Baptism!

All verses in Matthew 28:18-20 as one thing in common, “MAKE DISCIPLES! The power God declares in verse 18 is the foundation for us to make disciples. The mission of “going”, “baptizing”, and “teaching” are principles for us to “MAKE DISCIPLES”. The assurance Jesus declares in verse 20 is an assurance of presence while we, “MAKE DISCPLES”. The Great Commission is given to believers and the church to make disciples. This is what the church is called to do.

While the evangelistic method of the great commission is relatively an understandable method, baptism is not so easy for many people to understand. The reason for this is because oftentimes children and others are being baptized but not understanding what it is their doing. How many times do we see children being baptized not because they understand salvation or anything of that nature but because their parents/guardians forced them down the aisle with these words to follow; “You’re joining church today!” Some adults have come to join the church by being baptized and yet they don’t understand what it is they are doing. So, later in years after going back into the world they come down the aisle to recommit themselves to God through….baptism.

The ordinance of baptism has been, in my opinion, reduced to an initiation process of the church, like the initiation process of joining a gang. The reverence of a baptism ceremony has been loss in our worship services. We don’t celebrate the new life of a believer like we used to. We sing the song: “Wade in the water” so dry and monotone that baptism feels like a funeral service (and I guess in many cases it is a spiritual funeral).

My goal in this message is to help us understand the meaning, message, and manner of baptism in the truest since possible. Baptism is more than a ritual act within the worship service and in the life of the church. And while denominations have different opinions about the mode of baptism, baptism is an important step in the life a new believer.

In his book Baptism – Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace; Brian Russell says; “Though baptism is an act of obedience that is not its primary meaning. It is, essentially a sacrament of grace… a sacrament of divine initiative, not of human activity”. He goes on to say that “baptism signifies the union of the believer with Christ, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit, all of which stem from God’s grace and mercy towards undeserving sinners. It seals to us the blessings of the new covenant”.


Therefore, baptism is a symbolic act of God’s grace and mercy in the life of undeserving sinners such as you and I. Baptism is a gift from God!


Let’s look at three (3) essential principles of baptism – a symbolic act of God’s grace and mercy:

I. The Meaning of Baptism

Seeks to answer the following questions?

- Why should I be baptized?

It’s a command of Christ – Matthew 28:19

It’s a biblical pattern to follow –

B1. Christ was baptized – Mark 1:9
B2. John the Baptist was the baptizer – Matthew 3:13-17

It demonstrates that you are really a Christian – Acts 18:8

It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

It’s a picture of your new life as a Christian – Colossians 2:11-12


II. The Manner of Baptism

Seeks to answer the question, how should a person be baptized?

The Greek word for baptism is baptize which means to make fully wet. We as a church baptize by immersion. That is to say that we put your full body in under water.

Great teachers of church history agree:

“I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies”. – Martin Luther

“The word signifies immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the early church”. – John Calvin

“Buried with him” alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church. – John Wesly.

˜ We baptize by immersion because it best symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

˜ We baptize by immersion because Jesus was baptized this way – Matthew 3:16

Under the manner of baptism I also want to answer the question; who should be baptized?

- Every person who believes in Christ should be baptized – Acts 2:41

When should a person be baptized? One answer: IMMDIATELY! – Acts 8:36-38


III. The Message of Baptism

There is a lot of controversy over how a person should be baptized…

- In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as commanded in Matthew 28:19

OR

- In the name of Jesus as recorded in Acts 2:38

While I don’t want to spend a lot of time in apologetics, it is my conviction that baptizing according to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28:19 is because baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a great depiction of our salvation story. Here’s how the bible tells the story:

- God, the Father: Planned our Salvation – Ephesians 1:2-6

- Jesus, the Son: Provided our Salvation – Ephesians 1:7-14

- The Holy Spirit: Protects our Salvation – Ephesians 4:30