God's Sign of Baptism
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 4/10/2011 AM |
Text: | Romans 6:4-6; Lord's Day 26 |
Psalters: | 175, 35, 234, 396 |
- The institution.
- The O.T. parallel to baptism is circumcision, both signs of being separated from one’s sins.
- Baptism came in the place of circumcision.
- No more blood might be shed after Christ shed His.
- Jesus instituted the sacrament at His ascension (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16).
- Baptism has the same meaning (Col. 2:11,12).
- This brings us to the meaning of the sacrament.
- The sacrament consists of an outward sign and of an inward spiritual reality.
- Real circumcision is of the heart, not of the body (Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:29).
- Real baptism is spiritual and speaks of a spiritual cleansing (Titus 3:5).
- Further, baptism is incorporation into Christ.
- We are buried into Christ’s death and we are risen with Him into newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5,8,11).
- Thus Jesus uses the formula: “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
- Only faith can grasp the meaning.
- Faith sees the water and realizes the spiritual meaning by holding for truth God’s promise of salvation in Christ.
- To faith, the spiritual benefit of forgiveness is as sure and as real as the outward act.
- The implications.
- Faith in the meaning of spiritual baptism assures believers of their salvation.
- Also our baptism gives a great power to cause us to live an antithetical life.
- And the knowledge of our baptism gives us strength to bear life’s burdens and to fulfill our calling.
- When we fall into sin, we must not despair of God’s unchanging mercy and covenant and forgiveness.