“BAPTISM-WHAT IT WILL AND WILL NOT DO”
I. WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTOR TO RID MYSELF OF THE FLU, I WAS GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION WITH THIS WARNING:
A. “This anti-biotic may or may not help you.”
B. In spite of all the medical advancements that have been made
C. There are no wonder drugs.
D. There is no pill that can cure everything.
E. We know that certain medicines are only good for certain conditions.
F. Just as our modern medicine have some limitations,
G. So religious acts also have some limitations.
H. One religious act is referred to by the world baptism.
I. While baptism does accomplish some things it is useful
J. Baptism is not like a magic pill.
K. There are things that baptism does not and cannot do.
L. If you are taking notes you might consider dividing you paper into half.
M. The first column maybe entitled, “Things that baptism cannot do.
N. # 1 Baptism cannot change a person’s heart, emotions, or will.
O. If there is a man who is a drug addict,
P. And we dip him in a pool called a baptistery,
Q. There will be no change.
R. A drug addict will still want to be a drug addict though he has been baptized.
S. The desire for illegal drugs in a man’s life will persist.
T. Baptism does not alter a person’s outlook on life.
(1) We could prove this by trial and error.
(2) We could take a hundred people who are living contrary to Gods will.
(3) We could dip each one in a church baptistery.
(4) The results would be predictable: Little or no change in their lives.
(5) An easier way to prove the point is God’s word.
(6) The emotions of these men and women were affected.
(7) Notice that this change came without baptism.
(8) The attitude towards Jesus changed without being dipped in water.
(9) The will of these people was changed by preaching.
(10) According the Acts 2, God’s word changes hearts.
U. If baptism does not change a person’s hear, what about a person’s life?
V. Will the act of baptism make a person different?
W. Staying with Acts 2, the answer is “no”.
X. Acts 2:38 uses the word “repent.”
(1) This word describes a turning.
(2) This turning is a turning towards God.
(3) It is a turning away from what is wrong and turning towards what is good.
(4) When a person changes their life, they have repented.
(5) Baptism does not change a person’s life; repentance does that.
Y. If baptism does not change a person’s heart,
Z. And if it does not make a person live a different and better life,
A. Will it remove temptation?
B. If a man is addicted to a habit, and wants to end the addiction,
C. Will baptism help him? The answer is no.
D. Mt. 3 tells us that Jesus was baptized.
E. The Lord’s baptism is recorded at the very end of this chapter.
F. After Jesus’ baptism, here is how chapter 4 opens READ 4-1.
G. Notice that Jesus was baptized and then He was tempted.
H. The idea that baptism removes temptation must be rejected.
I. In fact, Mt. 4 indicates that temptation may actually increase.
J. Baptism does not remove nor reduce temptation.
K. What about a related matter? Will baptism make one sinless?
L. Is baptism an act that will keep us from wrongdoing?
M. The book of Acts provides us with the answer.
N. A man by the name of Simon was baptized in Acts 8.
O. Whatever baptism accomplishes, this man had experienced that.
P. Acts 8:21 Goes on to add that this baptized believer sinned.
Q. After baptism, his heart became evil –“no longer right with God.”
R. Simon “No longer had part or lot” in the ministry.
S. This Christian was about to “repent and pray.”
T. Acts 8 establishes that baptism will not make someone sinless.
II WHEN WE DISCUSS THE SUBJECT OF BAPTISM WITH EOPLE, WE MUST KNOW AND TEACH THAT IT HAS SOME LIMITATIONS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT BAPTISM CANN’T DO.
SINCE WE KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT BAPTISM CANNOT DO, WHAT DOES THIS RELIGIOUS ACT ACCOMPLISH?
A. Baptism is useful to use because it puts us into a new place.
B. Gal. 3:27 say, QUOTE.
C. Baptism puts us “into Christ.”
(1) Why is it important to be “In Christ”?
(2) 2 Tim. 2:10 say’s that salvation is in Christ.
(3) If we want to be saved we must be in Christ, 2 Tim. 2:10.
(4) The means to getting into Christ is baptism, Gal. 3:27.
(5) Furthermore, Eph. 1:3 say’s that spiritual blessings are “in Christ.
(6) If we want any spiritual blessing from God, we must be in Christ.
(7) If you are taking notes, and you have a 2nd column,
(8) You can write down that baptism puts us into Christ Col 3:27.
(9) Being in Christ entitles us to salvation and special blessing.
D. Related to Gal. 3:27 is MK 16:16 QUOTE.
E. Jesus Himself said that baptism saves us.
F. By itself baptism is useless.
G. Jesus insisted that belief is also necessary to being saved.
H. Acts 2 tells us that repentance is also necessary.
I. Baptism is not the most important act, but it does play in part
J. Baptism puts us into Christ #1 and is a final step in our salvation #2.
K. This is not the end of what the Bible baptism does.
(1) In 1st Peter 3, a reference is made to Noah.
(2) Noah built an ark, and water lifted the ark to safety while those outside died.
(3) Water was a dividing line between those were saved and those who were not.
(4) Peter says that baptism is also a dividing line.
(5) READ 1st Peter, 3:20-21.
(6) Rom. 6:3 say’s that baptism allows us to share in the Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
CONCLUSION:
1. Three of the greatest events in the world are; Christ’s coming, His death and His resurrection.
2. If we become a Christian as the Bible describes, If, we are baptized into the Lord,
3. Rom 6 says that we share in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
4. We may never make it to college; we may never step foot outside the state of INDIANA:
5. We may never make it beyond the borders of the United States
6. Each one of us can be baptized into Christ; there is no greater honor or achievement in life than this.
7. We have heard what baptism does and does not do.
8. Has each one here been baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins?