Drowning in His Love!
[The Importance of Water Baptism]
Romans 6:1-11:6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- The Example of Jesus in Water Baptism
Jesus Himself was baptised when He began the actual ministry part of His life. In Matthew 3:13-15: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Jesus came from Galilee to be baptised by John. When John said he was not worthy enough to baptise Jesus and that Jesus should be baptising him. But Jesus said that all righteousness must be fulfilled. He was not dealing with any sin but being obedient to the command of His heavenly Father. As He comes up out of the water He was publicly commissioned for ministry [16-17: …And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”].
2. The Command of Water Baptism
Jesus left us two commands, which we call ordinances or sacraments, communion and water baptism. On baptism He says:
Matthew 28:18-19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The One who has all authority gives the command for the church to practice this ordinance of baptism.
Water baptism is not part of becoming a Christian - we are saved by faith alone in Jesus. But it is one of the first steps of becoming a disciple of Jesus. It is a declaration that we are going to follow Him wholeheartedly.
- A command is something that requires obedience. We have not figured out everything one hundred percent before baptism.
- We are not perfect before baptism.
- There’s nothing special about the water used in baptism.
- But there is a commitment being made in baptism.
Early Christians called baptism a sacramentum (sacrament) – the Latin word for the soldier’s oath of absolute devotion, allegiance, and obedience to his commander.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: "He who believes, obeys; and he who obeys, believes."
If you say Jesus is your Lord and Saviour but say you don’t need to be baptised, it puts you in a very precarious position.
3. The Meaning of Water Baptism
The act of baptism is a picture of something else for us.
- Baptism requires plenty of water. (John 3:23)
- Baptism requires immersion (going under) the water.
- Baptism requires going down into water (Acts 8:38 - Ethiopian eunuch).
- Baptism requires coming up out of water (Matt 3:16a; Acts 8:39a).
- Baptism can only be performed when the person os old enough to understand the gospel message.
The meaning of baptism is this: It is the complete surrender of everything you are and everything you have to follow Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him.
Baptism identifies us with the death and resurrection of Jesus:
Romans 6: 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
We get the word baptise from the NT Greek word baptiszo which means to submerge to make clean. If we think of a shipwreck the word to describe is position under the water was baptizo. If you think of your chocolate digestive and you dunk it and then it breaks and drops in, that piece of biscuit has been baptised!
Baptism signifies that we are drowning in His love! But we don’t stay under because there’s a resurrection too!
Through baptism we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is what makes baptism effective.
Baptism becomes a declaration that the old life, full of sin, has been defeated and the new life has begun. A resurrection life!
Baptism is a declaration of our faith that we will follow Jesus. No turning back!
Baptism signifies the cleansing that we have experienced through the washing of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Baptism provides an outward expression of the inward cleansing and renewal that we have experienced. It is an opportunity to begin with a new slate and to begin fresh and have a new start.
Only One Person can remove our sins from us!
Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Wrapping this up:
Would you like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? The Bible says: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9).
Pray this with me:
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me. On the cross you took the punishment for my sins. You have made it possible for me to be forgiven for everything I have done wrong. I give my life to you and and ask for that forgiveness, for a fresh start, for a new life in you. Amen.
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