An Uncertain Trumpet?

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Romans 6:3-11

I. Religious misunderstanding of baptism

A. Many in the religious world teach that one does not have to be baptized in order to be saved

B. Some call it a work that, by doing it, will make a person think that he has earned his salvation—water salvation. Others think it is fine to be baptized but that it has nothing to do with salvation.

C. There is misunderstanding of the process of baptism

D. Some teach that a person can be baptized by sprinkling water on them.

E. Others teach that a person can be baptized by having someone pour water upon their head

F. In Florence, Italy, I saw a baptistery for a church that had Jesus and John the Baptist, standing waist deep in water with John pouring a bowl of water on His head. Since they were already standing in the water, John could have easily immersed Jesus in the water.

G. Is God’s word confusing on this matter?

H. 1 Corinthians 14:7-8 – Paul noted that if a trumpet makes an uncertain sound then the hearer will be confused about the message. Was God vague or confusing with His instructions for baptism that one cannot understand it? When we examine the scripture, we will find that the trumpet sound is clear but some ignore its message.

II. The process of baptism

A. Is baptism sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?

B. If we want to learn what a Bible word means, it is best to examine the word as it appears throughout Scripture. To examine the process of baptism we can consider examples and the symbol that baptism represents.

C. Examples of baptism

D. The first appearance of baptism in the New Testament surrounds the work of John the Baptist or John the Baptizer.

E. Matthew 3:1-6 - He baptized in the River Jordan Matthew 3:13-17 – Jesus came out of the water when He was baptized The parallel accounts of these events confirm the meaning John 3:23 - We can clearly understand why John needed much water; he was not pouring or sprinkling water on people but immersing them. Acts 8:35-39 – Phillip immersed the Eunuch in the water

F. Baptism and burial

G. Colossians 2:12

H. Romans 6:3-4 – It is a burial

I. We do not bury a person by sprinkling or pouring dirt upon the person. When one is buried, he is completely surrounded by earth. In baptism, one is completely surrounded by water.

J. The baptism of Israel

K. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 – Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Exodus 14:21-24 – The water was walls around them and a cloud (water vapor) above them symbolically “baptized” them

L. It is clear, from the use of baptism by example and symbol, that baptism is immersion.

III. The purpose of baptism

A. Some religious people argue that baptism is not essential for salvation.

B. To argue that baptism is a work does not make sense for the person who is baptized does nothing at all; they are passive while someone lowers them into the water and raises them back up. We might ask the person who teaches that baptism is not essential for salvation what God would have said if He wanted to require baptism for one’s salvation.

C. “If God required baptism, He would have commanded baptism”

D. Acts 10:47-48 – Peter commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized Other passages below will reflect the apostles commanding sinners to be baptized.

E. “If God required baptism, He would have said that one must be baptized in order to take away their sins.”

F. Acts 2:38 – Peter told the multitude to be baptized for the remission of sins Acts 22:16 – Paul was told to be baptized to wash away his sins Romans 6:3-11 – Buried and dead to sin Baptism was not a sign that one’s sins had already been washed away but was the means by which sins were cleansed.

G. “If God required baptism, He would have said that baptism would save the believer.”

H. Mark 16:15-16 – Jesus commissioned His apostles to baptize those who wanted to be disciples1 Peter 3:18-21 – Antitype is something similar

I. “If God required baptism, He would have said that it put us in Christ and added us to the church”

J. Acts 2:41, 47 – Added to them (the saved) those who were baptized Galatians 3:26-27 – You are all sons of God through faith being baptized1 Corinthians 12:12-13 – baptized into one body

K. “If God required baptism, it would have been an urgent matter for those who were converted in the New Testament.”

L. Acts 8:36-38 – Stopped the trip, what hinders me? Acts 9:18-19/22:16 – “Why are you waiting?” Acts 16:33 – The same hour of the night Acts 2:38-41 – Peter commanded baptism and 3,000 souls baptized

M. “What role does belief have in salvation?”

N. Mark 16:15-16 – Belief plus baptism for salvation Acts 2:41 – received the word and were baptized Acts 8:12-13 – The Samaritans believed and were baptized Acts 18:8 – Crispus heard, believed, and was baptizedA person must be able to believe in order to be baptized so a baby is not a candidate for baptism nor is a person incapable of belief.

O. Summary Table

P. God commanded baptism in order for one to have his sins removed, to be saved, and added to the church, Jesus’ body. Those who believed the word of the gospel did not delay but were baptized immediately If this does not convince you that God commanded believers to be baptized in order to be saved, what more could he have said that is not clearly stated in the passages quoted here?

IV. Conclusion

A. I hope that we all want to go to heaven.

B. In order to go to heaven—to be saved—we must have our sins removed and be added to Christ.

C. Our confidence is not in the act of baptism itself but in the grace of God.

D. Yet God’s grace demands that we believe, for if we do not have faith we cannot see God. The grace of God also requires that we repent of our sins. Can we not see that God’s grace—witnessed in His commands—requires our obedience, submitting to baptism being just one command we must follow? In being baptized, we do not earn our salvation any more than a person would earn $100 by stooping down to pick it up off the sidewalk.

E. Objectors

F. Those who say that it does not matter why you are baptized or if you are baptized at all must contend with the scriptures that require baptism. To these we would ask, if baptism cleanses sin, saves us, adds us to Christ’s body, the church, and is the means by which we put on Christ, what is our condition without baptism?

G. Through baptism, we purify ourselves through the blood of Jesus so we can have the boldness to enter God’s presence, Hebrews 10:19-23.

H. If you have only believed in the gospel, “what hinders you from being baptized?”

I. If you were baptized as an infant, you certainly could not believe.

J. “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; not he that is baptized and believes shall be saved.” If you now believe Jesus, be baptized in order to be saved. If you were baptized, but not for the remission of sins, “why do you wait? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” James 4:17: “ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

K. Do not listen to uncertain trumpets, heed the word of the Lord.

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