3. Why Baptism Matters
Notes
Transcript
Me:
Me:
Welcome to everyone here and online to part three of our sermon series, Outside In. A big thank you to Nick for covering last week…I really appreciate you jumping in and teaching.
If you are new with us, we are currently looking at four core verses in the book of Acts. If you are not familiar with the book of Acts, it’s a fascinating and exciting read of how the Jesus movement and the church was launched through the amazing acts of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus followers. If you’ve never read Acts or if it’s been awhile, I would really encourage you to give it a read this month.
I’ll never forget May 20th 1994. I remember the church building we were in. I remember the people who were in the crowd. I remember the people who stood on the stage with me. I remember the song that played while Suzi walked down the aisle. I remember messing up the marriage vows. I remember saying I do. I remember signing the marriage license. It’s been 27 years and I still remember that day when Suzi and I were united in marriage. I can tell you that not only can I remember that day, but that day has defined our lives ever since. I am who I am today because of the decision I made on that day.
You:
You:
What is it that defines your relationship with Jesus? Was there a moment where your intentions about Jesus were made clear. Clear about what you believed about him. Clear about your desire to live in a committed, covenant relationship with him, and to do what he said. Some of you might remember moments growing up like catechism classes and confirmation, or maybe first communion. Maybe for others it was VBS or church camp growing up in the church, a prayer you prayed or an emotional time at a worship service. For others of you it might have been your baptism, and you remembering that day, who was there and the experience you had. For others of you, it might be that you don’t have a defining moment with Jesus, and the truth is sometimes it all feels ambiguous. For example you’ve been in other relationships where the person was flaky and wishy washy, and you never knew where you stood in the relationship. You wonder sometimes if that is how your relationship with Jesus is. Maybe some of you are here or listening and you have never even considered defining your relationship with Jesus or have never knew that something like this was possible…I’m so glad that you are here.
Here is what I want you all to know: Baptism by immersion gives a person a clear defining moment as to what their relationship with Jesus is all about.
God:
God:
Let’s me show you want I’m talking about. If you have a Bible or device, find Acts chapter two. If you have the YouVersion Bible app, go to the Menu and look for Events. Under the Events section you should be able to find Iowa City Church. All the sermon notes and Scriptures will be there.
Here’s what going on in Acts chapter two. The disciples have remained in Jerusalem, just as Jesus had told them to do. The Holy Spirit empowers them, just as Jesus says he would. There is a great wind, tongues of fire and the disciples speaking in other languages to the massive crowd that has gathered to see this spectacle. It’s in the moment that Peter stands up and begins to explain what is happening. In this powerful sermon he uses the OT prophets to point to what is happening and how Jesus is the Messiah, sent from God, the one they have been waiting for. Then he says this:
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
This was a dagger to their heart. As God’s people, they had been waiting for generations for God to send a Messiah to rescue them…and what Peter says brings them to their knees! More then anything, these people wanted to be God’s people and what Peter is saying it that they have crucified the Messiah. Then Peter goes on to say that because Jesus has been resurrected from the dead, he is both Lord (God) and Messiah, or the King. Simply put, but crucifying Jesus, these Israelites have slapped God in the face. They have rejected him again. The relationship has been broken.
Instead of being defiant, they are broken, humbled. Here is what they ask.
Acts 2:37 (NIV)
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
The phrase “cut to the heart” means it was a deep searing or stinging pain. This realization hurt deep inside. There question? What can they do to make things right. What can they do to redefine their relationship with God. They’ve rejected him again, is there anyway possible that they can have the relationship with God restored again.
Now, before I read Peter’s response let me simply say what verse thirty-eight is not. Verse 38 is not the magical formula, or the pass code that someone needs to do to guarantee entrance to Heaven when they die. Just eliminate that from your thinking. Peter is helping a broken, hurting people find restoration in their relationship with God. He is helping them redefine their relationship with God through Jesus and be restored as his people. Here is what Peter says they need to do. This is also our core verse for today.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s break this response down. First word: Repent. This isn’t about feeling sorry and promising not to do it again. I used to do that when I got caught raiding the cookie jar when I was a kid. That’s not repentance. To repent means to change directions. Change roads. Change allegiances. Change sides.
Second word: baptized. It means to immerse or dunk under the water. Even before this moment, baptisms have been taking place. The crowd would have been very familiar with the concept of baptism underwater. For example, John the Baptizer did exactly that, he called people to repent, turn to God and mark that moment by being baptized. Jesus and his disciples carried on the same message during Jesus’ ministry. Turn to God in repentance, mark the moment with baptism and experience forgiveness.
