This Is Your Life [January 9, 2011]
Eldon Boldt

No recording available

Sermon Notes

I. WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

1. TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE SET BY JESUS

Mark 1:9 (NLT) One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

2. TO RESPECT JESUS DIRECTIVE

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT) 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

3. TO DEMONSTRATE I AM A BELIEVER

Acts 18:8 (NLT) Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized.

1 John 2:3 (NLT) And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments.

II. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?

1. IT ILLUSTRATES CHRIST'S BURIAL AND RESSURECTION.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NLT) 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me—that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.

2. IT ILLUSTRATES MY NEW LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

Romans 6:4 (NLT) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) 8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

III. WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?

1. JESUS WAS BAPTIZED IMMERSION

Matthew 3:16, 17 (NLT) After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him."

2. BAPTISM IN THE BIBLE WAS BY IMMERSION

Acts 8:38-39 (NLT) 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

3. THE WORD 'BAPTIZE' MEANS TO IMMERSE

4. IT BEST SYMBOLIZES A BURIAL AND RESURRECTION

Martin Luther . . . "I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies."

John Calvin . . . "The word 'baptize' signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church"

John Wesley . . . "Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church."

IV. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

1. EVERY PERSON WHO HAS BELIEVED IN CHRIST

Acts 2:41 (NLT) Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all.

Acts 8:12-13 (NLT) 12 But now the people believed Philip's message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the great miracles and signs Philip performed.

V. WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

1. AS SOON AS YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS

Acts 2:41 (NLT) Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all.

Acts 8:35-38 (NLT) 35 So Philip began with this same Scripture and then used many others to tell him the Good News about Jesus. 36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.