The Efficacy of Baptism Rom 6 & others

                                The Efficacy of Baptism    

Romans 6 & Others

When we talk about the efficacy of something, what we focus upon are the effect or effects of one thing to another. With a look at the effects also comes a consideration of causes. So, for our consideration today, we have the question, what is Christian Baptism the cause of, if anything? Or, what are the effects of right baptism in the life of a true believer?

I want to consider three points:

1. What Baptism is Not?

2. What Baptism is?

3. What Baptism actually does for those receiving it and for those observing it.

A. Place in soteriology    

B. Place in sanctification

C. Remembering One's Baptism

Turn to Romans 6:1-16. This passage tells us a lot about what baptism is through the use of an illustration. The picture is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Listen to see what the death and raising of Jesus has to do with Christian baptism.

Rom 16:1-18 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 

4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 

The effects of baptism are not those of Christian Salvation in the sense of it being something all believers must do in order for them to realize salvation from God in their souls.

1. What Baptism is Not?           

The Penitent Thief--hanging with Jesus on the cross. No time to come down, be baptized, put back on the cross in order to die. Luke 23: 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS 

39Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 

42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 

43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." 

1 Peter 3:21--21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

It is not forgiveness of sin or sins

It is not baptismal regenerationà although forgiveness and regeneration are closely tied to the act--most often understood in the wrong order. Baptism because of forgiveness and baptism because of being given the new life. Rom 6:16, 17.

2. What Baptism is?--An Outward sign of an inward change based on the work of God making a dead soul alive.

John 3 being born again--radical identification with Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

Eph 1 being made alive--being united to Christ in his life and death--to live unto Him and like Him as much as a sinner can. Simul iustus et peccatore. Similtaneously a saint and sinner.

1 Cor 5-- A new creature--all things have become new. Old things are passed away.

3. What Baptism actually does for those receiving it and for those observing it.

A. Place in soteriology--reminds us of the work of God in delivering the ancients from the flood--sin and its effects.

B. Place in sanctification--towards a good conscience--penalty of sin, power of sin, presence of sin and also growth in grace and obedience in the faith. Everytime we remember our baptism, we remember what we have been saved from; we remember that we are being cleansed from all sin---going from being dead in trespasses and sin to where we will be dead to trasspasses and sins.  ILLUSTRATION> The Trespass à Large sign "NO TRESPASSING." The thrill of doing something wrong. Ought to be a greater joy in the experience of forgiveness. 

C. Remembering One's Baptism 

                  

Question 167: How is our Baptism to be improved by us?
Answer: The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.

I have sinned! Remember the commitment you made to Jesus at the time of your own baptism… To walk in his ways is to walk as he lived taking Jesus as tour example. To walk in his ways is to walk by his commands. The Great Commission is all about following in the footsteps of an obedient savior.