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Introduction:
About three years ago, I preached a sermon entitled “What
Baptism Does Not Do.” We learned that it doesn’t replace
faith, confession, or repentance. We learned that baptism
doesn’t end temptation, prevent suffering, grant a license to
sin, or equal spiritual maturity. However, what I noticed is I
never actually came back to give you the other side. We never
studied what baptism actually does do. I want to remedy that
today. Baptism is one of the most hotly contested issues of the
scripture. In fact, it seems the entire religious world teaches
that baptism is a good thing, perhaps an important thing, but
really it is just an extra thing. When so many teach this and then
act like someone who says baptism is necessary is crazy, we might
begin to waver. In fact, I know of churches even in our area that
are backing off on the importance and necessity of baptism. What
is surprising about this is that the Bible is pretty clear. I’m
just not sure how anyone can read the Bible and get confused about
what baptism is all about and the essential place it holds in our
lives and salvation.
Before we look at what the Bible says Baptism does, please
understand what I mean when I say baptism. The word itself simply
means “immersion.” However, in the biblical context, it
doesn’t just mean being dunked under the water. I’m not
talking about taking a swim or a bath. I’m talking about a
response to God’s gospel stemming from faith in God based on a
desire to turn from sin and walk in God’s path. I’m talking
about being immersed in order to accomplish what the Bible claims.
Just because someone was immersed and even immersed for religious
reasons doesn’t mean they experienced what the Bible describes
when it speaks of baptism. Discussion: I.
Baptism brings us into Christ. A.
Galatians
3:27-29
says we are baptized into Christ. Further, when we are baptized
into Christ we put on Christ. B.
Ephesians
1:3-14
explains why this is so important. Every spiritual blessing is
found in Christ. Notice the blessings that come from being in
Christ. 1.
Those in Christ are made holy and blameless-Ephesians
1:4. 2.
Those in Christ are adopted as sons-Ephesians
1:5. 3.
Those in Christ are redeemed by His blood-Ephesians
1:7. 4.
Those in Christ receive the forgiveness of sins-Ephesians
1:7. 5.
Those in Christ receive an inheritance-Ephesians
1:11 (cf. I
Peter 1:4). C.
However, these blessings are only found in Christ. They
aren’t given to those who pray hard. They aren’t given to
those who go to church a lot. They are given to those who are in
Christ; the only way to get into Christ is through baptism. II.
Baptism makes us disciples. A.
Matthew
28:19
says we are made into disciples through baptism. A disciple is a
student or follower. Because of our modern education system, we
don’t think in terms of discipleship very much today. During the
time of Jesus, however, discipleship was a common practice. It
wasn’t simply a scriptural term. A teacher would set up shop and
start teaching in the public areas. Those who became intrigued
would listen more and more. Some would get to gain a very special
place of disciple. They were the ones to whom the teacher devoted
the majority of his attention. They received mentoring. In return,
they followed the teacher wherever he went and devoted their lives
to him. B.
Today, it is vogue to act like the term “Christian” is
just a religious term. You’ll hear people say, “I’m not a
Christian; I’m a Christ-follower.” The problem is many of
these very people have not experienced a biblical baptism.
Certainly, part of discipleship is listening to the teaching and
applying it to our lives. We can’t truly claim to be disciples
if we aren’t living what Jesus taught. However, at the same
time, we can’t claim to be a Christ-follower or a disciple if we
aren’t baptized in Christ’s baptism. Jesus said that is an
integral part of being His disciple. III.
Baptism brings us into the one body. A.
I
Corinthians 12:12-13
says even though we are many and we are all different, baptism
brings us all into the one body of Jesus Christ. Please, do not be
confused; even though this mentions being baptized “in one
Spirit” it is not talking about the Holy Spirit baptism. Rather,
it is talking about being baptized because we are obeying the
Spirit. B.
Acts
2:41, 47
demonstrate this very point. Peter had told the people in Acts
2:38 to be baptized and when they did, they were added to
the number of the disciples or as some translations point out,
they were added to the church. C.
Ephesians
5:25-27
explains why this is so important for us. While Jesus died for all
people, His death is only effective in saving His church. If we
want to be sanctified, presented without spot or blemish,
presented holy, we have to be in the church. Interestingly, notice
that this passage says the church has been cleansed “by the
washing of water with the word.” Like being baptized “in one
Spirit” this is not saying we are baptized in the word, but
rather we are baptized by responding to the word, which, by the
way, was delivered by the Spirit. IV.
