In the Book of Acts, when someone trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, they immediately followed with Believers Baptism. Baptism identified them as members of God's Family.
Baptism made them social outcasts. Often they would lose their jobs, their families, their properties, and struggle to purchase food. Baptism was a decision that was costly and life changing.
GVCC does not have a baptistery so winter baptisms are complicated.
Baptism is important because in Matthew 28, Jesus commanded us to share the Gospel with everyone in the world, baptism them, and then mentor them in the Christian faith.
Sorry, that story setup took way to long, so now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
A good friend asked me to officiate his baptism after church today. It has snowed for days and the temperature has fallen so, my options were limited.
For the last 110+ years, Garden Valley Community Church has conducted all baptisms in either Lake Ellen (which is currently froze over) or in the Columbia River (which won't warm up till August).
However, a church Elder that lives close by, offered me the use of his Jacuzzi for the baptism. Which has prompted me to approach my Elder Board to suggest the church invest in a large Jacuzzi for baptismal purposes (of course - for baptismal use - do they come with coffee cup holders?).
Trevor and I were standing there looking at the Jacuzzi without a clue how to do this in a classy manner that is appropriate for the occasion. But classy and appropriate just isn't our style so we kicked our shoes off and climbed in, wearing the same thing we wore to church.
Once we got in the Jacuzzi, I realized there was no where for me to stand. There was only enough floorspace for one person. So I took a seat and it was perfect. I couldn't have designed anything that worked better. It was totally a "God thing".
The downside was exiting the Jacuzzi. We were wet and cold. And I had dad bring his trusty camera, which meant standing in the cool breeze for photos. Finally Trevor and I agreed that it was time to go find a fireplace and food.
Our spiritual take-away for today is no great mystery:
have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
have you obeyed the Biblical command by being baptized?
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
What then is believer's baptism?
What is the purpose of it, since salvation is "by grace through faith" (Ephesians 2:8,9)?
Water baptism is symbol of something which already took place in the heart of the believer the moment he/she was saved (1 Peter 3:21). Water baptism represents the identification of the Christian with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You are "crucified" (standing upright in water), you are "buried" (immersed into the water), and you are "resurrected into life" (raised out of the water). Water baptism then, is a picture of spiritual baptism as defined in Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. It is the outward testimony of the believer's inward faith. A sinner is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a visible testimony to that faith.
This is the SCRIPTURAL basis for water baptism.
It PICTURES 4 important things:
(1) Scriptural baptism PICTURES and PROCLAIMS the believer's death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:12
(2) Scriptural baptism PICTURES and PROCLAIMS the death of our old life to sin, and
our resurrection to walk in newness of life. "As Christ was raised up from the dead,
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:4
(3) Scriptural baptism PICTURES and PROCLAIMS our faith in the Trinity of the
Godhead. "Baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19
(4) Scriptural baptism PICTURES and PROCLAIMS our "putting on" of Christ. "For ye
are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26,27
So then, water baptism is a picture of what transpired when you placed your faith and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins (Romans 6:3-5).
It does not atone for sin. Only the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin (I John 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
