This morning I want to begin by relating a little history that most of you will be well aware of . We in the Brethren in Christ denomination are part of a larger group known as anabaptists. Does anyone know what an Anabaptist is? The prefix ana means again, …. put it on the word, Baptist and it means to baptize again, or a second baptism.
When wee little Johnny was born to Elizabeth and Zacharias, he was an unusual child appointed by God to be the one who would prepare the way for the Lord. His main message was the call to REPENT. And I want to begin this morning by making it clear that the message of John must still be heard here today, before we come to the waters of baptism if we are to be properly prepared for what we are doing. The church of John’s day was a church of rules and regulations without much evidence of genuine heart change. People were religious but they lacked an intimate relationship with God with because they tolerated sin in their lives and SIN always separates us from God. When we walk in sin and pride we are improperly focused or centred. It is no coincidence that the centre letter of sin and the centre letter of pride is “I.” John cried out to the people of his day, “Repent and be baptized for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt.3:2.
Historically, we can trace the roots of baptism to John the Baptist, who offered baptism in the river Jordan as a sign of repentance before God and a desire to have one’s sins washed away.
John was clear in his understanding that he was called as a forerunner of the true BAPTIZER that would come after him. His call was to prepare people and his message of preparation was then and it still is now – REPENTANCE.
The early church we see in the book of Acts baptized believers on confession of their faith in Christ and as a sign that they had repented of sin. We know that there was great persecution on the church in the first 300 years after Christ. For believers to be publicly baptized, it could very easily mean their sure and certain death because Christianity was against the law. In 313AD Emporer Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which ended persecution of Christians and in fact, made Christianity the state religion. All of a sudden the tide swept from fear of death for Christianity, all the way to becoming the proper social thing to do. It became popular to be Christian and many converted because it was the thing to do, not because they were repenting of sin or expressing personal faith in Jesus. For the next hundred years the Holy Roman church grew like wildfire but it soon became clear that this new type of Christian may not show the fruit of repentance in their lives – to use a phrase that John the Baptist liked.
In 401AD, the growing Holy Roman church was in a great building mode but lacked the resources to build their beautiful buildings. Pope Innocent the 1st, came up with an idea that he spoke into papal law as the vicar of Christ. He said, “If you don’t have your babies baptized as soon after birth as possible, they will not be secured for heaven.” He set a fee for baptism and sent the word out to an ignorant and illiterate world that unbaptized babies would not go to heaven. His teaching was thought to be the voice of God and it struck fear in the heart of every parent, that they must hurry to get their child baptized. The new income stream for the church was awesome as very poor people struggled to come up with the money to have the priest baptize their child. Baby baptism worked so well that the next when the next big fund raiser for the financial blessing of the church was needed Pope Clemment the 6th, taught the dogma of indulgences to release souls from purgatory. In this teaching when a person dies they go to purgatory, a place of great punishment, pain and sorrow to pay for their sins. The amount of time they spent there would be determined to some extent, by how many indulgences their loved ones would purchase from the church to have their loved one release and taken to heaven.
Now we smile and think, “How could anyone believe anything so far removed from the truth of the bible?” Well folks, billions of people have believed in baby baptism and purgatory, and indulgences, and none of these things have any resemblance to biblical teaching at all. In fact, may I say as lovingly as possible to those of you gathered here today who were baptized as babies, baby baptism was one of the enemies greatest weapons to keep people out of heaven. I have personally witnessed about the need for repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ to a number of people who have quickly dismissed me with the line, “I’m okay with the man upstairs, I was done when I was a baby and I became part of the church then. I’m okay, so don’t bug me!”
This teaching of infant baptism is part of what moved the church into what we call the “Dark ages.” The light of truth was snuffed out and in it’s place there was a ministry of fear and ignorant acceptance of things that were not found anywhere in scripture, but the only ones who had the scriptures were the priests and the common people were deliberately kept in the dark. It was only when the bible began to be seen by more people that the new light of the reformation dawned. Men like John Wycliffe, Gerolomo Savoneroala, and John Hus began to see that the only baptism that the bible taught was one of repentance and faith that could only be for believers. Believers could not be babies. They saw that in the many references to baptism in the New Testament, there was not one reference to babies but always to believers.
