The Ordinances of the Church - Baptism

Introduction: Today we return to our study on the Church. I hope you have both enjoyed the series and learned from the series. Last time I preached I mentioned the two Scriptural ordinances: baptism and communion. Some groups refer to them as sacraments which implies they impart grace. We will learn more about that today. We call them ordinances because they were ordained/ordered by the Lord and were given to the local church to administrate.

There are many baptisms in scripture. In fact, the entire nation of Israel was baptised all at once on two different occasions! This was not for salvation, but for a common experience to show identification with God’s program. John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan River before Jesus Christ even began to speak.

Theme: Baptism is what we do because of what we believe.

I. Differing Church beliefs about Baptism

The Sacramental view:

Practiced mostly by Catholics and Lutherans and some High Anglicans.

It is the church giving (handing out) grace or forgiveness to the participant for something the congregant physically does.

The participant does not have to consciously know or understand what is happening to have this grace added - see infant baptism and baptism of the vegetative body before death.

It is believed to grant remission of sins.

The Covenantal view:

Baptism is the replacement of OT circumcision. It goes with replacement theology.

It is our end of the “bargain”. Again, something you must do for salvation.

A person is not in the “New Covenant” until baptism.

3. The Symbolic view: We hold this view, and practice only Believers Baptism.

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

We see an order here. First people become disciples, then they are to be baptised.

A. Of believers (not to become one)

Acts 2:41 NKJV

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Acts 8:12 NKJV

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Acts 16:30–33 NKJV

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Acts 18:8 NKJV

Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

While we believe that every baptism in the Bible was important – we practice only believers baptism because we believe it fits best with the post resurrection command of Christ.

When a person is old enough to make a public statement that they believe in forgiveness through the finished work of Christ and that they want to follow God with the rest of their lives, we are readily encourage baptism.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary The Nature of Baptism

This position explains that the church practices baptism and the believer submits to it because Jesus commanded that this be done and He gave us the example by being baptized Himself. Thus, baptism is an act of obedience, commitment, and proclamation, symbolizing the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

B. The Bible teaches that baptism is a public witness to the world of the believer’s faith in Christ as Saviour and Lord. It is not done in secret. It is not a hidden ritual!

Acts 2:41 NKJV

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

C. Baptism is observed in obedience to the express command of the Lord Jesus Christ. He commanded and we obey!

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

II. By immersion

ILL. Adoniram Judson, that great missionary statesman, was instrumental in the formation of two missionary boards. The first of which was to send him to His field of service only to kick Him out upon learning of his Baptism by immersion. The second was formed to continue his support. It was called the “Baptist Missionary Union.”

We believe in the Scriptural example as well as the picture immersion portrays.

Acts 8:35–39 NKJV

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

The Bible teaches that baptism is by immersion. The Greek work “baptizo” means “to immerse” or “to dip.”

The oldest known instruction manual for the church (AD 110-120) stated that immersion should be used.

When a description of the event is given in the NT the people went down in and came up out of water.

Baptism is our outward display of what has already taken place in the heart and mind. It is a way of telling all who watch that we recognise that our salvation means we died with Christ, were buried, and have been raised to newness of life. Only immersion depicts this picture with this meaning. You can’t get the same effect in a shower. A sprinkle speaks of cleaning, an immersion speaks of a death burial and resurrection.

III. On purpose

Romans 6:3-5

Romans 6:3–5 (NKJV)

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

The Bible teaches that baptism pictures our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Galatians 3:27; Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

It is a conscious symbol of the believer’s death and burial to the old life of sin, and of resurrection with Christ in a new life. This church does not practice infant baptism because it does not fit the pattern or the picture.

Conclusion: Today we have covered a topic that is both basic to who we are as well as one that often people take offence to.

I did not say, some Baptisms are more valid than others. I did not say anything but what we believe the Bible teaches.

IBBC’s doctrinal statement #8. Concerning Baptism ...

We believe the Scriptures teach that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. ...