Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Special Services

Baptism 1

INTRO: At most baptism services especially in Baptist churches, you will hear the pastor say, 'Baptism is only an outward  symbol of an inward and spiritual reality.' I have said those words myself...but I now believe I may have been wrong.

 Although I still believe baptism is a symbol , that is represents a work already done in the life of a Believer...I believe it is more than that...If it is just and only a symbol, why do it?

 Public profession...yes! But how does that benefit the one being baptized? No, there has to be more and I believe that the answer is found in our text this morning. Here we will find that baptism is both a symbol and a challenge.

TRANS: Turn in your Bibles to Rom. 6:1 (page 860 in the pew Bible) where we will first examine baptism as a symbol.

I. Baptism symbolizes the Believers union with Christ

DEF: Union with Christ means that Believers are one with Jesus Christ, that when God looks at Believers He sees Jesus Christ.

How are we united with Christ according to the text?
    A. We die with Him
        1. We die to a life of sin that made us enemies of God
        2. We die to the life of sin that made us enslaved to sin
        3. We die to a life of sin that makes us unworthy of   heaven

 Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ in His death.  That means we share in Christ's death on the cross...after all He died on our behalf.

   B. We are buried with Him
        1. The penalty for a life of sin is death, even for 1 sin         (Rom. 6:23)
        2. Death requires burial, a life ended and put away.

  Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ in His burial. That means the life of sin we knew and lived before we were born again, before we asked Jesus into our lives, is dead and buried, never to return.

    C. We are raised with Him
        1. We are now free from the bondage of sin
        2. We are now free for new life in Christ

 Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ in His resurrection. That means just as He was raised to new life...so are we. A new life no longer controlled by sin but controlled by the Spirit.

  That means even though one day this physical body dies and is buried, we will live on for all eternity with Jesus in heaven.

 Baptism symbolizes the union with Christ of those who believe in Jesus as their Savior and who live for Him as their Lord.

 Baptism symbolizes the work God  has already begun in the life of a true Believer.

1. Forgiveness and cleansing of sin
2. Regeneration of the old life of sin to the new life in Christ. Being born again.
3. Indwelling by the  Holy Spirit as a seal of the work of    God begun in your life and a promise that it will continue until you
    are in His presence for all eternity.

 God has already done this work in Walts life. That is why he is being baptized this morning. But I will let him tell you about the work God has done in his heart in a bit.

  I know there may be some here this morning who have never given their lives  to Christ, who may never have been born again by God's Spirit. I want to speak to you just for a moment because I want you to understand the seriousness of  life w/o Christ.

  Without union with Christ, without experiencing the new birth Jesus talks about in John 4...There is no
1. Forgiveness and cleansing of sin
2. Your sin debt to God has to be paid...by you.
3. Your sin debt is paid by spiritual death, eternity spent in the torment of Hell.
4. You are an enemy of Go and His Spirit is not in you.

 Strong words I know, but true. Perhaps you have said I will get right with God tomorrow, or next year or some day in the future.

  BUT, understand that tomorrow, next year or someday in the future may never come. We don't know how much time we have here on earth, young or old, our time is in the sovereign hands of God.

 So, if God is speaking to your heart this morning, remember that God's Word says that now is the day of salvation.

 Yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and you will be saved...for all eternity.

I have put together an easy way to remember how one gets saved.

1. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your life of sin.
2. Accept His death on the cross as full payment for  your sin debt.
3. Acknowledge Jesus as your Messiah, your Savior and   your Lord.

 And you will experience new life in Christ...union with Jesus Christ.       Let's Pray.

TRANS: I said that baptism is not just a symbol, it is something more..it is a challenge. Let me explain.

II. Baptism is a challenge to commitment to Christ

  Paul begins Rom. 6 by saying 'Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!' He is responding to those who would say

 since we have been forgiven, cleansed of our sin by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary,

 since we have died and had our life of sin buried forever, never to return,

 since we have been raised with Christ in newness of life,

 since our sin debt is paid in full,

 is it ok to sin since it has already been taken care of ?

 NO! God forbid that you even think that. You see, our union with Christ keeps us from living in habitual, willful sin against God.  Because this would be inconsistent with and contrary to the work of Christ on the Cross.

Baptism challenges the believer to live this new life in Christ...especially because baptism is a symbol that others see.
    If they see the symbol....they will expect to see the life.

 Baptism challenges the believer to display in their life, the truth of what has happened in their hearts.

 Baptism challenges the Believer to a life of holiness and righteousness..of right living before God and mankind.

 Baptism is more than just a symbol for the Believer, it is a challenge to a full time commitment to Jesus Christ.

 Believer...are you up to the challenge?

Charge to candidate.

 If what I am asking you is true for you personally, respond by saying, 'I have'.

 - Have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus' death on the cross as full payment for your sin?

 - Have you invited Jesus Christ into your heart and accepted Him as your personal Savior?

 -Have you committed to walk in holiness and faithfulness before God, His people and the world by the power of God's indwelling Holy Spirit in your life?

 -__________according to your public profession of faith, I  baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.