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BAPTISM - IT'S A START
Acts 16:22-34
“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when
they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging
the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust
them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there
was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were
loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing
the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed
himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a
loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called
for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul
and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be
saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the
word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the
same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and
all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set
meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all
his house.”
I. When is a person ready
for baptism?
A. For much of world this is a mute
question. Babies!
1) Practiced by Catholics and
Protestants alike.
2) Shows unity of family in
Christ.
3) Expresses his concern for
little children.
4) But nowhere mentioned in
Bible.
B. Baptism is for believers only.
1) Faith (belief) is ALWAYS
associated with baptism.
2) Even "household"
baptism stresses faith.
a) The jailor wasn't only one
to have faith. Acts 16:34
b) Note that in Acts 10:44-47
all are baptized, but all
also
speak in tongues.
II. Baptism is for those who are babies -
in a SPIRITUAL sense.
A. We must be born again, and then be
baptized.
1) Not a slogan, but the simple
words of Jesus.
2) We can know we are saved and
going to heaven (passed from
death
to life) because Jesus promises it.
B. We are ready for baptism when we
commit ourselves to Jesus.
1) Think you are good
enough? You're not ready.
2) Are you unwilling to
change? You're not ready.
3) Deeply aware of sin and want
Jesus to do something about
it? You are ready.
C. Baptism isn't for those who are
mature.
1) Some Christians waited till
last possible minute.
a) Then they could live the
perfect Christian life and die.
2) Common to wait for God to zap
us with lightning.
a) You will never be good
enough for baptism.
3) Baptism has no age limit, just
a faith limit.
III. What baptism doesn't
do for you.
A. Bible stresses that the water
itself has no magical power.
1) Matthew 3:6-8 - without repentance, it is
meaningless.
2) 1 Peter 3:21
- not the water, but the faith.
a) The power is from Jesus,
unleashed due to our repentance
(faith)
and acceptance of his salvation.
B. It doesn't make you a perfect
Christian.
1) We want baptism to mean
something, and are often disappointed
when
someone is baptized but doesn't act like a Christian.
2) Baptism does not make us a
better person.
a) Some feel an emotional
high, but not necessarily.
b) Baptism is a public
statement of our faith.
3) Any change, has to happen in
our hearts.
IV. Baptism is a beginning.
A. Early Christians were baptized
just knowing Jesus saves.
1) Happened on road, and at midnight.
B. Baptism signifies the beginning of
the Christian life, not
the
perfection of it.
1) We are to count ourselves dead
to sin.
2) But sin is still there!
C. Baptism incorporates us into the
body of Christ, the church.
V. Baptism is not the end of the
Christian life.
A. On earth, we are judged by our
impact.
1) Manger in Bethlehem covered with a huge church.
2) Sign outside our church?
B. What impact are you making as a
Christian?
1) Too many take the plunge and
then dry off, and dry out.
2) Once you have proclaimed your
faith, live it!
3) We must become what God
intends us to be.
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