“We Have Been Claimed”
Ephesians 4:4-6
Sunday, May 1, 2011

Introduction: In our lives we are drawn to instant gratification. We care about doing things that will impact our lives now. We want to experience events where we can see instant results. We want to be able to see how what we do transfers into something that benefits us now. We don’t want to have to wait to see the results.
EX. Not too long ago Tyler wrote a paper on the Civil War. The topic he came up with was how the many immigrants that were a part of their army helped the north in their victory. Tami and I proofed the paper; my mom (who was an English teacher) proofed the paper; Tami’s mom, who was a teacher earlier in her life proofed the paper. We all thought it was a very good paper. But the English teacher Tyler has is a very difficult grader. She seems to feel good when only a few kids can get an “A” in her class (Tyler was one of those few in the first semester). So we were very interested to see what kind of a grade Tyler would get. We had to wait about a week and a half (which really isn’t that long, but it seemed long). In the end, Tyler got a 58 out of 60. But the funny thing was that a week and a half seemed like a long time.
Just a few weeks ago we baptized Sydney Garcia. We watched this event, and made our pledge at this event. But I realized that we haven’t really talked about the meaning and importance of baptism. Today I want to talk about how what we receive through baptism isn’t experienced in immediate gratification, but gives us the sign of God’s covenant on our lives, and seals us in our eternal place in the body of Christ.

I. What baptism is- (Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 3:23)
It is important for us to understand that baptism is the sign of the initiation
by which we are received into the body of Christ. That is why an important verse that is read at baptisms is Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
Of course we know that baptism was given to us by God as a sacrament, as Jesus Himself was baptized, and anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Baptism is a token of our cleansing (meaning that it confirms that all of our sins are abolished and washed away in Christ). So there is some instant gratification, in that it is not just a token of what is being proclaimed, but we indeed have our sins “washed” away.
Because it is the initiation of being received into the body of Christ, we baptize not just adults, but children and infants as well. Since “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” children are included in the “all.” Sin has come into the world through the sin of Adam and Eve, and that sinful nature exists in us even when we are born. While a little baby doesn’t sin, that child does have a sinful nature that will manifest itself later.
So in baptism that sin is “washed” away as we are baptized into Christ and “clothe ourselves” with Christ. It is in baptism that the pledge is made to follow Christ and to live as people freed from our sins, not as slaves to sin. It is in baptism that we claim the promise of God that in Christ we have been chosen and saved.
We see that baptism then isn’t just something that happens on the physical level (with the water poured over us), but on a spiritual level as well. In fact, it is more spiritual than physical. The physical part of baptism is what we see, but the spiritual aspect of it is the more powerful and profound. The spiritual aspect is not seen with the eyes, but with our faith. We will talk more about what this spiritual benefit is in a moment.

II. Why we baptize-.(Romans 8:14-15; Ephesians 4:5)
In asking the question “Why do we baptize?” the obvious and most direct
answer is because it is a sacrament, instituted by Christ. But there is a deeper reason, and that is that when we are baptized, we are adopted into the family of God. As the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:14-15, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption...”
As children of God we are expected to act a different way. For example, because of my faith in Christ, not only am I led to act as a follower of Christ, but I expect my children to act as followers of Christ as well. I teach this to my children, and help guide them in the way they live their lives. At a certain point in their lives, Tyler and Tiffany accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They were able to verbalize what was going on in their hearts that started at their baptism.
So parents are an important part of baptism when infants and young children are concerned. That is why we ask these important questions:
1. Do you desire that your child be baptized?
2. Relying on God’s Grace, do you promise to live the Christian faith and to teach that faith to your children?
The parents are there to guide and nurture and exemplify the Christian lifestyle, so that their children can understand who Christ is, and what role Christ plays in their lives.
Baptism calls to mind and renews the great favor God has shown us. Because we don’t deserve forgiveness, it is a great favor. Because we can’t wash away our own sins, we baptize those whom God has called to receive this favor of God.
Another important aspect of baptizing little children is that Christ died for
all, children and adults alike. Our redemption is found in the blood of Christ and the gift of faith given by the Holy Spirit. That gift doesn’t just come to us as adults, but early on in life. Since children are a part of the covenant, children of believers are to be distinguished from unbelievers by baptism, just as children of God in the Old Testament were distinguished by circumcision.
Baptism is to be done only once in our lifetime. I know that this can be a
controversial statement, but let’s go back to Ephesians 4:5, which tells us: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” People who move from one denomination to another often get re-baptized. Or some denominations don’t recognize the baptism of another. Or people who get baptized when they are a child, don’t remember their baptism, and so they want to get re-baptized. The effect and power of baptism is not in the remembering, but in the fact that the Lord is over it, and has anointed it.

