Baptism - Methodists - Sacrament

Matthew 3:6–16 NRSV

6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

Introduction

Last week we talked about losing and rediscovering baptism as a sacramental in nature. Our understanding shifted from dedication language to understanding it as sacramental and evangelical. The shift went from simply dedicating infants and adults back to its original purpose and understanding. Dedication is our gift to God whereas sacrament is God’s unfailing gift of grace.

This week we are focusing on more of what Baptism is.

We are saved by God’s grace

Human Condition -

created in the image of God - made for relationship and dependence and trust in God

Open to indwelling presence and freedom to work with God to accomplish divine purpose and will for all creation and history

To be human as God intends is to have loving fellowship with God and reflect that divine nature as much as possible

Genesis 3 - where it changes - Fall and original sin

Unfaithful to relationship with God

Distorts and degrades the image we were made in

We choose our will over God’s. We choose our values over God’s. We rebel against God

Result is - original sin - inherent inclination toward evil - original sin

Universal human condition (all are subject to it) and it affects all aspects of life

Sin separates us from God, alienates us from each other and the world

Sin leads our priorities in life astray. There is in our life deliberate wrongdoing, apathy towards needs of others, and cooperation with oppression and injustice

Evil is personal - affects both individual and society

In our liturgy for baptism service we call this evil - spiritual forces of wickedness; evil power of this world; and simply “your sin”. All lumped together as evil

All persons lost and helpless to save themselves - need divine mercy and forgiveness - God has a plan though

The Divine Initiative of Grace

Despite us abandoning God, God has not abandoned us.

God is constantly seeking and working towards restoring that loving relationship

God wants to return us back to who we were, original image

God is acting preveniently - prevenient grace - before we are aware of God, God is already working in our lives.

God is reaching out to save humanity

Through the work of Jesus Christ’ death and resurrection, power of sin and death have been defeated. We are made from from their power over us. Where once we were without hope and lost to evil and death, we now are given a gift of freedom

God is both the initiator and source of grace - God started the plan and is constantly enacting the plan by grace.

All grace is prevenient - it is what enables us to react or move towards God. We cannot respond to God’s calling if it were not God’s grace already working in our lives.

Grace makes us aware of our sin condition - grace awakens our mind, heart, and soul. Grace also us aware of our inability to save ourselves from our sin condition.

Grace motivates us to repentance and gives capacity to respond to divine love.

God’s plans and grace are at work in our lives to redeem and restore us. In our baptism liturgy or service it reads - "All this is God's gift, offered to us without price"

The Necessity of faith for Salvation

Faith is gift from God. Faith is a human response to God

Divine offer of salvation. We are given ability to respond and say yes to this offer.

Faith is awareness of dependence on God and surrender of self will, relying on divine mercy

Specifically in our baptism vows we state, "Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord?" - "I do"

Faith requires conversion where we repent or turn away from sin and turn to God

Decision to commit our lives to God

Result of this decision - Death of old self and entering new life of the Spirit - being born again.

Conversion may be singular radical moment or may be experienced over time where dawning and growing realization of constant love of God and personal reliance on Christ.

Wesley described own experience - "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from law of sin and death."

Baptism of Life and Faith

Baptism of Life and Faith

Jesus was baptized by John and he commanded his disciples to teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (See Matthew 28:19)

Baptism was grounded in life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Christ makes possible reconciliation with God

Baptism involves dying to sin, newness of life, union with Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, and joining Christ’s Church

United Methodist affirm this - baptism "a sign of regeneration or new birth" - EUB -"a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship"

Baptismal Covenant

In OT and NT God enters covenant relationship with people

Covenant establishes promises and responsibilities of both parties

Instituted through special ceremony and expressed by a distinguishing sign.

