Baptism Unites You With Christ

1 Corinthians 1:13-15

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 

 ■ You are NOT being baptized into the name of the person who lowers you into the water. You're not being baptized into a certain congregation or denomination. “In the name of” is a term that refers to ownership: Your preacher, your church... they don't own you. You are being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Give your allegiance to them and not to any teacher or church above your allegiance to Jesus. 

Matthew 28:19 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

■ Baptized IN THE NAME OF the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: This is a legal phrase used in contracts back then: It means you are being put under the OWNERSHHIP of whoever you are put in the name of. YOU ARE NO LONGER YOUR OWN – You belong to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – With all the rights and responsibilities that go with that contract. 

Acts 8:12 

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 

■ Baptism & the Kingdom. In baptism you are embracing the kingdom of God, putting yourself under His reign and authority. The Kingdom is not something you look forward to in the future, pie in the sky, by and by. The Kingdom is a reality for now: You are willingly submitting yourself as a citizen of God’s kingdom, giving him authority over you in every way. 

Matthew 28:20

. . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 

 ■ Baptism is for ALWAYS. The benefits of baptism are not just for today, not just until you get tired of being a Christian, not just until you slip up and sin again -- The Promise: I am with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age. 

Romans 6:3-4 

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. 

■ Baptized into his DEATH: In Baptism you are connected with the death of Jesus, you experience the death of the old you. That sinful woman, beaten down by life, scarred by sin, separated from the life of God , is DEAD! REALLY MOST SINCERELY DEAD! 

Galatians 3:27

…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

■ New Clothes! You will have new clothes when you come up out of the water. Not just wet clothes, but new clothes - Clothed with Christ. From now on, when God looks at you, he will not see the filthy rags of sin and depravity that you have been wearing, but instead will see Christ and his perfection and his sacrifice. 

Romans 6:3-4; 11-14

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.

...In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 

■ The old YOU is DEAD, BURIED . . . but that isn’t all. The NEW YOU is RAISED up from the waters, raised up from the life of sin and death, and raised up to live a new life in Him. Verses 11&14 tell us the implications of that new life.

Ephesians 4:4-5 

There is one body, one Spirit, one God and father of all, one Lord, one faith, one baptism

■ Baptism is listed among the things Paul says unites us. Baptism now unites you with everyone else who also has been baptized - Everyone in your community, in this country, all over the world, all through time, past, present and future. We are all one.

Baptism AND...

Colossians 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. 

■ This verse describes the process of entering a new relationship with God:

 • Saved By Grace (the power of God)

 • Saved Through Faith (Your acceptance, belief and commitment to the gospel) 

• Saved At Baptism (You meet God at the appointed place) 

Saved By Grace, Through Faith, at Baptism 

Acts 22:16 

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

■ Baptism AND . . . Calling on the name of the Lord. 

We hear this phrase a lot. According to this verse, the time and the place to call on the name of the Lord is right here and now - at the time of baptism. That phrase is not talking primarily about any set of words you say, or a crying out. It’s about accepting Jesus’ name to be stamped on you for ownership. The best way to do that is not through words, but through actions – the actions commanded in scriptures. 

Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...

■ Baptism AND . . .Becoming a Disciple. Baptism is part of becoming a disciple: Someone who follows Jesus, studies Jesus, learns what Jesus wants you to be, wants you to do. Less like punching a passport to heaven; More like enrolling in school to become an apprentice.

 Mark 16:15-16 

 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

■ Baptism AND… Belief! Being dunked into water is not what saves you! Baptism and Belief in Jesus Christ!! Without belief, the baptism is just a bath. But if you believe in Jesus, who has the power to save you, AND are baptized, you will be SAVED! 

 Acts 2:38 

 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

■ BAPTISM AND . . . Repentance. Baptism alone doesn't save anyone. Repent AND be baptized. Repentance = godly sorrow over the things you’ve done, changing your mind, changing your heart, resolve to change your way of living. You repentant heart leads you into that water, where the Lord will make that change of life a reality. 

 Acts 2:41 

 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

■ BAPTISM AND ….Acceptance.  They accepted his message and so they were baptized. When I take my car to the mechanic, I accept, I believe that they know how to fix my car, that they know more about my car than I ever will. And so I hand them the keys and leave the car with them. By being Baptized, you are saying, I accept, I believe that Jesus knows more about me than I will ever know, and that He can fix what’s wrong with me. And as you go down into the water, you are handing over to him the keys to your life. 

Acts 9:18 

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.

