Baptism
Commentary
Most of the time we hear the evangelistic declaration that baptism is a rite of cleansing, a sign of our sins being washed away and our being made clean. I have no intention of contradicting that, but do wish to point out that the New Testament gives it a much broader meaning.
A. A Sign. Just as at Jesus' baptism the dove comes and the voice speaks, so at every baptism the sign of chosenness and ownership is publicly exhibited.
B. Commitment. It is clear that Jesus comes willingly and is ready to commit himself to whatever role is to be his. So it is with us. When we submit to baptism we come with an open and unprejudiced willingness to serve. Note that the sorting out of his role on the mountain comes after his baptism, not before.
C. Identification. Surely those who insist that Jesus did not need to be cleansed from sin make a point. But their point is a weak one if they mean to limit baptism to this one meaning. Here Jesus identifies himself with all who need to be redeemed. Baptism has more than one meaning.
Unfortunately many do limit the meaning of baptism and somehow manage to lead others to imagine that baptism is the final act of salvation and once done is enough, or that it is a badge of discipleship that we put on to signal to others who and what we are.
Baptism is best defined as God's gift to us. By it many things can be symbolized and we ought to be ready to accept the rich heritage that is surely ours in baptism.
OUTLINE I
Good News for All
Isaiah 61:1-4
Introduction: Keep the times in mind. Chapter 61 is a part of III Isaiah and is written in the midst of the return of exiles to Palestine. A careful look at the text reveals that verses 1 and 2 are addressed to those who have not yet returned, while verses 3 and 4 are addressed to those who stayed in Jerusalem or have recently returned. And there is a surprise.
A. A message for Exiles. These words directly address the plight of those not yet returned, the afflicted, the brokenhearted, the captive, and those in prison. To these comes the good news of God's favor. These are poetic words that can easily embody the same message of release and favor to those in bondage to sin. Little wonder the Christian church will embrace these words as its own.
B. Message for the disappointed. Things had been tough for those who stayed home to tend the grape vines. The country was in a state of breakdown. Intermarriage with other peoples had brought new problems. (See Ezra and Nehemiah.) Still there are those who have not come home. They are not easy to move. Many have done well in Babylon, have businesses going, married and have families. The prophet tries to paint a scene which will encourage them to come home.
C. The Surprise. Check out Jesus' quotation of this section and you will see that he omits 2b, "and the day of vengeance of our Lord." That was John's message and Jesus simply did not embrace it. Take it out and the entire passage becomes good news.
Conclusion: Show your congregation how words fashioned for one age and situation can carry a meaningful message to another people in another age. This is the nature of prophecy. The prophetic word always speaks of the constancy of God's actions among his people.
OUTLINE II
The Presence
Acts 8:14-17
Introduction: Those who prefer to call the Acts of the Apostles the Acts of the Holy Spirit are surely on target. While many emphasize the return of the Holy Spirit or the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church, the purpose of Luke seems different. He seems to be making sure that emphasis is put on the giving of the Holy Spirit to all peoples whether in Jerusalem as reported in Acts 2, in Samaria (Samaria?) as reported in today's selection, or at Caeserea as reported in Chapter 10. Take another look at Acts and see how this point is repeatedly made.
A. More than remembrance. It seems that in the early church they worried that the memory of a departed leader would not long command the allegiance of his followers. They needed more than a memory and a story, they needed a presence. Remember, these are a people who are quite familiar with matters relating to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not have its birth in the New Testament, but has always been a firm part of their heritage.
B. A Presence. Then and now the church has insisted that the life of the individual Christian and the church depends on the presence of our Lord. From him comes power, insight, guidance, teaching, and wisdom. Only with these can discipleship be permanent.
Conclusion: An openness to the presence and gift of the spirit is critical to the life of any person as a disciple and to any church as an effective extension of the kingdom of God. Offer the gift to your congregation.
OUTLINE III
A Choice to be Made
Luke 4:15-17, 21, 22
Introduction: Check out those passages here and elsewhere that tell of John coming as a forerunner to the Christ. Be certain to review those first chapters of the Gospel of John which are clearly intended to put John in his place and to blunt what must have been efforts on the part of John's disciples to identify him as the Messiah.
A. John brings the bad news. I love Luke's comment in verse 18. He must have had something of the comedian in him. What John says here cannot be the good news for those who are affected, except for his condescension to Jesus and his clear assertion that Jesus will come in the power of the Holy Spirit.
B. The Dove brings the good news. Surely the appearance of the dove and its resting on Jesus must have silenced some of the more militaristic of John's disciples. Here baptism with water and the baptism of the Spirit are melded into one. Baptism becomes the sign of God's presence, power, and approval. Now it is clear who is the Messiah and that message will be constantly revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Conclusion: John is an interesting character. He was surely typical of the evangelists of his day and a prototype of some evangelists of our own day who come glowering and threatening and all the while pointing to Jesus and the gift of the Spirit. You can't have both Jesus and John. Encourage your hearers to do what the New Testament writers do and make a choice.
