GKCCCC - Sermons 2005

Baptism

Jesus, as Son of God, set the example for us - Matt. 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." ...
It is a command from Jesus - Matt. 28:19-20 - 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Peter continued to teach the same - 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.
People believed and were baptized - Acts 2:41 - Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
After Philip led the eunuch to Christ, he was baptized when water was available - Acts 8:36-38 - Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 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?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
After Paul was converted, he was baptized when possible - Acts 9:18 - Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
After Peter led Cornelius to Christ, he saw no reason why his family should not be baptized - Acts 10:47 - "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
The jailer and his family were baptized immediately after they believed - 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.
Similarly for Crispus - 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.
Main message (all of Romans 6) to explain baptism - Romans 6:3-10 - 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. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 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-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ...
Baptized into Christ is clothed with Christ - Gal 3:27 - for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
With baptism we are buried with His death - 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.