WHY BAPTISM?
Matthew
3:11-17
Introduction: One day I was talking with an Unitarian Church
member, he asked me is Hope Church still a Baptist Church and do you still dunk
people in water? I said, yes, we are still the Baptists and we still dunk
people in water. But why do we baptize people in the first place, is it because
we are Baptists or is there another reason for it?
When
it comes to church traditions and practices Jesus made it simple. He instituted
and established two ordinances for His Church. They have been prescribed and
ordered by Jesus Christ and practiced by the Church. The early Church is known
for practicing those ordinances. Acts 2:41-42, “Those who accepted his message
were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer.”
From
these two verses we conclude, Baptism and Communion are the two ordinances that
are to be followed by the Church of Jesus Christ. Over the centuries Christians
have kept up these sacred traditions. Today, we will have the privilege of
witnessing four believers getting baptized after the Church service in lake
Massapoag. I would like to share a few thoughts on the purpose of Baptism,
the significance of baptism and who should be baptized. Matthew 3:11-17.
Background:
It
was during the 1st century AD, a man named John, later on came to be
known as John the Baptist. He was born in a priestly family. His parents were
Zachariah and Elizabeth. John was sent by God with a message. John proclaimed a
message of repentance. Many, were confessing their sins and getting baptized in
the Jordan river. John said to them, “I baptize you with or in water for
repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I
am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with or in the Holy Spirit and
Fire.”
I
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
The concept of
Baptism was familiar to both the Jewish and Greek audience of that time.
Ancient Israel had a ritual purification practice called, Mikveh or mikvah.
After the destruction of the Temple, the mikveh's main uses remained as
follows: By Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or
childbirth before they and their husbands may resume marital relations. By
Jewish men to achieve ritual purity. As part of the traditional procedure for
conversion to Judaism. To immerse newly acquired utensils used in serving and
eating food.
Most forms of impurity can be
nullified through immersion in any natural collection of water. A Biblical
example we see here is the Syrian commander Naaman the Leper, who was
instructed by Elisha to dip himself seven times in Jordan River 2 Kings 5:14.
The
word “baptize” comes from a Greek word, “Baptizo” meaning “to dip” or “dip into
dye or to immerse.” It is also used in ancient
writings of vessels which are cleansed by immersing them
in water. The word baptizo’
was especially prominent in the dye trade. A cloth would be dipped or
immersed into a bucket of dye. Or the material was “baptized”
in dye. When the cloth was
removed from the bucket of dye, it had a distinct and new appearance.[1]
Christian
denominations argue about which method sprinkling or immersion, the infant or
believer’s baptism is the right way. We want to be respectful of those who
believe in infant baptism, but as we look at the word meaning and scriptural
incidents we see more evidence for believer’s baptism through immersion in
water rather than infant baptism through sprinkling. In our Church, we dedicate
babies to the Lord, and baptize believers by immersing them in water.
II. WHY BAPTISM?
First reason, we baptize people because
Jesus himself modeled it so when they get baptized they are following his
example. In the passage we read, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it
is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Have you wondered what was the need for the sinless son of God to be baptized
like the rest of us sinful people?
There were several reasons for his
baptism: The first mentioned here, was “to fulfill all righteousness.” His
baptism indicated that he was consecrated to God and officially approved by
him, as especially shown in the descent of the Holy Spirit and the words of the
Father, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that
moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I
love; with him I am well pleased.” All God’s righteous requirements for the Messiah
were fully met in Jesus.
Secondly, at Jesus’ baptism John
publicly announced the arrival of the Messiah and the beginning of his ministry
(Jn 1:31–34). Thirdly, by his baptism Jesus completely identified himself with
humanity’s sin and failure (though he himself needed no repentance or cleansing
from sin), becoming our substitute, 2 Cor 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.” Fourthly, Jesus’s baptism was an example to
his followers. Not only was Jesus baptized but he commanded his disciples to go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and
of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that he had
taught them. The disciples went out and obeyed the lord’s command, of
baptizing, discipling and teaching. The tradition continues.
III. FIRST THINGS FIRST!
Various denominations argue on who should be baptized, when
should be baptized and how. Some don’t even baptize people stating that baptism
has nothing to do with salvation. In the midst of conflicting views, let me
clarify a few things. First things, First. Baptism cannot and will not be able
to save people from their sin. Only Jesus can save. Salvation is a gift from
God. According to Romans 10: 9, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is
Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.”
Coming to Church doesn’t make you a
Christian anything more than going to McDonald makes you a Hamburger. What
saves you is when you actually make the confession saying that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead then you will be
saved and become his. When John the Baptist was baptizing, people were
repenting of their sins first and then getting baptized. The main criteria for
salvation is not baptism but belief. Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized
will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mk 16:15-16
What would be right time to baptize
someone? In the scriptures, we see people were baptized soon after they got
saved. Here are a few examples: On the day of Pentecost after listening to a message
from the Apostle Paul, 3000 people repented of their sins and were baptized.
Acts 2: 41. The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized after believing in Christ. (Acts
8). Saul was baptized soon after his conversion on the road of Damascus (Acts
9: 18).
The relatives and close friends of an
Italian army officer named Cornelius were baptized after professing their faith
(Acts 10:47). A jailer and his entire family were baptized in the middle of the
night after believing in the words of Paul. (Acts 1631-34). These scriptures indicate
that immediately after getting saved, the next step a believer ought to take is
baptism.
IV. WHAT HAPPENS IN BAPTISM?
Baptism has a beautiful symbolism.
Paul equates Baptism to an identification with the death and the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through
baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:3-4.
Metaphorically speaking, when we go
into the water we are letting our old man (flesh) die and be buried. And when
we come out of the water, we are now beginning a new life with Christ. It is
important here to understand the Greek concept of Baptism, how a cloth dipped
into the dye takes on the new color of the dye and looks that color, similarly
a believer who is fully immersed into Christ, takes on the identity of Christ
and starts to look and live like little Christ.
Keeping that in mind, Paul writes to
Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
Something else happens in Baptism,
we will be entering into a covenantal relationship with Christ and his Church. As
members of Christs new found family we get to enjoy the privileges and share in
the responsibilities. This morning it is our joy to see four believers
expressing their faith in Christ by taking their next step of baptism.
Let’s welcome them with arms open
wide into our Hope Church family. Let’s enfold them into our discipleship
process. Let’s support and cheer them on as they embark on this new journey of
faith. Above all let’s be committed to pray and encourage them. So that
together we will glorify God by becoming devoted followers of Christ. Amen
