(As background, read – Passing through the Waters)
We know Baptism is Important
- It was crucial for John the Baptist. Matthew 3:6 says, “They were baptized by John in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” This was the proper response to his ministry.
- Jesus used the symbol of baptism. A little later in time, John 4:1-2 notes, “. . . Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples).”
- Jesus commissioned his disciples to baptize. He said, “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 . . .” – Matthew 28:18-20.
But where does water baptism come from? And what does it mean? The answer is found in the water crossings that we looked at last time, and especially the Red Sea crossing. This is where it comes from, and this is the context for beginning to make sense out this symbolic water experience.
What we need to do now is make . . .
The Scriptural Connection
. . . between water baptism and these events of passing through the waters. Here are three such connections.
1. The Flood is called a type of water baptism. I Peter 3:20-21 says, “. . . eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.” The word “corresponds” means an event that points forward to something in the future which is its counterpart. So there is a connection between this water crossing and baptism.
2. The Red Sea crossing is called a baptism. I Corinthians 10:1-2 says, “ . . . our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” So here we have baptism language describing the Red sea crossing. But not only is it called a baptism, in the context of 1 Corinthians 10 it is also used as an analogy to Christian baptism. These two things are alike.
3. There is a historical/prophetic connection with the Red Sea crossing. Remember that after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea they went on to fail in their commitment to God in the wilderness. So that generation of Israelites never crossed into the promised land.
Thus when Joshua entered the promised land with the next generation they crossed through “the waters” again; through the Jordan river. The waters upstream were stopped and they walked through it on dry ground (Joshua 3).
This was a reenactment of the Red Sea crossing. God was symbolically reconstituting Israel after their failure in the wilderness.
And then, low and behold, John the Baptist comes baptizing people in the Jordan river! The symbolism is there to be seen. Like Joshua, he is calling for Israel to be reconstituted; to be made new. What I’m saying is that John was reenacting Joshua’s reenactment of the Red Sea crossing.
All we need to do, then, is to recognize that Jesus continued John’s baptismal practices and we have an unbroken chain back to the Red Sea crossing:
- Moses and the Red Sea
- Joshua and the Jordan river
- John the Baptist and the Jordan river
- Jesus and Christian baptism
So there is a connection between water baptism and passing through the waters. Indeed, water baptism is a crossing through the waters. We will also see this point reaffirmed as we now look at . . .
The Story that Baptism Tells
Like the Old Testament water crossings, water baptism tells a rich story of salvation. As we go through this ask – “Where do you fit in this story?”
The waters – Satan, Sin and Death – seen as cosmic, spiritual powers, control us and seek to destroy us. This is our lives lived apart from God, in sin, in rebellion, in misery, in despair, lonely and without hope.
But God intervenes; God acts through Jesus to defeat these evil powers. They wanted to condemn and destroy us, but they are now condemned for killing an innocent Jesus.
Because of what God has done – God’s love and power, we are able to be free! And so, if we want, we can enter into this story of Jesus’ defeat of the waters. The symbolism of baptism communicates this:
1. When we come to the waters of baptism – we portray that we have left behind our old life through repentance. Our sinful past is behind us. This is our commitment.
Repentance is definitely a part of what baptism is about. As Peter says on the day of Pentecost – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ . . .” – Acts 2:38. They go together. Another way of saying it is found in Romans 6:5-6: In baptism our old life is killed. This is another metaphor for repentance. Our old life in sin has come to an end; it is dead.
2. When we go through the waters of baptism – we acknowledge that we have received God’s forgiveness of our sins; that we are free from the evil powers! They cannot harm us anymore precisely because our sins are forgiven or washed away. They have no claim on us! They can’t touch us anymore! That’s why we can go through the waters and not be harmed. God has forgiven us.
That this is a part of the baptism story is clear from a number of Scriptures. In a baptism context, Paul talks about how we are set free from Sin & Death, which are personified as powers, who enslave us and seek to destroy us – Romans 6:7. Or more simply, once again, Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” – Acts 2:38. There is a connection between baptism and forgiveness. Finally, picking up the washing theme, which is a metaphor for forgiveness, Ananias says to Paul, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” – Acts 22:16.
3. As we come up out of the water on the other shore, as it were – we acknowledge that we have received new life through the Spirit. In the New Testament, baptism is associated with receiving the Spirit. After Peter’s invitation to baptism, he says, “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” – Acts 2:38. Also, water baptism is connected to our receiving “newness of life” in Romans 6:1-4. We will say more about this later when we look at Spirit baptism.
4. When we come up out of the waters – we acknowledge that we are now a part of God’s new people.
We have switched communities. We have left the world and we are now a part of the church. This is the communal component of baptism.
This is usually just assumed in the New Testament, but it does come out in several places. Luke says, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41. These were added to the fellowship of believers. Not just a spiritual, invisible reality but the actual, flesh and blood church of Jerusalem. Paul says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free . . .” - 1 Corinthians 12:13. Baptism incorporates us into a new community – the church.
5. When we come up out of the waters – we acknowledge our commitment to follow Jesus. We come up out of the waters and are made new, join a new community and we commit to a new way of life; to doing God’s will from now on.
This is also a part of what baptism means. Jesus talks about, “ . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” – Matthew 28:19-20. Baptism is connected to obedience to everything that Jesus teaches. Also, Peter calls baptism a “pledge of a good conscience toward God” in I Peter 3:21. It is a commitment to do God’s will from now on.
Being a Part of the Story
So the story of water baptism tells a rich narrative of salvation. When we accept baptism, we connect ourselves to this story of salvation through Jesus. When we are baptized, we say, “This is my story, I own it and live it out.” We testify that “I have been saved and now live as a Christian.” This is what water baptism means.
Let me end with a challenge. Young people, you are beginning to make these very kinds of adult choices. Where do you stand with Jesus? Adults as well. What will it be?
- The world calls you to accept its symbols, its story, its values
- Jesus calls you to accept his symbol, his story, his values
Where do you stand with Jesus?
- Are you holding out to explore the world? Hear the words of I Peter 4:3 – “The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.”
- Feel like its not the right time? Hear the words of 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
No one can make this decision for you. It has to come from you (which is why we don’t practice infant baptism). You have to make the decision. I pray God will help you do what is right. William Higgins
