Sermon – Baptism

  • Baptism, while vitally and historically important to the Church, is also a topic that can be quite divisive; with believers, churches, and denominations disagreeing on:

  • When to baptize:
    • Some baptize babies to make sure they get baptized; and they equate this to the practice of circumcision.  They claim that since circumcision was required to be Jewish, then when a baby is baptized; they are automatically a part of the Church.
    • Some only baptize believers, after they have made a profession of faith and can understand why they need baptism and what it means.
    • And oddly enough, there are even groups that don’t baptize at all.  I don’t understand them as the command to do so is plainly command throughout the NT.

  • How to baptize:
    • Some churches sprinkle
    • Some churches pour
    • Some churches immerse
    • Some leave the choice up to the one being baptized; while others demand that it only happen their way; (with perhaps only allowing extenuating circumstances to change their mind; but even still there are groups that will not allow other methods to be used.
    • The thing is, there are verses, translations, and traditions to support all sides.

  • What Baptism Means or Does
    • Some believe that the act of baptism is what saves a person; and that before they are baptized – usually immersed – they are lost even if they profess faith, confess their sins, repent, and claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
    • Some believe that baptism locks in salvation – that after a person is baptized they can never lose their salvation or they will find it impossible to walk away from the faith.
    • Some believe that baptism is what a believer does after they are saved – after they repent – after they confess their sins – and that it is an outward sign of an inward change … their first public profession of faith and the beginning of a life of holiness and enduring to the end.

  • This morning, we will take a look at what Scripture says about baptism and why it is important to all believers and the life of the Church.
  • When we read through the Bible, the first time we come across baptism is early in the Gospel accounts, when John, (who is appropriately called “The Baptist”), comes to the Judean wilderness and is baptizing in / near / around the Jordan River and calling people to repentance because they are sinful; and to be baptized.  Many hear his preaching and accept the call to confess, repent, and be baptized.  Even the Pharisees and Sadducees show up, but John rebukes them and tells them to repent and bear fruit to prove their sincerity.

  • So, why did John baptize?  For that answer, we would have to look at the OT and also some Jewish writings and history to find out why they used baptism (or ceremonial washings); when they used them; and what it meant.

  • Although the term “baptism” is not used to describe the Jewish rituals, the purification rites in Jewish law and tradition, called “Tvilah,” are similar to baptism, and the two are linked.

  • The “Tvilah” is an act of washing in a bath called a “Mikva” and most would say it required immersion; and not just sprinkling, pouring, or using a cloth like you do in a normal bath.

  • Being washed represent a change is status, in regard to purification, restoration, and qualification for full religious participation in the life of the community, ensuring that the cleansed person will not impose or infect uncleanness on other people or their property.

  • Before the days of the Babylonian Captivity, and according to the Law, the only things required for a Gentile, (a pagan or non-Jew), to convert to Judaism was to become circumcised and offer the required sacrifices.  After the Babylonian Captivity, when the Jews returned home, to Israel, it appears ceremonial washings were added to the requirements.

  • So, John takes this notion and applies it to all people, even the Jews.  He tells them that they are guilty of sin, and because of this, they need to repent, confess their sins, be baptized, and live a life that proves their sincerity – that they are truly sorry, truly remorseful, truly have changed their ways – that they have left their sinful life behind and turned fully – 100% to God and follow His ways, rules, teachings, regulations.

  • He also tells them the Gospel and that Jesus would be arriving soon – and that He would not be baptizing with water, but rather with the Holy Spirit and fire.

  • The change of ceremonial status in the Old Testament could be obtained repeatedly, while Christian baptism, in the view of most, is unique and not repeatable – it is seen as the start of a new life – when the old man is buried and a new man is raised.  Even those who get re-baptized as adults do not see this as repeating the same event, because they are making the choice to be baptized, instead of just a parent’s decision to baptize their child.

