Water Baptism

Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Mark 7:4, Luke 11:38

Introduction 

1. Today, I want to talk about baptism. It’s such a big part of what we do. If you grew up with any kind of religious background, you have an opinion about baptism. Funny thing, you may not be a religious person or walking with God, and yet you may have a strong opinion about baptism. 
2. You may have no interest in church, but you had a baby and you want that baby baptized . . . quickly. Fear sets in. There is a lot of superstition associated with this rite. 
3. Chances are your view was shaped almost entirely by the religious tradition you grew up in. If you were Baptist, you were dunked; Presbyterian, sprinkled; Catholic, christened as a baby. For some, it meant church membership, becoming part of a covenant, shorter time in purgatory, staying out of hell. 
4. Today I want to talk about baptism according to what Scripture and history tell us. At the end, you will find yourself asking, “If that’s true, then why did my pastor tell me . . .?” “Why did my parents insist . . .?” And my answer is, “I’m not sure.” I have some ideas, but the best thing to do would be to ask them. 
5. Here’s why this is important. In the first century, when a person acknowledged Jesus as his Savior, he was baptized. Jesus said this at the end of his ministry: 

Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .”
[Every Christian tradition involves baptism because of that verse. We all agree on that. And that’s about it! But it shouldn’t be confusing. To understand the sacrament, we need to understand the word and a couple of things that happened.] 

I. The word translated baptism is a common Greek term: [baptizo — wash, plunge, soak, dip]. 

A. It didn’t always get translated. Sometimes: transliterated: to change letters into corresponding characters or letters of another alphabet or language. This is the case in Matthew 28:19—baptizo. 

B. Common term. 

1. It was used to describe what you did with a cloth you were dying. 
2. It was used to describe ships lost in battle. 
3. It was used interchangeably with the term for drowning. 
4. In 200 BC, it was found in a pickle recipe. 

[Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 BC, wrote a recipe for making pickles: In this ancient recipe, he used the word “baptize” or a variation of it . The recipe states, “In order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution.” 

C. In many cases in the New Testament, the Greek term “baptizo” is actually translated wash in your English Bibles. Bible publishers should have stuck with translating. But our earliest English translations were done in politically charged environments. King James weighed in. Tradition overrode scholarship. 

D. Two examples: 

Mark 7:4 - [Describing the habits of the religious leaders] 

When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash (baptizo). And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing (baptizo) of cups, pitchers and kettles. 

Luke 11:38 - But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash (baptizo) before the meal. 

E. So sometimes it’s translated and sometimes its transliterated. So how did this common term take on religious meaning? 

II. During the time leading up to the first century, the Jews developed a system by which a Gentile could become a convert to Judaism. It involved five things: 

• Circumcision 
• A covenant meal 
• Acknowledgment of the Law 
• A sacrifice 
• A ceremonial washing - Cleansing. Signaling a New Identity. But the convert washed/baptized himself. Then John showed up and that changed everything. 

III. John began claiming that the Messiah was going to show up soon and that the Jews needed to repent of their sin so they would recognize him. 

1. John did a strange thing. People would go into the Jordan River and he would wash/baptize them instead of them baptizing themselves. 
2. A baptism of repentance. Cleansing of sin. Identified with the message of John. 

C. Because he was the first, he got a nickname: John the Baptist. This form of the word is only found in Christian literature. There were no baptizers before this. 

D. So this common Greek term wasn’t translated, but transliterated, coined for this specific task he was doing. 

Then one day, the guy he kept talking about showed up and asked to be baptized. And then Jesus’ followers began baptizing. 

IV. Summary. 

Baptism is a public declaration of a new association. 

1. The water symbolized the cleansing or abandoning of one devotion for another. John 3:25: Baptism is referred to as ceremonial washing or purification. 
2. Historically: from Gentile to Jew. From common Jew to follower of John the Baptist. From God-fearer to follower of Jesus. From pagan to follower of Jesus. 

Baptism is a personal declaration of a new association. 

C. It’s a personal decision. 

1. That’s why we don’t baptize babies. 
2. That’s why we don’t baptize children until they understand the gospel. 

• If you were baptized as a child, that was a significant event for your mom/dad. 
• Catholicism teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation, so they go early. Middle Ages: Limbo was created in part to answer the question of where unbaptized babies went. The Catholic Church has amended the view several times over the years in an attempt to address their faulty theology regarding the salvation of children. Limbo isn’t in the Bible. 

1. Baptism is not a condition of salvation; it is evidence of salvation. 
2. Jesus didn’t baptize. 
3. In the New Testament, individuals were baptized immediately following the moment of belief. 
4. Application
   If, since putting your faith in Christ, you have not publicly declared your new association with Christ through this ceremonial washing, you need to. 

1. If you became a Christian when you were twelve and were sprinkled, we accept it. 

2. We don’t quibble over the form. We quibble over the timing. Let’s put these together on one slide. 

Conclusion 

1. If you have not been baptized since you became a believer, you need to do so— soon. You don’t have to do it here. But go public. 
2. This is one of the few things—this and communion—that connects us with every believer all over the world through the ages. For 2,000 years, people have been declaring their association with and allegiance to Jesus through this sacred celebration. 
3. Don’t rob us of the joy of cheering for you, hearing your story, and being reminded that God still changes lives. 
4. Don’t rob someone who needs to hear your story on the day you are baptized. God may use you in the life of someone you may never meet but for whom your story will be one he or she never forgets! 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. If you grew up going to church, talk about your perceptions of baptism and whether they were influenced by a particular tradition. If you didn’t grow up going to church, what did you think of baptism? 
2. If you’ve been baptized since accepting Christ, talk about your experience. Were you nervous? How did it benefit you? 
3. Read Matthew 28:16–20. Why would Jesus place such an emphasis on a public profession of faith through baptism? 
4. If you haven’t been baptized, how do you think your story of coming to faith in Jesus might benefit others? 

MOVING FORWARD 

Baptism isn’t a condition of salvation; it’s evidence of salvation. If you’re a Christian and you’ve never been baptized, you need to be baptized. It’s a point of obedience. What’s stopping you?