Dummies: Baptism for Dummies

By Pastor Christian on 8/3/09

We are continuing our summer series – “Canyon Creek Church for Dummies.” Over two-months, we are taking the major “what” and “why” questions of church and boiling them down into entertaining and informative 35-minute messages. Taken all together these messages will form THE definitive guide to Canyon Creek Church. Individually, each message will be great resources for the life of Canyon Creek. If you miss any part of the series or just want to send one to a friend, visit our sermon archive page and click on Canyon Creek for Dummies.
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This Sunday, in our ongoing battle to be less “dumb” about the church and the stuff that it does, Brandon answered a 2000 year old question, “Why DO we baptize people, and why is it STILL important. Before I go much further, it should be noted that right after this message we baptized ANOTHER 30 people in Martha Lake, taking us to more than 80 for this year! I think that if you have witnessed any of these events, you have probably already begun to experience the answer – there is something powerfully GOOD about baptism. It’s not magic, but it is more WAY more than hyped-up emotions.

Brandon likened it to a marriage, which I think is an excellent comparison. Nobody literally thinks that something “magic” happens at the wedding ceremony. Nevertheless, no one doubts the power of the ceremony, right? The ceremony is important and powerful! For one great part, it plays an important role as a tangible, calenderable, memorable and actual MOMENT that confirmed an intangible reality – a committed relationship of love.

The only thing that I might add to Brandon’s clear message on Baptism is – DEATH and LIFE. For at the root of this whole event lies a monumental truth – when you accepted Jesus, your life of sin and death died AND you were resurrected into a new life with Jesus Christ. This DID happen, in eternity, in “the courts” of heaven all of your guilt (forever) was transferred to Jesus and all of his perfect obedience was transferred to you. For the time being, it is an intangible truth that is embodied in the rite of baptism.

Let’s look at the act. First, you submit to the act, willingly (hopefully!) and publically. It is in that way, a public act of repentance. Then, quite simply, we lower you into a grave, a watery-grave at that, and then lift you out into new life! Holy perfect ceremony Batman! Seriously, can you imagine how else we could demonstrate this remarkable spiritual and intangible truth – that you have died and now live with Christ? What could we do? Bury you in dirt?

That is why this is the premier ceremony to demonstrate your position in Christ! Because, in a mere 30-seconds it captures your repentance, cleansing, death and new life! Hello? Get it?

So, how does this encourage baptism beyond the fact that Jesus commanded it? Because You NEED this moment and this TRUTH tangibly, indelibly and memorably engraved into your life. You need it for life as a Christian to make sense. You need to push every struggle, every ambition, every joy and every pain through this moment - understand it under this truth. You will need to go back to your baptism day after day until you actually die and the intangible is made completely real. Until then, you must USE THIS MOMENT to remember what you are all about.

So, for pity sake, be baptized CHRISTIAN. It’s one of the most important ceremonies of your entire life. More than your sorority, more than your birthday. It’s even more important than your marriage ceremony. It is the ceremony of your life. . .and death

    •Romans 6:4 – “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
    •Colossians 2:12 – “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”

Peace. See you Sunday,

Christian

 

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