■ Baptism is part of the process of surrendering to Jesus.  At this point Paul has 

 • Been visited powerfully by Jesus in a way that knocked him to his feet; 

 • Actually spoken to Jesus and received a direct commission from Him; 

 • Repented greatly over his past life as a persecutor; 

 • Changed his mind completely about who Jesus is and accepted him as the Son of God;

 • Prayed for hours and days, both by himself and with Ananias;

 • was healed from the blindness that Jesus had given him

AND STILL, there is something more he needs to do: He got up and was baptized. 

 Acts 16:14-15 

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. 

■ Baptism as EVIDENCE. Lydia was already “a worshipper of God”, and yet she heard the gospel message from the apostles and knew she needed to do more than just worship God. She needed to be baptized. And THEN, the apostles knew that she was a believer, and they fellowshipped with her as such. Baptism was a verifiable point in the process of committing to living as a believer and apprentice of Christ.

Acts 16:33 

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 

■ Baptism without Waiting.  Paul and Silas were in jail; singing praise at midnight, when an earthquake set everyone free. But they did not leave the Jailer alone. He immediately asked. "What must I do to be saved?" I'm not sure this is a spiritual question just yet. He may have been afraid for his life. But Paul tells him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." The jailer took them home to care for them, and then…. IMMEDIATELY he was baptized. Don’t wait! Why put it off? This is the way things are done in the New Testament records. Belief is followed as immediately as possible by baptism.

Acts 18:8

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

■ Baptism is worth sharing. This happens in more than one record in the New Testament. Crispus and his entire household believed and were baptized. This is a life-changing experience that you will want to share with your family, your friends, everyone you know. It is contagious! “Your entire household” means your house and home, but also your workplace, neighborhood, your gym, your grocery store, and more. YOU now have the awesome responsibility of letting your entire household see how this has changed you. You not only are a new person, you have a new job - telling others about it. 

 Hebrews 6:1-2

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

■ Baptism is highly important, just as are the other things listed there. But Paul says to MOVE ON from those important things. Stop resting on your laurels, on what you’ve gotten right, on your grasp of doctrines. MOVE ON to maturity, MOVE ON to growing in being like Christ, in serving others like Christ, in sharing what you know and what you have experienced with others. This is only the beginning.

Baptism: Why?

 Over several decades time, Roy Weece led a Mizzou Christian Campus House ministry team to do prison ministry at a Missouri state prison for women. Periodically the team would conduct baptism services for the women who signed up to be baptized.  Sometimes this would involve as many as thirty to forty women linin g up to be baptized. 

Before each woman came to be baptized, Roy would read the next person's name off the list and say, "Come to Jesus."

He would then quote a scripture and briefly summarize its teaching on the subject of baptism.

When Roy left his work with the Christian Campus House, I became the coordinator of the prison ministry and inherited the list of baptism verses from Roy. What follows here and in the next few blog posts is the list I compiled, combining Roy's list and comments with my own.

Why be Baptized?

Matthew 3:13-15 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

■ Why be baptized? To fulfill all righteousness

Righteousness = the character of God and everything worthy of his character. Submit to baptism because you want to please God, want to take on his character, his righteousness.

■ Why be baptized? God wants you to be baptized/

There are many things you can grow to know and learn about baptism, but this truth is at the base of it all: God wants you to be baptized. 

 Acts 2:38 

 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

■  Why be baptized? Every believer needs to be baptized.

Baptism is NOT optional; Peter says “Every one of You” need to do this, in order to receive the blessings as promised. This is not something that you can pass up and still be forgiven! Every one of you! 

■ Why be baptized? For the forgiveness of your sins.

Two actions/Two results – Repent AND be Baptized. The first result: Forgiveness of sins. You are about to experience something more wonderful than the parole board. You are about to receive a FULL PARDON from God. Your slate will be clean, your record will be clear.

■ Why be baptized? To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The second result: The gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is none other than God Himself, Jesus Himself, coming to take up permanent residence in your heart. From now on, everywhere you go, God goes with you. Everything you do, Jesus is along for the ride. Everything you need in order to make that drastic change in your way of life, the Holy Spirit is always in there, providing the direction and the power for the new direction you’re taking. 

Acts 8:36

 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 

■ Why be baptized? Because it's part of the Gospel.

Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch the good news – the gospel – about Jesus. The eunuch’s response: he asked to be baptized. The gospel message includes everything about Jesus. He is God sent as a man. He lived and showed us God’s character. He died, was buried, was raised, and ascended. And the gospel is also about how to be reconciled to God through Jesus: By Grace, through Faith, at Baptism.