United in Baptism
- Rev. Jerry Lepasana
- Feb 21, 2010
- Series: Back to Basics
Back To Basics: (Part VI)
UNITED IN BAPTISM
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Romans 6:1-5 (NIV)
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 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.
5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
During our couples Valentines banquet last Sunday, I had the opportunity to challenge more than 50 of our couples to keep their marriage vows current. Once in their lives they stood before their friends and loved ones and pledged their love and lives for each other. I wanted to refresh their memories about their vows and remind them of the fact that God is holding them accountable for every promise they have made the day they were married. The message culminated with all the couples publicly renewing their vows. It was such a sweet sight wherein these couples held each other’s hand, looked at each other and once again pledged to love one another until death separates them.
Time and again, it serves couples very well when they are constantly reminded about their vows. I believe that’s the reason why couples need to wear their wedding rings all the time. Couples, do you still wear your wedding rings? You should be proud to wear it. Why? Because the wedding ring is designed to symbolize the love you have committed to your spouse. When you wear it proudly, you are sending the message to the people around you that your love and life already belong to somebody.
Spiritually speaking, the same is true when someone becomes a Christian. When a person commits his or her life to Jesus Christ, God has given a symbol to show that he or she belongs to Jesus Christ. This Christian symbol is called Baptism. Unfortunately, there are so many professing Christians today who longer value baptism in the same way the first century Christians did. Perhaps, all the confusions about how it should be done, or who should have it have contributed so much to the devaluing of it.
Now, with our studies about basic doctrines, we have to take the time to really understand this important New Testament practice of Christians. Looking at some New Testament passages, I would like to highlight four significant points about baptism:
I IT IS INSTITUTED:
When we talk about baptism, we have to be clear that this is not merely a human tradition started by the early church, it is a practice instituted or ordained by Jesus Himself for His church.
Matthew 28: 18-20 is commonly known as the Great Commission. Prior to Christ ascension to heaven, He gathered all His early followers and gave them the command to make disciples to all nations. Part of this discipleship process is “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Somehow, we need to examine first verse 18 where Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” so that we will recognize the weight of the command. Think about this, should we really take this baptism command seriously? Absolutely! Being God and Lord of the universe, Jesus is giving this command to all of us. He is not requesting or encouraging, He is commanding. If we don’t obey, then it is a sin.
Another, important truth based on the Great Commission passage comes from these words, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Explicitly, Jesus is saying that this command will be enforced until the end of the world. As long as people are becoming disciples of Jesus, it is His will that the church baptizes them, no one is exempted, and everyone must be included.
If you fast forward it to the book of Acts, after the Holy Spirit came in chapter 2, the apostle Peter had the privilege of preaching to thousands of people about the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking at verse 41, you would see the disciples of Jesus doing exactly what Jesus had commanded them:
Acts 2:41 (NIV)
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
How come today, there are people who would like to receive Jesus as Savior, but they don’t want to be baptized. Let me say this clearly, baptism is not optional. It has been commanded, and so it must be obeyed. If you are not willing to obey, Jesus said it is a manifestation of your lack of love towards Him.
John 14:15 (NIV)
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
I hope by this time, all of us are aware that our obedience leads to a life of joy and fruitfulness in the Christian life. Remember, last Sunday, I was talking about unconfessed sin being a barrier for an effective prayer life. I made mention about the sin of omission. Not being baptized is a sin of omission. If we want answers to our prayers, we have to obey this clear-cut command. Sometimes, we wonder why we don’t experience a lot of God’s blessings. Find out if this is an area you need to correct.
II IT IS BY IMMERSION:
One of the most important questions about baptism is: what kind of baptism does the Bible teaches? Is it sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?
If we are to carefully examine the Bible, immersion is the only kind of baptism that the church of Jesus Christ must practice. Here are the reasons why?
- A. The word itself means immersion:
Since we are using the word baptism, which literally comes from the Greek word baptizo meaning to submerge or immerse, we must practice what the word suggests. Obviously, there are different Greek words for pouring, which is epicheo, and for sprinkling, the Greek word is rhantizo. The Scriptures don’t use these Greek words interchangeably for baptism. The only word that is use is baptizo which suggests immersion.