Baptism brings us into Christ’s death. A.
Romans
6:3-4
says baptism brings us into Christ’s death. Colossians
2:12 makes a similar point as it claims we are buried with
Christ in baptism. Because we are dead in sin, we need to be
buried with Christ so His death can impact us. B.
According to II
Corinthians 5:14, Jesus’ death is a sacrifice for us. He
died and His death is imputed to us. Therefore, in a sense we all
died. I
Peter 2:24 says he bore our sins on the cross. We are
healed by His wounds. However, according to II
Timothy 2:11 we need to die with Jesus. According to Galatians
2:20, we must be crucified with Jesus. C.
Romans
6:3-8
says we do this in baptism. We may do all kinds of changing. We
may stop a whole bunch of sins. However, if we haven’t been
baptized, we haven’t died with Christ, our old self wasn’t
crucified with Him, our body of sins is still on us, and we’ll
be lost. We need to be baptized into Christ’s death for His
death to help us. V.
Baptism grants forgiveness. A.
Acts
2:38
says baptism is for or unto the remission of sins. Some folks want
to look at this passage and say “for” means because of.
They’ll say it is like a “Wanted Poster” in the post office
that says someone is “Wanted for
Murder.” They are wanted because of murder not in order to
murder. However, the Greek word translated “for” always means
“unto.” B.
I don’t like to simply rely on the Greek since I don’t
really know it. So let’s look at another passage that helps us. Acts
22:16 says, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your
sins.” This verse is very clear. We are baptized in order to
wash our sins away, not because our sins are already washed away. C.
Baptism is how we get rid of our sins and our guilt. But
let me point out again, this is not just baptism for any reason.
This is baptism for the remission of sins. If we are baptized for
some other reason, it is not this baptism. VI.
Baptism gives life. A.
We noted earlier that baptism brings us into Christ’s
death and through it we die with Christ. However, it doesn’t end
there. Because it forgives us of our sin, baptism also gives us
life. Romans
6:4 and Colossians 2:13 explains that when we are
baptized we are raised to walk in newness of life. B.
Just as Jesus died, was buried, then was raised to life, in
baptism we die to sin, are buried with Christ, and are raised to a
new life. The free gift of God is eternal life (Romans
6:23), however, we do not receive that gift until we are
baptized into Christ and His death. VII.
Baptism saves us. A.
I recall one time having a discussion about baptism with a
co-worker while I was in college. She finally said, “You know,
Edwin, it just seems to me that if baptism actually saved us, the
Bible would have said that at least once.” I think she makes a
good point. Perhaps you feel the same way. Perhaps seeing that
baptism is the means by which we enter Christ and His death,
receive forgiveness, and come into the one saved body is not
enough to convince you baptism does save us. Perhaps you are like
my friend, surely if baptism actually saved, God would have said
that at least once. B.
He did. I
Peter 3:21 says, “Baptism, which corresponds to this,
now saves you…” The text goes on to say it is not a physical
washing. It is not because the water is holy. Rather, it is
because baptism, when performed in accordance to Scripture, is a
response to God for a good conscience. It saves because God has
said when we do this, He’ll save us. Additionally, Mark
16:16 says those who believe and are baptized will be
saved. Baptism saves. Conclusion:
Having said all of that, can you see how important baptism
is? It is not just good advice. It is not just something nice to
do. It is not something extra. It is necessary and essential. It
is absolute. Without it, we are lost. We can never back off of
this. We can never compromise this. If we do, we may be more
appealing to more people, we may look nicer to people, we may feel
better and others may feel better about us, but we won’t be
saved and we won’t be saving anyone. We’ll all feel good right
into Hell. We want people to go to heaven, so we must teach this
truth and call people to respond to it.
However, I have to say just one more time, this is not
baptism for just any reason, this is an appeal to God through
Christ’s resurrection to be saved (I
Peter 3:21). It is not a statement that you are already
saved. It is not merely an act of obedience. It is an act of faith
in the working of God (Colossians
2:12). Sadly, very few today are baptized with faith in
the powerful working of God. Most think God doesn’t work in our
baptism. Most think baptism is just an outward sign that we
perform of the inward grace God has already done. But that is not
Bible baptism. Bible baptism is done in order to receive the
remission of sins. Bible baptism is done with faith that God works
to save us through it. Have you been baptized into Christ, into His death, into His body, to become a disciple, for the remission of your sins, in order to be saved? Can we help you with that today?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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