Wed PM 8/11/21
Notes
Transcript
What methods of Baptism have you seen before?
Where have baptisms been done? (lake, rivers, streams, pools, pool of beer)
When do people get baptized?
Who baptizes?
What other cultural pieces have you seen in baptisms?
Tonight, I want to bounce an idea off you and discuss together some thoughts. It is ironic and perhaps sad that Baptists may not be baptizing Biblically!
Are Baptists not Baptizing Biblically?
Are Baptists not Baptizing Biblically?
People were informed that baptism should take place upon conversion to Christianity.
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Whose job is it to inform people about baptism?
Who had informed the Ethiopian about believer’s baptism?
Who should baptize? (ask the congregation)
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Who was preaching?
Who else was in attendance? (about 120 other believers!)
Acts 4:1–4 (ESV)
1 And as Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Where were Peter and John?
If they were in jail, who was baptizing the 5,000?
If only pastors, the apostles in this instance, were the ones baptizing, consider how long it would take for 2 people to baptize 5000. Imaging 5000 people split up into 2 lines, one for Peter and one for John. Walking in water is difficult and if people were prepared to move along quickly, it would take at least 30 seconds, I think, for each person to move forward, get in position, the apostle to say something, immerse the person, and the person clear water out of their eyes and move out of the way. 2,500 people per apostle divided by 60 minutes, divided by 30 seconds means the baptismal ceremony alone would have taken about 21 hours!
Consider...
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Why did the apostles ask the early church to choose deacons? (so the apostles could solely focus on prayer and ministry of the word!)
Scripture seems to be consistent that ALL believers should be prepared to baptize. All believers who are leading holy lives are qualified to baptize!
People were commanded to receive baptism
Acts 10:47–48 (ESV)
47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Have you ever heard anyone in your entire life command someone to be baptized? Why command here?
no local church yet?
no other church accountability?
they would then have authority to baptize other new converts!!!)
We need to rethink baptism and church membership. Baptism should immediately or very closely follow salvation. I have been considering the traditional baptism model that Baptist churches have all followed. What did Peter do here? He commanded them to be baptized. He didn’t say, “do you want to be baptized” or “when should we schedule your baptismal service?” We have seen the consistent baptismal model Salvation, baptism, church membership. We assume when we read the book of Acts that most of the people receiving salvation were adults, but remember: Cornelius had many relatives. I don’t know about you, but whenever I attend a family reunion, children are always a part of those reunions. We just read in verse 44 that “the Spirit fell on all who heard the Word.” It doesn’t delineate adults and children.
Baptism should be as spontaneous as salvation!
Full baptism tanks, prepared baptismal rooms!
As I have been considering the traditional Baptist model of baptism, I have come to the conclusion that many Baptists have not been faithfully nor Biblically baptizing new converts. Some churches keep their baptismal tanks full of water, their baptismal rooms ready at all times, and the pastor has a change of clothes on hand for immediate baptisms. Baptism, in one sense, is like the birthday cake and ice cream that marks the birthday celebration.
Baptism is for all all ages
Acts 16:31–34 (ESV)
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
The jailor took the men to his house and the jailer and his whole household received salvation. It is reasonable to conclude that the jailer had children and that they were included in this narrative. What happened after their salvation? Paul and Silas baptized all these new converts “at once.”
What do you think about children being baptized? What is too early? (needs to be old enough to be memorable.. Me, S, H, B making a couple professions)
What happens when a person doubts salvation and baptism?
What about re-baptizing?
If you were in Sunday school a few weeks back, Dr Jeffress stated he was so convicted by the judgements in Revelation that he prayed the prayer again.
46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
True believers know they are believers when they faithfully “extoll God.”
What does “extoll” mean to you?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
“confess with your mouth” I don’t think that is a one time confessing. continually confessing.
So what if a person goes through a period of time when they are not faithfully living for God and not faithfully confessing Jesus? Does a person need to be rebaptized?
Confession is a one time thing. How many times in a Christian’s life does the Spirit descend and indwell them?
Why might that person not have responded to the Spirit?
Thinking especially of the book of Nehemiah, and also what else we know, for all of Israel’s struggles, did the Israelites ever lose the privilege of being God’s chosen people?
What were they called to do when they offend our HOLY God? Repent!
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Salvation is certainly a marked point in time when one becomes child of God.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Can a person ever become unborn?
Repentance! Grief! Change of direction! Commitment to increased spiritual sensitivity!
I have never heard anyone preach on baptism like this. I have certainly heard many sermons about why baptize via immersion. I have certainly heard sermons about choosing to be obedient through baptism, but I have never heard these facts that I have presented tonight all brought together. Consider these things, mull them over, search the text, and send me information as you come across these things. My studies in Acts lead me to believe Baptists have not been baptizing Biblically!