TEXT: Acts 22:16

SUBJECT: Danielle's Baptism

Baptism and the washing away of sin. That's the topic I want to explore this afternoon. The two are obviously related, aren't they? Our verse says so--"Be baptized and wash away your sins".

Other verses say the same thing. At Pentecost, Peter commanded the people to "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). After His resurrection, our Lord promised "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Thus baptism and the washing away of sin are related in some way or other. But in what way?

Some people think of them as cause and effect. That baptism washes away sin in the same way that detergent washes away stains on your shirt.

This is grammatically possible, but not required. Nor is it agreeable with other verses, many examples, and the general teaching of the Bible.

It is better to think of the two as "the thing" and "the thing symbolized". "The thing" is forgiveness through faith in Christ. Baptism "symbolizes" it in a striking way (after all, it looks like a bath). Just as one's body is "washed" in the waters of baptism, one's soul is washed in the blood of Christ.

This is a point worth making. But it's not the one I want to emphasize at the moment. What I want you to think about is who is being baptized in our verse and what sins he is symbolically washing away.

Who is it? It is Paul.

What sins are washed away? Not little ones, like "the thought of foolishness" or "idle words". But big ones. His sins were as big as they come. He calls himself "the chief of sinners". And this is not rhetoric or false humility. Nobody was more wicked than Paul.

He was "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man". These words sent shivers down the spine of devout Jews. "Blasphemer" is one who speaks ill of God. It brings to mind Pharaoh who sneered, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?" "Persecutor" is one who harasses the Lord's people--or worse. Think of Hamaan and his plan to destroy the Hebrew race.

"Insolent man" means proud and arrogant. Nebuchadnezzar was such a man boasting against the God of heaven; so was Belshazzar, drinking to his idols with the cups set aside for the LORD's worship.

What a scoundrel Paul was! He couldn't get his hands on the Lord Himself, but he did the next best thing: He "consented" to the death of Stephen. He went everywhere, jailing the disciples and torturing them into denying their Savior. Even his good friend said he "Breathed out threatenings and slaughter".

Had he lived in another time and place, Paul might have joined the SS and made lamp shades out of human skin. That's the kind of man he was. And this was no slander, but his own confession! Ratified by the Holy Spirit who cannot lie.

This is the man whose sins were "washed away" by the death of Christ and symbolized in baptism.

This means if you're a sinner, you can be washed too. Even if you've done hideous things. No sin stains too deeply for Christ. The worst sinners have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb".

There is no washing in water; there is no forgiveness in baptism. But God has opened "a fountain for cleansing". That is Christ. He wash you "whiter than snow". Now. And with no charge.

Why don't you come to him filthy with sin and self-righteousness? Why don't you go away "whiter than snow"? You can have--yes, even you can have this!

But you can only have it in Christ alone through faith alone. It is not I who invite you, but God Himself--Isaiah 1:18. Why not take what He has for you? Right now.

"Just as I am without one plea;

But that Thy blood was shed for me".

When you do that, then come for baptism. Have you believed in Christ but are still unsure about baptism? Don't be. Ananias commanded Paul to be baptized. Peter commanded the Gentiles to be baptized. God commands every believer to publicly symbolize what Christ has done for you. Not to save your soul--baptism doesn't do that. But to show the world that now

"You are washed, you are sanctified,

You are justified in the name of

The Lord Jesus and by the Spirit

of our God".

God wash somebody today. And let's have another baptism next week. God make it so, for Christ's sake. Amen.