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1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
12 Do not let sin control the way you live;[a] do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Ø "Why should I be baptised? How is it relevant to me? I am a Christian. I know Jesus. After all, baptism doesn't save me, so what's the point?"
Ø Sometimes there are objections to things that have been practiced for many years in the church.
Ø When most people raise objections to our traditions or practices it is generally because they want to know why?
Ø Why do we do what we do?
Ø This morning I want to look at some of the bare essentials on why we do baptism to answer the questions, "Why should I be baptised? What is its purpose?"
Ø #1. Baptism represents our union with Christ in his death. Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? -Romans 6:3
Ø The Greek verb baptizo means to immerse, plunge or dip.
Ø Going under the water symbolises dying to our old life and being buried with Christ into his death.
Ø Last week we looked at Salvation's ABC's and what we find as we admit, believe, & confess is that we are joined to Jesus in faith.
Ø Our loyalty to him identifies us with him, even as he chose to identify with us by becoming human and going to the cross.
Ø Very early in the history of the Church, baptism immediately followed a person's commitment to Jesus Christ.
Ø A person's baptism ought to function as a powerful ally. It helps us look at our old life as dead and buried and in resisting temptation.
Ø We sometimes go through trials and temptations that cause us to question our faith, “Am I really a Christian?” When those times come we can point to our baptism and remind to ourselves that Jesus died for me and I died with him in my baptism.
Ø Baptism represents our union with Christ in his death.
Ø #2. Baptism represents power to live a new life.
Ø Coming up out of the water, following immersion, symbolises the new resurrection life of the believer.
Ø Because he is risen from the dead and sin's power has no claim over him, we, who are joined to Jesus in his death, are also set free from sin's power and control over us.
Ø Since we are joined to Christ in his death, we are also joined to his powerful resurrection life and may live new lives.
Ø In Colossians 3:2-3, Paul tells his readers, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Col. 3:2-3
Ø The things and desires of this life are fading and we must not focus on them.
Ø It is up to us to choose to see the desires of our old nature as dead.
Ø Paul tells his readers in verse 6, We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. - Rom. 6:6
Ø Our old sinful self, under sin and death, was crucified with Christ.
Ø As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Cor. 5:17
Ø Since we no longer belong to Adam, but to Christ, "we died with Christ and were set free from the power of sin." - Rom. 6:7
Ø Baptism gives us a moment in time we can point to in our lives so we can look temptation in the face and say, "I'm dead to you! I don't have to listen to you anymore! Be gone!"
Ø Being united with or joined to Christ also reminds me of the practice of grafting in horticulture.
Ø A cutting, shoot, or bud is removed from one plant and implanted under the bark of another so that it may draw life, strength, and produce fruit from the sap of new branch.
Ø In Romans 11 Paul speaks of us Gentiles in this way. As wild olive shoots, we have been removed from the wild olive tree and grafted into the cultivated olive tree.
Ø Because we are joined to Christ like the grafted wild olive shoot we have new life and we also draw our strength from his life.
Ø Baptism represents power to live a new life.
Ø #3. Baptism represents our future resurrection with Christ.
Ø As Paul explains, 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. - Rom. 6:8-11
Ø Paul presents us with a tension that is yearning to be resolved and baptism represents that tension. It is the tension between what already is, and what is yet to come.
Ø Baptism reminds us of our union with Christ in his death and the power to live a new life, but baptism also reminds us that we are waiting for something else much greater.
Ø Because we are joined to Christ in his death, we are also joined to his resurrection not only for power to live this life, but for eternity.
Ø Death could not hold Jesus in the grave, neither will death be able to hold all those united to Jesus in faith.
Ø We await the victory over death, which belongs to us in Jesus with great anticipation.
Ø 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Cor. 15:54-57
Ø Baptism represents our future resurrection with Christ.
Ø What does baptism mean?
Ø Baptism means you're dead to this life, so use your life doing good for God.
Ø Since baptism means we're dead to this life, now what?
Ø Reject sin. 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Since you are dead to sin, you have power in Christ to refuse to let sin rule you. You are free from sin's control.
Ø Deny/deprive the body. 13a Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. The sinful desires and lusts of our bodies must be brought under Christ's control because our bodies are weak and in bondage to death and decay and to deadly, decaying lusts and desires.
Ø Give yourself and your body to God. 13b Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Offer your whole self, heart, soul, mind, & body to God in service to him by doing what you know is right for his glory and fame.
Ø Live under the freedom of God's grace. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
You are free from the law's requirements.
...the law's impossible standards.
...the law's meticulous ritual system.
...the fear of failing the law's just standards.
You are free to serve God by doing what is right.
Ø So does this mean that we never sin again?
Ø Does it mean I will never again yell at the children instead of crouching down to their height, embracing & listening to them?
Ø Will I never again curse at the vehicle that cut me off?
Ø Will I never again be rude to my spouse while always putting her needs above my own?
Ø Does it mean I will never again be defensive and angry?
Ø Will I never again envy my neighbour’s higher standard of living?
Ø Will I never again stick my foot in my mouth?
Ø No, but it does mean that God has empowered us to strive with Him against the temptations we face each day.
Ø Baptism means you're dead to this life, so use your life doing good for God.
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