by virtue of living in a household having one parent with that faith, grow up initiated into these promises with this life this community - they were to use that sign so that the outward sign would become an inward reality

You know these verses - looking for circumcised heart.

Well our Colossians text tells us Christ performs this putting off of the old flesh of our sin on the Cross, not only condemned and punished with God’s wrath, but it is crucified and done away with in Him - and we read in Hebrews that all of the OT rituals with blood no longer required all were pointing to Christ performing this reality on the Cross. And our text so remarkably says that circumcision on the Cross that Christ was spiritually performing for His people Col 2:11-12

Colossians 2:11–12 ESV

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

That same inner reality is what Abraham was trusting in , same gospel - and the covenantal sign that was attached to the promise the purpose and the inner reality it pointed to still stands. But guess what the outward sign has been upgrade from a wrench to ratchet. Now no more blood has to be spilled Christ has fulfilled totally what the sacrifices and blood of circumcision. Look at Hebrews 8:5

Hebrews 8:5 ESV

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Do you get it - all the sacrifices, and circumcision were a type that pointed to the reality that Christ accomplished, his baptism into death , his crucifixion of our sinful nature, his rising to life in the Spirit. That’s what all those OT ceremonies pointed to in some way, and now these two sacraments correspond to that too, they point to the ultimate and final reality in Christ. So Hebrews 10:1 says:

Hebrews 10:1 ESV

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

And so the reality circumcision and baptism both point to is the same, but the form, the outer sign has to change because the shedding of blood is done, and though water pictures Christ blood, it is the washing not the shedding that predominates, And guess what not just for males , but for all who pass through the waters male female, slave free, adult convert or tiny covenant child - all get the sign applied to them, initiate them into this community, and these realities of the gospel.

And so instead of blood the sign of baptism is water. Water like we say in 1 Cor 10 the people of Israel, all were baptized in the Red Sea, they passed through alive and dry on the other side, but someone else was drowned in those killing waters. Like we saw a few weeks ago in 1 Peter 2 - Noah and all his family those with and without faith yet, male and female - they all went through the water - and the sign and its reality is not they have such strong faith, not they have experienced conversion in their souls, no the sign of circumcision and of baptism serve the same purpose - it’s sign not first of all, of my testimony that I signed up and follow God, it will call us all to that, but circumcision, and now baptism is first of all a testimony of God’s faithfulness, It is God saying, In Christ, I shed my blood, I will undergo the judgment, I will spare you from it, I will wash your sin away - I am promising in Christ, embraced by faith my ultimate faithfulness -the promises of Grace: 1. forgive you 2. I will send my Holy Spirit, I will regenerate you. Why those waters that also show the new life are called a regenerating bath. Titus 2:3 Not because the waters do that, not because baptism itself - but is a pictures that , extends those promises - Those promises are signed and sealed in baptism for all coming into His covenant community!

Now just like the OT community, convert or covenant child coming in, set apart with this sign and seal, marked as belonging to the LORD, God’s people His community, but sign not to be trusted or discounted. Not magical circumcision or magical water - only works as that individual actually walks in the way of the Lord. Just like God said to Abraham - only actuated, when regenerated by the Holy Spirit, person answers this call with faith & repentance. But even before they do, they have the pledge of God that with such faith or repentance - God will absolutely and personally deliver on those promises inwardly. And if it is an adult convert who already has faith, this sign and seal - right away functions strengthening these realities in the persons life!

And so do you see what our confession says, just like circumcision was a mark that God was at work, he had drawn us ino His covenant community, Look at it:

By it we are received into God’s church and set apart from all other people and alien religions, that we may be dedicated entirely to him, bearing his mark and sign. It also witnesses to us that he will be our God forever, since he is our gracious Father. Belgic 34

And that baptism, as Ephesians says, one faith one baptism… not to be repeated because its not a symbol of my personal faith, its a sign and seal of God’s gospel promises that continually goes with us through life. And just like with circumcision carried a curse, if not walk with the Lord if not by faith living into those realities. A baptized convert or covenant child, is not just a neutral God brought you in by covenant, and if responds with unbelief and break from God’s way, not neutral but a covenant breaker. But also the opposite as you have faith however stronger or weak as you have repentance, can know by forgiveness as sure as sign received if trusted in finished work of Christ’s blood, if live by His Spirit - you live by faith in Christ as the great Covenant Keeper and this, despite all the drag of sin that remains, this is your new life your new community, your new reality. Do you see the continuity, as our Confession puts it: so too the blood of Christ does the same thing internally, in the soul, by the Holy Spirit. It washes and cleanses it from its sins and transforms us from being the children of wrath into the children of God. That brings us to the next point our Confession wants to underline that’s the

