Connecting to the Call The Commands of Jesus Be Baptized and Remember Acts 8:34-40 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Now let me tell you about the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Jesus had a brief ministry, little more than three years, that's all, public ministry. How did Jesus begin his ministry? Jesus began his ministry by being baptized by John in the river Jordan. How did Jesus conclude his ministry? Jesus concluded his ministry by commanding baptism. "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," that is literally the end of the age. Jesus is here today, he is still speaking, he is still saying the same thing, he has not changed, there's no stutter, no stammer, no apology, no equivocation. It is there in the Word of God. We're to lead people to Christ, we're to baptize them and teach them to
observe everything he's commanded us. Now that's what the Word of God says. I want to talk to you about baptism today, not Baptists, baptism. Folks, I'm not one wit interested in Baptist baptism. If we have any Baptist doctrine, we need to get rid of it, and Presbyterians need to get rid of Presbyterian doctrine and Methodists need to get rid of Methodist doctrine and Episcopalians need to get rid of Episcopalian doctrine and Assemblies of God need to get rid of Assembly of God doctrine and Catholics need to get rid of Catholic doctrine and all of us need to come back to Bible doctrine. We need to understand what does the Bible say? Not, this is a church, not a club, and we don't make up our rules as we go along. Jesus has all authority. He is the one who tells us about baptism. The Method of Baptism Let's talk about the biblical method of baptism. What is the biblical method of baptism. How was the Lord Jesus Christ, our example, baptized. Mark 1:9-11 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." That was 60 miles one way to be baptized. You say, Well it's a little inconvenient for me to get baptized; if I got baptized I'd mess up a $20 hairdo. Jesus came 60 miles from Nazareth to Jordan and was baptized of John in Jordan. Not near Jordan, not by Jordan, but in Jordan. Jordan was a river. " And immediately, coming up from the water, now if he came up out of the water, where was he? Down in the water. It is obvious that Jesus was baptized by immersion. I. The Method of Baptism Why did Jesus come all the way out to Jordan? Why was John baptizing in Jordan? John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized Because" it was so beautiful there, because it was so convenient. That isn't what it says. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized Literally, the word baptized means immersed. The reason that John went out there to the river Jordan
was not for the scenery, not for the convenience, it just takes a lot of water to baptized. Jordan was a muddy old river and it wasn't convenient, but there was water there. In my first year as pastor in Winchester Virginia, we met in a UAW Building for church on Sunday and did not have a baptistery. So we went to one of the local creeks. Hog Creek to baptize. Why? Because, the same reason that Jesus went all the way to Jordan, because there was much water there. We had to find a place where there was water. Baptism is by immersion. The very word baptism is basically a translated Greek word baptizō means to dip, to submerge, to immerse. Rantizo means to sprinkle, luo means to pour, but God's Word that he uses, he says, Take them and baptize them. If you were to take the word baptize, it is a word that is transliterated, taken out of the Greek language, put into the English language, but the word literally if it's translated means to dip, to immerse. That's what the word means. And did you know in the early years all Christians baptized the way we baptize by immersion. II. The Meaning of Baptism The method and the meaning of baptism are inextricably interwoven. The reason that the method is so important is the method is necessary to the meaning and the meaning dictates the method. Baptism is a Picture Baptism pictures the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? herefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Therefore we are" what? "buried with him by baptism into death." Baptism is a burial, "that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of God 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." You see, what does baptism picture? Baptism pictures the gospel. What is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also
received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, That's the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Can you understand why the devil would like to destroy that symbolism? If there's one message, if you were the devil, what one message would you want to take out of the church? The gospel. What one message would you want to obliterate? The gospel. What one message would you want to make sure was not seen over and over again? It is the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now some people say, Well, the method is not important, it only pictures salvation, any picture will do. Of course that s not true. Baptism pictures the work of the Holy Spirit the moment I receive Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. I m a sinner because I was born in Adam I m a saint because now I am in Christ!!!!! Baptism is Identification Romans 6:5-6 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. I die, the old Mike dies because when Jesus died, he died for me. When I trust him, his death has my name on it. He died my death, he took my place upon that cross, so my death with the LORD JESUS CHRIST is pictured in baptism. That's the reason if you were baptized before you got saved, you weren't really baptized. To be baptized before you're saved is like having your funeral before you die. Baptism is a picture of your death. Always in the Bible, always baptism follows salvation, dying to the old way. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 10:46-47 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
