Why Baptism

HBI - Baptism is a sign of entrance into the body of Christ, a sign of dying to our old life and living a new life in Christ.

Intro

Why Baptism? why do we do this in the first place? Why is it so important. As our baptismal candidates get ready I want to go through some of the things that I went through with them. maybe this will challenge you to get baptized as well.

I remember when I was baptized. I do not remember to much but hearing the pastor talk about it one Sunday. We had these cards in the pews that we could write any questions we had for the pastor. And I said, without telling my parents at first, That I was interested in Baptism. I went through the classes and at about 12 years old I was baptized. The tank was built into the back wall of the stage. It was like this big window covered by this massive curtain. behind the window was a massive tank and everything in there was painted black. It was kind of scary and deep. I was petrified to give my testimony.

Baptism is a word we find in the bible to explain what we are doing here today, it is a command from God that we do it. It is a beautiful thing to be a part of as we witness people following God in this way.

Baptism comes from the Greek word Baptizo which means to make fully engulfed or submerged.

I also am going to touch on biblically what happened after baptism.

Why Baptism.

One thing to be clear, Baptism does not bring salvation or regeneration. Some churches practice baptismal regeneration, that means that baptizing brings you int the family of God. That is why we have churches that baptize babies. but there is no where in the Bible that teaches that Baptism saves.

But nevertheless it is a command from God that we follow the Lord in obedience through Baptism. It wont get you to heaven, but it does mean that you are following God.

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.”

This was the commission given to the disciples by Jesus before He went up into heaven. and then we read that Jesus Himself was Baptized.

Matthew 3:13–15 (CSB)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.

Jesus Himself set the example by allowing John to baptize Him. It is an example of obedience and surrender.

Identification with God’s Family

1 Corinthians 12:13 (CSB) 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

When we are baptized we are identifying with the family of God. It is saying that I am part of this family, and I want them to help me grow and keep me accountable as I help them grow and keep them accountable.

Testimony

Baptism is an outward declaration of an inner transformation. (Philip and the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch)

What is Baptism?

we can go to Rom 6:1-4 to get the symbolism behind why we do it the way that we do.

Romans 6:1–4 (CSB) 1 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.

We are totally identified with Christ in that our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ and done away with. We are crucified with Christ.

Our identification with Christ is seen in our being lowered under the water. Symbolizing our being buried with Christ through His death. It is a symbolic thing. it is showing that we are dying to sin and our old way of life and growing and maturing more and more each day. We should not want to be stuck in our old life but rather strive to learn more and grow more like Christ.

we are not to use the excuse of grace to continue into the life of sin. But rather seek to be more like God. Baptism is identifying in the death of Christ through lowering into the water.

And as Christ raised himself from the dead to give us new life, our rising out of the water symbolizes the new life that we have in Christ.

and as we do this we are to walk in newness of life.

What do we do after?

we do this as a church, in front of the body of Christ we have been attending for a few reasons. For the great encouragement that it brings all of us, and also it is a sign of entrance into the body of Christ. We do it like this as part of the church so we can all rejoice together, and so that all of our faith can be built up.

It is also right for us to safeguard this practice as we have done so that people have a right understanding of what they are doing and why they are doing it, to keep people fro abusing the practice.

ALso since it is a sign of entering into the fellowship of the body of Christ it is only right that the body of Christ you are going to be a part of is there to join you. That is also usually why there is some official representative of the church, usually the pastor that does it.

All the cases of Baptism we see in the book of Acts show that after the people where baptized, they joined the local church. They commit to the growth of the local and universal body of Christ. Joining the church was part of what happened after baptism.

SO WHat?

This is what we witness here today, this is the great joy that we are here to witness. And it is also a challenge to stand together to help each other grow, we are here to rejoice together as these people stand up and say, I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back.