Sunday, October 25, 2020 pm
Why Should I Be Baptized?
The past several months, since
this pandemic has altered the way we teach God’s word as the Lord’s church here
in Bellflower, I have tried to present lessons that I believe are for the
edification of our members and anyone else who chooses to listen.
Hopefully there are others who tune in from time to time.
Tonight, I want to present something a little different.
I want to present a very basic and doctrinal lesson dealing with our
salvation. I want to address why we
need to be baptized.
For our members who have obeyed
the gospel, this is simply a reminder of God’s plan of salvation and WHY we
obeyed the gospel (cf. 2 Peter 1:12-15).
But maybe there is someone who
is searching for the truth and is wondering what one needs to do to be saved.
Perhaps in searching for lessons during this pandemic, someone has come
across our web resources (YouTube, Facebook, or our website –
www.roseavenue.org) and is searching for
answers to salvation. Hopefully,
this lesson will answer some of those questions, or at lease introduce this
important subject.
Maybe as members of this
congregation, you have been engaged in conversations, or even a study about
salvation with someone. This lesson
will be beneficial in explaining some of these things.
So let us take a few moments to talk about baptism as part of God’s plan
of salvation.
I.
Preliminary observations
a.
What is baptism? A word that means
to immerse or dip.
b.
Baptism ALONE does NOT save us.
i.
First and foremost we need the grace God.
It is the PRIME factor in our salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 2:11.
ii.
We need faith to be baptized. Jesus said, “If
you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
Mark 16:16 – baptism is for believers who understand what they are doing and
why. That is why we should not
baptize infants. It is wrong and
thus a sinful practice. An infant
cannot believe.
iii.
In baptism we do NOT earn our salvation
– some dismiss baptism because they say it is a work.
In one sense it is, but not the way they mean it.
1.
In baptism we are doing something – namely we are OBEYING what God tells us to
do.
Obedience IS necessary – Hebrews 5:9, Matthew 7:21-23, etc.
cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8, etc.
So, if by works you mean you take action – then yes it is a work.
But so is faith – 1 Thessalonians 1:3, John 6:28-29, “This is the work of
God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
And when you consider that believing is an action (a verb), you are doing
something.
ALSO, confession is an action – Romans 10:9-10 – both confession and belief are
verbs – they are actions.
Furthermore, consider James 2:17.
James is emphasizing the importance of a faith that responds and obeys.
Consider James 2:24.
2.
But often what is implied when one says baptism is a work, they say we believe
in works salvation. No!
I believe in obeying what God says.
Salvations by works means that IF we do the works, we EARN our salvation.
That is simply not true. None
will EVER earn their salvation.
iv.
God’s plan of salvation (our response) also includes:
1.
Hearing the word – Romans 10:17 – that is where our faith comes from.
(Hebrews 11:6). How can
you believe without hearing God’s word? (cf. 14-17)
2.
We must believe as already noted – this is fundamental, and should be obvious.
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:37, Acts 16:30-31.
In fact it is so fundamental, that sometimes the term “believe” is used to
describe the whole process – again Acts 16:31-33; Also consider Acts 18:8 which
speaks of Crispus, the ruler of the Synagogue “believed on the Lord”.
The text then mentions others heard, believed and were baptized.
However please consider 1 Corinthians 1:14 where Paul notes that he
specifically baptized Crispus and a few others.
This shows how the term “believe” can be an inclusive term that summarizes
everything one does to be saved.
3.
We must repent –
a word which demonstrates a change in direction in one’s life.
To become a Christian you need to renounce the ways of this world
4.
We must also confess Jesus as Christ and Lord.
A willingness to acknowledge publicly our faith in Him to save us.
Romans 10:9-10. Acts 8:37
also describes what one confesses in becoming a child of God.
5.
After all these things we come to the subject of baptism.
So let us notice some passages of scripture about baptism and then you
tell me, what we need to do.
II.
Why be baptized?
a.
Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:16 - “the great commission”.
Jesus commissioned His apostles to go and make disciples, baptizing them
and teaching them to observe all things commanded.
Mark notes that this baptism leads to salvation.
b.
Romans 6:3-4 – describes how baptism is burial and how in baptism we come in
contact with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Those events were associated with the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins
(John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, 1 Corinthians 15:3, etc.
c.
Galatians 3:27 – as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
d.
Colossians 2:12 – in Him we receive true circumcision, “buried with Him in
baptism, in which you were also raised wit Him through faith…”
e.
1
Peter 3:20-21 – baptism now save us… baptism now saves us.
We also find in this text, WATER.
The element of true baptism.
f.
Conversion in the book of Acts. When
someone heard the gospel, they would respond by being baptized.
i.
Pentecost – Acts 2:37-41 – note that those who “gladly received his word were
baptized.”
ii.
The Samaritans – Acts 8:12-13, when they believed Philip, they were baptized,
both men and women. Including Simon
the sorcerer (vs. 13), though he stumbled.
iii.
The Eunuch – Acts 8:35-38, when Philip preached Christ, they came upon a body of
water and the eunuch requested baptism.
Philip consented based upon his belief and confession
iv.
Cornelius – Acts 10:1-2 a Gentile centurion who believed in God and did many
good works. Yet he needed salvation.
Peter was sent to him – Acts 10:47-48, after preaching and some other
events, we read that Peter commanded him to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
v.
Lydia and her household – Acts 16:14-15 – hearing Paul’s preaching, the Lord
opened her heart and she was baptized and her household.
vi.
The Philippians jailer – Acts 16:31-34.
vii.
The Corinthians - Acts 18:8 – we read of Crispus believing and may of the
Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
viii.
The Ephesians – Acts 19:4-5 – some who had been wrongly baptized were baptized
for the right reason.
ix.
And Paul – Acts 9:18, 22:16 – praying for 3 days in Damascus, Ananias came to
him and instructed him to be baptized.
Paul complied immediately.
x.
ALL these examples combined, give us overwhelming evidence that we MUST be
baptized to be saved and have our sins forgiven.
NOTICE again in this book how many responded AFTER they were baptized.
Friends, much more could be said
about this. We do not teach the
necessity of baptism to be different.
We teach it because it is what the Bible says.
Is that enough reason for you?
Think about it, and is there some way we can help you?