Baptism (Immersing in the Water)

Message by: Harold Paul

Harold reflected on the time he got to be there and help in the water when Kim and Tim were baptized in a friend's pool 20 years ago.

So to prepare us for our field trip to the river’s edge, Harold wanted to make sure we all knew the answers to some very important questions.

Will not being baptized keep you out of Heaven?
~ No

When should you be baptized?
~ As soon as you're born again.

Will baptism rid me of my sins?
~ No. Jesus does that. We can only be saved by trusting in Jesus Christ for our salvation.

Why is baptism so controversial among the church?
~ Some churches believe in infant baptism. Some believe in sprinkling of the water. Others believe in immersion.

So, what does the Bible say?

Mark 1:9-11
[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:13-17
[13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [15] But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Both of these Scriptures say Jesus came up, meaning he was under the water. He was immersed.

Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is important too.

Matthew 3:11
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mark 10:39
And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized…”

Is there anything we can do to earn salvation?
~ No

Most people fall into habitual sin. God is not a genie. We don't keep rubbing the lamp and ask for forgiveness.

Romans 6:1-11
[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? [3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. [10] For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean we will sin no more?
~ No. We will sin less, but we are not made sinless. We still desperately need Jesus, but you can't keep sinning that grace abounds more.

As you are baptized, you aren't physically washing away sins. Jesus is the only atonement.

Water baptism is a public admission that you now belong to Jesus. It is done after we are saved by Christ - born again.

Matthew 28:18-20
[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. [19] 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, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

You can be saved without baptism, but you are not saved by baptism. Baptism is an outward display of an inward relationship with Christ.

Immersion is the only demonstration of baptism - in the way it's supposed to be.

We are buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him in resurrection.

We are united together in the likeness of His death (symbolized in baptism), we are bound together by Christ.

Philippians 3:7-21
[7] But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— [10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. [17] Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [18] For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

None of us nailed our old self to the cross. Christ did that for us - out of love.

Don't base your decision on getting baptized on what anyone else is doing. Base it on what Jesus has done for you and for me.

The idea of being baptized is a personal decision. It's not because of your family. It's all about Jesus, what He did, and how you want to identify with Him.

If you are born again, and not baptized - take that final step… into the water… and be baptized!

At the conclusion of today’s service, we all made our way down to the Susquehanna River where Harold and other men from River’s Edge stayed in the water to facilitate the baptisms of eight born-again believers. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!