The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptismal service

January 5, 1992

Intro:

One of the difficult things for Protestants is fixing in their minds the relative importance of the sacraments of the church. Of all the means of grace, they are possibly understood the least.

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRAMENTS AS MEANS OF GRACE

I would like to ask you a very simple question:

WHAT IS GRACE?
Grace is unmerited favor of God; grace is that which bestows God's great LOVE on us; grace is God's attitude of forgiveness toward the sinner; grace is a quickening and strengthening of life within the soul.
AND MEANS OF GRACE ARE just that: the ways and means, the vehicles or channels by which God bestows His LOVE on our hearts. And what are the 'means of grace?'
My list may not be complete, but I submit seven:
1. WORD OF GOD; and with this I include the faithful the preaching of the Word, as well as reading in order to obey God's will.
2. PRAYER IS PROBABLY THE PRIMARY MEANS OF GRACE; and prayer combines with power with the use of the Word.
3. THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD'S PEOPLE is a significant and powerful means of grace. God never intends for us to make our way to heaven independent of other individuals, or of other families, or even other groups of believers. God intends that we bear one another's burdens.
4. CORPORATE WORSHIP, in the large groups or celebrations, in the smaller groups united around a lesson or a ministry (congregations,) as well as in the accountability groups of prayer and sharing (cells,) is a means of grace.
5. PERSONAL WORSHIP may be the same as #2, prayer; but it involves the carrying forward of life in the spirit of 'the living sacrifice.'
6. The good old Nazarene theologian, H. Orton Wiley, lists THE SABBATH AS A MEANS OF GRACE! It was introduced at the time of man's creation, and belongs to mankind generally and perpetually.
  I am convinced that there is great spiritual power waiting to be released in the lives of the people who can tap the resources of the Lord's Day by observing it joyfully, not in bondage, but in rest and worship and refreshing.
7. But the last 'means of grace' I would mention are THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH THAT WERE INSTITUTED BY JESUS.
WHAT ARE 'SACRAMENTS?'
We use the term 'sacrament' to signify an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us, ordained by Christ Himself as a means of receiving that grace, and as a pledge or assurance of Christ's promise. From the earliest times, the sacraments have been understood by the church to be religious rites that carry the most solemn obligation of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Church.
1. The RC church teaches seven (7) sacraments: baptism, the Lord's supper (or "mass",) confirmation, ordination, extreme unction (or 'last rites,) penance (or 'confession,') and marriage.
2. All Protestant churches recognize but two: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
SACRAMENTS ARE PLEDGES OF LOYALTY TO JESUS CHRIST; THEY ARE TESTIMONIES THAT MARK CHRISTIANS AS SEPARATE, DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE.
It is vitally important that we reach out for God's grace in every way we can. [ Perhaps we do not take seriously the parables of Jesus when He warned us that it is mortally dangerous to have talents and not use them! ] We are responsible not only for what we are, but for what we might be by God's free gifts of grace!
Along this line John Wesley once said: (in 1736)
"I think the rock on which I had the nearest made shipwreck of the faith was the writings of the Mystics; under which term I comprehend all, and only those, who slight any of the means of grace." GFH, p541
In other words, Wesley said that even people who seem to be so very, very spiritual nearly led him astray when they picked out which means of grace they would adopt, and which they would avoid.
Wesley was saying 'I want to be faithful to God through Christ's church!'
And if you wonder what John Wesley thought the 'true church' consisted of, here is a quote from H. Ray Dunning:
"There were two major means that Mr. Wesley seemed to identify as constitutive of the church: the pure Word of God preached, and the sacraments duly administered. This puts him squarely in the Reformation tradition." GFH p542]

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM AS A MEANS OF GRACE

Baptism is clearly one of the sacraments of the church. It was instituted by the Lord Jesus, first by His example, and then by His unmistakable command (in the words of the text:)

Baptism means three things for the believer:

