Celebrating Transformation: The Power of Baptism
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Sermon Clips
"It's always great to gather together, but it's especially great to gather together on Easter Sunday morning. There's a palpable sense of joy and celebration in the air when we come together to witness both baptism and also to remember that the stone was rolled away, the grave clothes were left behind, and Jesus walked out alive. Amen. Hallelujah." [00:52:57]
"They'll make a public profession of their faith in this risen Jesus that we're testifying to this morning, and they will testify to God's grace and mercy which has transformed their lives. And we will celebrate with them as they make that public profession. We'll cheer them on, and we'll commit to journeying with them and upholding them in prayer as they continue to grow as followers of Jesus." [00:54:17]
"Baptism is an outward physical sign of an inward spiritual change. And baptism is indeed a symbolic act. And I think we sometimes have a tendency to suggest that symbols are nothing more than imagery. And whilst that can be true, symbols in the right context can be hugely significant and powerful. Take the inauguration of the President of the United States, for example." [00:55:14]
"But when a newly elected President stands on the balcony of the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day and repeats those words back to the Chief Justice, they have incredible power and value and a huge impact on that person's life and indeed the lives of many others as well. Because in the right context, symbolic acts can be extremely powerful." [00:57:15]
"Baptism tells the story of God's grace in the lives of Kenneth, of Naomi and of Mary. Baptism is a powerful symbol of the transformation and change that has gone on in their hearts. Yes, it's a symbolic act, but it's a symbolic act that announces a change in status. The reason they're doing it is because they want to tell the world all about what the risen Jesus has done for them." [00:58:16]
"In Romans chapter 6, Paul explains that baptism symbolizes the journey from death to life. The message paraphrase captures it like this. It says when we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind. When we come up out of the water, we entered the new country of grace, a new life in a new land." [00:58:55]
"And then the Apostle Paul reminds us elsewhere as well in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3 to 5, he says, for what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. That he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." [00:59:33]
"This morning, each of them will be baptized by immersion, by dipping or plunging beneath the water, as we believe this is what the Bible speaks of in terms of baptism. And that act of baptism is almost, I like to think of it like a drama. Every good drama has got more than one act." [01:00:23]
"And in that symbolic act of baptism, Kenneth, Naomi and Mary will be washed with water. So firstly, there's a signifying of the spiritual cleansing that has gone on in their lives. The water itself isn't magical and it doesn't have any inherent power. But it speaks to the power of Jesus in the lives of Kenneth, Naomi and Mary." [01:00:52]
"As I said a few moments ago, it tells the story of God's grace in their hearts. Kenneth, Naomi and Mary were once hallmarked by sin. The things that separated them from God. But now they have been washed of that sin by the blood of Jesus. And as the water signifies a cleansing, we rejoice that they have now been washed of their sin and are hallmarked instead by the grace of God in their lives." [01:01:24]
"And as we immerse each of them in the tank, it's like Paul says there in Romans chapter 6, it's like burial, it's symbolic of death. Death to our old selves, the way we were before we met Jesus. But it also reminds us of the burial of Jesus. It reminds us of His death on the cross where He paid the price for our sins." [01:02:02]
"I read a story some time ago of someone who was baptizing people in Africa. And there were some people who were visiting, who were watching on. And those who were being baptized came up out of the water. When they were coming up out of the water, they noticed there was a whole load of shouting that went on as they came up again." [01:02:48]
"And later they asked the person who was conducting the baptisms what all the shouting was about. And they explained that because of the language barrier that was there, the people being baptized literally thought that in baptism that they would die and be raised to life again. And whilst there's a slightly humorous side to that story, there's also a reminder there of the real power that we see in the symbol of baptism." [01:03:04]
"For these people in Africa, they were so all in for Jesus. They were so all in for Jesus that they were willing to go through what they thought was a literal process of death to life. And their act of surrender, they really did say, God, I give all of myself to you because of all that you have given to me." [01:03:36]
"And then in the third act, as we raise them again from the water, it's like an entry into a new life. It's symbolic of resurrection. Resurrection into the new life with Jesus. So as we come up out of the water, it's an act of triumph, an act of victory. A reminder that sin and death have been defeated because God raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter morning." [01:04:46]
"Resurrection morning launches the story, but it's Pentecost that empowers it, the coming of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who filled the upper room is the Spirit who fills every person who puts their trust in Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 8 and verse 11 that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you." [01:05:42]
"That same resurrection power has been energizing Kenneth, Naomi, and Mary ever since they put their trust in Jesus. And their baptism today is a public witness to that reality. And friends, it is the very same power that is already at work in every believer here this morning." [01:06:14]
"One final thing is they are symbolically buried and raised. We also think of the great hope of the resurrection. That we too, one day, will be bodily raised to life eternal in the presence of God. This is the hope that changed the world 2,000 years ago and it is still changing the world and lives today." [01:07:20]
"One author talks of how preachers share the message of the gospel with nameless crowds and of how the Bible is full of promises which are for you, but aren't specifically addressed to you by name. Baptism is. Before we baptize Kenneth, Naomi, and Mary, I'll ask them a question. And I'll say, Do you profess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" [01:08:51]
"And then they will take part in this millennia-old symbolic act that speaks of the truth of the gospel. So, in a sense, as this author points out, baptism is the gospel with your name on it. Baptism is the gospel with your name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Kenneth's name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Naomi's name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Mary's name on it." [01:09:34]
"It speaks of their journey with Jesus and of God's grace in their lives it tells us of how they now are people hallmarked by the gospel of Jesus Christ and as a church in this moment we respond and we say hallelujah praise the one who has set them free and we welcome them we welcome them into the family of God and we commit to continuing on the journey of faith with them beyond this day because the tomb is empty everything has changed for each of us here this morning." [01:10:25]
