Title: THE RICHES OF BAPTISM
Focus: Remember your baptism and draw from its riches.
Function: To encourage the people to draw comfort, courage, and joy from their baptism or identity in Christ Jesus.
Text: I Peter 3:8-22
Throughout
the centuries, the worldwide Christian church has used a baptismal acclamation.
At the end of a service, for example, a pastor may bless the people and then
say: Remember your baptism!
Likewise, there are many Christian churches that will place the baptismal font at the very entrance of the sanctuary. As the people enter the sanctuary, they dip their hand or fingers in the baptismal waters, and in that way they remind themselves of their identity: they are members of the Christian community by virtue of their baptism. They belong; they are set apart, and they affirm their relationship with Christ.
Remember your baptism! is not just a slogan; it’s a call to draw comfort, courage and joy from belonging to the triune God. It’s a call that brings to mind the riches of the Christian faith—riches that are captured in the sacrament of baptism. It’s also a reminder to live—NOT by my own drumbeat or the drumbeat of my friends or the culture, but by the drumbeat of Jesus Christ. His ways now must become my ways because my baptism reminds me that I belong to him.
My wife,
Rosanne, and I have made this baptismal acclamation part of our language with
the children. Thus, at significant events or occasions in their lives, we would
say: Remember who you are! And they would nod their heads and smile
because they knew what we meant: Remember your identity as a Christian!
Remember your baptism! You belong to God. Live that way!
So,
Jack and Michelle, as your daughter Jaclyn Elizabeth was marked today with the
sign and seal of baptism, don’t hesitate to remind her as she grows up: Honey,
remember your baptism! In fact, I declare to all of us here today: remember
your baptism and draw from its riches!
As we explore the Scriptures today, let me say a few things about the passage we read:
Number one: it contains a very difficult to understand text: It’s about the apostle Peter’s reference to Jesus. Peter says that Jesus (vs.18b-20a) “was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah….” Since we do not have other inspired scripture texts that make reference to “spirits in prison,” or that speak about Jesus preaching to people in the realm of the dead, most Biblical scholars don’t know exactly what to make of this particular text.
To be sure, there are a number of different interpretations, but no one really knows how to exactly understand this passage. I will not pretend that I have the answer; nor will I guide you into the different theories of understanding this text. I will ignore this particular text today since it is so very complex.
Number two: This passage calls for action; it calls us to live and act in a certain way; it’s very personal, written in the context of persecution and daily suffering on account of being a Christian. Peter writes his letter to Christians who are suffering much. And so he says: (vs.8ff) “…all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Peter feeds us with some hard to swallow teachings. He wants us to turn the other cheek when wronged; and he pushes us away from being bullied into a corner of fear to a position of deep trust in the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Listen: (vs.13ff) “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”
Surely, this passage contains strong medicine for the soul, so that we conduct ourselves as true followers of Jesus Christ.
Number three: this passage is like a funnel. It opens up with a wide spectrum of exhortations as to how to live as followers of Christ, and then it narrows and leads us into the spout of baptism. All the exhortations and even the difficult to understand reference to Jesus preaching to “spirits in prison”—these all culminate and end up into a focused discussion on baptism. And that’s why we shall focus on the riches of baptism.
Its Center: Try to think of baptism as a solid bar of gold. At it core stands this precious metal called “gold.” So it is with baptism. At its center stands the awesome salvation work of Jesus Christ—his death and resurrection. Peter tells us that (vs.21b) (baptism) “…saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ….” Peter does not mean that the sacrament of baptism gives us eternal life or salvation; rather, he means that the saving work of Jesus is the source of eternal life and salvation. Baptism points to, and captures, and re-presents what Jesus has wrought on the cross and in the tomb.
For example, I am saved and I belong to Christ—NOT because I was baptized, but because of what Jesus has done, is doing, and as yet will do. Our baptism captures the essence of Christ’s saving work. At the center of baptism stands the riches of Jesus’ death and resurrection; his victory over the powers of sin and death are ours as a priceless gift of God to a world that is lost in sin. Jesus’ resurrection gives us the “…pledge of a good conscience toward God.” Baptism sets us apart in Christ. And Christ Jesus brings us to God and reconciles us with our heavenly Father. The gold bar of baptism cries out in glorious splendor: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! His resurrection means our salvation through faith in him! Ah, the riches of baptism!
Its Comparison: Peter is eager for us to have a clear understanding of our baptism. So, he takes us back to the days of Noah. And Peter draws our attention to the ark, to Noah and his believing family (8 people in all, cooped up in the ark), and to the flood waters, which symbolizes baptism. In other words, there are some things about the story of Noah’s salvation through the floodwaters that may help us understand and remember our baptism more clearly.
For example: the flood waters were a sign of God’s judgment upon the world. Many drowned; but these very same waters of the flood became the vehicle through which Noah and his believing family were saved. Likewise, the waters of baptism call us to die to a life of sin, self and service to Satan. But the waters of baptism also call us to rise to a life of love and obedience in Christ Jesus. Thus the waters of baptism speak to us of judgment and salvation.
The Christian church at times refers to the baptismal font as being both--a tomb and a womb. It’s a tomb in that the water of baptism tells us that we need cleansing from our sins; it tells us to dive into the water and die to a life of sin. It’s a womb in that the water of baptism tells us to come up out of the waters and find life in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul puts it this way: (Romans 6: 3ff) “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. So, the story of Noah provides us with some wonderful insightful pictures as to the riches of baptism.
Tap into the value of your baptism by taking note of its center in Christ Jesus and its comparison with Noah in the ark riding the waves of the flood waters that became a tomb for many and a womb for “eight in all.” Remember the gold bar of baptism. Value its riches.
Its Security: The other day I learned that the U.S. deposits many of its bars of gold as reserves in the vault of the Fort Knox Bullion Depository. Right now the Fort Knox Bullion Depository in Kentucky holds 147.3 million ounces of gold at a book value of $ 42.22 per ounce. That’s a lot of money. And that’s why it is kept secure in a place like Fort Knox.
The gold bar of baptism has, however, far greater security than all the depositories in the world. For it is Jesus himself who secures the riches we have in baptism. Fort Knox and many other safe places may have soldiers and all kinds of security gismos to safeguard the gold bars of the world. But none can provide the security that Jesus provides, for Jesus saves us by his resurrection (and that’s represented in our baptism), and, says Peter, (vs. 22) (Jesus) “has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
In other words, all that our baptism reflects and represents and tells us about Jesus’ work of salvation is bundled up in Jesus himself—he is our ark—the way to eternal life. And our “ark” is Lord of lords, and King of kings. He is sovereign ruler over all. And in him we find our security and salvation. Ah, the riches of baptism!
Some were baptized a long time ago. But they have taken its riches for granted. They aren’t living by those riches; they do their own thing and live basically by their own values and sentimentalities. They are drowning in their baptism, so to speak. They are not rising out of the baptismal waters, and they do not live a life of love, mercy, obedience. The power of the resurrection escapes them.
If that’s you, I beg you today: Come out of the waters of baptism and rise to a new life unto Christ. Live by faith. Draw strength from Christ’s resurrection.
On this first Sunday in the season of Lent, remember the call of your baptism and its riches to you! Jesus died and rose for you and me. So then, shape and form your identity as a child of God by your baptism. For only in Jesus Christ do we find what we need: comfort, courage, joy and eternal life.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.