Sunday Mornings Baptism leaves a Mark April 18th 2010
A Marking Point
Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Prayer
January 27th 1937 the Ohio River crested at 69 ft.
How many people remember where they were and what they were doing on the morning of September 11, 2001?
There are events that happen in our lives that become marking points in our memory – some of these moments have little to do with us, but then there are some marking points that are very personal.
July 1st 1972 At Taylor Station on the East Side of Columbus Ohio
Stand and tell us, what was your wedding date?
When husbands and wives struggle in their marriage, their wedding and their vows become, or should become, an anchor point for them – a reminder that they have made a commitment and they can work it through. Their wedding is a marking point in their life.
It’s not that something “magical” happens at a wedding but it does serve as significant marking point in one’s life because they sort of establishes who a person is.
This morning, I want to suggest that Baptism is one of those marking points in a persons life. Notice, I didn’t call it a “turning point”.
When someone gets married, their love didn’t just start that day. Weddings are not a turning point in people’s love – but a marking point.
Similarly, getting baptized isn’t a turning point. No one is getting “saved” when they are being baptized. If someone isn’t a Christian before being baptized, they’re not going to become one because of the act of baptism.
So baptism, as with weddings is not so much a “turning points” as much as they are “marking points” – an anchor point.
And we all need those marking points to remember who we are.
When we remember our wedding, we remember our commitment to someone we love.
But what about baptism. How is baptism a marking point in one’s life? How does baptism help us?
I would like to suggest to you that baptism is critical in a Christians life in that it is symbolic of several things.
1. REPENTANCE: Matthew 3:11a "I baptize you with water for repentance. turning from your old ways.
Illustrate: The word means a reversal. To reverse from the direction of sin. A reversal of sin… many Christians are just rewinding their sin… to repeat it again. Unlike rewinding a videotape.., God expects us not to repeat the sin.
2. IDENTIFICATION: Identifying yourself with Christ.
Identifying yourself with Christ means following the example of Christ – to endure and do as Christ has done.
Rom 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
3. CLEANSING: Symbolic display of forgiveness of sins
Mark 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4. CONFESSION: of death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
Illustrate: Dead flesh doesn’t sin.
Rom 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Rom 6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. Rom 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- Rom 6:7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Rom 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Rom 6:10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Now, being baptized isn’t going to mean your done with the sinful nature, any more than getting married means it is impossible for someone to have an affair.
But just like your wedding reminds you of who you belong to and who you are committed to, and therefore presumably, you will stay faithful to your spouse, so also baptism reminds you who you belong to and who you are committed to, and it too will help you stay faithful to your Lord.
But unless the commitment is already there, baptism won’t really do much at all.
But when there is a commitment, baptism will become a marking point – an anchor point – in your spiritual life – marking for all time your commitment to the Lord – holding you when you are being tempted by the sinful nature.
I think we often give up way too quickly. We say we’re only human.
It will be a marking point in your life – an anchor point, but only in as much as it is a reflection of your commitment to Christ and His ownership of you.
So why be Baptized?
1. Because it will be a marking point in your life for you and the world around you.
2. Because Jesus said we should be baptized.
Matthew 28: 18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
