Baptism is ONLY A PICTURE

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk in newness of life.”  - Romans 6.4

     

Baptism - A Picture Only.

 

It was a blessing to baptize five people in to the membership of our church Sunday.  It was also a good time to keep the message clear and plain.

 

Just like this APPLE is only a picture of the real thing - Baptism is the New Testament Church ordinance picturing the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In baptism, a public testimony is visibly given to the affect that the one baptized has already believed in the death of Christ on the cross, His burial and His resurrection on the third day.  And in believing, has already been born again, repenting of sins and trusting the Lord Jesus to save.  Galatians 2.20, Romans 6.4, 1 Corinthians 15.1-4, Colossians 3.1

 

Who should be baptized?  Only those who have been born again:

ü  Those who have already - clearly been converted: “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance:” Matthew 3.8

ü  Those who have already  - been made disciples:  “Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,” John 4.1 (Being made a disciple comes before being baptized.)

ü  Those who have already - received the Gospel from the Bible: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:” Acts 2.41

ü  Those who have already - believed in Christ: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Baptism/christening of infants is NOT in the Bible!

 

The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is only a picture of the real thing.  Christ Jesus our Lord did die.  He was buried.  He did rise again from the grave on the third day.  Baptism lets us see this in a picture, a new believer shows that he has died to his own beliefs, his own works, his own righteousness, he is buried with Christ (immersed in water) and he is risen with Christ to walk in newness of life.

 

Baptism is ONLY A PICTURE of the change that has already taken place in the heart.

 

Pastor