What’s the point of Baptism?
Dave Riddle - 5/21/2023
Key Passage: Romans 6:3-11
John the Baptister
Jewish ritual purification based on laws from Leviticus.
John took it a step further. He required people to repent. Turn from sin. Turn towards God.
Jesus makes a local phenomenon a global one
Matthew 28:19
An imperative to make, baptize, and teach disciples.
Why Immersion?
The grammar says so
baptizo (Greek: βαπτίζω) - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of sunken vessels); to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe.
Clarity from a recipe for Pickles
It’s consistent with what we see in the New Testament.
Baptism is…
An Identifier
It is open identification with Jesus and his death
Romans 6:3
Impactful
A picture of the impact of Jesus’ transformative work in our loves.
Romans 6:6-8
Sufficient
Baptism displays the sufficiency of Jesus’ Sacrifice
Romans 6:9-10
1 Peter 3:18
A Reminder
It reminds each believer of the call to follow Jesus.
Romans 6:11
Galatians 2:20