BAPTISM

BAPTISM
Text:  Romans 6:1-14 …don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  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.  5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
INTRODUCTION:  Years ago, in the wide open spaces of the West, a little girl was baptized. The next day at school her friends asked her why.  She said, “I was a little maverick out on the prairie. When I was baptized, the Jesus’ mark was put on me, and now everyone knows that I belong to Jesus.” The word maverick was originally a man’s name. Samuel Maverick was a Texas cattleman who for some reason did not brand his cattle. Because of that, an unbranded animal, especially a lost calf, came to be known as a maverick, and such a maverick could then become the legal property of anybody who would catch and brand it. We are all spiritual mavericks as we come on this human scene. We are lost as far as God is concerned, straying outside the boundaries of His range, far from the Father’s house and home. But in His seeking love and mighty Word, we are branded with the mark of faith, then we are no longer mavericks, but children of God.
I.  In reality through Baptism we are united with Jesus, united in His death and resurrection. Through baptism mavericks are made into God’s children.
	A.  But our first comment to this statement is that “I don’t feel united.” That’s the Maverick coming out in us.
		1.  We say and think that Baptism did not “do” anything to us.
				a. Most of us were baptized as infants and no one saw any difference before or after. It is not like a maverick cow being branded where you can see the brand—(the cow could feel the hot iron burning its hide). b. The only problem with this is that “feeling” is never a good measure of anything spiritual.  Sin clouds and distorts our feelings—if you wait to feel saved or to feel God, you may wait a long time and you are a prime candidate to be deceived -- feelings are easily deceived.
		2.  We often say that Baptism is something “I do for God.”
				a. This is to try and say that we unite ourselves to God’s family –which means our works save. (Dedication) By making baptism only what we do it becomes an empty practice—a requirement void of any gifts—it is then a duty. b. This is exactly opposite of what Baptism is. Baptism is an event where God works on a person.  Through water and the Word, God plants faith.  You might say He puts more than His brand on us.  c. This is not our conjecture.  This is God’s promise.  He promises to work in and through Baptism.
	B.  And in baptism we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, and we are given His gifts.
		1.  Baptism does “do“ something to us –in us—even if we aren’t “feeling” it.
				a. We are transformed from independent mavericks that are lost to members of God’s family—we are given faith in baptism. c. God acts in baptism. Not because of the qualities in us, but because God has promised to work in the water and through the Word of baptism to save us.
			2.  We are united in Jesus’ death and resurrection and He gives His gifts in that:
				a. we are given the benefit of His death. Our sins are paid for by His death. But Jesus paid for our sin 2000 years ago.  Now in baptism His deeds are applied to us today. We are washed clean of our sin by the water and the Word of baptism.  There is a B.C. Cartoon that depicts this below.  In the first frame the caveman notices that he’s gotten fruit juice on his suit clothes.  The woman offers to wash it. In the second frame he is balking at being naked, so she tells him to go behind a rock.  In the third frame she’s out washing the clothes in the river.  Then a dark stain comes down the river.  The clothes are washed totally white – hers and his in the stain.  In the last frame the scene expands to show three crosses on a hill with a trail of the dark stain coming from the center one.  It implies that that dark stain was the blood of Jesus which washed them whiter than snow.  That’s like what baptism does. b. Since we are united with Him in His death We are also united with Him in His resurrection. As He rose from the grave never to die again so we shall rise on that last day. c. Baptism gives these gifts because God has attached His promises to it.
II.   And baptism’s effects are across all time.
	A.  Baptism is for the “then.”
			1. It effects the time when we are given faith when we are baptized. 2. Also, it’s for the future. It’s for when Jesus comes we will take part in the resurrection –we will rise from the dead. 3. But Baptism’s most telling effect is on our daily lives now—today. We are mavericks branded with our Lord’s brand—the cross of Christ.  That changes how we live, every day.
	B.  But many people are baptized and then live as if they were not—So often we fall into this trap? It is much like this story:
			1. During World War II, when the Russians invaded Finland, their planes bombed a hospital that according to international law should have remained untouched; it was clearly marked with a huge red cross on its roof Ê. Investigation, however, revealed that shortly before the attack snow had fallen and covered the cross. So while the cross could be seen, all in the hospital were safe, but when it disappeared, many were killed. Do you see the striking similarity in our spiritual lives? As long as we keep the cross as evidence in our lives and trust in it as our means of salvation, we are safe for time and eternity. But when it becomes obscure, we are lost. Always keep the cross and Him who hangs there in the middle of your life, at the center of your faith.
			2. If our brand isn’t visible we are just mavericks not belonging to anyone. We have turned from our baptism.
				a.  Paul sees this and addresses it  in our text.  Some think since we have been baptized then should we sin all we can, so God can show more love and forgive us more? Paul says “no way!”  b. Luther says: “Sin is forgiven not so that we may continue in it, but that we might break loose from it; otherwise it would be called a permission and not a remission of sin.” c. If we sin more we show what we really love—we show we love sin more than Christ. The love Jesus shows us on the cross has not changed us. Our allegiance is still to sin not to Jesus—we belong to sin, are still mavericks and not belonging to Jesus.
	C. Lion King – [Remember who you are.] Simba was to remember who he was.  He was Mufasa’s son.  We also are called to remember who we are.  We are sons of our Father, God.  This implies a different way of living – living as sons of God.
			1. Baptism brings us to reflect who we are and who is in us – more than Simba reflects his father, we reflect Jesus who is in us.  A new quality of life is given—life in Jesus, belonging to Him.
				a. Baptism increasingly exerts itself on the life of a believer. We belong more and more to Jesus—areas that did not belong are turned over to Him by the work of the Holy Spirit.   Luther puts it clearly in the Small catechism when he says: “Baptism with water signifies that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts and again, a new man daily comes forth and arises, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”  Daily our sinful self is drowned. Daily our new man—forgiven comes forth.
			2. Daily we belong more and more to Jesus and are less and less a maverick yet all the while we are guaranteed eternal life with Jesus. Now through baptism we have eternal life and a new life now—a life of belonging to Jesus—a life in His care.
CONCLUSION: Baptism transforms spiritual mavericks into children belonging to our Savior Jesus. We truly belong. God has promised this. Baptism imparts new life to those who belong—a new life for eternity and a new life daily as the Holy Spirit works in us to make every part new. Baptism is a great gift!