The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 14th December 2008 by David Sansum
"Baptism in Water"
What is Baptism? Baptism means to Immerse / to submerge. It is a bath for someone who is dirty (washing away sins - Acts 2) It is a burial for someone who has died (dead to sin and alive in Christ - Romans 6, Galatians 2:20)
Romans 6 1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Baptism is just the beginning.
Grace has been imparted and sin is no longer our master. We are free to choose. But we still have a part to play.- Know vs 6
- Consider (Account) - FACT! Enter it in the book vs11
- Offer - My hands are no longer mine. E.g. I no longer take offense vs 13
What is the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism? John's Baptism - Repentance Baptism into Christ - Believers Baptism
Mark 1:4-5 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Acts 19:3-5 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Why be Baptised? - Scriptures for each and explanation
- The example of Jesus - Matthew 3
Matthew 3 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
- The instruction of Jesus - Matthew 28:19
Matthew 28 16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
- Identifying with Jesus in His death and resurrection - Romans 6, Galatians 2:20
Acts 2:38, 41 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
- The example and teaching of the Apostles - Acts 2:38
- Forgiveness of sins - Acts 2:38
- Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:38
The order of baptism in water and baptism in the Spirit can be either way.
Acts 10:47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
Who should be Baptised? Anyone who professes to have turned from sin, trusted in Jesus for forgiveness and are seeking to follow him. If a person is genuinely a follower of Christ, there is no cause to delay baptism. Most believers in the early Church seem to have been baptised in water on the day of conversion. Having said that, we think it worthwhile to take the time to explain the meaning and significance of baptism, and living the Christian life, before we baptise people.
Should we baptise babies or children? In the early Church whole households were baptised. It is unclear as to whether these included children or not. The question is, at what point can a person be said to have genuinely believed and repented? We tend not to baptise until we are satisfied that the person has made their own decision to follow Jesus and has a good grasp of the gospel of grace, it is a free gift from God through Jesus. (anyone who thinks they can get to heaven by being good has not understood anything). In most cases our young people are in secondary school by the time we baptise them.
What if a person requests baptism who appears to be unrepentant, or does not appear to have understood, let alone believed the gospel? We ask some questions to clarify that the person asking for baptism has really understood that they are saved by grace, not by works. We also want to see evidence that they have changed in their lifestyle. We do not wait for perfection, or even maturity, but when a person's life changes direction (repentance) there is some evidence.
