Believer’s Baptism

Text: Rom. 6:1-11

Introduction:

A. Baptism is the initiatory right of the Christian faith, entrance into the club so to speak. FRAT houses have their rush week, Citadel its Hell Week, we have baptism. Note: This does not mean that it is through baptism that we get in, only that baptism identifies us with Christ after accepting Him as Savior.

B. Importance of baptism

    1. John baptized 1000s
    2. John 4: Jesus made a baptized more disciples than John
    3. Jesus set an example by being baptized

      4. a. Matt. 3:15 "to fulfill all righteousness"

      b. identify with sinners

    4. Commanded in the Great Commission

Transition: I want you to notice 3 Great Truths About Baptism: Its Meaning, Its Mode, and Its Mandate.

 

  1. Meaning
    1. Believer’s baptism
      1. requires a willful acceptance of Christ
      2. no infant baptism. Arguments for infant baptism.
        1. verses paedobapstis use Mk 10:13-16, Acts 11:14
        2. baptism removes original sin
        3. Catholic limbus infantium place for unbaptized infants
        4. age of baptism is dependent upon one’s view of what baptism does.
        5. Salvation must come first
    2. Baptism does not save
      1. Catholic View: Sacramental (Symbolic, not sacramental)
      2. the act itself, apart from person being baptized, imparts grace to its communicant.
      3. baptism is necessary to go to heaven
      4. Church of Christ (Baptism is necessary though not a sacrament)
    3. Our view: Symbolic, not sacramental
      1. illus. Object lesson of salvation and new life in Christ.

        2. My wedding ring is like baptism. I wear it to identify to others that I am married. It is a symbol of my marriage. If, however, I take my wedding ring off, it does not cause me to not be married. I am still married. My being married is based on the relationship and commitment I made to my wife, not based on my wearing a ring. Salvation is based on my relationship to Christ, not upon whether I actually have the symbol (baptism) or not.

      2. Examples of people who were saved but not baptized
        1. Thief on cross
        2. Cornelius in Acts 10.
          1. This takes place after the ascension so that it negates the argument that baptism is necessary for salvation for people who are saved after the ascension
          2. Cornelius receives the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues BEFORE he was baptized
          3. Therefore, he must have been saved prior to his baptism proving that baptism is not essential to salvation
      3. Answering Acts 2:38
        1. note 2:19 the parallel verse. Nothing about baptism is mentioned
        2. next recorded sermon in 3:17-26 has no mention of baptism, but does of repentance
        3. contradicts salvation by faith
          1. Acts 11:31, 10:43; Rom. 4:5, John 3:15,16,18,36; 5:24; 6:40, 47
          2. Salvation has always been by faith.
          3. Illus. Abraham. Cp. Rom. 3:20 & Gal. 3:11 "justified in his sight" with James 2:17-18 where we are justified in the sight of man. Remember Abraham was saved 17 years before he was circumcised. So one can be saved 17 years before baptism!
          4. Teaches a close connection between salvation and baptism, but not a necessity
    4. Message (3-fold significance)
      1. Pictures the death, burial, & resurrection of Jesus
      2. Pictures our death to self & our new life in being alive to God
        1. corpse doesn’t drink, cheat, lie etc.
        2. telling the world that you are no longer going to live like you used to
      3. Pictures our future resurrection
  2. Mode (Immersion)
    1. Immersion: predominate meaning of baptizes to dip, plunge, or immerse
    2. "much water"
    3. "coming up out of the water"
    4. triple dips versus 1 dip
      1. single dip fits better with the resurrection symbolism (Jesus was not resurrected three times)
      2. single dipper fits best with formula "Name (singular) of the Father Son, Holy Ghost. We are not baptizing in three names, but one name
  3. Mandate
    1. Great Commission
    2. Fulfill all righteousness
    3. Follow Christ
    4. Identify With Christ

Conclusion:

Remember these key points