These reformers might have lived longer if they had kept their thoughts to themselves, but they began to stand for the truth of God’s word and they began to baptize people on confession of their faith. That infuriated the Holy Roman church, and a great persecution began. Thousands of ana-baptists were martyred in the early years of the reformation because they took a stand for biblical truth. Standing for the truth will always cost you something in a world that is hostile to the gospel. But truth is irrepressible and it spread like wild fire as the blood of the martyrs was spilled.
Finally under great persecution many of the early German Baptists, like Menno Simons, the father of the Mennonites, and Moravians left Europe for the New World and religious freedom. Our forefathers located in the Susquehena Valley of Pennsylvania and there they became known as Dunkards or River Brethren. There they were able to baptize believers upon confession of their faith. That gives us a little background as we come to our baptism service today.
1. Why should I be baptized?
1. To follow the example set by Christ. Mark 1:9 “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Why was Jesus baptized? In order to save Him? No, He didn’t need to be saved. He was perfect. Baptism doesn’t save you. It is a symbol of obedience and it’s an example that we are to do what He has done.
2. Because Christ commands it. Christ commands that every Christian be baptized. “Jesus said, `Go then to all people everywhere and (1) make them My disciples, (2) baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and (3) teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” These are the three things the church is commanded to do: Make disciples — help people come to know Christ; Baptize them; Help them grow up. Many people think, “I’ll be baptized after I’ve grown up. After I know about the Christian life, then I’ll be baptized.” No, it’s right after you make the decision to follow Christ. Notice the order: You make the disciples, then you baptize them, then you spend the rest of your life growing as a Christian. So baptism is a step of obedience and obedience ALWAYS brings blessing. Think about it! For 30 years Jesus grew in stature and wisdom and in the fear of the Lord, but it was when he was baptised that the Holy Spirit came upon him in a new and special way and immediately you see a new focus in the life of Christ. Immediately there was a new sense of purpose, direction and anointing. I want to say to you who are being baptized this morning. God is pleased with your obedience and I am here to tell you that you will notice a new dimension of God’s anointing, blessing and purpose in your life because obedience always brings blessing.
3. It demonstrates that I’m really a believer. The Bible says, “Many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.” Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian. It just shows that you are a Christian. A wedding ring doesn’t make me married, it is a symbol of a commitment that I made that made me married.
That’s what baptism is. Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian. It’s just an outward symbol of an inward commitment. It is your commitment to Christ that saves you. Baptism just says to the world, “I’m not ashamed to tell the whole world what’s happened to me. I’ve given my life to Christ.” Baptism is an advertisement for Jesus. It’s saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ.” Jesus once said, “If you’re ashamed of Me in front of the world then I’ll be ashamed of you in front of My Father in heaven.” I know some people who won’t get baptized because they don’t want to get their hair wet. Are you that ashamed of Jesus Christ? The Bible says, “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands.” How do you prove you’re a Christian? You obey His commands. One of His first commands is, Be baptized.
Some people believe in “Baptismal Regeneration,” or – if you’re not baptised – you’re not saved. We do not see that in the whole counsel of scripture. While it is an important step of obedience, it is not a prerequisite to salvation or the thief on the cross who repented at the last moment would not have made it to paradise (heaven) to spend eternity with Jesus, but of course, Jesus assured him he would!) Most people who believe in baptismal regeneration base their theology on the King James rendering of Acts 2:38
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
On the surface that verse would suggest that you unless you are baptized you cannot receive the Holy Spirit or be born again. That would contradict many other scriptures and the experience of the dying thief on the cross, that suggest repentance and faith bring salvation and baptism displays that faith. Some commentators suggest that the word translated “For” should be, “Because of” to be more accurate. “Repent and then be baptized because of the remission of your sins.” That certainly seems to line up better with the whole counsel of scripture using all of the salvation verses as a backdrop.
