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Baptism Part 4 The reason for the urgency of this teaching is to prepare us for the last days. Tribulation will shake the earth and will prepare the Bride. There will be many in the church who will fall away. See 2 Thess. 2:3. The life that Christ offers will sustain us through all things. See 2 Thess. 2:10. A good question to ask ourselves: Is baptism only an outward picture of an inward reality? Or is it more? When you look at the teaching that was prevalent in the early church you will find Christians who saw potency in ‘believers baptism.’ Ignatius of Antioch (35 – 110) said, “Baptism is the means of regeneration.” An interesting side note on Matthew 3:11 where John the Baptist is comparing his baptism with the one that Jesus offers. In John’s baptism the people went into the water to receive repentance through baptism. With Christ, repentance comes first. See Mat. 4:17 and others. Some of the texts that Pasture Scott used were: 

1 Cor. 6:11 ff – Here Paul indicates the cleansing nature of baptism but warns about how we should order our lives afterward.            Gal. 3:27 – There is only one baptism – in Christ. 

Col 2: 11-15 – This is the results of baptismal death.

Heb. 6: 4 – The word “enlightened” could refer to baptism – some special event. 

See Psalm 24:5a The thought for today is the same as it has been all through this series. Baptism is a divine work, not a man’s work.Another way to say it is, “It’s not a new start in life, it’s a new life to start with.”  The comparison by Peter was with Noah in 1 Pt. 3: 18 – 4:4. Noah was transported into a new world.

The Eight Graces of Baptism:

·         Forgiveness of sin. Acts 2:38, 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11

·         Union with Christ.  Gal. 3:27

·         Participation in Christ’s sonship. Gal. 3:26 ff

·         Consecration to God.  1 Cor. 6:11 ff,

·         Possession of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38, Titus 3:5-6

·         Grace to Live.  Rm. 6:1 – 11; Col. 3:1 ff

·         Delivery from the powers that rule this world. Col. 1:13.

·         The inheritance of the kingdom of God. John 3:5 

At the Council of Trent in 1545, John Calvin said, “There is a two-fold grace in baptism, for therein both remission of sins and regeneration are offered to us.”  To reiterate what Pasture Scott said today, if you baptism this way, don’t let it be a stumbling block to fellowship. The Lord knows our heart. He’ll work it out.