OT - Circumcision

NT - Baptism

By covenant God establishes servant community of people

Promising to be their God and giving them Law for life guidelines (expectations and responsibilities)

Circumcision was sign of covenant (OT)

Death and resurrection of Christ fulfilled promise of new covenant and brought forth Church as servant community

Baptism of infants and adults, male and female are sign of covenant (sign of new NT covenant)

Ritual for baptism named "The Services of the Baptismal Covenant"

Church declares it is bound to covenant to God

Baptism initiates new people into this same covenant Church is bound to

Covenant connects (1)God, (2)community of faith, and (3)people being baptized - all three are essential to fulfillment of baptismal covenant

Grace of God initiates covenant relationship and enables community and person to respond by faith

Baptism by Water and the Holy Spirit

By work of Holy Spirit (continued presence of Christ on earth) Church instituted as community of new covenant

Baptism in this community is by water and the Spirit

In God's work of salvation - mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection are linked with gifts of Holy Spirit established on Pentecost

Participation in Christ's death and resurrection also linked with receiving Holy Spirit (see Romans 6:3-6)

Holy Spirit (power of creation) giver of new life working in lives of people before, during, and after baptism - effective agent of salvation

God bestows Holy Spirit on baptized people - seal on them as God's own -implants in their hearts first installment of their inheritance as sons and daughters of God

Through Spirit, life of faith is nourished until final deliverance and entering of fullness of salvation

Since Apostolic Age baptism by water and baptism of Spirit are connected

Christians baptized by both and sometimes with different sign actions

Water administered in Triune God names - done by authorized person and Holy Spirit invoked by laying on of hands in presence of congregation

Water provides central symbolism for baptism

Liturgy reminds us of richness of meaning - waters of creation, flood, liberation of God's people (Red Sea), gift of water in wilderness, passage through Jordan River to promised land

We identify with community journey towards God (towards our own promised land)

Use of water symbolize cleansing from sin and death in old life and rising to new life in Christ

Administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion

Water utilized with enough generosity to enhance appreciation of its symbolic meaning

Liturgy includes biblical symbol of anointing with Holy Spirit - laying on of hands (optional use of oil)

Anointing promises person power to live faithfully kind of life that baptism signifies

Early church laying on of hands completed ritual of membership

Western church laying on of hands was for Bishop only and later separated from water baptism and become confirmation and it got moved to a separate event and called something different, confirmation.

In confirmation the Holy Spirit marked baptized person as God's own and strengthened them for discipleship

In early church water and anointing led to Lord's Supper as service of initiation, regardless of age of the baptized

Current ritual combine all three elements into a unified service - Water Baptism, Laying on of hands, and Lords Supper

Baptism as Incorporation into the Body of Christ

Baptism as Incorporation into the Body of Christ - Christ establishes Church as his Body by power of Holy Spirit (1 Corithinians 12:13, 27)

Baptism brings us into union with Christ, with each other, and with Church in every time and place

Baptism as forgiveness of sin - In baptism, God offers and we accept forgivness of sins (see Acts 2:38). Once pardoned we are justified and freed from penalty of sin. Reconciled with God now

Baptism as New Life - sacramental sign of new life in Christ by power of Holy Spirit. Regeneration, new birth, born again - work of grace - die to old self, sin, and enter new life of Christ

Baptism and Holy Living - now we are given new life in Christ, grace continues to grow us towards holiness, that is being set apart for God. Holiness includes personal and community (social) life.

There are no conditions of human life that exclude a person from sacrament of baptism.

Baptism as God's Gift to Persons of Any Age

There is one baptism, one source of salvation: gracious love of God.

God's grace is not limited to infant or adult but is always present regardless of age.

That grace initiates, enables, and empowers each person is is working regardless of any human condition such as age.

Infant baptism - God prepares a way before we know we need help (see Acts 2:38-42, 16:15,33 for evidence of infant baptisms in NT)

In truth we all come before God as helpless as infants, unable to save ourselves

All are welcome into God's covenant community

This also extends to those with limited capacities such as handicapping and other limitations that may prohibit them from answering for themselves

All of us are born into broken world. All need to be cleansed of sin, regardless of any human state such as age.

Baptism offers covenant community for upbringing of children and support.

Clarification points - infant baptism is not required in UMC. Infant baptism does not impart salvation on infant. God's grace, or prevenient grace has already accomplished this