What is the meaning of baptism? Baptism does two things.
1. It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection. “Christ died for our sins. He was buried and He rose again.”(1 Cor.15:3-4) the Bible says “For when you were baptized you were buried with Christ and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” (Col.2:12) At Rosebank, we baptize the way they did in the Bible — putting people all the way under the water. It is a symbol of a burial and resurrection. Just like Jesus Christ died and was buried in the ground for three days and then rose again.
2. Baptism illustrates my new life as a Christian. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “When anyone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun.” In the Bible, there was no such thing as a person claiming to be a Christian and not be baptized. It was automatic. You were baptized as soon as you gave your life to Christ.
“By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead so we also may live a new life.” (Rom.6:4) It doesn’t make you a Christian, it shows you already believe.
Why should I be baptized by immersion? There are lots of ways. There are some churches that sprinkle a little water on your forehead. Some pour a little water. Some dip a little bit. Other churches put you all the way under the water. Why do we believe and practice at Roseabank you should be baptized by immersion? Four reasons.
1. Because Jesus was baptized that way. We want to do it the way they did it in the Bible. It says “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” He went down to the Jordan river. John the Baptist baptized Him in the river. He set the example.
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion. Example “Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Then they came up out of the water.”(Acts 8:38-39)
3. That’s what the word means. “Baptize” literally means “dip under water.” The Greek word baptize means to dip under water.
4. It best symbolizes a burial and resurrection. The founders of denominations agree about this.
Martin Luther (Lutherans) said, “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed as the word imports and the mystery signifies.”
John Calvin (Presbyterians) “The word `baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.”
John Wesley (Methodists) “Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”
Who should be baptized? Every person who’s believed in Christ. “Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized.” Acts 8:13, “Simon himself believed and was baptized.” Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
At Rosebank we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. There is only one qualification in the Bible to be baptized. You’ve got to believe in Christ. Obviously you’ve got to be old enough to understand what that’s all about. There are many churches that practice the baptism of infants or babies. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own confession of faith. This custom only began about 300 years after the Bible was finished. It’s not in the Bible. The purpose is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ. In the Brethren in Christ church, it is a membership requirement. Every member must have been baptized the way Jesus demonstrated, even though many of us were baptized as babies and confirmed as children.
Why do we do that?
1. Jesus commanded the church to do it. He said, “Go baptize.”
2. It’s a symbol that your body is a member of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13.
What do you wear when you’re going to be baptized? Whatever you feel comfortable in. If you’re a woman, slacks and a dark coloured top for modesty. The men, just a pair of shorts, or slacks and a t-shirt. Something you don’t mind getting wet in.
When should you be baptized? As soon as you become a believer. Or as soon as you realize its importance. Maybe you’ve been a believer for a while but you didn’t realize how important it was. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” In Acts it says those who believed were baptized that day.
“Philip began with the scripture and told him the good news about Jesus and as they traveled along the road they came to some water and the man said, “Look! Here’s water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized right now?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38)
There’s nothing special about the water. What is holy is the faith of the people. It’s not where you’re baptized. It’s why you’re baptized — to publicly say, “I am an adult consenting follower of Christ.” There’s no reason to delay. After you’ve decided to receive Christ you ought to be baptized.
This morning I want challenge you with the reality that God has a plan for your life. Part of his plan is that you become a believer. If you have become a believer, then part of his plan for you is that you be baptized. It is crystal clear in his word. You are never too old to be baptized. I baptized a man who was just over 100 years old in 2004. You may be too proud. You may think, there’s no way I’m going to get wet and mess my hair in front of a bunch of people.
Please hear me this morning. A Saviour who loves you passionately was not ashamed to be stripped naked in a very public setting, and beaten so badly He was unrecognizable. He was willing to be in front of a crowd to identify with your sin, so he could save you. Are you willing to be in front of a crowd to identify the privilege of your LIFE in Him? If you are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of you before His father. That is not a papal edict, that is the word of God. Some of you desperately need God’s blessings and anointing in your life. The fasted way to get there is your humble obedience.
Let’s pray.