III. Baptism with water. (and the Holy Spirit)- (Matthew 3:13-17)
Illustration: I want you to think for a moment that you have a child, and that child has gone out to play, and while they are playing it starts to rain. Some time goes by, and finally your child shows up at the back door. This child is wet and muddy. First of all, you would not let your child walk through your house in muddy clothes, so you make the child take off the muddy clothes. Second, you wouldn’t let your child go sit on the couch and watch TV. NO, you will send them right to the bath to get cleaned off. The water and soap remove the mud from the child’s body.
So we use water in baptism to signify the washing away of the “muddy” sin that has enveloped our being. But we need to understand that the water is not what cleanses us from our sin, or that the water gives us salvation. These things are not accomplished by the pouring of the water. Even more, the water doesn’t retain in itself the power to cleanse, regenerate, and renew.
What the water does is symbolize to us the power of God to cleanse, regenerate and renew. The water leads us to the knowledge of these wonderful gifts that God has for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is because Jesus died on the cross, and was raised from the dead, that we can be led to Christ and receive this cleansing and renewal and new life!
But baptism is more than just the water. The water is the visible aspect of what is being done. When we are baptized, we also are anointed by the Holy Spirit. Let’s read for a moment about Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17…
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came to be with Him. So too, when we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives in a unique way. In receiving the touch of the Holy Spirit in this way, Jesus was being anointed and prepared for His ministry. So we too need to be touched by the Spirit of God, and anointed for the call of God on our lives. Baptism is one such event where God’s Spirit anoints us in a unique and powerful way!

IV. Why baptism is a corporate event-
In the Presbyterian Book of Confessions, in the “Brief Statement of Faith”
(p. 276), we are told: “The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers.”
Illus. Because of our nation’s economic crisis, and the fact that so many
people are out of a job, I have at times wondered what I would do if I found myself out of a job. I know that if I couldn’t find a job in my profession, I would be willing to work at most any job so that I could provide for my family. But if it lasted a while, and our finances became strained, I have been comforted with the fact that I have a family that would help us financially, or even with a place to live for a while.
It is comforting to know you always have somewhere to turn; someone to count on. Family often is this for most people. But there are some people who don’t have family that they can turn to. That is a hard, and often lonely place to be. But the good news is that the Body of Christ is also our family; a family that is to be there for us in time of need.
The baptismal service reminds us of this important fact. That is why I ask the congregation to stand and I ask them this question: “Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture (the child’s name), by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging him/her to know and follow Christ, and to be a faithful member of His church?”
Baptism not only connects us to God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, but it also connects us to God’s people. We make a commitment to help the baptized grow in their faith. We make a commitment to help nurture one another. We make a commitment to encourage one another in spiritual growth. We make a commitment to be there for each other.
That is why baptism is to happen with God’s people, and as a part of a worship service. It is about worship, and it is about God’s people.
I have had people ask me to do a baptism for them where they can be dunked in water, instead of having water just sprinkled on them. Before I agree to do this, they have to understand first that it is not to be a private event, where they just invite a few people they want there, but it is to be public, where the whole church is invited. Second, it not just something you go and do, but needs to be part of a worship experience. If they agree to these conditions, understanding the importance of them, then with the Sessions approval I have done baptisms in this way.

Conclusion: I have just touched briefly on what baptism is, why we baptize, how water and the Holy Spirit play a role in baptism, and how baptism is to be a corporate event. There is much more that could be said, and has been said by others on this topic. But my hope is that through this sermon, you will have a little better understanding of the importance and significance of baptism. I hope you see why God instituted this sacrament into the life of the church. And even though we aren’t saved through being baptized, we are led to the saving grace of God through Christ our Lord. If you have not been baptized, I would very much like to talk with you about you getting baptized…. Let us give thanks to God this day, for this very special sacrament, and for the cleansing, renewal, and new life we receive. Amen.