The Significance of Water Baptism

Many years ago, I pastored a church in New Iberia, Lousiana, a city south of Lafayette, LA.

One day I was at the local hospital to make a visit.

As I waited for the elevator, a man I knew from another church in the city walked up.

Brother Butts was a lot older than me and he had the sweetest personality.

The elevator arrived and we both stepped in.

As the elevator began to ascend, Brother Butts said in the sweetest way: “Brother Parmely, do you ever just think about Jesus?”

In all the business of life, maybe we just need to take some time to think about Jesus.

I hope you did that as we sang about our name being written down in glory.

It’s only there because of Jesus.

As we sang about how we are a child of God.

Again, only because of Jesus.

The goodness of God?

Once again, we receive that goodness because of Jesus.

Speaking of which, some of you have heard of how an angel protected Sandra, Vanessa and I on Thursday as we drove to Murphy.

And finally, we sang about the Blood of Jesus, the Blood that washes and cleanses us from sin.

The Blood that gives us victory over the enemy.

Thank God for the Blood!

So, do you ever just think about Jesus?

I hope so!

Let’s think about Him so more as we read our text:

Text: Romans 6:3-11

This morning we will be baptizing 3 adults in water.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 (NASB95) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

That is our Biblical mandate.

But lets take some time to think about the significance of water baptism revealed in our text.

Let’s take some time to think about Jesus.

The Confession of All Christ Has Done

Vs. 3-4 shows us that Baptism speaks of Jesus death and resurrection

First, Jesus died for us, and, as baptism clearly portrays, He was buried in a borrowed tomb.

Joseph of Arimethea might have though he was GIVING the tomb to Jesus, but Jesus only borrowed it for 3 days — then He gave it back — empty.

Secondly, the grave could not hold Jesus.

Jesus rose from the dead.

Baptism in water reminds us of these things.

Identification With Christ

And then, as verses 5-6 reminds us, we are “united with Him...”

In the likeness of His death.

In the hope of the resurrection that we will experience.

Baptism, then, identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection into new life.

This identification is not only with Christ but also in the name of the Father and Holy Spirit.

This is significant because it shows that our lives are to be totally encompassed by the Triune God.

Baptism is a sign that we have decided to follow Jesus and we won’t turn back.

It doesn’t save us: repentance and surrender in faith do that.

Water Baptism is an outward sign of an inward experience.

Radio personality, Paul Harvey, said that even though he had received almost every reward possible for his broadcasting ability that he still felt empty inside.

But then he decided to obey the Lord’s command to be baptized in water.

Harvey says:

The preacher had said there was nothing magic in the water.

Yet as I descended into the depths & rose again I knew something life-changing had happened — a cleansing inside out.

No longer did there seem to be two uncertain contradictory Paul Harvey’s, just one immensely happy one.

I felt the fulfilling surge of the Holy Spirit in my life.”

Paul Harvey went on, "The change this simple act made in my life is so immense as to be indescribable. Since totally yielding to Him in baptism, my heart can’t stop singing.”

Our Hope of the Resurrection

Water baptism not only speaks of what Jesus did on the cross and at the empty tomb, but it reminds us that as verse 5 says:

Romans 6:5 (NASB95) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Romans 6:8 (NASB95) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Baptism reminds us of the certainty that WE will experience the resurrection.

That reminder is not only for the one being baptized, but those of us who witness their baptism.

This fallen world is not our home, as surely as those being baptized will rise up out of the water, WE have the hope of resurrection.

That should be another reason that spurs us on the see many more saved and baptized.

So that we have a constant reminder of the certainty of the resurrection!

Baptism reminds us that death doesn’t have the final word!

No Longer A Slave

Neither does sin doesn’t have the final word.

Romans 6:6–7 (NASB95) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

I like that!

No longer slaves.

Not just no longer slaves to sin, but no longer slaves to fear.

During the pandemic I watched people all around me:

Listening to all the voices — many of those voices conflicting with one another

I watched the economy shut down

I watched as we were commanded to wear masks

Sandra and I (mainly Sandra) lived through the enforced separations at hospitals — it was a rare thing for hospitals to exercise any humanity — they decreed that loved ones be separated from each other through life-threatening times — sometimes in death loved ones died alone.

What inhumanity — forgive me, what needless stupidity!

I watched people do the weirdest things — they would go to Walmart, Home Depot and when the restaurants open back up, they would go to restaurants and eat — but they wouldn’t go to church — NO!

Why?

They were terrified

About that time I began listening to a song:

You unravel me with a melody You surround me with a song Of deliverance from my enemies Till all my fears are gone

Chorus

I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God

Alive to God

Finally, water baptism reminds us of life.

