Make Room: Obedience

Illust: Baptizing in South Asia (Pic)

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)

Background:

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

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

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

         3. Baptism in the book of Acts

      4. “As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized.” - Acts 8:36

      5. “At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.” - Acts 9:18
      6. “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

      7. “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. Questions: What’s preventing you from following through with believers baptized? Could it be ignorance, pride, indifference, defiance, or maybe there’s been a great misunderstanding of the significance of baptism.
         5. Jesus led by example and was Himself baptized

      8. Jesus modeled perfect obedience to the Father

      9. 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?

      10. Who We Baptize (Magnitude/Identification)

          1. Every “born again” believer in Jesus
          2. Identifying ourselves as Christ followers

      11. Illust: Son to a Brother (Ryan's Baptism)

          3. Repentance and faith are prerequisites for baptism

      12. “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)

      13. “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 in Jesus; baptism is the outward response)
      14. “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
      15. “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. The washing comes by calling on his name; baptism is the outward picture of it

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

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

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

      18. It is a public declaration of a private decision.
      19. “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” - Acts 16:31
      20. “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
      21. Illust: Ryans Baseball Team (putting on the jersey)

      22. Other than the Lord’s Supper, there’s very few ways to display the Gospel corporately as the body of Christ.

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

      23. It’s the greatest sermon you could ever preach and all you have to say is “yes”

      24. 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!” Or if you are really hip you might say “Bet!”
      25. The point is that you are identifying yourself as being a Christ Follower.

      26. How We Baptize (Method/Symbolism)

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

      27. “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

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

      29. 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)
             3. Baptism - the word in greek is baptizo. It means to dunk, wash, or immerse.

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

      31. Illust: “Double Dunk” Oreos
      32. “When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water.” - Matthew 3:16
      33. “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

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