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Sun. 2/11/2014

Quarter’s Theme: Discovering Life Foundation

Unit 1 Theme: Knowing Essential Ordinances/Doctrines (Lessons 8-12)

LOYALTY CAMPAIGN MONTHS

Sunday 2/11/ 2014

LESSON   9

WATER BAPTISM (PART 2)

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 240, 242

Devotional Reading: EPH. 4:1-6

Topic For Adults

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Topic For Youths

FREED FROM SIN

Topic For Intermediates

DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Scripture Lessons

1 Cor. 15:3-4; 12:13-14; Rom. 6:2-7; Gal. 3:27; Lk. 12:8-9

 

Memory Verse:

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

( Rom. 6:3) NKJV.

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

Sun. 2/11/2014

We Put On Christ In Baptism

Gal. 3:26-29

When a masquerade puts on its cloth, it covers all parts of its body. Likewise at baptism, believers put on Christ. What this suggests is that you have put on Christ as cloth, you are no longer visible to the world. When people look at you, they should see Jesus and not you. But this putting on of Christ is not physical but spiritual. It must show in your words, reasoning, thought, look, dressing, counselling, spending for the things of the kingdom, commitments, obedience, surrenderedness, consecration, sanctification etc. The question is have you really put on Christ?

Point of Emphasis: As many that have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ.

Prayer Point:            Lord, let my ways of life reflect Christ.

BACKGROUND

J

esus would not ask His followers to do anything that does not have any spiritual
import for their Christian living. As we know that baptism is the physical dipping
of a believer into the water and bringing him or her up, what are the symbolic and spiritual meanings of baptism to a believer? This week’s lesson will answer this question.

NOTES ON THE TEXT

1. CHRIST DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION: 1 COR. 15:3-4; ROM. 6:3-4

It is a well known fact that Jesus Christ our Lord died, was buried and on the third day, rose up to life again. One of the significance of water baptism to a believer is that it typifies believer’s part in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When a person is immersed water at baptism, it signifies death and burial just as Jesus experienced and when the minister brings up the person from the water, it signifies resurrection with Christ. It is a mark of identifying with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and a further affirmation of our faith that we believed that Jesus really died, was buried and rose again for our sins according to the Scripture. It also strengthens our faith that as Jesus resurrected from the dead, we also will resurrect with Him at the end of the age.

1. NEWNESS OF LIFE IN CHRIST: ROM. 6:2,4

Before salvation, a sinner is prone to live a life of sin and iniquity. He does things that are ungodly and that make God to be angry with him. He lives a dirty life. But at salvation, sin is removed from his account with God, God sees him as a new creation. Old things and old ways of life that are ungodly must pass away and all things concerning him are expected to become new (2 Cor. 5:17). When such a person undergoes water baptism, it signifies his commitment to live a new life in Christ. The Bible says that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also (that have been baptised into His death and resurrection) should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). Water baptism is a symbol of strong commitment on the part of the believer never to go back into his or her old ways of life that are disgusting to God.

III.   UNION WITH CHRIST AND HIS BODY (THE CHURCH): GAL. 3:27; 1 COR. 12:13-14.

Another significance of water baptism is that it signifies believer’s union with Christ. The Bible says as many that have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. They have joined themselves to Christ and Christ has joined Himself to them. They have been united together with Christ and as such they cannot do anything the way they like, rather they must do all things to please Jesus if they want their union with Him to remain intact.

Moreover, at the general level, water baptism typifies union with Jesus’ body, that is, the Church. As many that have been baptised into Christ by one Spirit, irrespective of nationality, race or language, have become one in Christ. Baptism, therefore, cements people of different nationalities together in Christ and they see themselves as belonging to the same body in Christ, which is the Church.

1. PUBLIC DECLARATION OF ONE’S FAITH IN CHRIST: LK. 12:8-9

Jesus said that whoever confesses Him before men, He will confess him before the Father (v. 8). One of the ways to confess Jesus publicly before men is through water baptism. On many occasions, it is not an individual that is baptised or that is involved in baptism, it involved other people, both believers and unbelievers who might have come to the river to do some other things. At times, unbelieving relatives are invited to come and witness the baptism. Therefore, being baptised with people around is an act of publicly declaring one’s faith in Jesus to other people. It is to tell others that one has gone to the side of Jesus and no longer available for the Devil or any of his works.

CONCLUSION

Water baptism is the ceremony that celebrates the entrance of a believer into the community of the Church. Its significance is substantial but not sufficient in itself to save a person. To be saved requires God’s grace, our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection and a continued walk of obedience to God. But to publicly declare our faith in Christ, water baptism is significant.

QUESTIONS

1. Mention some of the significance of water baptism.
2. Explain how water baptism signifies the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
3. What is the significance of water baptism to the relationship of believers in the Church?
4. How can water baptism help believers to live a new life in Christ?