Sermon Idea: Baptism is a means of grace through which God builds up his church by his promised presence.
Introduction: Do you remember your baptism? Do you remember who baptized you, where you were, and what church affirmed your baptism? Did you have family and friends present? Did denounce one way of life and profess faith in Christ Jesus, submitting to a new way of life.
Better yet, how now do you reflect on your baptism? What meaning, significance, and benefit does it still have for your Christian life? Baptism is a one-time act for the Christian, but its meaning, significance, and benefit define the entirety of the Christian life. This is because baptism is a means of grace through which God builds up his church by his promised presence.
I hope to encourage you this morning by reminding you of all that your baptism signifies. I pray that doing so will strengthen your ability to walk in the newness of life.
Two great errors in our thinking about Christian baptism make discussing it as a means of grace potentially difficult. Some overestimate baptism’s role in salvation and others underestimate its importance in and for the church.
The error of overestimating baptism’s role in salvation is that some see that act of baptism as salvific in and of itself. Allow me to say, at the outset, we deny that without hesitation. The act of water baptism itself is not necessary as a work for salvation. We are saved by God’s grace alone in Christ alone through Faith alone.
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:42–43)
Of course, this is an extreme example. So we need not fall into the opposite error, the one more prevalent in Baptist circles, of underestimating the importance of baptism in and for the church. There is a temptation to think that because baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is not necessary. This is the temptation to think that baptism really means little and that it is simply the first act of obedience to Jesus as his disciple.
Understanding baptism as a means of grace helps us avoid both of these errors by seeing it as ordained by Jesus Christ for our good to build up the church by his promised presence. I began by reading Matthew 28:18-20. Let’s look again and see both of these truths—that baptism is ordained by the Lord Jesus and accompanied by his promised presence.
19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19–20)
Along with baptism being instituted by the Lord Jesus, in which he promises his presence, notice that baptism is first something that happens to believers and second only what believers do. What do I mean by that?
We don’t baptize ourselves; we are baptized, and God puts his name on us in baptism. Isn’t that incredible? God, in his grace, gives us a new identity defined by his own name. We are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
Of course, baptism is a believer’s act—I don’t want to downplay that at all. It is a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus. It is the first act of obedience as a disciple of Jesus Christ, but it’s vital to note that our act, by necessity, comes second. We are baptized because God has saved us in Christ, so God’s purpose is primary in baptism.
So although baptism in and of itself does not save, it is necessary because it was instituted by the Lord Jesus. It’s how we are incorporated into Christ and his church, receiving the promise of his presence.
If we are to appreciate and understand baptism as a means of grace, we need to understand that baptism is a sign. We see covenant signs given to God’s people throughout the Bible. After the flood, Noah is given the rainbow, renewing the covenant at creation. Abraham is given circumcision as a sign of belonging to the covenant community. Moses is given the Sabbath as a sign on Mt. Sinai. The sign of the new covenant is baptism. It signifies something, says something, or preaches something.
We call baptism a sign because it is a visible word from the Lord that communicates and assures us of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To remind ourselves of this and reflect on what baptism signifies, I want to read three confessional definitions of baptism. Each of these comes from historic Baptist confessions of faith, albeit from different streams. Listen to the consistency in how these confessions refer to baptism as a sign of the real benefits we have in Christ.
Baptism is an ordinance of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, or dipped, a sign of our entrance into the covenant of grace, and ingrafting into Christ, in his death and resurrection, and our living, or rising to new life. – The Orthodox Creed 28
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. Second London Baptist Confession of Faith 29.1
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper. – Abstract of Principles XV
In all of these statements, the sign is the professing believer’s immersion into water, which signifies life in Christ and all its benefits.
It is a sign not only for the baptized but also for the church affirming the profession of faith in baptism. This point is really important for us because it makes every baptism an opportunity to be built up again by the grace of God.
J. Ryan Davidson says it this way, “…as someone is lowered into the water and raised to walk symbolically, in newness of life, each of us has the ability to reflect on our own baptism. Our baptism then becomes a sign again and again and again that the Lord uses to nurture us in our faith. It is a means of grace.”
At Hermon, I encouraged the congregation not to view baptisms as passive participants. After explaining the meaning of baptism, I would encourage the congregation to do three things. They all start with “R,” because I just can’t help myself.
- Rejoice
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:8–10)
- Remember
- Respond
- Repent and believe the gospel.
- Reflect and return to faithful obedience.
For the remainder of our time together, I want to reflect specifically on five realities that baptism signifies. Every time we baptize, God proclaims visibly glorious truths about who we are in Christ. To do this well, we have to examine several texts.
As we do this, it will be helpful to know that the New Testament often uses baptism to express all that is involved in conversion. We use language this way frequently, though often in less significant manners. Two examples provided by one writer are phrases like “all hands on deck,” where “hands” refers to sailors, and “Check out my wheels,” when asking someone to appreciate your car.
