“Beginning and Renewing the Christian Life”  Gen 17:4-14; Romans 6:3,4  1/13/08

                When I was in Georgetown I got to christen- or dedicate the harbor ship there.  It was a big party- with balloons, flags, lots of food and spirits, we had a prayer and broke the proverbial bottle of champaign on the hull.  I have always marveled at how when a ship starts off on a journey (especially if it’s the maiden voyage) there is a big hoopla.  Today we remember our maiden voyage- our baptism into Christ.  It is encouraging to remember good beginnings- birthdays help us to remember and celebrate our birth.  I smile when I remember my first car or my first kiss.  I look back on our wedding album and it encourages me in my relationship with my wife.   I look back at pictures of when our children were born and those memories.  Today we will look back- maybe you don’t remember it at all- but you know that it has happened to you—maybe like you don’t remember your birth but you still celebrate your birthday.

I.  BAPTISM AS A BEGINNING

                Baptism is not the end of our journey, it is the beginning.  It is NOT as the world falsely assumes that once you begin your Christian life you are complete with Christian history and Christian standards and  that you are absolutely perfect.  Presbyterian Christians never argued that.  Augustine said it was the beginning of our convalescence.  That is, baptism is the beginning of our healing which is finally complete when we are glorified in heaven.

                Baptism is the initiation.  If you were to join a sorority or a fraternity- you would have to undergo an initiation.  The Nobs at the Citadel know about their first year at that school.  But once you’ve made it through, you are a part of the family with brothers and sisters.  Baptism is not nearly so hard in terms of the act of initiation.  Baptism is a seal for us- that we are sealed from evil and for heaven.  It is like a letter with a seal on it proving that the letter is real- baptism is a spiritual seal on us. 

II. BAPTISM AS A MEANS OF GRACE AND SIGN

                A) GRACE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN BAPTISM-  Without the grace of God, baptism is just a little water and recognition.  The Holy Spirit is able to use baptism as a tool (theological term – “means of grace”) to prop up our faith.  It is a visible reminder of something that is invisible.  It is a physical reminder when we see the water go up on a person’s head that we too have been washed.  In the Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis, the children were given special gifts by father Christmas- a sword for one, a healing potion- tools to help them- Baptism is a tool to help us.

                Just as birth is something not entirely in our control, in fact, the baby has very little part to play, so baptism is largely out of our control.  There is a sense in which the grace conferred at a baptism is not something we deserve because we chose to be baptized or even because our parents chose for us to be baptized.  The goodness that comes to us is not because of our choice, but because of God’s grace- that He invited us to be baptized, and invites us to begin the journey of our lives with Him. 

                If you look at Jesus’ baptism- we get a glimpse of the spiritual grace in a most visible and audible way.  The Holy Spirit was seen coming on him (in the form of a dove).  In other words, when baptism happens the Holy Spirit is there empowering us, coming to us.  Another thing that happened in Jesus’ baptism is that a voice was heard saying, “This is my beloved son with whom I am pleased.”  The pleasure and blessing of God occurs at baptism.  We may not see it or hear it, but most of the time- you can feel it. 

                B) Baptism is a sign.  If you could picture a sign being hung around your neck saying, “I have been baptized.”  When you go to Chapin High you get a school id that says you belong.  Baptism is like a school id that says you belong here- the church is your home.  It is a sign of commitment. I have a friend who was a missionary to Japan said they would have a number of people who would come to church, go to Bible studies, but they would not commit to baptism because that meant a real commitment.  It also meant disinheritance for many Japanese.  It was okay to explore Christianity, but it was not okay to commit to it.  Baptism is a sign of commitment   We commit our children who are baptized to the church- we mean to say it is best for them to come and to belong in the church.  I think in our day we have too many people who make the promise with no intent of fulfilling it.  There are lots of people who get married for the Cindarella dream of the wedding, but they haven’t committed to work at the marriage.  There are people today who want to get their babies right with God but do so just for show.  Jesus was not one who liked outward show.  He indicated that the outward things are supposed to be signs of the heart.  The promise in baptism is there to encourage us and to motivate us to choose God over comfort- so when your ten year old says, “I want to sleep in” you say, “but we promised.”  I want to go play basketball with my friends- “but we promised.”  But the other side of the covenant promises is when we promise, God promises.  He claims us and baptism is a sign that we are a part of his family, and fit in nicely and best in His house.

II. BAPTISM AS A RENEWAL- Baptism can be a tool to renew your faith as well. 

                A) REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM- We need to remember who we are and whose we are.

John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian Church said, “Therefore as often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our minds with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins.  For though baptism, is administered only once, and seems to have passed, it was still not destroyed by subsequent sins.”  My mother used to say, “Remember who you are and remember whose you are.” 

Martin Luther- put your hand on your head where the water touched it each morning and remember you are baptized. 

                B) IMPROVING OUR BAPTISM- Don’t get stuck at the beginning.

There is an advertisement for a Mutual Fund company that highlight a guy running at a steady pace on the beach.  Another guy passes him going at break-neck speed.  But half-way up the mountain trail, the steady paced runner passes the sprinter who is not bent over, hands- on- knees totally exhausted.  The Christian life is not a sprint, it is a long haul marathon.  Baptism is just the beginning.  The Heidelberg Catechism and our own Book of Order speak of “Improving our baptism.”  That is, we honor our baptism by doing more than just beginning and belonging.  We improve our baptism when we are faithful in giving our time and selves to God in worship.  We improve our baptism when we are growing in our faith, instead of stagnating in it.  We improve our baptism when we do the Lord’s work- serving others, loving others, helping others.  When we share the good news with others- that improves our baptism, and leads others to baptism.  So I invite you today to remember the beginning of your journey and also to improve your baptism.

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We are therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised fromt eh dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”