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CONFUSION OVER BAPTISM
Introduction:
1. Why
would anyone deny baptism?
Matt. 28:18-19 And Jesus came
up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
(19)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
1 Pet. 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism
now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to
God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Mark 16:15-16 And He said to
them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel
to all creation. (16) "He who has believed
and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall
be condemned.
Acts
THOSE WHO WOULD DENY BAPTISM ARE DENYING
JESUS
2. Some, seeing the necessity, baptize babies.
Certainly
you would want your baby to be saved….
DID JESUS TEACH
THAT BABIES SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
3. Some practice being baptized for the
dead……
Can’t stand the thought that grandma, or dad, who has died, are going to
hell
CAN WE BE BAPTIZED
FOR SOMEONE ELSE?
4. Most denominations see that baptism is very
important.
You
can’t be a part of their denomination without being baptized.
DOES THE BIBLE
TEACH THAT WE MUST BE BAPTIZED IN ORDER
TO JOIN A CHURCH?
LET’S LOOK TO THE SCRIPTURES AND
END SOME OF THIS CONFUSION
I. WHAT is
Baptism?
A. Transliterated verb “baptize” = immerse, plunge, submerge, to
bury
C. Many
Bible baptisms……
Baptism
of SUFFERING: Mark 10:38-39
But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup
that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized?" (39) They said
to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be
baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
Baptism
of John: Luke
Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, "As
for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and
I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
IMMERSED IN DIFFERENT THINGS
FOR
DIFFERENT PURPOSES
ONLY ONE BAPTISM THAT IS FOR
THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS!
Eph. 4:1-6 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling with which you have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (3) being diligent to preserve the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body and one
Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God
and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
D. FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS
ALWAYS BAPTISM IN WATER….
1. JOHN’S
BAPTISM FOR THE JEWS – UNTO REPENTANCE
John
2. Cornelius household
Acts
3. Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:35-36 Then Philip
opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to
him. (36) As they went along the road they came to some
water; and the eunuch said, "Look!
Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
II. WHO is to
be Baptized?
A. Every
example of an individual is an adult
Act
B. (Cornelius)
“And his house” – some assume babies
C. Some assumptions
about when Jesus said….
Matt. 19:13-14 Then some children were brought to Him so
that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked
them. (14) But Jesus said, "Let
the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me;
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
KJV – ”for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
1. Is the implication of this that children
can be baptized and enter into the kingdom – so don’t refuse them??
2. Or is it that when we are baptized into
Christ we become like the children – unburdened by sin – innocent
– free –saved??
CERTAINLY THIS
IS WHAT HE MEANT!
3. What, then, does this tell us about the
state of the souls of babies? of children? – They are SAFE
4. He said
the kingdom is made up of “such as these” – as they are
D. Address the
children – get their attention
1. What
a wonderful thing to know!
a. You
don’t have to worry about going to heaven
b. If
you die – you are safe
c. Take
this time of life to learn to trust in Jesus
d. He
loves you – said you are His!
e. He
wants us adults to become what you are.
1) you
see things more simply
Adults
tend to complicate their lives
2) cry seeing someone – or an animal hurt
Sometimes
adults are too focused on themselves
3) you
don’t hold grudges – you forgive so easily
Adults
can be unforgiving
4) You don’t
judge people without getting to know them
Adults
can dislike people simply because of their color, or how much money they make
5) you
are humble – understand that there are people
older and wiser to listen to
Adults
sometimes don’t trust anyone else & think they are smarter than anyone else
6) trusting
in God - You have that marvelous quality
of simple trust in God - You have a problem and it is
easy for you to ask Jesus to help – and you have no problem trusting that He
will
Adults
don’t want to trust in anybody but themselves when they get into trouble
7) Trust
in others – you have blind trust in others - and you expect the best out
of people
Adults
can become cynical – that means that they don’t
trust people very easily – sometimes
even imagining
that the other person is not sincere
f. Guess what – when we became
Christians we became more like you –
1) Christians are learning to
live life more simply – simply trust in God & follow His will
2) Christians are learning to
be more like you as we try not to focus on ourselves so much and
we look for ways to soothe other’s hurts
3) Christians know now that
they can no longer hold grudges – we find it easier to forgive
4) Christians don’t judge
people without getting to know them
5) Christians strive to be
humble – take more care in giving in to others – listen to their ideas
6) Christians learn to trust in
God - What a wonderful
thing to realize that we don’t have to fix everything ourselves!
7) Christians trust in others –
we expect the best out of people – we quit being cynical
g. [address adults] – “we need to be like
these children!”
1) unless
you become as little children
Matt. 18:1-4 At that time
the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?" (2) And He called a child
to Himself and set him before them, (3) and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will
not enter the kingdom of heaven. (4) "Whoever then humbles
himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
2) Paul said, 1 Cor. 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet
in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
Think
like an adult – Christians are to be mature in their thinking, but we need to
be naïve and innocent,
like a child, in evil
CONCLUSION:
1. Brethren, Jesus said we need
to be come what these children to be in the
kingdom of heaven….
a. be naïve about
sin – don’t be embarrassed because you don’t know about sinful things – be
shocked – remember how to blush
b. Don’t judge people in those things that
the world uses for judgment
i.e.
– money – dress – car – house – skin – size – or education
c. be forgiving –
love your brethren openly
d. humbly trust
in God – expect Him to be there when you call on Him
e. expect the
best from people – don’t be cynacle
2. Kids
a. understand
that you are loved by God –
b. you are safe –
you are going to heaven
c. don’t be confused when you hear sermons
about people going to Hell without being baptized – God is not talking to children
3. Moms
& Dads – I know you are anxious – want to make sure your child obeys the
gospel
a. Don’t be so anxious that we get them to
act before they are mature enough to become and live like a Christian
b. reassure them
that they are loved by God and kept safely in His hand
4. Who does
need to be baptized?......
a. Those who have
been taught
reason for baptism
relationship that changes through baptism
Christian
responsibilities
concerned about sin in their lives
b. Those who believe the gospel – that Jesus
is God’s son – He came to the earth & died for their sins
c. Those who are
ready to make a life-long change
forsaking sin of every kind
be devoted to Jesus and to a diligent study of His word
searching to know Him better – and to please Him in everything
d. Those who will unashamedly confess their
belief in Him publicly
THEN YOU ARE READY TO
BE BAPTIZED!
If that is you – come
to the front RIGHT NOW