Baptism and Obedience

The Gospel pt 6 – Growing in Jesus – Baptism and Obedience

HBI – we are all called to obey as we grow closer to Jesus and Baptism is a step of obedience in which a person steps out in faith and public declaration of their faith. 

Intro

There is an old song that I used to sing as a kid that I never used to like all that much. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe Doing exactly as the Lord commands, doing it happily Action is the key, do it immediately, joy you will receive Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe

O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe

We want to live pure, we want to live 'clean, we want to do our best. Sweetly submitting to authority, leaving to God the rest Walking in the light, keeping our attitude right, on the narrow way For if we believe the Word we receive, we always will obey

O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe

I did not like it because I just thought that parents were trying to make me behave. But as I have grown, I see the beauty behind obedience. 

We are going to go through next how we can grown in Jesus, Once we get to know who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Once we have started a relationship with Him through the salvation that He freely offers, we are called to grow in Him. 

This is what we call discipleship. Growing in Jesus means that we are both being discipled and discipling others as well. 

This means that we are going to be obeying the word of God. This does not mean that we are saved by the things that we do but rather because of the salvation we have received, because of all Jesus did we will want to obey all that He has commanded. 

The one aspect I want to focus on when it comes to Obedience is Baptism. We put a high value on baptism. Why do we do this though? 

What is the point of this and why is it so important anyways? These are things that we are going to go through. It is just one aspect of obedience albeit an important one. 

We are going to start out with Why Baptism, how it all started and what it looks like. Just one big step in obedience to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

we are all called to obey as we grow closer to Jesus and Baptism is a step of obedience in which a person steps out in faith and public declaration of their faith. 

Why Baptism?

Now it is not very often I do this, but we are going to be going to a few different passages in the Bible to back up the points that I am trying to make. Rest assured none will be taken out of context. 

It is not enough just to know Jesus but as a true follower of Jesus we are told that we need to step out in faith in obedience to our Lord and savior. 

And in the commission that Jesus gave to us before he left, he told us that we have a job to do. He told us Matthew 28:18–20 (CSB)18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, we are told to go and make disciples of all nations, we are told that we need to be baptized and that we need to obey all of the Lord’s commands. 

So, I would argue that one of the first steps in obedience to Jesus after we come to know Him and as we start to grow in Him is to step out in faith in Baptism. 

We may be a Baptist church but that is not the only reason why I wanted to preach on this particular step of obedience. Sometimes people do not see the need for this anymore. 

I have been surprised at the amount of people I have met that are followers of Jesus but have never taken this step of obedience, or do not see it as important enough to do as if it may put baptism on too high of a pedestal. 

So then why is it so important to follow Jesus into obedience through Baptism? 

The first reason, one that we have already gone through is that it is in obedience that we do this as it was a command from Jesus as we read about at the end of Matthew. 

Not necessary for Salvation but nevertheless it is a command from our Lord and saviour that we take this step of obedience and that is good enough for me. 

Second is because of the example of obedience that even our saviour showed us when He was baptised. 

Matthew 3:13–17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. 16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Who are we to say that we do not need to go through this step of obedience when the messiah, our example took the step even though he did not need to. The example was set for us by Jesus, the step of obedience needs to be taken. 

Third Baptism identifies us with the family of God. We are saying that we are standing with the body of Christ, that we commit to and are going to live according to the scriptures. 

And lastly baptism is an outward sign of an inner transformation, a testimony to our living our lives for Christ. Following Jesus in obedience through baptism says to all those around us that we are committing to dying to our old way of life and living a new life in Christ. 

Where did Baptism start?

We see why we need to take this step of obedience into Baptism but where di it all starts. Add some context to all that Baptism means. So, we go to the book of Luke and the story of John the Baptist. 

We go back to Matthew 3:1–2 (CSB) 3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” 3:5–6 (CSB)5 Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Often, we read this as a different type of Baptism, as some versions say that it was a baptism of repentance. But this is where it all started, the beginning of the ministry of the coming Messiah. 

John was telling them all, including the ethnic Jews who for so long held onto the law of being circumcised before becoming as child of God, that they had it wrong. 

He was telling them confess your sins, repent and signal this with Baptism for the wrath of God is hanging over you like an axe over a root of a tree. 

