baptized – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: baptized

Romans 6:3 – Baptized to Death

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Will

Or do you not know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Truth to Learn

We don’t have to let sin control us. We can have the victory!

Behind the Words

The word “baptized” is translated from baptidzo. It’s easy to see that the Greek word and the English word are nearly identical. This is what is known as a transliteration. A transliteration is when a word in one language is carried over directly into another language. This Greek word means “to immerse, to place into, to dunk, or to wet completely.” For this reason alone, it is reasonable to believe that immersion is the form of baptism that was followed by the early church.

Meaning Explained

This verse and the following are an amplification of what was said in the previous verse. Paul just told us that we died to sin. What does he mean by that? When we were baptized into Jesus Christ we were baptized into his death.

Some people interpret this as saying that we were “placed into the body of Christ.” The only problem with this is that this verse doesn’t say we were baptized into the body of Christ, rather that we were baptized into Christ.

I believe that Paul is talking about “believers’ baptism,” that act in which we were immersed in water (or sprinkled with water, or had water poured on us). This believers’ baptism does not in any way save us. As Paul has told us in the earlier chapters of this book, we are saved by believing in God’s promise and by God subsequently declaring us righteous; not because we did something (like get baptized) but because we believed his message. Well, if this baptism doesn’t save us, then what does it do? It is a public proclamation of our identification with Jesus Christ. It is a proclamation that we have died to sin, and it no longer rules over us, He does.

By identifying with Jesus through baptism, we identify with both his death and his resurrection. The current verse talks about the first half of this. When we were baptized, we were baptized into (identified with) his death; therefore, with Christ we have died to sin and do not have to let it control us.

There is some comfort to be taken in this passage of scripture. The mere fact that Paul is arguing so strongly regarding sinfulness after salvation is proof in itself that we do not stop sinning when we get saved. If that were the case, Paul would simply tell these Roman Christians (and us) that the presence of sin indicates the lack of salvation. But he does not say that!

You will recall that Paul started this line of reasoning because there were some who claimed that we could sin all we want because it only makes the grace of God appear greater. It is clear from Paul’s argument that we have a choice to live a life characterized by sin or not. We will always sin because we have a sin nature, but we don’t have to let sin run our lives. We can control it through the power of the Holy Spirit. What Paul is teaching us through this section of the book of Romans is how to control our sin nature instead of letting it control us.

Application

We all battle the lusts of our sin nature, which are inflamed by this world system we live in. But, we don’t have to let sin control us. Let us all pray that the Holy Spirit of God will give us victory over our sin nature, and in return let’s give God the glory and praise that He deserves.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:15 – It’s a Testimony

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Will

lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

Truth to Learn

Baptism is a testimony of the salvation in the name of Christ.

Behind the Words

“Lest” is translated from the two Greek words hina mē. The first of these, hina, means “in order that” and mē is the conditional negative particle meaning “not.” So, literally these two words mean “in order that not.” The best English translation is “lest.”

The word “anyone” is translated from tis, which refers to some person or thing that is not specifically named or identified. It can be translated as “anyone, a certain person, something, or anything.”

The words “I had baptized” is transliterated from baptidzō, which we looked at in yesterday’s verse. There is some variation in the form of this verb depending on the text it is translated from. The better texts have this as an aorist passive verb in the second person, plural. Thus, it should be translated as “you were baptized” rather than “I had baptized.”

Meaning Explained

Apparently the people in the church in Corinth were making a great thing out of who they were baptized by. This may have been the original source of the division within the Corinthian church. As we have seen, Paul gets to the point in no uncertain terms that there were only a few in that church whom he had baptized.

Also, Paul makes it very clear that when he did baptize anyone, he did not do so “into my own name.” In other words, he did not proclaim, “I now baptize you in the name of Paul the Apostle.” Instead, he did so either “In the name of Jesus Christ,” or more likely, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The fact that Paul did not baptize most of the converts under his ministry is in keeping with the example that Jesus gave. Jesus did not baptize people; instead, his disciples did the baptizing.

Let me say a few words about the method of baptism. As we have pointed out, the Greek word baptidzō means “to immerse,” not “to sprinkle” or “to pour.” Therefore, it is most likely that Christian baptisms were originally performed by laying people completely under water and raising them up again. So, if people are baptized by sprinkling or by pouring, are they not really baptized? In the sixteenth century there was a group of Christians who became known as Anabaptists, from the Greek word meaning “baptize again.” Some people believe that their baptizing was a reaction to someone not being “properly” baptized in the first place. In reality, they were baptizing people who had been baptized as an infant. Since an infant could not possibly have confessed Christ as savior, they “baptized again” after a person was truly saved.

Keep in mind, however, that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Rather, it is a testimony regarding the salvation that has already taken place. Therefore, whether you were immersed, sprinkled, or poured upon, you have given a testimony that you are a Christian.

Application

If you were baptized after you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it doesn’t really matter how you were baptized. The important matter is that you did it as a witness to the fact that you are saved. Anything more than that is ritual.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:13 – Worship Christ Alone

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Will

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Truth to Learn

Submit to your leaders, but worship Christ alone.

Behind the Words

Meridzō is the word translated “divided.” It means “to separate into parts” or “to divide.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect. One thing to note here is that there is no interrogative pronoun in this sentence. Therefore, the structure of this question makes the assumption that the answer is “yes.” So, it is more reasonable to translate this as, “Christ is divided?” And, the assumed answer is “yes, because of the divisions in the church.”

“Crucified” is translated from the verb stauroō, which is from the noun stauros, meaning “a pole” or “a cross.” Therefore, stauroō means “to be hung on a pole or nailed to a cross.”

The word “baptized” is transliterated (a word of one language spelled with the letters of another) from the Greek verb baptidzō, which means “to dip or immerse in a liquid.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now lays his gentleness aside and gets very direct with the Christians in Corinth. He obviously is displeased with the divisions that had sprung-up in the church and asks the question, “Christ is divided?” As noted above, the grammatical structure of this question assumes a positive answer. It is clear from Paul’s teaching in his other writings that Christ is God and God is one. Therefore, the force of his question here is saying, in effect, “You have divided Christ who cannot be divided. My brothers, these things cannot be!”

He follows up this question with another, “Was Paul crucified for you?” The grammatical construction of this question is different from the first. It assumes, even demands, a negative answer. And the third question is grammatically tied to the second; therefore, it also demands a negative answer. In his typically humble manner, Paul does not want to be viewed as anyone’s savior; instead, he wants to be viewed merely as a servant leading people to the Savior.”

This reminds me of a story told about the great evangelistic preacher Dwight L. Moody. After one of his tent meetings a man approached him and said, “Sir, I saw one of your converts in the bar getting drunk last night.” To which Moody quickly replied, “He may well be one of my converts. If he were one of Christ’s converts, he would not have been there.”

As we mentioned in yesterday’s verse, it is right to submit to those in the church who have authority over you. However, we are not to worship them, nor to blindly follow them. We are followers of Christ. The responsibility of church leaders is not to gather their own followers but to guide the people under their care into a closer walk with Christ.

Application

Do you have a great love and respect for your pastor? This is good, but don’t allow your feelings to interfere with his assigned task. Remember that even the greatest preacher is still a sinner saved by grace. Give him your support, but worship Christ alone!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 6:3 – Baptized to Death

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Will

Romans 6:3

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Truth to Learn

We don’t have to let sin control us. We can have the victory!

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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