BAPTISM MEANS IDENTIFYING WITH JESUS in His baptism.
John the Baptist baptized many people in the Jordan. This was not clearly outlined in Old Testament law, but it could have some meaning of preparation for the coming of a new order, in that just before the giving of the Law on Sinai, God told Moses to sanctify the people, and He specifically said: "Have them wash their garments!"
But the baptism of Jesus was unique. Jesus was identifying with sinners, even though He knew no sin. In coming with the sinners, JESUS TOOK THE ROLE OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT; and in the descent of the Holy Spirit HE CLEARLY EXEMPLIFIED THE ROLE OF THE ANOINTED ONE, THE MESSIAH.
No one else was sinless that day, or any other day. But Jesus identified with everyone who has failed; he came to bear our sins and sorrows to the Tree.
No one else could ever hear the Father say: "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!" and have the Holy Spirit descend without measure.
But if Jesus identified with us, with sinful humanity that day of His baptism; then we, as His spiritual sons and daughters identify with Him.
We are not called on to die as the sinless sacrifice; but BAPTISM IS THE WAY OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT; and we identify with Jesus in death to sin (He died for sin.)
We cannot know the fullness of the Holy Spirit as Jesus knew Him, but WE ARE CALLED TO ACCEPT THE ANOINTING OF GOD, indwelling us, and live in the new life and power of that life the Holy Spirit brings.
BAPTISM MEANS INCORPORATION INTO THE CHURCH. The washing of baptism by John indicated a preparation for a new age of the Spirit of God. But Jesus transformed John's baptism, and made it the sacramental portion of His Great Commission: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
BAPTISM MEANS THE INITIAL RECEPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is the gift of the Son, and of the Father. He comes to make Jesus real to us. He is the Spirit of Jesus. He does not testify of Himself, but is the fulfillment of the promise: "Lo, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age."
The connection of baptism with the reception of the Holy Spirit seems clear in the New Testament. Sometimes the people received the Spirit as, or after they were baptized; sometimes it was a witness or a seal after they had already been saved.
Acts 2:38 (Peter says:) "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST." Here, clearly, the people to be baptized did not yet have the Holy Spirit.
But later, at Caesarea, Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit as Peter was preaching to them. And the question there was: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST AS WELL AS WE?"
In obedience to the command of Christ, we can expect that the sacrament of baptism will be a confirmation of the promise of God the Father and God the Son to bestow the Holy Spirit, personally, and powerfully, into each believer's heart!

January 5, 1992 - To this class of girls being baptized:

We have talked together about Romans 10:9,10, and what it takes to be a Christian.

It is so very simple— and yet cannot be done without the life of God being breathed into us:

to truly believe that God has raise Jesus from the dead is in large part the work of the Spirit within;
to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord is something which we can do by God's help. This act of baptism is one way that you confess, loud and clear, that Jesus is LORD!

In just a few moments as part of the ritual of Baptism I am going to ask you three questions. Your answer will be, in part, that second part of Romans 10:9,10— for you will be saying publicly that Jesus is YOUR Lord, that you love Him, and that by God's help you will serve Him and do His will!

The Sacrament

Dearly Beloved: Baptism is the sign and seal of the new covenant of grace, the significance of which is attested by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans as follows:

(Romans 6:3-5) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection."

The earliest statement of Christian faith, into which you come now to be baptized, is the Apostles' Creed. Shall we all affirm our faith as we read it together:

Congregation Read (with the baptizands) the Apostles' Creed: #513 in WS

Question #1 - Will you be baptized into this faith? (If so answer, "I WILL.")

Response: I WILL.

Question #2 - Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and do you realize that he saves you now?

Response: I DO.

Question #3 - Will you obey God's holy will and keep His commandments, walking in them all the days of your life?

Response: I WILL.

IN THAT BAPTISMAL WATER

[OPTIONAL brief statement of testimony.]
[ Y o u r n a m e ], I baptize YOU in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.