What is Baptism and Why is it So Vital?

Introduction

With this ring, I thee wed...

Water is powerful.

Water has the power of life and it also has the power of death. Too much water (flooding) or too little water (drought) can be deadly and produce havoc in our world. The loss of property and the loss of life are consequences of a torrential amount of water. But also water is life. You cannot grow crops and have a lush foliage or flourishing agriculture without an irrigated land.

Water is about cleansing

Confusion over the

Subjects - who should be baptized

Mode - how should they be baptized

Questions to Consider:

What does it mean or symbolize?

How should it be done?

Who should be baptized?

Message Outline

Baptism is about Christ

Baptism is about the Christian

Baptism is commanded

Baptism reveals a series of commitments

Baptism provides an opportunity for Gospel conversations

Message Exposition

1. Baptism is about Christ

Drama of Redemption

Death, burial, resurrection

Remembrance

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

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

Baptism is a celebration of God's grace, not of human achievement. It is a means of grace through which God asked to seal the promises of the gospel.

Baptism is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God's grace and covenant faithfulness. At the same time, baptism is not incidental or unimportant to God’s people. It should be be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ.

2. Baptism is Commanded

Baptism - means “immersion”

Questions of the mode of baptism - how should a believer be baptized?

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

Acts 8:36–39 ESV

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. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Colossians 2:12 ESV

12 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.

Biblical immersion symbolizes our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

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

It consists of excluding the person from sight (in posture or response of death) once in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and rising to newness of life.

Closely connected to evangelism

Occurred soon after conversion

Christ’s four commands of Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

GO

MAKE

BAPTIZE

TEACH

What must precede baptism?

Mark 16:14–16 ESV

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Proclamation

Believing

Baptizing

Baptism is not related tp salvation. Salvation is not pf human merit, because of God and not of the sinful human.

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 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,

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Matthew 28:19–20 (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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit - expresses the covenantal relationship we have God in Christ

Ordinance of the church

Lord’s supper - Communion

Baptism

Given to the leaders of the church

Continual practice of the church until the “end of the age”

Why should a believer be baptized?

Obedience to God’s Word

Christ commanded it

Practiced in the New Testament church

Identify with Christ

it is an outward expression of an dinner faith

it is a reminder that we are dead to sin and have been raised to walk in newness of life

Membership in a local body

Acts 2:36–42 ESV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “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. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Conviction

Repentance and faith

Baptism

Membership

3. Baptism is about the Christian

Conversion - for those who are connected to Christ by faith

Repentance from sin

Turning to Christ alone for salvation

Expresses our union with Christ

Affirmation of one’s identification and union with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection

Baptism is a sign of the covenant relationship. Our relationship with God in Christ is based on God's promises to us, and baptism conveys these promises to us.

4. Baptism reveals a series of Commitments

Baptism is deeply personal, but never private. It is a communal action of the gathered congregation, which represents the church in all times and places.

Believer’s commitment - public declaration of faith

Church’s commitment - public commitment to disciple

Evangelize - baptize

Disciple

Elders recent conversations about how we can do this better in our church

20 active ministries in our church today

ABF

Sunday School

RW

Young Adults

Men’s groups

Prayer meeting

Youth group

Music

Tech

Welcome

Hospitality

Counseling and discipleship

GriefShare

Cleaning

Deaconry

Junior church

Follow up

Commitment to doing “life together”

united with Christ

united with His people

VITAL

Visit

Involved

Taught and trained

Assist

Lead

Membership in a local body of the Christian church

5. Baptism provides the opportunity to have Gospel Conversations

Public profession of faith

Initial

Continual