THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

SERMON TITLE: THE LIFE GIVING POWER OF WATER

SERMON THEME: A RITE OF INITIATION

BAPTISM IS BOTH A SAVING MOMENT AND A TIME OF CHANGE FOR A NEW BEGINNING.

LUKE 3:15-17

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

· BAPTISM IS A MOMENT IN WHICH YOU RECIEVE THE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS OF GOD.

LUKE 3:21-22

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

· BAPTISM IS A NEW BEGINNING EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I) BAPTISM IS A FRESH START THAT TELLS US WHOSE WE ARE.

MATTHEW 3:13-17

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

· A CHRISTIAN LIFE IS AN ONGOING TRANSFORMATION SHAPED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ROMANS 6:4

⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD AND VISIBLE SIGN OF AN INWARD SPIRITUAL CHANGE INTO A NEW LIFE.

EPHESIANS 4:29-32

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

· BAPTISM MARKS YOU WITH GOD'S SIGNATURE.

II) BAPTISM BRINGS YOU INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.

I CORINTHIANS 12:12-13

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

· BAPTISM IS PERSONAL, BUT IT IS NOT PRIVATE, YOU ARE ONE IN CHRIST.

III) BAPTISM IS YOUR ORDINATION INTO MINISTRY.

I PETER 2:9

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

· GOD CALLS YOU TO USE YOUR GIFTS TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST.

I PETER 4:10-11

¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

CONCLUSION: BAPTISM COMES WITH A VOCATION, AND IT IS NOT A BURDEN.

IT IS A JOYFUL RESPONSE TO THE LOVE OF GOD, AND SERVICE

TO HIS KINGDOM.