Genesis 17:1-14 [NLTse]
Today we are baptizing Olivia and Anya , according to their faith in Jesus Christ and the faith of their guardian, their grandmother, Robin Green…
The Bible’s teaching on baptism begins with the story of the baptism of our Lord Jesus, told in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22.
The Word of God tells us that before Jesus was baptized, His cousin, John, began baptizing people as a sign of repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. (See Mark 1:4-8.) But when Jesus Himself was baptized, the core meaning of baptism was changed: It was no longer a sign of repentance, for Jesus was without sin and had no need to repent. Rather, His baptism served as a “sign” publicly proclaiming Jesus’ ministry of salvation for the human race. For when Jesus came up out of the water and the voice from Heaven said, “You are My beloved Son,” the crowds heard God’s Word in Psalm 2, identifying Jesus as King David’s heir, and when the voice said, “You are My beloved Son in You I am well-pleased,” they heard God’s Word from Isaiah 42, identifying Jesus as the long-promised Messiah who would be filled with God’s Holy Spirit, bring forth justice to the nations, called in righteousness, appointed as a covenant to God’s people and a light to the nations, who would open blind eyes, and set the captives free.
So, for Christians, the primary meaning of our baptisms is identifying ourselves with Jesus Christ, and His Kingdom, and His Covenant.
Perhaps you’re thinking, but I thought baptism was a sign of repentance. Turn with me to 1 Peter 3:21… Here Peter does speak of baptism as, “not [sic] removing dirt from your body, but [sic] a response to God from a clean conscience.” And you can see the footnote that this passage could also be translated to say that baptism is “an appeal to God for a clean conscience,” and so link it to repentance. But, the Bible never shows someone being encouraged toward baptism merely to show their repentance. And I can tell you that no one has ever come to me for baptism so they can show their family, the congregation, and the world that they’ve repented of their sins. No, at its core baptism is not a sign of our repentance.
Some of you may have been taught that baptism is when we’re given the Holy Spirit. And, although we do see the Lord Jesus baptized by the Holy Spirit during His baptism, and although we do see the Holy Spirit coming upon several believers during their baptisms in the Book of Acts, Acts tells us of several others who were filled with the Holy Spirit before they were baptized and even several more upon whom the Holy Spirit fell after they’d been baptized. So baptism is not primarily a sign of the Holy Spirit coming upon us, either.
No. Although baptism is a picture of being washed and cleansed from sin and guilt and shame; and, although baptism is a picture of dying to self and being born again to live for Christ; and, although baptism can be an appeal to God for a clean conscience, and also can be a response to God after He’s cleansed our conscience; and, although baptism might be a time when the Holy Spirit comes upon us; and, although baptism does ofthen demonstrate the desire of the one baptized (or their guardians or parents) to have God the Father and God the Son live in them by seeking God the Holy Spirit to live in them; although all of these things are a part of baptism, at its heart, baptism is publicly acknowledging that we belong to God in Jesus Christ, and seeking God’s help in all these ways as we live by faith trusting Him day-by-day.
Just as the rite of circumcision identified the Israelites as God’s people from the time of Abraham to the time of Christ, baptism has identified Christians as God’s people from the time of Christ until today.
That being said, notice that baptism doesn’t save us; baptism doesn’t make us a part of the New Covenant the Lord Jesus established on the cross. Paul writes to the Christians living in the province of Galatia that, “you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (3:26) It’s our faith that saves us. (Thank You, Lord.) It’s our faith that grafts us into the Covenant the Father has made with us. And baptism is the sign of that faith, and baptism is an act we commit because of our faith, but apart from faith baptism – no matter how elaborately and majestically conducted – is just a sign…
The Bible teaches that this identification with Christ which parents have according to their faith is automatically shared with their children and all who are a part of their household. We see that spoken of in our reading from Genesis: As soon as a son was eight days old he was to be marked with the “sign” of the Covenant – the sign of circumcision – as were all the household servants and slaves. Likewise under the New Covenant, when parents and heads of households accepted Christ we see their entire families and whole households being baptized along with them. Turn with me to Acts 16:15… Here we see Lydia and her household being baptized. Down in v. 31… We see Paul and Silas’ jailer being baptized, “he and all his household.” And, if you’ll turn to 1 Corinthians 1:16… Paul speaks here of baptizing the entire household of Stephanas…
So today we are baptizing Olivia and Anya, according to their own faith in Christ and according to their guardian’s faith in Christ, and Robin’s promise to raise them to know Christ and follow Him. We baptize Olivia and Anya in the hopes they will confirm these baptismal vows with their words and their deeds when they reach an age of understanding – maybe their teen years… And in the hopes they will confirm these baptismal vows with their words and their deeds all the days of the their lives…
When my wife and I attend weddings together – whether I am presiding over the wedding or whether we are sitting next to each other during the ceremony – there is always a moment during the vows when we look at each other, confirming our vows with the words of the vows those being married are making. I encourage us all, as Robin and the girls answer the questions of baptism, to confirm our commitments to Christ – our identification with Him – our communion with Him – and His Kingdom and His Covenant.
Ascription of Praise
Now to Him Who has made us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His Own people, in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of Him Who called us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, be all blessing and honor, glory and power, wisdom and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen?