WHY DID, AND DOES, JESUS’ CHURCH BAPTIZE?

βαπτίζω- baptizō to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk). Lexicon :: Strong’s G907 – baptizō1

Acts 2:36-38 (ESV) 36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38And 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.”

Romans 6:4-8 (NLT) 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

WHY? IT’S A PUBLIC DECLARATION of Who I serve and Who I belong to

Matthew 10:32 (NIV) Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

Exodus 20:7 (ESV) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Romans 10:9-11 (NLT) 9If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

WHY? IT REQUIRES OBEDIENCE AND HUMILITY. Pride is the enemy of discipleship.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 2:42-44 (ESV) 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

WHY? IT UNITES AND IDENTIFIES DISCIPLES WITH JESUS.

Romans 6:4-6 (NLT) 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin…

Galatians 2:20-21 (NIV) 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? Those who believe and repent.

Acts 2:38-39 (NIV) 38Peter replied, “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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

John 3:16-21 (NLT) 6For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that are doing what God wants.

CLOSING

Acts 2:37-39 (NIV) 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS: Passages to consider: Acts 2:36-42; Romans 6:1-14; Matthew 28:18-20

1. From the sermon, what was insightful for you?

2. What has been your experience or exposure to baptism?

3. Take a look at Acts 2:36-42. A) What where the people hearing from Peter? B) How did they respond? C) What were their next steps? D) What do you see as significant in that process?

4. Share about when the story of Jesus impacted your heart. A) How have repentance and obedience been expressed in your life?

5. Read Romans 6:1-4. As a group, describe the picture baptism paints of what has happened in the heart of a person. A) What has been your experience with death to sin and new life with Christ? B )Share both victories and challenges. C) What role has baptism played in your walk with Jesus?

6. Baptism is both an individual expression and a corporate experience. Each week, we get witness this celebration and reminder. In what ways may your participation in this be different after this sermon and discussion? A) Is baptism something you need to consider for yourself? What questions may you have about baptism?

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