Sidney UMC - Baptism of the Lord Sunday - 01/10/21 - Sermon - “Why Baptism Matters"

Sunday 01/10/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:       “Why Baptism Matters”

Old Testament Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5                                          

New Testament Scripture: Acts 19:1-7

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:4-11

          Friends, brothers, and sisters, once again, it is good to be back from some much-needed time off!

          When Melissa and I took some time off for our “Staycation,” we were all very much still in the 12-day season of Christmas. The 12-day season of Christmas officially ended on January 6^th, or this past Wednesday, however. This is why we are invited to undecorate the sanctuary and the church after the church service today, as we are no longer in the season of Christmas.

          Instead, we are now in the season after Epiphany of the Lord. The 12-day Christmas Season ends each year on January 6^th, which is the celebrated day of the visit of the Wise Men or Magi, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As a result, this Sunday is the First Sunday after the Epiphany, or the visit of the Wise Men. This Sunday is also “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday, as this is the Sunday in the life of the church that we celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan river, by his cousin John the Baptist. So, to recap, on Christmas Day, Jesus is born, then some years we then discuss Jesus being 12-years old at the temple during the Passover, and then boom he is getting baptized! To put it another way, we go from Jesus’ birth on Christmas, to him being 30-years old and getting baptized today. They grow up so quick do not they!

          Since it is “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday though, our gospel lesson from the gospel of Mark for this morning, is about the Jesus’ baptism. Not only does Jesus get baptized this day, but it is also a good Sunday in many churches to discuss baptism. What is baptism? Why do we get baptized? Further as my sermon title for this morning says, I want to discuss “Why Baptism Matters”.

          In getting into this topic of Jesus’ baptism, and “Why Baptism Matters,” I first want to define what “Baptism” is in the Christian context. By the way, how many of us here have been baptized? Here is a good definition of Christian Baptism from the Encyclopedia Britannica online:

“Baptism, a sacrament of admission to Christianity. The forms and rituals of the various Christian churches vary, but baptism almost invariably involves the use of water and the Trinitarian invocation, “I baptize you: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The candidate may be wholly or partly immersed in water, the water may be poured over the head, or a few drops may be sprinkled or placed on the head” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/baptism).

 

          In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives us the “Great Commission” in 28:19-20:

 

¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:19-20, NRSV).

 

          So, baptism is the official entry point into the universal worldwide Christian Church, and Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew to make disciples or converts and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every baptism I have ever seen in person, or performed, has also been in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is because this what Jesus commanded us to do.

          There are other scriptures though that speak of baptism a little differently. In fact, in our gospel of Mark lesson for this morning, once again, John the Baptist says in 1:7-8:

“The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 1:7-8, NRSV).

          As a result of this and other scriptures, Christian traditions, such as the Salvation Army and the Quakers have no water baptism. They would argue that if you accept Christ, and you are then filled with the Holy Spirit, you have had a spirit baptism. The vast majority of the Christians the world over though, use water to baptize. Some traditions even use oil to “Christen” or anoint the child or person being baptized, as well.

          Let me offer you yet another definition of baptism. Here it is:

“Baptism (from the Greek noun βάπτισμα baptisma) is a Christian rite of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, into Christianity. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely. The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptised Jesus. Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism according to the Trinitarian formula, which is done in most mainstream Christian denominations, is seen as being a basis for Christian ecumenism, the concept of unity amongst Christians. Baptism is also called christening, although some reserve the word "christening" for the baptism of infants. It has also given its name to the Baptist churches and denominations” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism#:~:text=Baptism%20(from%20the%20Greek%20noun,water%20either%20partially%20or%20completely).

          So, based upon the definitions of baptism that I have offered, it usually involves water, and it is the entry point into Christianity. Does this mean then that if you have faith in Christ, but were never baptized that you do not have salvation? No of course not, as the criminal on the cross next to Christ believed in him and was never baptized. Anyone can repent and know Christ, or as we say in the United Methodist Church, make a profession of faith, but how do you become part of the church? I do not just mean this Sidney United Methodist, or the United Methodist Church in general. I mean, how do you become part of the universal Christian Church to world over? The answer is baptism. Most Christian Churches and traditions, whether they baptize babies, adults, and whether they sprinkle, pour, or immerse, baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We do this again, as this was Jesus, command of us in the gospel of Matthew.

          Once again, you can know Christ, you can have salvation without baptism, but Jesus told us to get baptized. When are baptized we received God’s grace through the Holy Spirit, we cleansed of the stain of sin, and we are a new creation in Christ. Beyond this, we are then part of the universal Christian Church.

