Mark 1:4-11
Water is one of the most powerful elements on the face of the planet. Seventy percent of the earth is covered by water and it is one of the most important natural resources we have. Our body weight is made up of about sixty percent water. Our health and survival is determined in many ways by water and hydration. Water is important to industry, fishing, recreation, boundaries, crop irrigation, and transportation routes. In homes, water is used for cleaning, bathing, and preparing meals. Seventy percent of the earth is covered by water and it is one of the most important natural resources we have. The power of water unlike any other is important because, a slight change in water flow or contamination in it can impact the life of all plants and animals. The drinking water pipe is connected through multiple links of pipes that we all drink from the same source. We are all connected by water.
Water is a powerful means of Grace that God uses to connect all humanity. In the waters of baptism we are connected to God, to our community, and to all of salvation history. Baptism through the means of water is very powerful. It connects a person to the family of God. In the waters of baptism we are connected to God, to our community, and to all of salvation history. In the waters of baptism we are infused with the Spirit to do God’s will.
Water is another element like fire, which we cannot live without. But it is a powerful force when allowed to flow out. The force of water is used to generate electricity that runs thousands of machinery and equipment. Uncontrolled water can shake the foundations of our homes and structures. Some people are scared of going through an automatic car wash. One such man writes, “Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There I was, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. But suddenly the waters ceased. After a blow-dry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished." Life may seem like we are on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond our control. During such 'car-wash experiences', God has given a promise that He will be there with you. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."(Isaiah 43:2). When we get out on the other side we will be able to say with joy and confidence, “He is a faithful God!” A tunnel of testing can produce a shining testimony.
The waters of baptism is a reminder of going through the tunnel. We partake in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. As happened at the baptism of Jesus, God's declaration comes to each of us in our batpism, "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased." God knows our name and calls each of us by name when we go through the waters of baptism. Regardless of denominations or doctrines, the sacrament of baptism connects all Christians as part of one family.
There are two sacraments instituted by all Christians churches - baptism and holy communion. All other rites are called ordinances - based on human act. Both Baptism and Holy communion are witnessing to the means of Grace of God. They are both acts of God and not of man and none of these sacraments is a of a ticket to heaven. That is why how we administer baptism is not impotant, just like we differ in the way we take holy communion. Being a symbol, baptism is needed only one time. It does not matter if you are immersed or sprinkled or dipped or spryed or wiped. It does not matter how long you are under water or who has done your baptism. "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the baptism of regeneration (baptism) and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5-7). Salvation is through the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. Baptism does not cleanse from sin, rather it is a witness to the cleansing. Jesus received baptism not for the resmission of sin because He was sinless. He did so to identify with us.
Note that Jesus did not bapize anyone during his ministry. (Ref John 4:2). Water baptism is a witness to the newness of life which Jesus did not need. He did not have any sins and therefore did not need a witness to the newness of life. In fact He was the Life. Jesus came to baptize with the Holy Spirit and not by water. John the baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I. . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). John distinguished his baptism (with water) from the Lord’s baptism (with the Holy Spirit). When John spoke of his need to be baptized by Jesus, he was most naturally referring to his need for the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is an outward sign of an invward grace. It is a means of grace of God by which people are initiated into the family of God. Baptism, the outward and visible sign is water, in which candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The inward and spiritual grace is death to sin and new birth to righteousness, through union with Christ in his death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11).
Baptism is a calling for a higher purpose. In our Baptism, God conveys to us our identity as God’s beloved children, so precious to God and become a blessing to this world. John did what God had called him to do, and God took it from there! There’s a message in that for us. God has called us to do his work and to be his people.He has called some of us to sing in the choir, and he has called others of us to print the bulletins. He has called some of us to lead fund-raising campaigns, and he has called others of us to teach the three-yearolds. There is one constant in all of that. The constant is this: God has called us to be faithful to the calling – whether that calling be great or small – whether we like it or not – whether we feel worthy or not. If we are faithful to the calling to which we have been called, great things will happen like heaven opeing up and Holy Spirit descending!
