Baptism Sunday
Key Scripture
Matthew 3:1-6 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John prepared the way for Jesus, preaching a strong message of repentance. Repentance is a hope-filled word. Your past does not define your future. But repentance takes humility.
Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
This how Jesus begins His public ministry. It starts with Him identifying with sinners who are honest and brave enough to repent, to confess their sins and to be baptized.
Matthew 3:7-12 But when [John the Baptist] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Grace to the Humble
James 4:8b…As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Grace vs Pride
Luke 18:9-14 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The person with a heart of humility and a sincere cry of repentance goes home justified before God.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING
1 Kings 18:21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
If God is who He says He is, Follow Him! The importance of freely choosing is why we don’t practice infant baptism. Babies can’t choose.
1 Kings 18:38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
ONE THING IN COMMON
The one thing all Christians have in common is we’ve freely acknowledged our imperfections and need for a savior. Where’s the room for pride?
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
IT STARTS WITH HUMILITY AND ENDURES WITH HUMILITY.
Colossians 2:12-15 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.
This passage shows the importance and power of baptism. Contemplate the importance and weight of what we just read…
You were buried with Christ when you were baptized — which means you’re fully joined to Christ and you can leave the old life behind.
You were dead because of your sins — and baptism marks the definitive and decisive break from that old self.
He forgave all our sins — baptism proclaims that there is no distance between you and God because you are forgiven.
He canceled the record of the charges against us — the entire list of wrongdoing and guilt is wiped clean.
He took it away by nailing it to the cross — the penalty has been paid in full and the punishment and shame that we deserve is gone forever.
You were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead — This isn’t because you were awesome or behaved enough or did enough good things - or didn’t do too many bad things - it’s because you trust the power of God and you believe that Christ was raised from the dead
God made you alive with Christ — no longer spiritually dead but fully awakened to His presence and purpose.
This is possible because we respond to the good news with humility.