David opened Sunday’s sermon with a series of questions: Why baptism? Why do we do it the way we do it? Why does it matter? What exactly is going on here?
The primary reason is Jesus, it’s as simple as that. Through reading God’s Word Christians believe Jesus commanded and modelled baptism. Those who follow through with believer’s baptism are able to identify with Jesus and also witness to Jesus in a public setting.
Baptism is, therefore: a command, a model, an identification and a witness.
A COMMAND
Many Christians will be familiar with ‘The Great Commission’ found in Matthew 28 where Jesus commands those who know and love him:
“GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTISING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.”
As Christians we are to share the good news of Jesus and encourage others to believe and follow him. A person believes and then is to be baptised, helpfully remembered by ‘personal belief precedes public baptism’.
A MODEL
Jesus was baptised; he humbled himself to do what God the Father asked. The account of Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist is recorded in all four of the Gospel letters.
AN IDENTIFICATION
The physical act of immersion in water is representative of death and resurrection. Those who are baptised are visualising that they have died with Christ spiritually, died to their old sinful ways and then have been raised from death to new life in Jesus. The act of baptism is highly symbolic.
A WITNESS
Doing anything in a public setting requires courage and humility – it’s out of many people’s comfort zones; but those who desire to be baptised find courage from their Lord and Saviour and it’s important to remember that actions speak louder than words.
Be encouraged, those who follow Jesus have a personal promise from him declaring:
“SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.”
