Where Does Baptism Fit In?
Rom 6:1-11
Intro:
1. Proselyte Baptism:
a. Cut off hair & nails & made a fresh confession of their faith.
b. Immersed himself naked in front of a rabbi & 2 witnesses. A woman had 2 female witnesses & the Rabbi stood outside.
c. This was considered a “bath of regeneration”. Christian baptism is also considered a “washing of regeneration” (Tit 3:5).
2. John the Baptist: baptized with water for repentance (Matt 3:11). This means a changed life occurred & baptism followed as a purification rite. (Matt 3:7-8)
3. Lord Jesus:
a. Baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 3:13-15).
b. In this way He was ordained like a priest, washed & anointed, before He could function in His ministry (Ex 29:4-7).
4. How does this water baptism, then, fit into God’s plan of salvation?
I. It Fits in By It’s Importance
A. Baptism was involved in every conversion in the Book of Acts!
1. Pentecost: Act 2:38, 41 - Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will re- ceive the gift of the Holy Spirit . . . Those who accepted his message were bap- tized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
2. Paul: Act 22:16 - And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
3. The Ethiopian: Act 8:38 - And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
4. The Ephesian Baptists: Act 19:5 - On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
5. Other conversions: Samaritans (8:12), Cornelius (10:48), Lydia (16:15), Philippian Jailor (16:33) & Crispus (18:8).
B. But how about Apollos in Acts 18?
1. Notice v25 - He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
2. Was this a real conversion or simply a Christian who had a misunderstanding of what baptism was?
II. It Fits in By It’s Purpose
A. Christian baptism is not the same as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Samaritans were baptized in water first (Act 8:12), then baptized by the HS later (Act 8:14-17).
2. Cornelius was baptized by the HS first (Act 10:44), then baptized in water later (Act 10:48).
3. Both of these conversions involved non Jews for the 1st time.
B. Baptism is a death to sin & a resurrection to life. Rom 6:3-4 - Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.
C. Baptism is a putting off of the sins of the flesh. Col 2:11-12 - In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
D. Baptism is putting Christ on like a suite of clothes. Gal 3:27 - for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
E. Baptism brings us into one body, regardless of our race. I Cor 12:13 - 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.
F. Baptism produces the final aspect of your new birth. Jn 3:3, 5 - Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. . . Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
G. Baptism brings about salvation from sin:
1. As an expression of your faith. Mk 16:15-16 - Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
2. As a response to God’s grace. I Pet 3:21 - this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. As a resemblance to Israel in the Red Sea. I Cor 10:1-2 - For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
III. It Fits in By It’s Role
A. The act of baptism itself doesn’t save you - the act of dying on the cross did the saving!
1. How did an event 2000 years ago, thousands of miles away affect me? When I iden- tify with what took place there!
2. What made possible the forgiveness of your sins? The blood of Jesus (Matt 26:28). When were your sins forgiven? At your baptism (Act 2:38).
3. What washes away your sins? The blood of Jesus (Rev 1:5). When does the blood of Jesus wash them away? At your baptism (Act 22:16).
4. What purges your conscience from dead works? The blood of Jesus (Heb 9:14). When does the blood of Jesus do the purging? At your baptism (I Pet 3:21).
5. Not everyone calling Jesus Lord will be saved - only those who obey Him (Matt 7:21).
6. When the Lord comes He will take revenge upon those who do not obey the gospel (II Thess 1:8)
7. Baptism is the act of obedient faith in response to what Lord Jesus did on the cross!
B. Baptism is not something you do to earn heaven. It is something that is done to you!
1. You don’t do a work, you submit to a privilege!
2. You receive baptism as God’s pledge to you that you will be resurrected when you are dead & buried.
C. Baptism will not keep you saved. Only faithfulness to Lord Jesus will do that!
According to I Cor 15:3-4, the gospel is the death, burial & resurrection of Lord Jesus. The gospel must be obeyed (II Thess 1:8). How do you obey a fact? You can’t! But you can obey the likeness of a fact. Rom 6:3-4 & Col 2:11-12 say baptism is your personal death, burial & resurrection. If you have ever wondered if you have been saved, don’t doubt. Respond to the Lord the way He has made known. Genuinely put your faith in the Lord & His gospel message, repent of your sinful life, pledge your allegiance to God through the Good Confession & be baptized. Base your faith about your salvation on the promises of God’s word!
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