Lesson 3: Be Identified With Christ
Purpose: to help the disciple understand the meaning and importance of baptism
Objectives:
1. to explain the reasons why a disciple should be baptized
2. to explain the meaning of baptism
3. to explain the relationship of baptism to salvation
Introduction: Up until now we have looked at what Scripture has
to say about the meaning of salvation, the way of
salvation, and the importance of salvation. But before we can go any
further in our study of God and our relationship
to Him we need to discuss the importance of baptism, its meaning, and
its relation to salvation.
Q. What reasons can you think of why a person should be baptized?
A. [Let them answer.]
In trying to think of reasons for baptism,
most of us will first ask if baptism is necessary for salvation. Do you
think
most people think it is? Why or why not?
What do you think?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:17
Q. What important distinction does Paul make in the first part of this verse?
A. He distinguishes the gospel from baptism.
Q. What does this show about the relationship between salvation and baptism?
A. It shows that
baptism was not necessary for salvation. Paul was sent to proclaim the
gospel to the
Gentiles, but
it was not necessary for him to baptize those who responded in order for
them to be
saved.
Q. What one element is essential for salvation?
A. Faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 1:16).
Q. If baptism
is not necessary for salvation, then why is it important? What other reasons
did we give
just a minute
ago?
Read Matthew 28:19
Q. In this passage
Jesus is giving His final commands to the disciples. what reason does this
passage
give us for
baptism?
A. Simply that
Jesus commanded it. The Lord Jesus commanded the leadership of His church
to
baptize all
who became His disciples. Thus, we should be baptized in obedience to Christ.
Three more reasons for baptism are also
important. First, baptism is a public act and therefore a public testimony
to
a person's commitment to Christ. A Christian
publicly expresses his or her commitment to God and break with the
world. Secondly, baptism is important as
a symbolic act of salvation itself.
Q. What does the word baptism mean?
A. Baptism originally
meant to immerse oneself so wholly in something that one became identified
with
it. In ancient
times the word baptism was used to describe the action of dipping cloth
in dye. The cloth
would become
so identical with the dye that you could no longer distinguish between
them.
Q. What does Christian baptism mean?
A. Christian
baptism is an outward symbol of a person's inner identification with Christ.
When a person
accepts Christ's
salvation by repentance and faith, the person identifies himself as Christ's
own. This is
similar to the
identification that takes place when a foreigner becomes a U.S. citizen
or when a woman
marries and
takes her husband's name.
Identification with Christ has several implications
for our new relationship with Christ. the following study shows four
ways we are identified with Christ.
Read Colossians 1:13, 14
Q. What does this verse indicated has changed because we have become identified with Christ?
A. God has transferred
us from the dominion of darkness (Satan's kingdom) to the kingdom of His
beloved Son
(Christ's kingdom). We have been delivered from bondage to Satan to the
freedom to
serve Christ.
The second implication has to do with our
relationship with God. Through our identification with Christ we have
entered into a covenant relationship with
God. The sign of that covenant is baptism in the New Testament, as it was
circumcision in the Old Testament.
Read Romans 4:9-11
Q. What is circumcision called and what did it indicate?
A. Circumcision
is called a sign, and it indicated that Abraham had been declared righteous
by God
because of His
faith. Thus, circumcision was a sign of the covenant relationship between
Abraham and
God.
Read Colossians 2:11, 12
Q. In these verses we see a relationship between circumcision and baptism. What is that relationship?
A. Baptism is
the new sign of the covenant between God and His people as it symbolizes
the
circumcision
of our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29). Baptism has become a sign
for the New
Testament believers
of a new relationship with God.
The third implication of our identification
with Christ has to do with those things which defile a man and keep him
from being able to come into the presence
of God. The first defilement has to do with sin.
Read Romans 3:23
Q. According
to this verse, what keeps a person from being able to experience the presence
and glory
of God?
A. Sin.
The second defilement has to do with death.
Read Numbers 19:11-16
Q. What was true of a person if they touched a dead body or were in a tent with a dead body?
A. They were
unclean and could not go into the tabernacle, which was where God dwelt
in the form of
the Shekinah
Glory. Not only did being around dead people defile us but so does our
own death defile
us.
The third defilement has to do with physical deformities or handicaps.
Read Leviticus 21:16-23
Q. What were people with physical deformities prohibited from doing?
A. They were prohibited from coming near to God.
Baptism symbolizes the fact that we are
cleansed, washed clean from those things which keep us from the presence
of God. Now neither our sins, our deformities,
nor our eventual death will keep us from the presence of God.
Read Hebrews 9:13-15
Q. How does verse 14 describe the believer?
A. As one who
has a cleansed conscience (inward cleansing of the heart) freeing him from
guilt, the
feeling of guilt,
and separation from God so he can serve the living God.
Read Hebrews 10:19-22
Q. What does the author of Hebrews admonish us to do now that Christ has cleansed us?
A. We are to draw near to God in confidence. There is no barrier between God and His people.
The fourth implication of our identification
with Christ has to do with the position and ministry that God has given
us.
In the Old Testament a priest was consecrated
for his duties by being cleansed by water. This symbolized his being
purified for that office.
Read 1 Peter 2:9
Q. How are the people of God described in this verse?
A. Among other
things, they are described as a royal priesthood. Thus all New Testament
believers
are consecrated
to be priests for God.
Thus, baptism symbolizes many things. It
shows us that we have been totally identified with Christ. We are subjects
in His kingdom; a royal priesthood which
is serving Christ; a people cleansed from all the defilements which
separated people from God; and we have
entered a covenant relationship with the living God.
Q. Have you been baptized?
A. [Let them answer. If not, offer to help them make arrangements to do so as soon as possible.]
Assignment: Read John 15 and write down what you learn about
belonging to Christ. What do you think it means
to "abide in Christ"? What are some of the costs? some of the rewards.