Being Baptized – How Do I Know I’m Ready? – audio

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Introduction

1. “How do I know when I’m ready to be baptized?”

2. I appreciate this question!

3. All too often, I am afraid that we are guilty of simply telling people that they need to be baptized and not really explaining to them that baptism is merely a part of God’s plan to save man.

4. The one who asks this question realizes:

a. That baptism is important.

b. That baptism is not something to be done on a whim.

c. That one needs to be PREPARED to be baptized.

5. How do we know when we are ready?

6. All of the preparation is mental.

Body

YOU ARE READY TO BE BAPTIZED WHEN…

I. YOU UNDERSTAND SIN AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES…

A. A question to ask someone who says that they want to be baptized…

1. “If you were to die right now, before you were baptized, would you go to heaven or hell?”

2. If the person answers that they believe that they would go to heaven, then that person does not yet understand sin or the purpose of baptism.

B. Before one is a scriptural candidate for baptism, he must realize that he is lost!

1. One must understand what sin is.

a) All mankind lives under God’s Law.

Galatians 6:2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

b) Sin is lawlessness or disobeying God’s law.

1 John 3:4. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

c) There are sins of commission, omission, and ignorance.

2. Sin separates a person from God.

a) Genesis 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

b) Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

c) Isaiah 59:1-2. Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

C. Unremitted sin will cause us to be eternally separated from God.

1. Revelation 14:11-13. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

2. Revelation 20:13-15. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

And…

II. YOU UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS WAS…

A. There has always been confusion and disagreement on the identity of Jesus.

Matthew 16:13-16. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

B. Without a proper understanding of who Jesus was, one can not be scripturally baptized.

C. Our salvation depends, in part, on our perception of Jesus.

John 8:23-24. And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

1. What does it mean t believe that Jesus is the “I AM.”

2. If we acknowledge Jesus as the “I AM” we:

a) Are acknowledging Him as part of the Godhead.

Exodus 3:14. And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

b) Are acknowledging His pre-existence.

John 8:56-58. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

c) Are acknowledging His authority.

Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

D. Belief alone is not sufficient to save.

James 2:19. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

And…

III. YOU UNDERSTAND REPENTANCE…

A. Repentance is also necessary to salvation. Luke 13:3. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

B. But what is repentance?

1. Examples of repentance

Matthew 21:28-31. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2. Repentance is a change in mind (brought on by godly sorrow) that leads to a change in action.

C. People must be willing to repent of sin in their lives before they are ready to be baptized.

1. If one is a thief, he must quit being a thief.

2. If one is a liar, he must quit being a liar.

3. If one is an adulterer, he must quit being an adulterer.

And…

IV. YOU UNDERSTAND CONFESSION…

A. Jesus says we must confess Him before men.

Matthew 10:32. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

B. Paul said that confession is made to salvation.

Romans 10:9-10. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

C. It is called the good confession.

1 Timothy 6:12-13. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate

1. The confession that Jesus made before Pilate was that He was the Son of God.

2. John 18:36-37. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

D. Without this confession, one is not ready to be baptized.

Acts 8:36-37. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

And…

V. YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM.

A. Without a proper understanding of the purpose, baptism is useless.

B. What is the purpose of baptism?

1. Remission of sins.

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2. Washes away sins.

Acts 22:16. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

3. Saves us.

1 Peter 3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

4. Puts us into Christ.

Galatians 3:27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

5. Puts us into the body.

1 Corinthians 12:13. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—

Conclusion

1. When are you ready to be baptized?

2. When you understand sin and its consequences in your life.

3. When you understand who Jesus was and what He did for you.

4. When you are willing to repent of sin in your life.

5. When you are willing to confess Jesus.

6. When you understand the purpose of baptism.

 

Delivered on: December 18, 2011. Streetsboro.