Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

The Sermon for this week is: Why I Believe In Baptism

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. In our previous study, I shared why I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ...

a. It contains good news that Jesus wanted everyone to hear - Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

b. It is God’s power to salvation for everyone who believes it - Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

2. I also pointed out that the gospel of Jesus Christ contains...

a. Facts to believe - the message of God’s love and grace

b. Commands to obey - not difficult works done to earn salvation, but simple acts of faith whereby we receive God’s grace and mercy

c. Promises to receive - helping us deal with the problem of sin in our lives

 

3. Included in the commands of the gospel is one regarding baptism...

a. An immersion in water by a penitent believer of the gospel

b. Which many people say is not necessary

 

[Yet I believe that baptism is an integral part of the gospel of Christ, and is indeed the culmination of faith in response to the gospel. Why do I believe in baptism? Because...]

 

I. BAPTISM IS COMMANDED BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES

 

A. BY CHRIST IN THE GREAT COMMISSION...

 

1. As part of the process of producing disciples - Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

a. The apostles were commanded to “make disciples”

b. Disciples were made by baptizing them and continuing to teach them

 

2. As an integral part of responding to the gospel of Christ - Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

a. Jesus wanted His gospel preached to every person in the world

b. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved; those who do not believe in the gospel will be condemned

 

-- Can we fulfill the Great Commission and not tell people the need to be baptized?

 

B. BY THOSE SENT BY CHRIST IN THEIR PREACHING...

 

1. By Peter on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:36-38 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. ; cf. Acts 2:41 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

a. When his listeners asked “what shall we do?”, Peter told them to be baptized

b. 3000 people who gladly received his word were baptized

 

2. By Philip in preaching Jesus - Acts 8:5 - Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. ; Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ; Acts 8:35-38 - Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

a. He preached Jesus in Samaria, and people responded in faith and baptism

b. He preached Christ to the Ethiopian, who immediately requested baptism

 

3. By Peter to the household of Cornelius - Acts 10:47-48 - Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

a. The outpouring of the Spirit made it clear that God was no respecter of persons

b. Thus Peter commanded baptism for Cornelius and his household

 

4. By Ananias in his words to Saul of Tarsus (Paul) - Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

a. Saul had been praying and fasting for three days since the Lord appeared to him

b. Yet despite faith and repentance, he was still in his sins

c. Baptism was commanded, to wash away his sins!

 

-- Can we preach like the apostles, without commanding people to be baptized?

 

[Baptism is clearly an integral part of preaching the gospel of Christ and thereby fulfilling the Great Commission. To appreciate why, consider what is revealed about baptism in the Scriptures...]

 

II. BAPTISM IS THE AVENUE OF WONDERFUL BLESSINGS

 

A. FORGIVENESS OF SINS...

 

1. Forgiveness of sins is made possible through the blood of Jesus - Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

a. Without the blood of Christ there is no forgiveness of sins

b. We cannot earn or merit our salvation in any way

 

2. Such forgiveness is promised by those who repent and are baptized - 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. ; cf. Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

a. Yet those who respond in baptism are assured their sins will be forgiven

b. In some way, it is at baptism that we receive forgiveness through Jesus’ blood

 

-- Baptism is tightly connected with forgiveness of sins in the Scriptures

 

B. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...

 

1. There is the promise of the Spirit - John 7:37-39 - In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ; Acts 2:38-39 - 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

a. Promised by Jesus to those who believe

b. Promised by Peter to those who repent and are baptized

 

2. Baptism involves the working of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ; Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

a. We are made to drink of the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

b. We experience a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Spirit - Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

-- Through baptism, we benefit from the Spirit’s aid in sanctification

 

C. UNION WITH CHRIST...

 

1. Union with Christ is necessary for spiritual life - John 15:4-5 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

a. We cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ

b. Without Christ we can do nothing

 

2. In baptism we are united with Christ - Romans 6:3-4 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ; Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

a. Buried with Him through baptism into His death

b. We put on Christ in baptism

 

-- Baptism is the means by which we receive Jesus through faith

 

D. NEWNESS OF LIFE...

 

1. Newness of life is the result of dying to sin and rising with Christ - Romans 6:3-7 -  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

a. We die with Christ in baptism

b. As we come forth from the watery grave, we rise to walk in newness of life

 

2. In baptism we are buried with Christ, then made alive together with Christ - Colossians 2:12-13 - Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

a. Buried and raised with Christ, through faith in the working of God

b. It is God who makes us alive, having forgiven us all our trespasses

 

-- Baptism is not a work of man, but a work of God to which we must submit!

 

E. SALVATION...

 

1. Baptism saves us - 1 Peter 3:21 - The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

a. Many say baptism does not save us

b. Peter says baptism does save us!

 

2. How baptism saves us - 1 Peter 3:21 - The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: ; cf. Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

a. Not through any cleansing of the flesh, as though the water itself has cleansing power

b. But as an appeal for a clear conscience, made possible by the blood of Christ

 

-- Baptism is the sinner’s appeal for forgiveness, to which God graciously answers!

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. Why should we believe in baptism? Because...

a. It is commanded by Christ and His apostles

b. It is the avenue of wonderful blessings

 

2. Baptism was integral to the preaching of the gospel...

a. “In an apostolic sermon it comes as its logical conclusion. ” - George Beasley-Murray

b. “An effort ought to be made to restore this note in our preaching.” - ibid.

 

So it was in the first gospel sermon preached after the resurrection of Christ: Acts 2:36-38 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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.

 

Acts 2:41 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

 

Have you been baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins? If not, then heeds the words of Ananias as expressed to Saul of Tarsus: Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Prayer: Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this  I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Ephesians 6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

 

This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never be used for profit.