Living for God.

Romans 6:10–11 (NASB95) For the death that [Jesus] died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Just like Jesus lives to God, so we, when we rise out of that water, rise to live for Him.

We rise to listen to His voice and follow Him.

Sister Carol Abel shared this with me last week:

Show video

Have you experienced Christ?

Are YOU listening to the voice of God?

Through the storms?

Through all the other voices?

As the worship team comes ...

Maybe you need to turn to Jesus for the first time.

Maybe you need to rededicate yourself to listening to God’s voice.

Water Baptism

As we baptize these 3 today, I want to share with you what Dr. Mark Merrill said at District Council.

‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ is a Christian hymn originating from India. The lyrics are based on the last words of a man in Garo, Assam.

About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales. As a result of this, many missionaries came to north-east India to spread the Gospel. The region known as Assam was comprised of hundreds of tribes who were primitive and aggressive head-hunters.

Into these hostile and aggressive communities, came a group of missionaries from the American Baptist Missions spreading the message of love, peace and hope in Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed. One missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity.

Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years. He sang:

“I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. As both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.”

But the man sang these words in reply:

“Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back.”

The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. In a moment she joined her two children in death. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.”In the face of death the man sang the final memorable lines:

“The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.”

He was shot dead like the rest of his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered, “Why should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some remarkable power behind the family’s faith, and I too want to taste that faith.”

In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The song is based on the last words of Nokseng, a man from Garo tribe of Assam (now Meghalaya and some in Assam), India. It is today the song of the Garo people.

It makes me want to sing...

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus …

Take this whole world, but give me Jesus …

Though I may wonder still I will follow…

I have surrendered my all to Jesus …

"Based upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,

I now baptize you in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost.

Buried with Him in the likeness of His death,

raised with Him in the likeness of His resurrection to walk in the newness of life."

New Members

I. Membership

A. It is always a privilege to welcome new members into the church!

1. I have had opportunity to do so many, many times over the more than 12 years that I have been pastor here.

2. Praise God!

B. As we welcome these new members, I pray that you long-time members receive encouragement in YOUR membership.

1. And that those who have not formally joined the church will be encouraged to do so.

C. Church membership means that Christians understand that God has placed them in the Body of Christ.

1. You recognize:

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:18, 27 (NASB95) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

2. Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

D. This morning New Life Family Church has the privilege of welcoming and COVENENTING WITH 2 new ADULT members and 2 new junior members.

1. 4 people who have elected to put down roots not only in Christ, but also in this church.

2. As the Farnham Family stand here

3. Board, would you come and join these new members?

E. So it is our privilege to receive into the membership of this church family, __2__Adult members who have…

1. … made proper application and have been approved by the Official Board of the church and are now ready to receive the right hand of fellowship by this congregation.

F. Our new members, and we as a church are going to remind each other of our responsibilities and privileges.

1. Our FAMILY COVENANT together.

G. I will begin with our newest members:

1. I am going to read a statement and ask that if you agree with it that you say, “I do.”

H. Here goes:

1. Having been led by the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and desiring fellowship with people of like precious faith, and now in the presence of God and this assembly you are entering into a covenantrelationship with these members of the Body of Christ.

2. So, do you promise that with the help of the Holy Spirit you will:

3. walk together with the other members of this church in Christian love?

4. work for the advancement of this church?

5. help it pursue holiness and a deeper knowledge of Jesus?

6. promote its prosperity and spirituality?

7. sustain its worship, doctrines and disciplines?

8. contribute regularly and cheerfully to the support of its ministries and activities?

9. If so answer: I do.

I. Do you promise to:

1. maintain your personal devotions?

2. seek the salvation of the lost?

3. avoid sin by avoiding the very appearance of evil?

4. seek that love which thinks no evil?

5. If so answer: I do.

J. Do you further promise to:

1. watch over the other members of this church in Christian love?

2. to remember each other in prayer?

3. to aid each other in distress and sickness

4. to be courteous and forgiving to one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you?

5. If so answer: I do.

K. Church, please stand. Do you promise to:

1. watch over Brother and Sister Young AND Brother & Sister Smith in Christian love?

2. to remember them in prayer?

3. to aid them in distress and sickness?

4. to be courteous and forgiving to them even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you?

5. If so answer: I do.

L. We therefore, as the Church of Jesus Christ and members of His Body, now receive you, into our fellowship and communion, recognizing that God has already added you to His Church. And we pray that the blessing of the Lord be upon you always.

M. Prayer with the Board.

N. ALL come and welcome!

W.