Baptism Sunday 2023

Stand Alone: Baptism Sunday

May 7th, 2023 | Casey Middle School

Story: My Baptism Story

This definition is Article VII of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. (That is the Baptist Faith and Message. Here is where our church differs: we ask for baptism before membership, but communion does not require baptism. It is only for the believer.)

Title: It’s A Big Deal

Passage: Matthew 28:18-20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them (eleven disciples), “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.”

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Main Points:

1. Why We Baptize (Meaning/Command)

   1. Obedience to a command

      1. “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,” - Matthew 28:19

      2. Baptism is the first step of obedience, then the great commission. How can we be obedient to the great commission without having first been baptized?

         2. Jesus ordained, instituted baptism as a practice for His church

      3. 2 ordinances in Scripture, the Lord’s Supper and Baptism

      4. It doesn’t need to be creatively thought through, changed up, or dressed up. We fill the tank, and we baptize in the water.

      5. He tells us what to do, and we gladly do it.

         3. Baptism in the early church (the book of Acts)

      6. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (verse 37 is in the NKJV; the CSB has it only in a footnote), “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

      7. Conversion of Paul, “At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.” - Acts 9:18
      8. Paul and Silas to the jailer, “He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.” - Acts 16:30-33

      9. Ananias to Paul, “And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ - Acts 22:14-16

         4. Jesus led by example and was Himself baptized

      10. Jesus modeled perfect obedience to the Father

      11. Question: If Jesus was baptized, why do I think I don’t need to be baptized? If Jesus commanded that I be baptized, why do I think I don’t need to be baptized?

          5. Baptism is not…

      12. Required for salvation

      13. When you are filled with the Spirit
      14. For washing your sins away.

2. Who We Baptize (Magnitude/Identification)

   1. Address Infant Baptism:

      1. We don’t baptize infants
      2. Infant baptism and sprinkling is not found in the bible
      3. It grew up in church tradition from the early centuries and was kept by Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian and other churches.

      4. Immersion was the normal practice for centuries; the Council of Ravenna in 1311 formally allowed pouring as an equal option.

         1. Doctrinally they believe that “infant baptism is a ritual of regeneration”. That by participating in the sacraments, it is the means of grace. Christ's death on the cross gives you access to the sacraments, and by participating in the sacraments you receive the means of salvation. Water then cleanses a baby of original sin. 5. Martin Luther, the reformer and where we get Lutheranism, was strong on justification by faith, but he never disentangled himself from infant baptisms.

         2. He wrote about infant baptism where he states that he believed that baptism cleansed the baby of sin. When asked about that and his belief of justification by faith, he stated that “somehow infants must be able to believe”.

         3. Lutheran pastors today recite a liturgy after infant baptism stating “Almighty God hath begotten thee anew through water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven thee of thy sins. Amen.” Teaching that infant baptism makes salvation possible for the infant. None of this is in the bible. 6. Presbyterians would say that baptism in the new testament is what circumcision is in the old testament. We baptize infants as a sign of the covenants as to which the parents are a part. This as well is not found in the bible.

         4. “If it is not in the bible then we should not build a doctrine around it.” - Ps. John Lindell

            2. Who we baptize - Every “born again” believer in Jesus
            3. Identifying ourselves as Christ followers

      5. Illust: Son to a Brother (Ryan’s Baptism)

         4. Repentance and faith are prerequisites for baptism

      6. “Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” - Matthew 3:5-6 (Repentance & Baptism)

      7. “Peter replied, “Repent and be* baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.*” - Acts 2:38 - (repentance, baptism, and forgiveness are connected. Forgiveness comes through repentance and faith. Baptism is the outward response.)
      8. “Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” - Acts 19:4 - faith, baptism, and repentance are connected
      9. “And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” - Acts 22:16 - baptism and confession are connected. Sins are washed away by calling on his name. Baptism is the outward picture of it.

      10. Faith and repentance always precede baptism. If you’ve never repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ, that is the first step. The next step is believer's baptism.

          5. Salvation leads to baptism, but baptism does not lead to salvation.

      11. It is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Christ.

      12. It is a public declaration of a private decision.
      13. It is a physical picture of a spiritual reality.
      14. “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” - Acts 16:31

      15. “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9

          6. Baptism is more than water, it’s a moment of identification of being a disciple (follower) of Jesus.

      16. It’s your first and most profound message you could ever preach and all you have to say is “yes”

      17. During a baptism service I will ask the question “Have you made Jesus Lord of your life?” and all you have to say is “Yes!”

      18. The point is that you are identifying yourself as being a Christ Follower.

          7. Identifying with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

      19. “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” - ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

3. How We Baptize (Method/Symbolism)

   1. YouTube Videos

      1. Baptizing in a Creek (didn’t get this one
      2. Baptizing in Russia got this one

      3. Baptizing in Prison got this one

         2. We believe the bible clearly instructs baptism by immersion.
         3. Symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

      4. “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.” - Romans 6:1-4

      5. Symbolizes the believer dying to self, and being raised to walk a new life is Jesus Christ!

      6. New is all over the bible…

         1. Ezekiel 36 (new heart), Ezekiel 18 (new spirit), Psalm 40:3 (new song), Revelation 2:17 (new name), Ephesians 4:24 (new self ), Galatians 6:15 (new creature), 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation)
         2. You are identifying in His death and His life
         3. Illust: Wedding Ring (It’s a symbol)
            4. Baptism - the word in greek is baptizo. It means to dunk, wash, or immerse.

      7. That’s why we often refer to our baptism services as a “Dunking Party”

      8. “When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water.” - Matthew 3:16

      9. “So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing.” - Acts 8:38-39

         5. What about getting baptized a second time?

      10. Illust: “Double Dunk” Oreos

      11. If you were baptized as an infant then you need to be baptized as a follower of Jesus.
      12. If you were baptized before you gave your life to Christ and decided to follow Jesus.
      13. If you were baptized merely as a religious tradition and not as an act of obedience.
      14. If you were baptized because your parents wanted you to be baptized.
      15. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of baptism, don’t delay.

Reasons Why You Haven’t Been Baptized

1. You were never taught the importance of it
2. Your religious tradition is holding you back
3. You are afraid of water or being seen wet
4. You are afraid of what others might think
5. You don’t think it’s that big of a deal
6. You are prideful
7. You believe in God, but choose to live in disobedience to Him

We’ve made baptism an experience meant to create a moment for you to feel something, instead of what it is biblically, which is immediate obedience to God.

I’m going to ask you the same question that Ananias asked Paul, why are you delaying?

Closing:

Walking Points: When we baptize? As soon as possible!

1. I want to make Jesus Lord of my life

2. I want to be baptized

   1. Baptized on the right side of salvation
   2. It’s going to be a big celebration