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"They'll make a public profession of their faith in this risen Jesus that we're testifying to this morning, and they will testify to God's grace and mercy which has transformed their lives. And we will celebrate with them as they make that public profession. We'll cheer them on, and we'll commit to journeying with them and upholding them in prayer as they continue to grow as followers of Jesus." [00:54:17]
"Baptism is an outward physical sign of an inward spiritual change. And baptism is indeed a symbolic act. And I think we sometimes have a tendency to suggest that symbols are nothing more than imagery. And whilst that can be true, symbols in the right context can be hugely significant and powerful. Take the inauguration of the President of the United States, for example." [00:55:14]
"But when a newly elected President stands on the balcony of the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day and repeats those words back to the Chief Justice, they have incredible power and value and a huge impact on that person's life and indeed the lives of many others as well. Because in the right context, symbolic acts can be extremely powerful." [00:57:15]
"Baptism tells the story of God's grace in the lives of Kenneth, of Naomi and of Mary. Baptism is a powerful symbol of the transformation and change that has gone on in their hearts. Yes, it's a symbolic act, but it's a symbolic act that announces a change in status. The reason they're doing it is because they want to tell the world all about what the risen Jesus has done for them." [00:58:16]
"In Romans chapter 6, Paul explains that baptism symbolizes the journey from death to life. The message paraphrase captures it like this. It says when we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind. When we come up out of the water, we entered the new country of grace, a new life in a new land." [00:58:55]
"And then the Apostle Paul reminds us elsewhere as well in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3 to 5, he says, for what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. That he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." [00:59:33]
"This morning, each of them will be baptized by immersion, by dipping or plunging beneath the water, as we believe this is what the Bible speaks of in terms of baptism. And that act of baptism is almost, I like to think of it like a drama. Every good drama has got more than one act." [01:00:23]
"And in that symbolic act of baptism, Kenneth, Naomi and Mary will be washed with water. So firstly, there's a signifying of the spiritual cleansing that has gone on in their lives. The water itself isn't magical and it doesn't have any inherent power. But it speaks to the power of Jesus in the lives of Kenneth, Naomi and Mary." [01:00:52]
"As I said a few moments ago, it tells the story of God's grace in their hearts. Kenneth, Naomi and Mary were once hallmarked by sin. The things that separated them from God. But now they have been washed of that sin by the blood of Jesus. And as the water signifies a cleansing, we rejoice that they have now been washed of their sin and are hallmarked instead by the grace of God in their lives." [01:01:24]
"And as we immerse each of them in the tank, it's like Paul says there in Romans chapter 6, it's like burial, it's symbolic of death. Death to our old selves, the way we were before we met Jesus. But it also reminds us of the burial of Jesus. It reminds us of His death on the cross where He paid the price for our sins." [01:02:02]
"I read a story some time ago of someone who was baptizing people in Africa. And there were some people who were visiting, who were watching on. And those who were being baptized came up out of the water. When they were coming up out of the water, they noticed there was a whole load of shouting that went on as they came up again." [01:02:48]
"And later they asked the person who was conducting the baptisms what all the shouting was about. And they explained that because of the language barrier that was there, the people being baptized literally thought that in baptism that they would die and be raised to life again. And whilst there's a slightly humorous side to that story, there's also a reminder there of the real power that we see in the symbol of baptism." [01:03:04]
"For these people in Africa, they were so all in for Jesus. They were so all in for Jesus that they were willing to go through what they thought was a literal process of death to life. And their act of surrender, they really did say, God, I give all of myself to you because of all that you have given to me." [01:03:36]
"And then in the third act, as we raise them again from the water, it's like an entry into a new life. It's symbolic of resurrection. Resurrection into the new life with Jesus. So as we come up out of the water, it's an act of triumph, an act of victory. A reminder that sin and death have been defeated because God raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter morning." [01:04:46]
"Resurrection morning launches the story, but it's Pentecost that empowers it, the coming of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who filled the upper room is the Spirit who fills every person who puts their trust in Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 8 and verse 11 that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you." [01:05:42]
"That same resurrection power has been energizing Kenneth, Naomi, and Mary ever since they put their trust in Jesus. And their baptism today is a public witness to that reality. And friends, it is the very same power that is already at work in every believer here this morning." [01:06:14]
"One final thing is they are symbolically buried and raised. We also think of the great hope of the resurrection. That we too, one day, will be bodily raised to life eternal in the presence of God. This is the hope that changed the world 2,000 years ago and it is still changing the world and lives today." [01:07:20]
"One author talks of how preachers share the message of the gospel with nameless crowds and of how the Bible is full of promises which are for you, but aren't specifically addressed to you by name. Baptism is. Before we baptize Kenneth, Naomi, and Mary, I'll ask them a question. And I'll say, Do you profess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" [01:08:51]
"And then they will take part in this millennia-old symbolic act that speaks of the truth of the gospel. So, in a sense, as this author points out, baptism is the gospel with your name on it. Baptism is the gospel with your name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Kenneth's name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Naomi's name on it. Today, baptism is the gospel with Mary's name on it." [01:09:34]
"It speaks of their journey with Jesus and of God's grace in their lives it tells us of how they now are people hallmarked by the gospel of Jesus Christ and as a church in this moment we respond and we say hallelujah praise the one who has set them free and we welcome them we welcome them into the family of God and we commit to continuing on the journey of faith with them beyond this day because the tomb is empty everything has changed for each of us here this morning." [01:10:25]
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