I.) Baptism proclaims union with Christ
This is the most fundamental sign of baptism that grounds all the others. In salvation, we are gloriously united to Christ by the Spirit so that what is true of him becomes true of us. This is because God considers us to have died with Christ and to have been raised with Christ. From this union, we receive glorious benefits. Being united with Christ, the Son of God, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God. Being united to Christ, who is righteous, leads to God seeing us righteous in Christ. Being united with Christ, who is holy, leads to God sanctifying us and setting us apart as holy.
Baptism signifies this union because the believer is visibly immersed in the water, symbolizing being buried with Christ, and then is brought back up to symbolize being raised with Christ. Listen to Romans 6:1-4.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Ro 6:1–4)
When a new believer is baptized, it is visible assurance that God really does consider their old self to be crucified with Christ. They can rest assured that God really has raised them to new life. This means that in baptism God grants you a new identity that is defined by the person and work of Jesus Christ.
For all those viewing the baptism, the proclamation of our union with Christ reminds them that they have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. They are reminded that their identity is defined by Christ.
Remembering your baptism is a means of grace because it provides assurance when we are tempted to feel guilt over forgiven sin and provides fuel and motivation for present obedience, How can we who died to sin still live in it?
II.) Baptism proclaims cleansing from sin
One of the glorious implications of being united with Christ is that our sins are forgiven and so we are cleansed of our sins. Baptism proclaims visibly in a powerful way, because of the use of water that washes over our whole person. Do you see how baptism by immersion into water is so fitting to signify cleansing from sin? This is why in Acts, when Paul recounts his conversion he speaks to baptism as the washing away of sin.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Ac 22:13–16)
Think about how baptism signifying cleansing from sin can minister to your soul. When tempted to return to shame, remember your baptism. When tempted to return to sin, remember your baptism. Those who’ve been baptized into Christ have been washed by the Spirit of God in the name of Christ.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Co 6:11)
There is no stain of sin that can stick when your washed by the Spirit and in baptism. Your baptism signifies the forgiveness of past sin, but it signifies the promise of forgiveness for present and future sin.
III.) Baptism proclaims new life in Christ
Baptism signifies that since we’ve died with Christ we also have been raised to new life in Christ. This life is eternal and was not earned by us, but graciously bestowed upon us through faith in Jesus Christ.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Ro 6:4)
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Col 2:11–12)
What we also need to reflect on is that since the life we have is eternal, then baptism is a means to proclaim and assure us of the resurrection from the dead. Remembering our baptism and viewing baptisms throughout our Christian life allows us to anticipate in hope that God will raise us just as he raised Christ.
This is why I really appreciate how the Baptist Fatih & Message includes testimony to the final resurrection in its article on baptism.
It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
IV.) Baptism proclaims assurance in Christ
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (1 Pe 3:18–22)
This is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament to interpret and understand. I put in a ton of work on these verses when I preached through 1 Peter. For our purpose this morning, we can focus on what Peter tells us about how baptism brings assurance.
First, we need to carefully note that baptism saves, not in the act itself. It doesn’t save, says Peter, “as removal of dirt from the body.”
Baptism saves 1.) as an appeal to God for a good conscience and 2.) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What does Peter mean by appealing to God for a good conscience? Baptism is truly the Bible’s version of the sinner’s prayer. It represents how someone responds to the good news of the gospel and appeals to God. Baptism itself doesn’t accomplish anything, but because the believer has faith in Christ, it assures them of God’s promises, leading to a good conscience. Baptism points to the God who saves us in Christ, allowing the baptized individual to rest in their union with Him, cleansing from sin, newness of life, and so on.
Remembering your baptism brings assurance because we can know that God’s promises are yes to our prayers. I am not saying that you can’t value a pivotal moment in your life when you responded to an altar call or treasure a family member leading you in prayer in response to the gospel.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge that what the New Testament urges us to remember is our baptism for assurance and growth. Just consider all the passages we’ve already read. Remembering our baptism lies at the heart of them all, with spiritual maturity, obedience, and assurance as their goals. Baptism serves as a means of grace.
V.) Baptism proclaims incorporation into the body of Christ
Baptism most certainly marks us out from the world and incorporates us into the body of Christ, the church. It is the means God uses to change our status in relation to the church. It is our initiation into the covenant people of God.
One significant consequence of this is that baptism proclaims unity within the body of Christ. The church consists of individuals from various places and cultures. Although these distinctions persist, a common unity transcends them. Baptism just doesn’t communicate something about an individual’s relationship with God but with the church.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:4–6)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Co 12:12–13)
Baptism is more than just an act of obedience; it’s more than a symbol. It’s a sign and a symbol of grace through which God builds up the church. It is a visible word through which we see the proclamation of union with Christ, cleansing of sin, new life, assurance, and incorporation into the body of Christ.
Application
- Repent and be baptized
- Remember your baptism
- Rest in the assurance of God’s grace signified in baptism
Nathaniel R. Martin 