CRCF””9/12/10
We”™re going down to the creek after while””3:00 p.m””for a baptizing! We have several folks who have trusted Jesus as their Savior and submitted to Him as the Master of their lives in recent days. It”™s going to be an exciting afternoon! It”™ll be a high point for these folks spiritually””a key event in their journey of following Jesus.
But WHY?
What is Baptism All About?
Colossians 2:11-15
Baptism is a living picture of our salvation in Jesus.
Colossians 2:11-15 (NLT)
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision””the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Baptism is a living picture of our salvation in Jesus.
1. God Accomplished Salvation in Jesus (14-15)
Jesus”™ death:
a) Removed Our Guilt (14)
14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
The Message
14 Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.
Romans 3:19-20 (New Living Translation)
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Galatians 3:13 (New Living Translation)
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Jesus”™ death:
b) Defeated Satan (15)
15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
The Message
He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
Ephesians 2 (NLT)
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil””the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God”™s anger, just like everyone else.
Ephesians 6:12 (New Living Translation)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
2. God Applied Salvation by the Holy Spirit (11-13)
God has:
a) Spiritually Raised Us from the Dead (13)
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Romans 6
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For 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.
b) Spiritually Circumcised Us (11)
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision””the cutting away of your sinful nature.
WHEN and HOW do these things happen to us?
Verse 12b
you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (New Living Translation)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can”™t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
So what”™s the deal with baptism? What is baptism about?
3. We Affirm Our Salvation in Baptism (12)
12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
Baptism is a living picture of our salvation in Jesus.
Philip Henry, father of Matthew Henry, wrote the following “baptismal statement” for his children:
I take Go to be my chief end and highest good.
I take God the Son to be my Prince and Savior.
I take God the Holy Spirit to be my Sanctifier, Teacher, Guide, and Comforter.
I take the Word of God to be my rule in all my actions and the people of God to be my people under all conditions.
I do hereby dedicate and devote to the Lord all that I am, all that I have, and all I can do.
And this I do deliberately, freely, and forever.
(Swindoll, 45)
Baptism is a living picture of our salvation in Jesus.
Prayer
Prayer & Anointing for Healing””Joni Deck
James 5:14-15 (NLT)
14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Celebration of the Lord”™s Supper