I. Pray

II. Introduction

Over the next couple of weeks we are going to look at participating in the ordinances of the Church. As we have said thus far, we want to understand our responsibility in this particular area in the Church. So, even though we will spend some of our time discussing the particulars of each ordinance (what it is, why we practice it, etc.), from these particulars we want to especially address the question, "Why should we participate in the ordinances?" We will begin this morning by looking at the ordinance of baptism.

III. A Brief look at our Constitution

Cornerstone's Constitution identifies two ordinances in the Church as mandated by Scripture. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. In the Statement of Faith, the section on the ordinance of baptism reads:

Christian baptism, being the believer's profession of faith, is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's cleansing from sin and death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and it should be done by immersion. Being a Church ordinance, it is a prerequisite to the privileges of Church membership.

From this brief definition, we can identify two clear purposes for baptism according to this statement. The first, is that baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing faith. Baptism is a public profession of faith, like marriage, in that the Church serves as witnesses to a person's profession and the Church promises to hold them accountable to their profession. Thus, in this we see the community aspect of baptism (we will speak to this more below). A second purpose for baptism here at our Church is that it is a prerequisite to Church membership. This second purpose is closely tied to the first in that since we believe in regenerate Church membership, and since we see believer's baptism as the public profession of belief in Christ, then we see baptism as a prerequisite for membership in our Church. Before we go any further, I would like us to look at some passages that will help us understand the purposes of believer's baptism.

IV. Passages concerning the ordinance of baptism:

A. There are numerous passages in Acts that deal with the issue of baptism. Some of these include 2:41-42 (which is the passage we have looked at over and again dealing with the practices of the first Church), 8:35-39 (which deals with the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch), and 16:30-33 (which is the story of the Philippian Jailer and his family believing and being baptized). These examples make it clear to us that baptism was practiced by the early Church. Needless to say, there has been much controversy surrounding baptism throughout the history of the Church and many of these texts are cited on all different sides of the argument (consider mode of baptism, subject of baptism, etc.) Yet, since these issues have been dealt with extensively in other settings, my only point from these passages is to say that baptism was practiced by the early Church.

B. I want us to spend a little more time considering this next passage this morning. In Romans 6:3-14, Paul gives us great insight into the purpose (and mode and subject I believe) of baptism. Paul points out clearly that baptism identifies us with Christ's death and resurrection. What is being claimed when a person is baptized is that they believe in Christ's atoning work and resurrection and that they have died with Christ and that they have been raised to walk in newness of life. Paul is stressing that believers have died with Christ. Because they have died with Christ, they have also been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. This newness of life involves death to the life of sin. Thus, those who have believed in Christ should 'consider themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus' (v. 11).
Thus, baptism is a person's public profession that they have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and have been raised to walk in newness of life. Furthermore, the call on the Church who witnesses a person's baptism is to hold that person accountable to the public profession that they have made, to make sure that they walk in the newness of life and do not let sin reign in their body (v. 12). We have talked about this responsibility before, yet, we see in this passage how it coincides with the ordinance of baptism. We, as the Church, are to labor for one another's sanctification. Part of this labor is holding one another accountable to the professions we have made. The ordinance of baptism is involved in all of this. The Church publicly witnesses a person's profession of faith and commits to hold them accountable to that profession. As an illustration of this, consider with me marriage for a moment. Here at Cornerstone we have had the privilege of witnessing the marriage ceremony of many couples in the last year (my own included). Why is it, that my wife and I (and all these other couples) wanted the Church to be there to witness their marriage? One of the reasons is accountability. When my wife and I spoke our vows to one another in the presence of the Church, our hope is that if ever there is a time when we are not keeping those vows that someone in the Church would approach us and call us to repentance and obedience. Did we speak our vows before God? Yes. Will He hold us accountable? Yes. Yet, one of the means by which He holds us accountable is the Church. In much the same way, I see baptism as a profession before God that He will hold believers accountable to through the witness and support of the local Church. Thus, at baptism we witness the public profession of believers that we might hold them accountable to that profession.

V. Why should we participate in the ordinance of baptism in the local Church?

A. First, I want to address those who have never been baptized as believers in a local Church. Because baptism is an act of obedience to the command of our Lord, believers should be baptized in the local Church. This is simple enough. As believers we are commanded to baptized in the local Church as a public profession of our faith in Christ. Likewise, we are to expect those witnessing our baptism to hold us accountable to this profession and we are to welcome this accountability. Thus, in short, as believers we are to be baptized in the local Church.

B. Second, I want to address the responsibility of the community of faith in participating in the ordinance of baptism. My hope and prayer is that we would see baptism as it truly is. I pray that we would take seriously (and joyfully) the responsibility of witnessing the public profession of believers in baptism and that we would labor to hold them accountable to their profession. Thus, we should attend baptisms in our Church for the purpose of affirming the new believer and pledging to hold them accountable to their new faith. Likewise, I also think that the ordinance of baptism is a great reminder to the Body of Christ of what Christ has done for us and for our privilege of being united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. May we find great joy in participating in the ordinance of baptism.

VI. Close in prayer

Participating in the Ordinance of Baptism