Baptism, The Great Equalizer

Gal 3:26-29

In 1776 the United States did something that had never been done before. They declared that as a foundational part of who they were, that all men were created equal. No aristocracy, no monarchy, no special rules for the rich and powerful. ALL men were created equal.

In 1862 President Lincoln took that noble thought even further. He signed the Emancipation Act freeing all slaves and giving them citizenship in our nation. Because they were free the blacks became some of the most fearless and determined soldiers during the Civil War willing to die for their newfound freedom and trying to live as best as they could as free men.

In 33 A.D. Christ died so all people could be free. He died so all people could be equal. When people became Christians, their salvation and place in the kingdom of God wasn’t based on race, gender, or social status, it was based on a willingness to give their lives to God, be baptized into Christ, and let his grace take away all their sins.

That is still the same today.

PRAYER

I. Who Am I?

A. Paul makes it very clear who we are

1. After World War I, hundreds of shell-shocked French solders could not remember who they were. The military's records were so faulty that they were no help. How could those victims of amnesia recall their names and be reunited with their families? Someone suggested an Identification Rally be held in Paris and announced throughout France. On the day the rally took place, thousands of people gathered in a large plaza in Paris. One by one the bewildered soldiers mounted the high platform and anxiously asked, "Please, please, can somebody tell me who I am?"

2. The importance of personal identity cannot be exaggerated, but immeasurably more important is our spiritual identity.

3. God identifies us in His inspired Word as either unforgiven aliens, self- excluded from his household by our own sin and unbelief, or as children of God, belonging to His family by faith in Jesus Christ.

B. Children of God

1. Being children of God is incredible and we need to realize who we are.

2. There is an ancient story about a man named Astyages who determined to do away with a royal infant by the name of Cyrus. He summoned an officer of his court and told him to kill the baby prince. The officer in turn delivered the youngster to a herdsman with instructions that he should take him high up into the mountains where the baby would die from exposure. The herdsman and his wife, however, took the child and raised him as their own. Growing up in the home of those humble peasants, he naturally thought they were his real parents. He was ignorant of his royal birth and his kingly estate. Because he thought he was a peasant, he lived like one.

3. Many Christians fail to realize all that is theirs in Christ. They live as spiritual peasants when they should be living royally.

II. Baptized Into Christ

A. Immersed into the Character of Christ

1. The word baptism means to immerse; to fully cover

2. When we are baptized into Christ we need to be fully covered by him.

3. We need to become who he is.

a) Have you ever watched a really good impressionist? They study every detail of the person they are doing the impression of. They look at every small nuance and try to be just like that person.

b) That is what we need to do with Christ. We need to copy every nuance of his that we can.

c) We need to study every detail of Christ and try to be just like him.

4. Wear Jesus

a) It’s getting pretty popular to wear religious t-shirts now.

b) Does that make a person a Christian because he wears a shirt that has a pithy religious statement on it?

c) Are we better Christians if we wear a suit and tie or dress to worship?

d) Are these the things Paul is talking about?

e) No, not at all. When Paul says we need to be clothed with Jesus Christ he means we need to live fully immersed in Jesus and his salvation.

f) He is our uniform. He is our identity.

B. Power of the Holy Spirit

1. Baptism into Christ gives us a power source greater than we could ever imagine.

2. We have the Holy Spirit come in to us and reside in us.

3. The power of the Holy Spirit helps us fight off temptation.

4. He helps us find the truth.

5. He gives us courage to stand strong when we want to tremble in fear at the attacks of Satan.

6. He gives us the confidence to speak to others about our Savior and helps us find the right words to say when we aren’t sure.

7. He gives us wisdom and discernment as we study the scripture and build an ever growing relationship with God.

8. We often sell the Holy spirit short or claim he doesn’t work in our lives today. What a terrible limit we put on ourselves by limiting the power of the spirit.

a) The Living Bible translates 1 Thess 5:19 - Do not smother the Holy Spirit.

b) 2 Tim 1:13-14 Hold tightly to the pattern of truth I taught you, especially concerning the faith and love Christ Jesus offers you. Guard well the splendid, God-given ability you received as a gift from the Holy Spirit who lives within you. TLB

c) 1 John 4:12-13 For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us, and his love within us grows ever stronger. 13 And he has put his own Holy Spirit into our hearts as a proof to us that we are living with him and he with us. TLB

9. Don’t let anyone rob you of the power of the Holy Spirit by telling you he doesn’t work in your life today.

C. We are one in Christ

1. In the end, it doesn’t matter what color we are; it doesn’t matter what occupation we have; it doesn’t matter how much we make.

2. What does matter is whether we are children of God and that we are one in Christ.

3. That is also important when we look at other Christians. The only thing that should matter about them is that they are our brother or sister.

4. Even in churches we were guilty of unchristian prejudice.

a) Marshal Keeble was one of greatest preachers ever in the churches of Christ. He was also black. One time hearing another famous preacher, he and several blacks went up to him after the service to talk to this preacher and he refused to talk with them in public or shake their hands. When Mr. Keeble complained about this treatment he was harshly put down for his attitude. After an apology by Mr. Keeble, a writer said, “this is why Marshal Keeble is the greatest black preacher ever. He and other black preachers like him, know their place.”

b) How about the way we talk about homosexuals? What make that sin any worse than someone who is sexually active and not married?

c) Both are equally wrong, but many Christians don’t say the cruel things about heterosexual sinners as they do about homosexual sinners.

5. READ 3:26-29

III. Conclusion

A. Are you baptized in Christ?

1. Do you have the power of the Holy spirit?

2. Are you a child of God?

3. My desire is that everyone here will be one in Christ. Clothed in Christ. Immersed in Christ.

4. If you haven’t done that yet, please do so now.