- B. The Examples of Baptism in the New Testament:
There are two clear examples in the New Testament regarding baptism by immersion. The first one is Christ’s own baptism:
Mark 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Considering the phrase in verse 10, “As Jesus was coming up out of the water,” it is quite clear that Jesus himself was immersed. Obviously, if he came “up out of the water”, he must have been down in the water prior to Him coming out of the water.
Another interesting truth is Jesus traveling from Nazareth of Galilee to river Jordan to be baptized. Bible scholars are saying that the distance was about 60 miles. Do you know why John was baptizing in that river? Here is the revelation for us:
John 3:23 (NIV)
23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.
John was baptizing in that river for the simple reason that there are lots of water there. If he was baptizing by sprinkling or pouring, a jug full of water can probably baptize thousands of people. So Jesus himself was baptized by immersion.
The second example is found in the book of Acts. When the early church started baptizing, they also did baptism by immersion. In Acts 8:38-39, you will find Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch he just won to the Lord. Notice that the passage uses the same language, “And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”
Once again you find Philip and the eunuch went down to the water for baptism, and then both of them came up out of the water after baptism. Do these words refer to sprinkling or pouring? No, they absolutely speak of immersion.
Therefore, with the word itself that speaks of immersion and the examples shown to us in the New Testament, it is safe to say that immersion should be the only baptism we must practice. I believe my third point can also provide another strong reason for practicing immersion.
III IT IS FOR IDENTIFICATION:
I would like to spend my last two points showing why it is important for all true believers to submit themselves to this command of Jesus. And they should do it as soon as they believe in Jesus.
Going back to our text in Romans especially verses 3-5; the apostle Paul explained to the Roman believers that their baptism identified them with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, whenever a person is baptized, it is openly declaring that he or she belongs to Jesus Christ and believes the Gospel of salvation. Do you know what our Gospel is?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Our salvation is based on our faith on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our baptism symbolizes our saving Gospel. Somehow, this gives credit to baptism by immersion too. Since it displays death, burial, and resurrection, only immersion not sprinkling or pouring can provide that picture.
With this symbol, it should also be clear to all of us that baptism is not a requirement for salvation. By baptism, you are already testifying that you are saved because of your faith in Christ’s work. The chronological sequence in the New Testament was that people believed first, and then they were baptized:
Acts 2:41 (NIV)
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
In this chapter in Acts, Peter preached about Jesus Christ, and the people who accepted Christ were the ones who were baptized. This is very consistent with the text in Romans that baptism is simply believers identifying themselves with their savior, Jesus Christ.
I remember at one time in my ministry, a lady told me that she wants to be baptized, but she only wants her closest loved ones to be present in the church during her baptism. I did not approve of it. I had to explain to her that the reason why we do it during our worship service is because it illustrates beautifully the believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Thus, it becomes an opportunity to publicly testify the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you be willing to publicly declare your allegiance to Jesus Christ? Christ warned His disciples about the consequence of being embarrassed about Him:
Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
We should never be ashamed of the Savior who did so much for us. It is through His work that we are saved from sin, and at present able to live a new life. All because of Jesus Christ!
IV IT IS FOR INCLUSION:
Last but not the least, baptism will include a believer into the body of Jesus Christ. This is visible in Acts 2:41-42:
Acts 2:41-42 (NIV)
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
According to verse 41, after the people accepted Jesus Christ, they were baptized; and then, they were added to the existing church. In verse 42, you find them able to participate fully in the life of the church. Again the chronological sequence is: people believed, then they were baptized, and then they belong to the church.
Actually, what happens physically in water baptism has already happened spiritually through the Holy Spirit’s baptism. The apostle Paul taught this doctrine to the Corinthian church:
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Examining this verse, the meaning of the Holy Spirit’s baptism is the Holy Spirit putting a believer into the universal body of Christ at the day when he or she receives Jesus Christ. There is one church body which is composed of all true believers of Jesus Christ from all geographical locations and denominations. While our spiritual baptism puts us into this spiritual body, our water baptism puts us into the local body of Jesus Christ like Bible Church International. So water baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward reality.
Without a doubt, the Scriptures show that baptism happens immediately after believing because belonging to a church is very important to the growth and productivity of a new believer in Christ.
I hope none of you will avoid baptism. By commanding it, Jesus showed that it is important to Him. Evidently, it is important to Him because we matter to Him. He knows that we can become much better believers if we live our Christian lives in the context of a local church. Are you ready to be baptized? Just do it!