We have witnessed baptisms in our worship gathering, and we need to know what it is all about. If you haven't been baptized, should you be? If you have been baptized, what differenced does it make now? It's like when you attend a marriage ceremony as a married person, you have opportunity to reflect on your marriage vows. The same is true in watching someone else be baptized and express their loyalty to Christ. You can reflect on your own loyalty to Jesus. So what is Christian baptism all about? We are going to look for a few minutes at Acts 2:38-41 and Romans 6:1-14.

Baptism is a public proclamation of a new and lifelong loyalty. On Tuesday, April 20, 2004, we will reflect on the deadly events at Columbine High School five years ago, when Eric Harris and Dylan Clebold killed 12 students and a teacher. On that day, two young believers in Jesus Christ, Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott were both asked by their attackers, "do you believe in God?" When they said, "yes, I believe in God," their lives were ruthlessly taken from them. Rachel had written in her journal, "I am not going to apologize for speaking the Name of Jesus, I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will" (from Rachel's Tears). Cassie wrote a note to her friend the night before she was killed. It included these words: "Honestly, I want to live completely for God. It's hard and scary, but totally worth it" (from She Said Yes). Rachel and Cassie were willing to publicly be identified as followers of Jesus, and they gave their lives for him.

Such suffering for the name of Jesus Christ is not well-known to us. But Christian baptism in many parts of the world, both now and throughout the centuries, has meant the probability of family separation and loss of freedom and persecution. Under those threats, people have said, it is worth it to publicly follow Jesus Christ, because he saves, he forgives, he gives new life. Are you willing to publicly identify yourself as a follower of Jesus, even if it might cost you everything?

In Acts 2:38, following Peter's sermon, people wondered how they should respond, because they had been convicted in their hearts of the truth of what Peter was saying (vss. 36-37). In vs. 38, Peter responded by saying that they should repent (change their mind about Christ, turn from the way they used to think about him, and they way they lived apart from him, and turn to belief in him and new kind of life). And everyone who repented should be baptized, because they have received the forgiveness of sins. When they repented, they would receive the Holy Spirit, the presence of God with them at all times. In vs. 41, those who accepted this message and repented (turned to God) were baptized. Note that we do not baptize babies or other "unbelievers" - belief and repentance are necessary for baptism, and someone must be capable of understanding these things. There were 3000 of them, and they became "members" of this new church that day. Baptism was a public expression of their faith, their inward belief in Jesus.

Water baptism is a public acknowledgment that you believe in God. In Matthew 28:18-20, the commission for the work of the church is to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The baptism is their public identification with Christ and the people of Jesus Christ, the church.

It can be scary to be in front of so many people; and it is not a lot of fun to be dunked underwater by someone else. But don't let fear keep you from becoming publicly identified as a follower of Jesus, in this manner commanded by Jesus.

Water baptism is a picture or illustration of the inward reality of being united with, or identified with Christ in his death and resurrection. This happens at the time of our salvation. It is the original multi-media, multi-sensory presentation.

In Romans 6, the question is raised: should we keep living as we always lived (vss. 1-2)? No, because we have been united with Christ in his death, therefore we are dead to sin (vs. 3); and we are united with him in his resurrection, therefore we should live a new kind of life (vs. 4). We have the guarantee of victory over death (vs. 5). Sin no longer has total control over us (vss. 6-7). We have new life, instead of being enslaved to sin and final physical death (vss. 8-9). Because we have this new life, we must live for God (vss. 10-11). We do not have to let sin and sinful behaviors rule and have control in our lives (vss. 12-14); instead, we can turn ourselves over to God, to please him and do his will. Water baptism is an illustration of the new life.

The basic meaning of the word "baptize" is to immerse or to dunk, like you immerse or dunk your donut in a cup of coffee. Sprinkling or pouring water over the head does not get at the heart of what baptism represents. Baptism represents a total washing and cleansing from sin. It represents a totally new life. It represents a clean break from the past. It is a total immersion in the life of Christ. In ancient times, a group of soldiers wanted to be baptized. But they did not want to give up their warfare. So as they were baptized in a mass baptism, they lifted high, out of the water, their right hands, indicating that they did not want to surrender their swords to Jesus Christ.

Are you the kind of follower of Jesus that is holding nothing back from his control? Have you been completely immersed in his death and life? Are you living totally for God, because of this new life you have in him?

If you are a follower of Jesus, but have not made the public proclamation of your followership by water baptism, we would love to have you be baptized as soon as possible. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, if you do not yet know the new life and hope and forgiveness that Jesus alone can offer, trust in him today for salvation.

Again, hear the words of martyr Rachel Scott: "I am not going to apologize for speaking the Name of Jesus, I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything, I will." Again, Cassie Bernall wrote, "Honestly, I want to live completely for God. It's hard and scary, but totally worth it."

1) Water baptism is a public demonstration of Christ's work in you. As a society, we are involved in other public demonstrations or ceremonies that change our life in such a radical way that it is evident to all around us. We wear wedding rings, display diplomas, vote in elections, and hang up pictures of deceased loved one so everyone knows what has happened to us and changed in our lives. If you have been baptized previously, what are you doing now that demonstrates this commitment to Christ or that would let people know you were baptized? Or would they only know if they had been present? Has your life been so radically changed to reflect your public commitment and testify to people of that commitment? If you have not been baptized, would you consider making your commitment to Christ public? Why or why not?

2) Christ gave his life to free us from sin. What are you willing to give your life for? Take a look at the way you spend your resources of time, talents and money now. Does it reflect those things you are willing to die for or rather those things that distract us from real meaning and purpose? What can you do to reorder your life to make it a better reflection of things you would die for?

3) God wants our life to be totally immersed in Him. The soldiers who held out their swords when they were baptized did so to protect that one area from God. What areas of your life have you held out of reach? God can touch everything in our lives but we must take the chance and be willing to hand it over to him. Are there patterns or habits from your life yesterday that God can change? Give them to Him!