  • So, that is where we are today – that is the background in which John appeared, preached, and baptized.
  • Matthew 3:1-12 (John the Baptist Prepares the Way) … (1) In those days, John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching.  His message was, (2) “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  (3) The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, ‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!  Clear the road for him!’”  (4) John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.  For food, he ate locusts and wild honey.  (5) People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.  (6) And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.  (7) But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed.  “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?  (8) Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.  (9) Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’  That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.  (10) Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees.  Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.  (11) ‘I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God.  But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  (12) He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork.  Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn, but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

  • Matthew 3:13-17 (The Baptism of Jesus) … (13) Then Jesus went to Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.  (14) But John tried to talk him out of it.  “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”  (15) But Jesus said, “it should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”  So, John agreed to baptize him.  (16) After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.  (17) And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

  • John’s message was clear; that peopled needed to confess their sins, repent, and turn to God because the Kingdom of God was near.  John was referring to the arrival of Jesus and His earthly ministry; (and possibly beyond).

  • John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ – his mission and ministry was to prepare people for what Jesus would say and do – to prepare people to accept Jesus as the Messiah, to believe in Him, to put their faith in Him, to make Jesus their Lord and Savior.

  • The message has not changed in nearly 2,000 years.  People still need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  To believe that He is the Messiah – that He is both God and the Son of God – the only perfect person to live; and that He willingly died for us on the cross; that He took our place and punishment, so we could benefit and receive an inheritance; and that we can have the same power in our lives that raised Jesus from the grave.
  • John the Baptist said one would come after Him that would not baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire.  On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), 3,000 were saved, tongues of fire landed on the people and they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

  • Other places in the NT mention that when believers were baptized, they were filled with the Holy Spirit; but that was not always the case to receive the Spirit or His power; as there were believers in Acts 10 that were filled with the Spirit before being baptized.

  • People from Jerusalem and the surrounding areas came to hear John preach; they believed what he said; repented of their sins, confessed their sins; and then were baptized.  They were not baptized and then believed, repented, and confessed – there is a proper order.

  • Then, the Pharisees and Sadducees show up; and depending on your translation, it may say:
    • They were coming to his baptism.
    • They were coming for baptism or to be baptized.
    • They were coming for the baptismal experience (because it was popular).
    • They came to where he was baptizing.
    • They came to watch him baptize.

  • From what we read later in the Gospels about Jesus’ experiences with these groups, it makes more sense that they were showing up to watch people be baptized – to see what all the fuss was about – or if they were wanting to be baptized, it would have been to just look the part; as they did not change their ways or accept Jesus as Messiah, Lord, or Savior; and Luke 7:30 tells us that the Pharisees and Sadducees rejected God’s plan for them.

  • John the Baptist even says as much.  He calls them snakes and asks who warned them to flee the coming wrath.  He tells them that if they are sincere, then they will bear fruit worthy of repentance – that their faith will be evident to others – that they don’t just need to pay God lip-service and pretend; but to genuinely repent – to confess their sins, (which the Pharisees and Sadducees would have thought they didn’t have) – to believe in the message that John was preaching (which was about Jesus) and then to be baptized, (which they would not have wanted to do since they were already Jews and in their minds, clean).

  • We too, need to be sincere and genuine when it comes to our faith and repentance.  God knows if we are truly remorseful and really want to serve Him.  If we are being led by the Holy Spirit, then we will also produce fruit and our faith will be easily seen by others.

  • We mention Galatians 5:19-23 often and it makes sense to do this morning as well.  Verses 19-21 mention things that we need to repent of and never do again.  Verses 22-23 tell us what our lives should look like and what we need to show others … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We can go deeper and mention the book of James, which tells us to prove our faith – to not just say that we have faith, but to do something about it and with it.
  • John continues his warning by saying that just because they are Jewish – descendants of Abraham – that they were not secure or safe.  They also had to repent and live right – and that God, if needed, could create more and true followers out of rock.

