The Importance of
Baptism
Mark 1:1-5
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it
is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your
face, Who will prepare Your way before You." 'The voice of one crying
in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths
straight.'" John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land
of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all
baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. NKJV
When Jesus gave the great commission to the disciples He wanted
them to continue baptizing those who became disciples. Baptism was
just a part of becoming a disciple. There was no question as to if
you should, it was an accepted fact. But today baptism means so many
things to different people. Baptism for some is practiced in a much
different way than it was in the New Testament. And also some have
completely abandoned the teachings of the New Testament.
Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what the Bible
says about baptism, it's importance and other vital elements. As
Baptists we hold a somewhat peculiar view from many other church
around us. So for Baptists, these things are essential to our
existence. If there were no differences between us and the other
churches, as some people think, then there is no reason for our
separate existence.
- Important enough that baptism was a major part of John's
ministry.
- We do not know the hows and the whys except to say that
John the Baptist had a direct commission from God.
- It was foretold that when the Messiah came that He would
be preceded by one who would prepare the way.
- John was to come in the spirit of that Old Testament
prophet, Elijah.
- And although he did not do miracles like Elijah did yet
he had the same mannerisms and appearance.
- His message was plain, the Messiah is coming and you
need to repent.
- And repent they did by the hundreds and thousands.
- But in his commission from God, God had commanded him to
baptize those who would follow him.
- This he did with unwavering regularity.
- There were man who refuse the will of God and were not
baptized.
- Luke 7:29-30; 29 And when all the people heard Him,
even the tax collectors justified God, having been
baptized with the baptism of John . 30 But the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for
themselves, not having been baptized by him.
NKJV
- He refused to baptize those religious leaders who were
more interested in going with the crowd than getting right
with God.
- It appears from Acts 1:21-22 21 "Therefore, of these men
who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went
in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to
that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become
a witness with us of His resurrection." NKJV
- From this I understand that all the apostles had been
baptized by John
- They thought it was so important, that it was required
for Judas' replacement.
- Important enough for Jesus to walk 60 miles to be baptized by
the Baptist.
- When Jesus was about 30 and He began His public ministry,
the first thing that He did was to walk, from Nazareth to the
lower end of the Jordan to find John and to be baptized by
him.
- John's baptism was such that no one but John had the
authority from God to do it.
- So the only way to get God's baptism was for Jesus to
travel the distance, not to become a disciple of John but to
fulfill all righteousness.
- Important enough that Jesus continued to baptize His followers
although it was the disciple who did the baptizing.
- There is not much said about it but there is a reference to
the baptizing that Jesus' disciples did.
- John 3:22 After these things Jesus and His disciples
came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them
and baptized. NKJV
- John 4:1-4; Therefore, when the Lord knew that the
Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more
disciples than John 2(though Jesus Himself did not baptize ,
but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to
Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. NKJV
- Important enough that it is an intricate part of the great
commission.
- Matt 28:18-20; 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen. KJV
- Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and
is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will
be condemned. NKJV
- Baptism was the public profession of one's faith.
- They did not have church buildings where you could do
this in private.
- Instead it had to be done at public pools or rivers
where everyone could witness you making this public
testimony to being a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Important enough that we do not know of a single convert in
the New Testament that was not baptized.
- John baptized all those who repented.
- Jesus' disciples baptized followers during Jesus
ministry.
- Two thousand were baptized on the day of Pentecost.
- Whenever more were saved they too were baptized.
- The Samaritans that were saved at Philip's preaching also
were baptized.
- Even the lone Ethiopian was baptized before he returned
home to Ethiopia.
- All those who heard and believed the message of Peter at
Cornelius' house were baptized.
- Everywhere Paul went he made and baptized disciples.
- There was such an emphases on baptism that everyone who
believed in the New Testament was baptized.
- It keeps the gospel pure.
- Death
- You cannot have scriptural baptism without picturing the
death of Jesus.
- Paul says we are buried with him in baptism.
- You only bury they dead.
- We died with Jesus and are dead to the world through our
connection with Him.
- Only baptism pictures that.
- Burial
- Baptism is a burial.
- Tell the story of the little boy who buried the rooster
with a couple of clumps of dirt.
- Being buried with Him identifies us with Jesus.
- It witnesses that we are His.
- Resurrection
- Only immersion can picture all three.
- We are raised from the waters of baptism as Jesus was
raised from the dead.
- As He was raised from the grave to never die again so we
are raised from the death of sin, never to live again
according to the flesh.
- It is a mark of obedience
- It is a command just as other commands.
- We are not the ones to judge what God says, but we are
simply to obey.
- To not obey is disobedience and rebellion.
- Samuel told Saul that rebellion was as the sin of
witchcraft.
- The command for the church to baptize has never been
rescinded.
- Your command to be baptized if you are a believer has never
been recalled.
This message was preached at FBC Toulon,
- by Albert Harmon. See it at http://toulonbaptist.com/