B. Contrast: The Purpose of Covenant vs. Ana-baptist Baptism

In the Reformers day they were those who stated that Baptism was their testimony not God’s. They used baptism not by looking outward to Christ and what He has done, as Col 2 states, but by looking inward- and saying this is a symbolical ritual that speak s of my conversion experience. The heart of it isn’t God bringing me through judgment - to life in Christ - the heart of it is my immersion into the water and my coming out the other side. Do you see what is lost there the promises in what Christ has done, the covenant action of God - not saying people who have Anabaptist approach don’t have those realities if believe in Christ. But I am saying these brothers and sisters in Christ, are using baptism as expression of their faith and not of God’s work and covenant promises. They are losing the baptism as God’s tool for vital Christian living. Perhaps even bigger problem is a lax view of baptism that ignores it in our circles, but listen, this is an error not to use baptism as God’s tool, and its an error in the view of the church, particularly in regard to the status of children born to believers being in covenant with God, and its an error in regard to the use of the sacraments.

They believe that baptism is first of all the public confirmation of their personal decision to follow Jesus, its about their act of obedience. But so clearly that is not how Romans 4 sees the purpose of circumcision or Colossians sees baptism that is a picture of the circumcision down on the Cross by Christ.

They say that the essence of baptism is my testimony being immersed in water and my dedication to live the new life coming up. But Romans 6:3 clearly tells us the big deal about baptism is not our experience or faith but, what Christ accomplished in his death and resurrection, his baptism - and how he pledges that to us, and how we are to participate in union with Him in those realities on the Cross and Resurrection.

Romans 6:3 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Why some of the strongest language in the confession here. Condemn this error, that says receiving this sign and seal - like circumcision but even more clearly to Christ’s finished work and the Holy Spirit promise of renewal - receiving them as signs and seal, to be discipled into that reality - saying that covenant children - that receive those and then are called to faith in ongoing way to walk - that their baptism is invalid that contrary to what God commands. We strongly say it children of believers ought to be initiated into the church the covenant community, with sign and seal, the promises of baptism. Great gift to them, won’t work without the Word won’t work without faith, but not tied to the time - and to travel with them all of life. And their baptism and ours is not first of all about their faith or their repentance, its calls for that, but its about the realities of grace to be lived in - if we ever are going to offer true faith and true repentance.

Let me just ask you if you remember what God commanded Abraham who was saved only by righteousness that comes by faith, before circumcision, Then God says I want you and all who are far off to have that faith, and then years later he says, I am going to give you a sign and seal of what that grace, righteousness by faith - and you and your children.

Do you remember years later Moses in 40 year exile, marries Zipporah returning to Egypt with Son - and God breaks out and wants to kill Moses - why had not given his son - the mark belonging to God the promise of forgiveness the promise of new life lived unto God in the Spirit. I want him to have that. Moses circumcise, Lord relents.

Do you understand why in 1 Cor 7:14 Paul says that children of believers, even if just one parent in household - that they are holy?

1 Corinthians 7:14 ESV

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

It is not because they are necessarily regenerate, already or ever. It’s not because baptism saved them. It’s because they are engaged by the Lord, growing up in the community of the Lord, and marked as His own. God wants them growing up with realities of grace extended to them. Why children are members, not professing not necessarily saved, but they are members of the church, of the covenant community and not to be brought up with the same status as pagans, until they are converted. No they are to be seen as belonging to Christ, not by faith yet, but God is calling and claiming them, and they are tob be discipled with their baptisms s in the Lord. Baptism marks that. Status of a child of the covenant.

Yes, they just like an adult convert, will be faced with other voices that say the blood of Jesus isn’t enough for you, sacrifice for the sake of peace and prosperity and freedom and justice f this world. Live for the pagan kingdoms of self pleasure, without God. May even go down that road. Pay with cash and their bodies what the world and other religions offerings. But Baptism says I have been set apart from all other people and alien religions - I have been set apart by the God who is gracious and good, and who in Christ ii promising true assurance and a future through these gospel realities. I am called to be part of that people of faith. that is a sign of God’s kingdom of grace, a people of hope and promise. Baptism calls and initiates, and even incorporates individuals into those realities in Christ, not just into a community of those dedicate to Christ, but especially into a community in which God is working by His Spirit and Word, drawing sinners unto Himself to save and transform them!

This is also why we don’t get baptized every time we fall into sin, or backslide, and every-time we recommit ourselves to the Lord. No. There is one faith, one baptism, - unto the forgiveness of sin and the regeneration of the Spirit - marks and sign and promises of the gospel to us - And it continues with us even when converted. Baptism is a sign and seal of an invisible grace that comes by the preaching of this gospel, and through perosnal faith. But its not an empty or optional or merely ritual thing. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper lie at the heart of healthy Christian life… God uses them with the Word to really and personally say when we have faith - I am your God your are my people I truly have done this for you!

