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Rom. 6:1-14
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. As many of you know a fundamental, Bible believing local church, which is what BCC is, observes two ordinances. Those two ordinances are The Lord’s supper or Communion, and the other is baptism, which we are going to observe today. Everywhere in the NT the method or mode of baptism was by immersion or being put completely underwater and brought back up again. I will explain why immersion is the only method of baptism that correctly and consistently represents our salvation. The Greek word for baptize, both in Scripture and ancient Greek literature means “to plunge, dip, immerse” something in water. Rom. 6 is arguably the best summary of the doctrine of baptism in Scripture. Let’s examine this simple yet rich and meaningful ordinance of baptism. Baptism is 1st:
I. A PICTURE OF REDEMPTION. Read Rom. 6:1-11. Every adopted child of God must remember that their entire life is a declaration to everyone who comes in contact with them. The last part of V. 4 telling us that as those who are saved, we walk in newness of life. When any person is saved, meaning they stop trying to impress God with their efforts to be good, or do good deeds, and place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as their only hope of being forgiven for their sins by God. Nowhere does Scripture ever even hint at the idea that miraculous event of God’s grace and mercy bringing spiritual life to a heart that was dead in sin to life – be kept a secret. So how is baptism a picture of our redemption? Read Rom. 6:3, 4. In the act of Christian baptism when a person is laid-back and immersed completely under the water, it is a physical symbol of the person’s death to their old way of life. As we know, 3 days after He was buried Christ arose from the dead. His resurrection is proof that God accepted all He did to purchase our redemption. In Christian baptism when a person is raised from the water, it is a picture of their own beginning of a new life in Christ. At the instant a person is saved, God immediately adopts them into His family. It is for that reason that when a person is baptized they immediately become a member of the local church family where they are baptized. The message of baptism is also:
II. A PROMISE OF REFLECTION. From a biblical viewpoint to walk in newness of life can be interpreted as actively participating in the doctrine of perseverance! You remember the doctrine of perseverance means: those who are truly born again will continue to live as Christians until the end of their lives. Walking is a journey that consists of many individual steps, taken one at a time. Being conformed to the image of Christ can be interpreted as the doctrine of progressive sanctification. You will remember from our study that progressive sanctification is the work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in our daily living. Read Rom. 8:26-30. Every Christian is going to be conformed – 100% – to the image of Christ. If the desire to be redeemed is real, the individual immediately has a desire to learn to reflect the image and life of Christ. The promise of reflection leads to:
III. A PROFESSION OF RELIANCE. Read Rom. 6:15-19. James tells us to “submit yourselves, therefore, to God.” In order to learn to walk in newness of life a true Christian learns to rely on God 1st. God is always faithful and trustworthy. You can always trust God to do exactly what He says He will, in exactly the way He says He will do it. Redemption, salvation is one of the 1st steps any person takes in learning to trust God. If you believe God can, and will, save you when you ask Him, you can also believe and trust God in everything else concerning this life and the next. Read Eph. 4:11-16. There is also a profession of reliance on other Christians who are older in the faith, to teach new Christians how to live, by being proper examples to them. Almost every book of Scripture tells us to make disciples by teaching those younger in the faith how to live as God tells us. The message of baptism is a public declaration of our desire to follow Christ and His teachings. All who pass through the waters of baptism are making a public profession of their allegiance to live a life in harmony with Scripture, so they properly represent God’s kingdom. May this be our constant desire as long as we live!
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