Romans 6:1-5
Rev. Keith Howard
Intro
Let me ask you a question. Would you think it odd that Pastor Keith
never wanted to talk about Spiritual things after you became saved? What if Pastor Keith said, you are all on your own now? Or Pastor Keith spoke to you every three years. That kind of behavior would be insulting to you as a family member of God, and it would destroy your relationship.
But did you know that Jesus Christ is insulted regularly by His children because, in private, they will identify with Him, but in public, they don’t want people to know that they’re associated with him? The idea of a baptized believer is that they have gone public in declaring they are a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Sadly, many people are confused about baptism. There are so many different ideas about what baptism is, what it means, how it should be done, and what it accomplishes.
Today, I want to try to clear up some confusion and hopefully help you see the truth. So, where do we go as Christians when we want to make an authoritative decision? That’s right; we go to the Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.)
There is not just one text in the Bible that answers all of our questions about baptism. However, many passages can help you put the pieces together. If I had to summarize the Bible’s teaching in one simple phrase, it would be this: believers should obey Christ’s command to be baptized by immersion after salvation.
Today, I want to focus on Romans 6:1-5. READ TEXT
Here in this text, we learn several truths about believer’s baptism.
- Baptism points to a deeper truth: 1-2
Explanation
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward commitment. It is an act of obedience that points to a deeper truth. Baptism is a sign—the very act of being baptized points to something else. *When you travel down the road and see a sign that says, ”Beacon Light Ministries International,” that sign points to a greater reality. The sign itself is not the ministry. It’s crazy to think that! The sign points to a deeper truth: You have now entered the area where the Church is.
Baptism points to a more profound truth. And that deeper truth is the fact that you have received God’s grace. READ 1-2
Paul deals with a very important issue with Roman believers. He is reminding them of God’s grace. His grace frees us from sin but does not give us a license to sin. ”Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!”
In other words, because you have received God’s grace, it will change how you live. When you are baptized, you point to a more profound truth that has taken hold of your life. You are clearly stating that you have received God’s grace.
This is the Application
Many people profess outwardly what they do not possess inwardly. Many are baptized without even having a change of heart. It doesn’t work that way.
This is why the Bible teaches that baptism is meant to be after salvation. It is an obedient response to receiving grace. Baptism points to a deeper truth: I have received God’s grace, my heart has been changed, and I am now a child of God. And I am identifying with him in baptism.
You see, baptism is after salvation, not before it. It is because you’ve been saved, not to be saved. Some people say they are saved without really being saved. You’ve been baptized, but you’ve never been saved. And some of you were baptized before your salvation. ( Ill. I talked to a young lady on Thursday, and she was baptized into that church instead of being baptized into Jesus. We held an event, and she accepted Jesus and realized she had not done that before. So she will be baptized the right way, and she is rejoicing.) You need to get your baptism on the right side of your salvation. Baptism points to the more profound truth that God’s grace has changed your heart.
- Baptism pictures a greater reality: 3-5
Explanation
Baptism reveals a more profound truth: we have received God’s grace. It also pictures a greater reality. It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. READ 3-5
So, the timing of baptism is significant. It must be after God’s grace has transformed your life. The method of baptism is also important because it provides a picture of a greater reality.
- It pictures condemnation: ”buried with Him…”
The Bible says we have been ”buried with Him through baptism into death.” Baptism is a public profession of someone who has received God’s grace. You’re saying, I deserve condemnation, I deserve judgment, I deserve punishment. As you stand in the water before being baptized, it pictures a sinner separated from God, standing under judgment and wrath. It pictures the condemnation we deserve apart from Christ.
- It pictures crucifixion: ”baptized into His death…”
Not only do we acknowledge that we deserve condemnation, but we also identify with Christ in His death. The Bible says here we were ”baptized into His death.” When we are baptized, we are ”buried with Him in the likeness of His death.”
This pictures the crucifixion of Christ. We are now identified with His death. We recognize that our only hope for life is found in Christ’s death. Not only that, we proclaim that now, in Christ, we are dead to sin and self. Galatians 2:20 says, ”I have been crucified with Christ…”
- It pictures resurrection: ”walk in newness of life…”
When we baptize, we say, ”Buried with Him in the likeness of His death, raised to walk in newness of life.” Where did that come from? READ 4
As we go under the water, we are identified with Christ’s death, and as we come out of it, we are identified with His resurrection. We are raised to walk in the “newness of life.” In other words, we are not the same; our lives have been completely transformed!
Baptism pictures a greater reality. It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As someone is baptized, they stand in the water, representing condemnation; they go under the water, representing crucifixion and burial; and they come up out of the water, representing resurrection, being raised to new life in Christ. Baptism is a picture of a greater reality.
Illustration
*If I put the golden arches on the screen, most of you would know it’s McDonald’s. These are all symbols that point to a greater reality. *
Application
Baptism, which is by immersion, points to a greater reality—Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is the only form that pictures these events.
- Baptism Proclaims a Larger Story
Explanation
In baptism, you tell a story. You tell the story of a sinner who was separated from God, deserving judgment, death, hell, and eternal separation from God. You tell the story of one who was rescued and redeemed by the grace of God. You tell the story of one who has now been crucified with Christ but found new life in return, being raised to walk as a brand-new person. You tell the story of someone who has been transformed by God’s grace.
But baptism is not just about your story. It proclaims a greater story. Every time someone is baptized, the gospel is proclaimed. Not only is the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection proclaimed, but the fact that God desires to rescue and redeem sinners is also on display.
Baptism is not just about your story; it’s about His story. One reason we don’t baptize infants is that they don’t yet have a story that points to His story, and they don’t yet know what it means to experience grace. Baptism is reserved for those who have encountered God’s grace in an amazing way and can proclaim that grace through their obedience.
What is this larger story? It is that sin has separated us from a holy God. We deserve judgment and death as a result of our sins. But Christ came and lived a perfect life. Died a vicarious death upon the cross. Was raised to life on the third day. Ascended to heaven. And now is seated at the right hand of God the Father interceding for you and me. This is the story of baptism. It is the story of the gospel. Is it your story too?
Application
*The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is reserved for those who have received God’s grace and accepted his free gift of salvation. It is meant to be after salvation and by immersion because this pictures what God has done in your life through His grace. No, it doesn’t save you, but it does bless you because you’re being obedient to God.
Illustration
Many have compared baptism to a wedding ring. The ring is an outward symbol of an inward commitment and relationship. You can go to the jewelry store and buy a ring, then put it on. That doesn’t mean you’re married. You can have a preacher present you as a ”man and wife” and never wear a ring. That doesn’t mean you aren’t married. But the wedding ring is a symbol of a greater truth. It points to a relationship you have with your spouse. And baptism is a picture of a greater truth. It points to the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Have you been saved? Have you been baptized by immersion after salvation? This is the only biblical way. Would you commit to following through in obedience today?
Wouldn’t it be incredible if we dedicated an entire evening service to baptism? Wouldn’t it be awesome to see many people go public with their faith and identify with Christ in baptism? I’m praying that God touches your heart and that you make a commitment right now to be baptized when I ask you to step forward. You must be born again before you can be baptized. Let’s form two lines down front right now. Everyone who wants to receive Jesus Christ for the first time, stand on your right. If you want to be baptized, stand on your left.