We read that they where being baptised as they confessed their sins. This flew in the face of all the ethnic Jews had been teaching. No circumcision, no following the law just confess, repent, and signal it by being baptised. 

He called for the Jews to admit that they were sinners and needed to get right with God, and to admit that being Jews was no guarantee of being saved. In other words, baptism was a sign that they were renouncing their old dependency on ethnic Jewishness and were relying wholly on the mercy of God to forgive those who confess their sins and repent.1

This is where it started, pointing to the messiah, who came and was also baptised by John, not because he needed repentance but rather to fulfill all righteousness. 

A symbol of the fact that He would die for our sin and be risen to new life having defeated sin and death. 

The example we always see of this step of obedience is immersion. There is not one instance that we can read where either a baby was baptised, or any other form was used other then being dunked in a river somewhere. 

The Eunuch in the book of Acts is a good example for us as well. 

He Was travelling and was reading the scriptures, though he didn’t understand what He was reading. Philipp pointed Him to Jesus, the person the eunuch was reading about. 

Once he accepted the message of salvation he wanted to be baptized. So, they found a body of water and got baptized. 

The Eunuch would have been travelling with water in his cart, he would not have survived long if he had not. He could have said sprinkle me right here. But that is not the case. 

What is it anyways?

So, we have the why and the how it all began but what is Baptism anyways? Well, we have a good idea already but let us go over a few more things. 

This step of obedience that we take is important, not just because it is a step of obedience but because of what it symbolizes. This outward sign of an inward realty, this shouting out in front of all of our family and friends that we are committing our lives to Christ no matter the cost. 

The symbolism can be well seen in Romans 6:1–4 6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

Being lowered into the water symbolising our dying to sin and coming out of the water rising to new life in Christ. Conforming to a death like Christ saying, “I am willing to die if need be for my faith” and living a new abundant life in Christ for all to see what we believe. 

This is what it means to take this step of obedience and continue on in obedience to Christ in all that we do. It is not always an easy thing to do, but oh the joys of standing in front of everyone in obedience committing to being willing to stand together for the Lord. 

So What?

A big step of obedience in following our Lord and savior. Who can do it? Anyone who is a child of God and can express what it means to be a child of God. There is nothing stopping you from taking this step of obedience, neither age nor anything else. 

What comes next after baptism? Other then living a life for Christ in front of everyone and even when no one is looking what has been assumed after being obedient after baptism is church membership. 

You may think this is one giant leap but that is not the case. Why do we do this? We are standing in front of the church and our family and friends saying we are committing to live our lives for Christ, membership says that we are committing to do this together as one body. 

It is the same thing the early church did, many people where baptised and joined the local church to work together for the glory of God. 

It is intentionally partnering and committing and identifying with us as the body of Christ saying I believe in what you are doing and I am going to stand by you as we do it together. 

I know it may seem odd to preach on one aspect of obedience, but I believe the importance of this step of faith has been lost lately. 

It was often the first thing people did when they became a child of God in the early church. They responded to the gospel message and then followed Jesus in obedience through the waters of Baptism. 

As we are being used by God to point people to Him, disicpling them we need to make that step of public declaration saying so. 

We need to be willing to join the local church saying I commit to partnering with you to fulfill God’s mission for us. 

A theologian I was reading put it well. It takers genuine faith to be baptised and commit to being held accountable to live for Christ. And where that step of obedience is taken in genuine faith the faith of all those watching is stirred up and encouraged by this ceremony. The blessing that we are a part of as we go through this together is quite amazing. 

This is an occasion to give great glory to the Lord in seeing that person pass through the waters of judgement safely, dying and being risen to new life in Christ. 

I challenge you today if you have not done this to take this first step of obedience. The only example we have of someone that did not do it is the thief on the cross and he had an excuse. 

Have you taken this step of obedience? Then you are still not done growing closer to Jesus there is still more to do. 

We need to work together, side by side helping each other grow closer to our Lord and savior. So as we go from here ask God, how then can I continue to walk in obedience to you? Have I committed to joining the body of Christ top work together for the glory of the Lord? How can I be obedient to God today as I learn to walk with Him.