Today we have four baptisms after the service, so I wanted to review the doctrine of baptism and show what the Bible has to say. I’ve been working for several years on a book about Baptist baptism, and today will be a snippet from that, but also the who, what, when, where, why, and how of baptism!
Joey came to me after the service a few weeks ago and said, “I’ve been saved a long time, but never got around to being baptized.” He’d been waiting for a chance to talk about it, and when we mentioned this upcoming baptism Sunday, he jumped on it. He and Eli (his brother) have been attending for a few months now, and they both wanted to make their faith public through baptism. Domenic made his faith personal when he called on Christ in my office after a service a couple of months ago. He grew up knowing about Jesus, but had never made it his faith until recently. Kate was saved several years ago after hearing the Gospel at another church, and initiated the conversation herself about baptism. She’s serious about it, and I love that no one is coercing any of these baptisms!
That’s how it should be. These four being baptized today are a great picture of what Christians have been doing for centuries.
Imagine you’re a first-century Jew hearing the Apostle Peter preaching about Jesus Christ being raised from the dead. You’ve heard your father say that if any of his children followed Jesus, they’re dead to the family and would not be welcome at home.
But you’re convinced that Jesus rose from the dead! You believe and trust Christ in your heart, and you are saved!
But… you haven’t told your family yet. Once you do, you know what will happen.
Imagine the turmoil in your soul. Imagine knowing the truth inwardly, but feeling like a hypocrite because you’re too cowardly to confess it outwardly.
Then, you see others going down into the Jordan River, and you know their families have said the same thing that your dad said. “If you follow Christ, you’re dead to me. You’re no child of mine.”
But there they go… down into the river to be baptized by the apostles. They’ve been disowned by family, but welcomed into a church family!
You know what to do. You make your faith public. You step down into the water to publicly declare what you believe in your heart. You identify yourself as a follower of Jesus, and are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and you too are added to that same community of believers.
What joy! What a testimony!
But also, what sacrifice.
___
In many cultures still today, this is what baptism means—it means being disowned. It means being marked. It means being shunned. It could mean death.
But true believers since the time of Christ have held Romans 1:16 as their banner, “I AM NOT ASHAMED.” Baptism is our declaration to the world that we are followers of Jesus Christ.
Are you ashamed? These four today are not.
I am thankful we are not living in a culture where a baptism is life-threatening—no one will be hunting these four down after today. I am thankful we are not persecuted for our faith, but if we were, would you be in church today?
Are you here out of convenience or commitment?
Is church cultural, or is it truth?
The first step of obedience after being saved is to follow the Lord’s example and be baptized. Are you obedient to the Bible’s teachings on being baptized?
You can still go to heaven without being baptized—salvation is by faith in Christ alone—but I wouldn’t want to get there and have Jesus ask me, “Well, why didn’t you get baptized?” Er… um…
Thank God for this incredible ordinance we get to observe today. Let’s celebrate with these four today, and if you need to be baptized, let’s get that schedule! How about next week??
God bless you.
-Pastor Ryan