Baptism is not a way to salvation. It is not some secret initiation rite with magical properties. Baptism is a proclamation that God forgave that persons sins by the death of Jesus on the cross and raised to eternal life by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is what we are saying publicly when we do it. Jesus (Luke 16:16) said, "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached." The old catechism calls it a visible, outward sign of an invisible, inward grace. It’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit does this work in us; it is not some transaction we perform. It is permanent seal that we belong to God, now and forever.
There is only one baptism . Baptism is only once and does not have to be repeated. Nobody can take a baptism on your behalf. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:4-6). Nobody can undo a baptism nor anyone has to be re-baptized for any reason. It does not matter if the pastor was a sinner or later found guilty, it is not the work of the person who batpizes, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit through a weak and sinful human being. Nobody can de-baptize you either. Once you have taken a baptism, it is forever entering into a relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. One may walk off away from the ways of the Spirit, but the baptism is a seal that will be there forever.
Traditional mainline churches baptize children. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me". Faith is not merely a product of reason but relation. It is a relationship of love and trust, a relationship which is not limited to the mind, and children know love and trust more than adults. When Jesus commands his disciples to let the children come to him and not hinder them, he is calling the disciples (and us) to do more than just step aside and hope kids make it to Jesus on their own. He is calling us to help children come to Christ. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of the parents as well as every disciple of Christ. We should feel a sense of urgency to reach out to those who have never been baptized.
Tertullian (160 -225AD) and some of the early church fathers objected to the practice of infant baptism, but not the validity of infant baptism. Their objection to infant baptism was based on a concern that when infants became teenagers and were tempted by sexual immorality they might succumb to serious moral sin. Then they would have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and would have put Christ to an open shame and thus would be eternally lost. (Ref. Hebrews 6).
So some early church fathers believed in baptismal regeneration and if one ever sinned afterwards they could never be restored to salvation again. So their objection to infant baptism was based solely on the practical consideration of whether or not the child in later life would remain faithful—to their own peril. Later some Church Fathers such as the Cappadocian Fathers (300-400AD), regretted that they had not been baptized as infants because of such assumptions. Augustine (354-430AD) said very clearly in his sermon on baptism that no one in the history of the church had ever questioned the validity of infant baptism. It was not until the modern age, during the 15th century when a group arose as Anabaptists (today’s Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites) who questioned the validity of infant baptism arguing that human reasoning was part of the decision of accepting baptism.
Many newer groups that came on later in history eventually made immersion as a requirement noting the several examples in the New Testament. But those were all in running or flowing water, which was emphasized in many writings in the first and second century. In 1873 the modern world got its first look at one of the most important historical documents relating to the life of the early church. The Didache (‘The Teaching of the twelve disciples’) was discovered in the library of a monastery in Constantinople. The author is not known and the time this was written would probably be the first century because there are references to it in Clement of Alexandria (185 AD), Origen of Alexandria (200 AD), Eusebius (324 AD) and Athanasius (367 AD). This document emphasized that if someone administers immersion baptism, it should be in running water like a river. It also accepts sprinkling as an approved option. One can search on the Internet and get more examples of references to sprinkling and infant baptisms.
We don't wait for children to grow up and make their own decisions regarding education, doctor visists or vaccinations. As parents, we make many decisions for our children in matters of health, safety, education and many others. Of course, they may later reject what we have done for them. But, that possibility does not relieve us of the responsibility to do all that we can to bring them to the family of God. We should not wait for our children to decide about being in the family of God just as we don't wait for them to decide if they would like to be a part of our human family. There are two sacraments instituted by all Christians churches - baptism and holy communion. All other rites are called ordinances - based on human act. Both baptism and holy communion are witnessing to the means of Grace of God. They are both acts of God and not of man.
Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ's holy Church by water and the Spirit. All this is God's gift, offered to us without price.
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