  • John says that judgment, punishment, rewards, and eternity are closer than we think.  The ax is already at the tree, ready to chop it down, unless it produces good fruit; otherwise, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

  • John again says he only baptizes those who have repented of their sins and have turned to God; and again, puts Jesus first and ahead of himself – one who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit – however, he will also judge by separating the righteous from the wicked, with the righteous going into peace and safety (barn) and the wicked into eternal fire.

  • Luke’s account of this same story adds a little more detail with John telling people to share their food and clothes with those in need; to not collect more than is required; to not extort; to not make false accusations; and to be content with what they are paid.

  • So, after the warnings, teachings, and proclamation that Jesus was coming … Jesus appears on the scene at the Jordan River.

  • Jesus shows up to be baptized by John, but John knows who Jesus is; (and from out study this past Wednesday night, we read that John, while still in the womb recognized Jesus the Messiah); and John knows that Jesus does not need to be baptized as He is sinless; but rather that Jesus should baptize him.

  • Jesus, however, urges John and tells him that it must be done – that God requires it – that it would fulfill all righteousness, so John agrees and baptizes Jesus.  Jesus identifying with mankind all the more, does this as an example and to be obedient to God the father.

  • When Jesus came out of the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and landed on Jesus; and a voice from Heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” – so, God was well pleased with what happened and this is a proof of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit – and all 3 are in the same place at the same time.

  • After this, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, fasted, and was tempted for 40 days and nights; and then He started His public ministry that would last 3 years; and we will get to that in a few meetings during our evening Bible studies.

  • So, John the Baptist is the first one in the Bible that we associate with the rite, sacrament, and ceremony of baptism.  He came to warn people by preaching the truth; telling them they needed to repent, confess their sins, and be baptized.

  • We can read in the beginning of John 4 that Jesus’ disciples were making more disciples and baptizing more than John; which the Pharisees did not like.

  • We can read the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:16-20, that Jesus told His disciples to go to all nations, to make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach these new disciples to obey all of His commands.

  • This same pattern continues in the Acts 2, which is the famous passage that tells us what happened on the Day of Pentecost.  Peter preached and the Spirit convicted those listening; and they asked Peter what they needed to do.  Peter’s response was that they needed to repent, turn to God, and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins.

  • Acts 8:26-40 tells us the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, who could have been a convert to Judaism.  He was at the very least curious because he was reading Scripture.  Phillip explain the Gospel to him, the Ethiopian believed, and then was baptized.

  • Acts 16:16-40 tells us about Paul, Silas and the Philippian jailer.  While in the city Paul made some people mad because he cast out a demon from a slave girl that predicted the future and her owners were upset over lost income and they beat Paul and Silas and placed them in prison.  Around midnight Paul and Silas were worshipping and there was an earthquake and the prison doors opened, but they did not escape.  The jailer thought they did and was going to fall on his sword, but Paul and Silas stopped him and he was grateful and asked them what he needed to do to be saved.  Their reply was to simply believe in the Lord Jesus; and they shared the Gospel with him and his household; and then they were baptized.

  • Salvation happened to one of our own recently – at church camp.  Somebody went to camp with the purpose of sharing the Gospel – somebody preached about Jesus, His sacrifice on the cross, His resurrection and being the only source of salvation, the only way to God the Father.  Without Jesus we are lost, slaves to sin, and heading to Hell.  With Jesus we are saved, forgiven, no longer slaves to sin – we are more than conquerors with Jesus as sin is defeated and we can live a life of holiness, doing only what pleases God, and sharing our faith and the Gospel with others, being salt and light; and making a positive difference.

  • Church ceremonies are designed to get us to look at our past, present, and future.  For those who are saved, please think back to when you asked God to forgive you, when you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, when you confessed and repented of your sins; and strive to serve God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and live a holy life.

  • If you have never confessed and repented of your sins, then there is no better time than now to do so.  This very hour you can confess, repent, believe in Jesus, and have Him be your Lord and Savior.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow or even to make it home.  I don’t say that just to scare you, but we all need to be prepared to meet God when we die.  So please do not let this opportunity pass by if you need to make things right with God.