The Creed - Part 14

The Nicene Creed 

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. 

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. 

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. 

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. 

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

There are many misconceptions about baptism. 

• Why do we baptize? 
• Who gets baptized? 
• What does baptism do for us? 
• What happens when we get baptized? 

Let’s see if we can clear things up…

Jesus was baptized

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Baptism is a command

We are commanded to be baptized

Acts 2:37-39

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 

38Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

• In those days people practiced baptism for may reasons.
• For prosperity.
• For victory.
• For love.
• Even for their ancestors. 
• Baptism does not forgive sin
• Jesus does! 
• We are baptized in the name of Jesus FOR the forgiveness of sin.

We are commanded to baptize

Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We are united in baptism

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Galatians 3:26-27

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

We acknowledge ONE baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

• One God
• One Lord
• One church
• One baptism 
• Baptism shows we are one with Jesus
• Baptism declares we are one with each other. 

Baptism tells a story

Romans 6:1-4

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Your baptism is the first time you tell your story. It’s your testimony!

How many times can a person die? 

• One! 

So how many times do you need to be baptized? 

• One! 
• As long as you got it in the right order. 

Baptism begins a new chapter in that story

1 Peter 3:21

And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from (an appeal to God for) a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Baptism is a spiritual marker. 

That story has power!

Colossians 2:11-15

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Revelation 12:11

We have overcome him (Satan, the world) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

Baptism continues through the Lord’s Supper. 

I Have Decided…

…to tell my story.