Acts 16:30-33 30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Baptism also pictures our resurrection with Jesus. Romans 6:4-5 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. But it also pictures the fact that one of these days, one of these days I'm going to die physically if Jesus tarries and they're going to lay me in the grave. I don't want to invite you to my funeral, it won't be polite to invite you to something when I won't be there, I'll be up in Heaven looking down on you, but my body will be in the good clean earth until the trumpet sounds and the resurrection comes and just like I came out of that baptistery when I was baptized, I'm coming up out of that grave. I mean, my body is going to be raised and you see, what does baptism picture? Baptism pictures Calvary because we died with him. It pictures Easter because we rose with him. It pictures the Second Coming because one of these days we're going to be raised up out of that grave to live with the Lord Jesus Christ in a resurrected body. Don't you think the devil would like to take that picture out of the church? III. The Motive of Baptism Why be baptized? Three reasons. 1. There is a master to confess, the Lord Jesus. We are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We take the name of Jesus. He is now our master. The Bible teaches, look in verse 6, "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." We have a new master, a new life, I'm a new man with a new master. I'm identifying myself with Christ. Do you know what baptism is? Baptism is your way of saying, I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ. I thank God for what he did for me on that cross. Like the wedding ring on my finger I confess to the world that I m married to Edith and I m not ashamed.
2. There is a message to convey. Did you know that every time when you get baptized you're preaching the gospel, every time when you get baptized, anybody who gets baptized, he's preaching the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A master to confess, a message to convey, it shows what happened when you got saved, it shows what Jesus did. Many times I've seen people get under conviction of sin and get saved because of a baptismal service. The very things that baptism pictures is what brings conviction in the hearts of people and they say, I need a savior, I need somebody to have died for me, I need a new life, I need what that pictures. 3. Baptism is a mandate to complete. It is an act of obedience and proving your love for Jesus. It is a master to confess, it is a message to convey, but it is a mandate to complete. Jesus said, "Go therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Whatsoever I have commanded you. What is your response to that? I'll say yes, Lord, yes. Now some of you, if you've never yet received the LORD JESUS CHRIST as your personal Lord and Savior, what you need to do today you need to say, Listen, I'm trusting Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord. Baptism is not necessary for salvation. It's necessary for obedience, and obedience is necessary for joy and fruitfulness in the Christian life. Have you ever been reading a passage of scripture and you say, Lord, I just don't understand that, Lord, show me what that means, please, Lord, I want to understand what that means. God says, Why should I show you what that means? Why should I show you what this means when I've already showed you something else and you won't do that? So why should I show you what, why should I show you this if I've already shown you that and you won't obey that? The way to understand the part of the scripture you don't understand is to obey the part you do understand. To him that hath shall be given. Just begin to obey, there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. The Lord s Supper Remember 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. The Memorial Supper The Passover Exodus 12 Exodus 12:43-51 43 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, These are the instructions for the festival of Passover. No outsiders are allowed to eat the Passover meal. 44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised. 45 Temporary residents and hired servants may not eat it. 46 Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate this Passover festival. 48 If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the LORD s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal. 49 This instruction applies to everyone, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner living among you. 50 So all the people of Israel followed all the LORD s commands to Moses and Aaron. Remember the Broken Body of Jesus Remember the Blood of Jesus Remember the Price that was Paid Remember that His life is now your life! Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Three Things the Lord s Supper Shows It shows our fellowship in Him The place of communion It shows our faith in Him The Death of the Passover Lamp and the application of the blood on the door post and lintle It shows our future in Him Til He Comes!!!!!! We believe He is coming again! Baptism protects the front door of the Church while the Lord s Supper protects the back door of the Church.