A. A Sign. Just as at Jesus' baptism the dove comes and the voice speaks, so at every baptism the sign of chosenness and ownership is publicly exhibited.
B. Commitment. It is clear that Jesus comes willingly and is ready to commit himself to whatever role is to be his. So it is with us. When we submit to baptism we come with an open and unprejudiced willingness to serve. Note that the sorting out of his role on the mountain comes after his baptism, not before.
C. Identification. Surely those who insist that Jesus did not need to be cleansed from sin make a point. But their point is a weak one if they mean to limit baptism to this one meaning. Here Jesus identifies himself with all who need to be redeemed. Baptism has more than one meaning.
Unfortunately many do limit the meaning of baptism and somehow manage to lead others to imagine that baptism is the final act of salvation and once done is enough, or that it is a badge of discipleship that we put on to signal to others who and what we are.
Baptism is best defined as God's gift to us. By it many things can be symbolized and we ought to be ready to accept the rich heritage that is surely ours in baptism.
OUTLINE I
Good News for All
Isaiah 61:1-4
Introduction: Keep the times in mind. Chapter 61 is a part of III Isaiah and is written in the midst of the return of exiles to Palestine. A careful look at the text reveals that verses 1 and 2 are addressed to those who have not yet returned, while verses 3 and 4 are addressed to those who stayed in Jerusalem or have recently returned. And there is a surprise.
A. A message for Exiles. These words directly address the plight of those not yet returned, the afflicted, the brokenhearted, the captive, and those in prison. To these comes the good news of God's favor. These are poetic words that can easily embody the same message of release and favor to those in bondage to sin. Little wonder the Christian church will embrace these words as its own.
B. Message for the disappointed. Things had been tough for those who stayed home to tend the grape vines. The country was in a state of breakdown. Intermarriage with other peoples had brought new problems. (See Ezra and Nehemiah.) Still there are those who have not come home. They are not easy to move. Many have done well in Babylon, have businesses going, married and have families. The prophet tries to paint a scene which will encourage them to come home.
C. The Surprise. Check out Jesus' quotation of this section and you will see that he omits 2b, "and the day of vengeance of our Lord." That was John's message and Jesus simply did not embrace it. Take it out and the entire passage becomes good news.
Conclusion: Show your congregation how words fashioned for one age and situation can carry a meaningful message to another people in another age. This is the nature of prophecy. The prophetic word always speaks of the constancy of God's actions among his people.
OUTLINE II
The Presence
Acts 8:14-17
Introduction: Those who prefer to call the Acts of the Apostles the Acts of the Holy Spirit are surely on target. While many emphasize the return of the Holy Spirit or the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church, the purpose of Luke seems different. He seems to be making sure that emphasis is put on the giving of the Holy Spirit to all peoples whether in Jerusalem as reported in Acts 2, in Samaria (Samaria?) as reported in today's selection, or at Caeserea as reported in Chapter 10. Take another look at Acts and see how this point is repeatedly made.
A. More than remembrance. It seems that in the early church they worried that the memory of a departed leader would not long command the allegiance of his followers. They needed more than a memory and a story, they needed a presence. Remember, these are a people who are quite familiar with matters relating to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not have its birth in the New Testament, but has always been a firm part of their heritage.
B. A Presence. Then and now the church has insisted that the life of the individual Christian and the church depends on the presence of our Lord. From him comes power, insight, guidance, teaching, and wisdom. Only with these can discipleship be permanent.
Conclusion: An openness to the presence and gift of the spirit is critical to the life of any person as a disciple and to any church as an effective extension of the kingdom of God. Offer the gift to your congregation.
OUTLINE III
A Choice to be Made
Luke 4:15-17, 21, 22
Introduction: Check out those passages here and elsewhere that tell of John coming as a forerunner to the Christ. Be certain to review those first chapters of the Gospel of John which are clearly intended to put John in his place and to blunt what must have been efforts on the part of John's disciples to identify him as the Messiah.
A. John brings the bad news. I love Luke's comment in verse 18. He must have had something of the comedian in him. What John says here cannot be the good news for those who are affected, except for his condescension to Jesus and his clear assertion that Jesus will come in the power of the Holy Spirit.
B. The Dove brings the good news. Surely the appearance of the dove and its resting on Jesus must have silenced some of the more militaristic of John's disciples. Here baptism with water and the baptism of the Spirit are melded into one. Baptism becomes the sign of God's presence, power, and approval. Now it is clear who is the Messiah and that message will be constantly revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Conclusion: John is an interesting character. He was surely typical of the evangelists of his day and a prototype of some evangelists of our own day who come glowering and threatening and all the while pointing to Jesus and the gift of the Spirit. You can't have both Jesus and John. Encourage your hearers to do what the New Testament writers do and make a choice.
