A Sermon on Baptism
Key Text: Matt. 28:19, 20
Introduction
- Suppose you, as many people are, were in desperate need of acquiring a piece of land upon which to build your house
- The local authority says for everyone interested to fill in a particular application form
- Would you be careful to fill the right form?
- Most people I know would.
- Today we are talking of heaven’s application form, which the Bible calls baptism.
Discussion
- What is baptism?
- From Greek, to deep or immerse under water
- A public confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour
- It is heaven’s application form for all seeking salvation through Christ Jesus.
- Is it important?
- Jesus says that unless born again, no one can enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5).
- This underscores the point as so important for salvation, just like filling in and submitting an application form is important for a visa, passport, piece of land or some other product or service.
- Does is have any significance?
- Baptism is an affirmation that Jesus lived, died and rose again (Rom. 6:1-4)
- Baptism also points to my identity with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Through baptism I make a declaration that I have died to my old self, been buried with Christ and now I have been raised walk in the newness of life (Col. 2:12. 13; 2 Cor. 5:17)
- What are its identifying features?
- Would be careful when making an application that you have the correct and authorized form?
- Most people would and you most probably would too
- Few people would say “I don’t care, as long as it is an application form.”
- In the Bible, a valid baptism is only for believing adults who have received instruction and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (Acts 3:37-41; 8:36-38; cf. 16:29-33). There are not infant baptisms in the Bible.
- Another feature of true baptism is that in uses water. Many religious organization now use fire, eggs, milk, flags, knobkerries and even whips for ‘baptism.’ A lie has many variations, but the truth has none.
- In addition, it is not just water, but much water needed for baptism. John used to baptise people at a particular spot on the Jordan River, “because there was much water there” (John 3:23). Some people use water, but not “much water.” They may sprinkle or simply draw a cross on someone’s forehead. That may be acceptable to the Church, but surely there is no biblical validity for such a ‘baptism.’ It is not biblical. It is a strange application form.
- In baptism, as in burial, a person goes into the water once and comes out once. Some say it has to be three, seven or whatever times. Some even say until a demon comes out of the person. Such a distortions of biblical baptism. Jesus died once, he was buried once and rose once for evermore (Rom. 6:9, 10).
- Some people simple ignore all these features, believing that all that matters is their sincerity.
- How do you take God’s words? Are you like a wise builder or like the foolish builder who was careless, only to regret in the end? (Matt. 7:21-23; cf. 24-27)
Appeal
- Are you baptized the Bible way?
- Is it your desire to be so baptized?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for teaching me about baptism as it is in the Bible. This is your application form for me to publicly show my acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. May you help me fill in the correct form and be baptised the right way. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.