          Imagine for moment that someone gave you a brand-new car. How many people here would like to be given a brand-new car? I would think most of us would. Yet, imagine if you had the brand-new car, the free gift, and but you had no driver’s license. You have the free gift, that is similar to salvation in Christ, but you aren’t going to use or express that free gift. Further, while have the free gift, we can’t really call you a driver or a motorist, because you have no driver’s license. Wouldn’t it make sense then for you to get your license? This way, you can take your free-gift and become a driver like millions of others. In the same way, faith in Christ is a free gift offered to us, like a new car, but baptism is like the driver’s license. Baptism is the universal entry point into the Christian Church. It is what makes us a driver, it is what takes our free-gift, and makes us officially part of the massive group called the Christian Church.

          Baptism is also the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Baptism is regeneration from the stain of sin and human brokenness, it is the Holy Spirit filling us, and us making a covenant to love the person being baptized.

          In the United Methodist Church, we have two categories for members. We have baptized members, and we have professing members. A baptized member has received the sacrament of baptism and the sacramental grace of baptism, but perhaps has not yet professed their faith. This only happens with babies and small children. When I baptized adults, they profess their faith in Christ prior to their baptism.

          In churches like various Baptist Churches, the person being baptized first professes their faith in Christ, and then is baptized. In this way, these two are connected, and yet are different. Baptism is us dying to ourselves, putting on Christ, being regenerated, being cleansed from the stain of sin, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and becoming part of the universal 2,000-year faith. Yet, to receive Christ as our savior, this is something we consciously do through our hearts. This is why then in the United Methodist Church; we have baptized and professing members. When someone gets confirmed in the United Methodist Church, or in many churches, they are professing and confirming their faith in Christ. They believe that God was present at their baptism, that the Holy Spirit moved, and they are now publicly accepting Jesus Christ for themselves.

          Our Baptist brothers and sisters, and other denominations ask someone who is of the age to accept and profess Christ, and then be baptized by immersion. There is continued debate over whether to sprinkle, pour, or immerse. I am not saying that there is a perfect way to do it, but I do like immersion the best, as this was the way that Christ was baptized.

          All this being said, we can baptize babies or small children, bring them into the universal Christian Church, and then they can profess their faith in Christ at there confirmation, or you can profess your faith publicly, and then be baptized by immersion. Or as I jokingly call it, “the dunk tank”! I had a seminary professor say about baptism that “you can drive your car into your garage or back it into your garage. What really matters he said, is that the car gets in the garage”. By this he meant that we have faith in Christ, and we are baptized.

          In the United Methodist Church then, we do baptize babies and small children, but some parents chose to wait until there children are older, and this is ok. Hopefully though, you understand more about baptism now, and “Why Baptism Matters”. Baptism really should not be optional for followers of Christ, as Jesus told us to get baptized. Why would receive the free-car, but not drive it? Why would we have faith, but not become part of the community faith that we believe in?

          With this said, I want to quickly touch on our reading from Acts 19:1-7 again, and then our gospel reading from Mark for this morning. In our reading for this morning from Acts 19:1-7, once again, it says:

“19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. ² He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— ⁷ altogether there were about twelve of them” (Acts 19:1-7, NRSV).

          So, Acts 19:1-7 affirms then that you can be a believer in Christ and not yet baptized. These folks in this scripture reading were baptized by John the Baptist but did not receive Christian baptism. As a result, they were believers, but were then baptized in the name of the “Lord Jesus”. It appears also that they were baptized by the Holy Spirit.

          Faith in Christ is essential, and “Baptism Matters,” but as you can see from our Acts 17 scripture once again, there are different perspectives on baptism. Most Churches however, including the United Methodist Church, baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as Jesus commanded us to in the gospel of Matthew.

          So, let us look once again at our gospel of Mark reading for this morning on the baptism of Jesus. Once again it says:

“⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:4-11, NRSV).

 

          In this scene of Christ’s baptism, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are all present. The Father speaks, the Son in baptized, and The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove. All three persons of the one triune God are all present together. For those Christians that are Baptists, they take their names in part because of the John the Baptist, and the way that he baptized Jesus. Also, Baptists used to be called “Anabaptists” by their critics, which means “Re-Baptizer,” as the person who baptized as an infant was re-baptized as an adult.

          While there are many different perspectives on what baptism is, and why it is significant, “Baptism Matters”. It is the universal entry point into the worldwide church, and it is the way that we cleansed, regenerated, and filled with the Holy Spirit. If you have never been baptized, but believe in Christ, I would encourage you to get baptized. Whether in this church, at Guilford Lake, the Susquehanna River down the street, or in a baptismal/dunk tank, this is how we the drive the free car that we have been given. This is how we become officially part of the faith that we profess. Friends, this is “Why Baptism Matters”. Amen.