What is baptism and what does it represent? There is much discussion on this divisive topic within the Church. Today, as we witness a baptism, we’ll look at what Baptism is intended to represent.
Our passages: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 & Isaiah 44:1-8. Preacher: Ian Bayne (28th June 2020).
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Introduction
On the occasion of Oliver’s baptism, you might think it’s peculiar for a text to be chosen that contains this:
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,”
1 Corinthians 1:17a ESV
We want to understand what has been done and want to explain it for those brothers and sisters who have come from different traditions.
We can’t get to the bottom of the topic of baptism as it’s huge, but want to cover part of it today for our encouragement.
Context
The first letter to the Corinthians dealt with difficulties they were facing as a young church. The first six chapters apparently deal with issues from a report to Paul from Chloe.
The second half (Ch 7-16) deals with questions that the Corinthians had for Paul about various issues. Specifically our passage today is dealing with the issue of divisions in the church about who they would follow. They were forming little groups around different teachers.
Divisions on Baptism
Paul asks three rhetorical questions to show them this isn’t right:
- It’s Christ divided?
- Was Paul crucified for you?
- Were you baptised in the name of Paul?
The answer to each of these questions is obviously ‘no’. Paul goes on to say he is thankful that he’s only baptised a few people.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV
He’s not saying baptism is unimportant, after all Jesus commands it:
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,
Matthew 28:19 ESV
Paul is saying that the preaching of the gospel holds precedence over baptism (is more important). Baptism is just a ‘sacrament’ – a sign, which merely points to the gospel. It is not the gospel.
A sacrament is an outward sign that demonstrates an inward state. for instance: a sign that says “Foxton 96km” points you in the right direction, but it’s just a sign. You’re not in Foxton yet, and could still get lost on the way.
There’s a great tragedy in the church that divisions have arisen around something that ought to have united the church. Even today some churches say that people baptising in the wrong way aren’t really Christians.
Baptism in its right place should be a unifying sacrament. Both infant and believer’s baptism are recorded in the bible: Gaius and Stephanus were believers, but the household of Stephanus would have included a mixture of children.
What is the sign of Baptism pointing us to?
1. A promise to believers and their families
Baptism is a promise of God to all believers and their children, as well as people from non-Christian families who are welcomed and ‘grafted’ into the church.
It’s the greatest expression of love in existence.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1
2. God’s choice to save
We’re not Christians because we’re good; we’re called because he chose us out of love (see also Isaiah 44:1-8).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 ESV
This is what the gospel teaches us and what Baptism points us to.
3. Jesus’s sacrifice
Jesus sacrified so much for us, both:
- In living – He put off his heavenly robes and privilege that he enjoys, to be a humble child to live a life of perfection; showing us how it’s done; and
- In dying – there needed to be a sacrifice to bring us to God. The righteous died to save the unrighteous.
4. Holy spirit
Baptism reminds us of the promise of the Holy Spirit. One of the main acts of the Holy Spirit is to communicate the gospel to our hearts. The Bible is just words. The Holy Spirit helps us understand those words and be comforted.
5. The victory over sin
Through Baptism and the symbol of passing through water, we’re reminded that we’ve broken free of the powers of darkness thanks to Jesus defeating death.
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV
6. Our Sovereign’s oversight
God is sovereign and has control over everything at all times.
He uses this to help His people and strengthen them. Jesus said to his disciples:
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Luke 10:19 ESV
Yet, while we may not have or need the same physical protection, the spiritual protection provided to us is still strong.
Summary
The gospel is the greatest expression of love God could have given us. Baptism is the sign and the seal of the gospel of grace: a gift of God.
It’s telling that in heaven there will be no Presbyterian, Lutherans, Baptists or other denominations. There will be just those saved by faith through grace, and this should humble us as we come before the gospel.
As we’ve witnessed a baptism today, it’s for us today to pray for them and care for them, now hopefully appreciating a little more of what Baptism represents.
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