I hope you feel it the Word and Sacrament are not to be divided they go together, Sacrament is not the same things as the Word, the gospel believed is what saves. But listen when you receive Baptism and the Lords supper those signs and seals, they really do deliver what they picture, when your faith is in Christ in the inner reality. God gives you baptism and the Lord Supper to confirm strengthen your hold on Christ and all His saving benefits.

For our children we are to make disciples baptizing and then teaching them. We ourselves every time participate in worship in baptism - see God is renewing His covenant again - with us we are to be asking our children as they respond in faith - do you know that promise outwardly given, know it inwardly. We are to say that promise of regeneration gift of the Spirit washing down afresh on you - know that Titus 3:5

Titus 3:5 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

We are to pray that like 1 Cor 1:30 they will be able to say Yes, Christ Jesus has become to me, wisdom form God, my righteoousnes and my sanctificatio and my redemption! Do you get that hard verse now, water baptism is the outer visible sign and seal of the invisible and inner regenerative work of the Holy Spirit . And we with our children as we are able to say yes I have faith , are to experience inwardly that forgiveness s and new birth. It wasn’t the water that did it, but God gives us the sign of the water, that our faith would be in what is signified and so that we would be confirmed not just up here, but in our very sight and sense - 1 Peter 3:21

1 Peter 3:21 ESV

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Unlike LS, in Baptism God is the active party not both of us. God is saying, Just come empty-handed to Christ and I will wash away your sins, come to Christ and you will experience new birth, Come emptied-handed to Christ and you will have that assurance. And that brings us to a short concluding part the consequences of Baptism:

As a covenantal sign, though God is the active party - though it is all about Him ratifying His oath to keep His promises to us to delivers us from the curse because of Christ. Still a covenant calls for a response.

C. The Consequences of God Using Baptism: Faith & Repentance

This was the whole deal with God saving Abraham by faith alone, not works, and yet receiving that grace, God says to him you must walk in my ways now. Walk before Me, Teach your children, disciples any convert … This is our part of the covenant that we with our children are to be discipled in: God came to Abraham after his saving faith, giving this seal and sign.and look what He says: Gen 17:1

Genesis 17:1 ESV

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

That the faith and repentance that we respond to God’s grace and gospel promises with. Why discipleship, catechizing go hand in hand with baptism. Those who won’t come to Christ and walk with Him, after being baptized as either new convert or child of believers, they can’t respond like that. But when we are receiving what circumcision promised, what baptism promises, we walk with faith and repentance with Christ!

As Calvin puts it God promises, all this forgiveness and new life in baptism, but we need to go forth and embrace those promises by faith. Unfaithfulness says Calvin may result in those promises laying long buried from us. So receive them now by faith

If a new convert is living with Christ, if a baptized covenant child won’t turn to Christ, they don’t have baptisms reality fulfilled in them, they come under the curse of the covenant - those who won’t take this covenant sign and seal, won’t walk before the Lord in these realities - are cut off . But the promise and the covenant is for believers and their children: Gen 17:7

Genesis 17:7 ESV

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

In our covenant of baptism, God is holding Christ before us and our children and all who covert from a far off and enter the covenant, he’s holding Christ before us - why? And we see this in the New Testament understanding of baptism to. Yes promise of children and all who are far off. But look carefully at the words Peter called people to be baptized with: Could be best translated repent by being baptized… baptism is part of our turning to God… YORK… Later Peter repeats this saying: Acts 5:31-32

Acts 5:31–32 ESV

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

It is Jesus who is offered to our Children, Jesus who claims them, and it is He who was raised and exalted - who grants both repentance and faith. Individual truly responding in faith to their baptism begins living in the reality pictured their my life is in Christ now. Galatians 3:27

Galatians 3:27 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

This is what I mean that for those who become covenant keepers, not covenant breakers, baptism travels with him in such a wonderful way. Baptism is picturing and promising- a union with your life in Christ, that will come about by the Holy Spirit. And look what that means for those who come to Christ each day!

The benefits of baptism don’t end with being saved, deciding for Christ. No Baptisms benefits are to be received the whole course of our lives. Calvin put it this way: “Therefore, as often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our mind with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins.”20 And if you live into your baptism, it means the blood of Christ not only cancel and cleanses you from sin, but also conquers sin - like Israel escaped the dominion of slavery in Egypt, we set free join a whole new cause a new team, we wear the uniform of Christ - we are enlisted to fight sin and live for the kingdom! My baptism tells me I am raised with Christ why Romans 6:4

Romans 6:4 ESV

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.

Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into a life of discipleship. Life long Christian life of repenting from sin, and turning again a and again to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And like Abraham we are to believe that the gospel will save u, but our family and generations to come!