God has always been good at providing markers or symbols to define his relationship with people. Throughout the Bible you see symbols marking promises and covenants. Things like rainbows, circumcision, piles of stones or even landmarks or places. Baptism is a simple, yet powerful marker that helps us define a moment when we repented and turned to God. For those of you who have been baptized do you remember what happened on that day? I remember that day, what happened that day, the people that were there. I even remember the feel and experience of the water.
“in the name of Jesus Christ” - this is what sets all the other baptisms apart. This baptism is “in the name of Jesus Christ”. This is acknowledging and submitting to Jesus as Lord, King and Savior. However, it’s even better than that. By being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, you are taking on the name of Jesus. You’re putting on Jesus and taking his identity. This is why all of the NT authors when they talk about baptism, they use phrases like putting on Christ or clothing yourself in Christ or being in Christ.
Peter then provides what happens when one repents and is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list. These two that he mentions directly apply to the situation at hand.
“forgiveness of yours sins” - The crowd is broken over their rejection of Jesus. They want to know how can they be forgiven. Was it the baptism that forgave them? Nope. It was Jesus. Jesus forgives our sin. The atoning death of Jesus on the cross pays for our sin and his resurrection from the dead elevates him to Lord and Messiah. Forgiveness of Jesus is found in Jesus alone. Repentance turns us to Jesus and baptism marks the occasion.
“receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” - All of Acts chapter two has been about the Holy Spirit showing up and pointing people to Jesus. Peter is like, “ Do you want to get in on this empowerment of the Holy Spirit?” Turn to God and come under the authority and power of Jesus and you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter then adds these words:
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
This message wasn’t just for the crowd that had gathered. It was for them, and the future generations. Oh, and it was for outsiders. This wasn’t just for the Jewish people. This was for all people those all around the world…all the people who God is going to begin to call to himself. This is an amazing moment where people who were outsiders are invited to become insiders. This is that moment where all of us here in this room need to be reminded that God is in the business of taking outsiders and making them insiders. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, what you have done, or what horrible thing is currently going on in your life. If you are hear, listening to these words, God is calling you to become an insider, in his family…in his kingdom.
Here’s how the day concludes.
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
On that day, three thousand people responded in repentance and baptized in the name of Jesus. It had to be an amazing sight to behold. When I was in Jerusalem almost two years ago now, I tried to envision this place and moment. I asked our tour guide to try and get a feel of where this could of taken place. Then I stood there for a moment and tried to see this happening as hundreds and hundreds of people were baptized in the different ceremonial pools that were located around the temple area. It then dawned on my that this was right out in the open. There was no hiding the decision they were making. Everyone could have seen them defining their relationship with Jesus…and I’m certain they never, ever forgot that moment.
Here’s what Acts 2:38 teaches us:
Baptism by immersion provides us with a clear, definitive, life altering moment in our relationship with Jesus.
You:
You:
Here are a few things to think about.
If you have questions please ask. We only scratched the surface about what the Bible teaches on baptism. Please don’t be embarrassed to talk with me, Chris or Nick.
I know that there are some or a lot of you who grew up in a variety of different denominations or churches. You might have been baptized as a baby or sprinkled. Or maybe you weren’t baptized at all. Sometimes there is this feeling of disrespect to your parents if you choose to be baptized as an adult. I think it’s just the opposite. Your parents took the information they had and did what they thought was right according to their tradition. As we all grow and understand more, our faith grows and we keep taking steps of faith. Being baptized as an adult is a way of honoring your parents decision. My advice for anyone here is this: if you can’t remember your baptism I would encourage you to define your relationship with Jesus by doing so.
Don’t let pride hold you back. One of the biggest obstacles for some folks is just plain pride. I remember when I was thirteen and a younger cousin of mine had been baptized, I was jealous and very prideful about it. It delayed me making the decision myself. I clearly remember a sense of relief and freedom when I chose to be baptized over a year later. My pride got in the way of my relationship with Jesus.
If you are like the crowd on the day of Pentecost ready to make a change and define your relationship with Jesus for the very first time, let’s talk about making that happen. Why wait?
Baptism by immersion provides us with a clear, definitive, life altering moment in our relationship with Jesus.
We:
We:
Baptism is kind of a strange thing. I mean, it’s dunking people under water. It’s very simple. It literally just takes a few minutes. There have been times when I have done a baptism and have thought…that’s it? Inside I’m trying to think about something else I should do to make it more special. But then I remember that baptism was Jesus’ idea and that my job is to just be obedient to what Jesus says. Here’s what’s amazing, when we do this simple, basic things it’s so awesome to see how lives change.
Even as I look around this room I remember so many of your defining moments. (Look around the room and talk about what I remember about different people’s baptisms)
Baptism by immersion provides us with a clear, definitive, life altering moment in our relationship with Jesus.