I'm excited this week, because this coming Sunday (15 July) we are having a baptism service at one of our church centres, Willesden Green Baptist Church. Your first question may be 'what is a baptism service?' Well, to the casual visitor it would look as though a number of individuals go into a pool of waist deep water at the front of the church, and are then dunked by two of the pastors, and then they come out of the pool totally soaked from head to toe.
But what actually happens? Well, a number of individuals go into a pool of waist deep water at the front of the church, and are then dunked by two of the pastors, and then they come out of the pool totally soaked from head to toe!
But why?
There are a number of possible answers to that question but the only one we need is that Jesus expects and commands that everyone who wants to follow him will be baptised (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus assumes that all his disciples will be baptised - just as he himself was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17). Throughout the New Testament we read that when a person became a follower of Jesus (a disciple of Jesus, a Christian) one of the first things that happened was that they were baptised with water (e.g. Acts 8:26-40). The only condition seems to be that the person is a believer in Jesus.
But what for?
Baptism is full of symbolism.
1. Baptism symbolises that when a person becomes a Christian 'their sin is washed away'. A Christian is a person who recognises that they have messed up and they want God to deal with the rubbish in their life, (which God can do because of Jesus' death and resurrection), and that with God's help they will try and live by God's priorities rather than their own.
2. When a person goes down into the water they are identifying with Jesus' death and burial - acknowledging that his death was for their forgiveness.
3. They are also recognising that they have died to their old way of life - doing what they wanted.
4. When the person comes up out of the water they identify with Jesus' resurrection, believing that Jesus did come back to life because he was God.
5. Just as the old way of life has died, they are raised into a new kind of life - where they live for God. So the things that are important to God are now important to them.
Baptism also symbolises that a person is now a part of the Church (e.g. Galatians 3:26-29). This was obviously a lot more powerful image when a person was baptised on the same day as they became a follower of Jesus - often today a person can belong to a church for years before getting baptised.
If you are a follower of Jesus and you have not been baptised I would ask, 'why not?'
Here are some of the answers I hear:
1. I'm not ready.
Not ready for what? Are you a Christian? If you answer 'yes' then I'd say, 'well then get baptised'.
If you are waiting until you have your life as a Christian sorted (by which you mean: I read my Bible every day, I pray every day, I go to church every week, I resist that temptation ......) you will never be ready. To grow as a Christian is a process, and it can only be done with the help of God, and for God to help us we have to be obedient, and what has God asked of us...to be baptised. Baptism is the next step in 'getting your life sorted', not something to be done on graduation.
2, I'm afraid of water.
I don't hear this often but with prayer I have known that fear overcome.
3. I have a medical condition.
Whilst we most often practice total immersion other methods are just as valid for those who for medical reasons cannot be immersed in water.
4. I don't have any spare clothes with me!
We'll see if we can get you some.
5. I'm embarrased or frightened.
Jesus died for me and you on the cross. If we really believe that, won't we do anything for him - even if it means the people at work or school laugh at us? (See Mark 8:38).
Do you have other reasons, questions, comments? Join in the conversation and add them below.
To hear Pastor Keith teaching on Baptism click here. (Willesden Green. 15 July 2007)
