TEXT: Romans 6:1-4

SUBJECT: Mark and Robert’s Baptism

Two brothers will be baptized today, the Lord willing. A few days ago, I asked them if they wanted to say something at their baptisms—to profess faith in Christ, for example, or to tell you what baptism means to them.

They both said No. At first I was somewhat disappointed. But then it occurred to me that it’s better this way. After all, baptism speaks for itself. And it speaks with a power and beauty beyond mere words.

What does baptism say? According to the text, it says two things.

Firstly, it says Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. The words are very familiar, of course. Every church-going person has heard them a million times. But we mustn’t let the familiarity put us to sleep. More awesome words have never been spoken. What makes them most staggering is that they describe things that Really Happened. The Gospel is not a bedtime story; it’s not a primitive myth; it’s not a religious ideology. It is a true and factual history. The Bible says so. And so does baptism.

Secondly, it says that our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection have done some things in the believer. His death and burial have killed and gotten rid of his "old life". Now, it’s easy to equate the "old life" to wicked things we all deplore. But that’s not really what it is. The "old life" is simply living for someone or something other than God. It could be money or pleasure or career or art; it could be your husband or wife or children; it could be your country or your cause. But whatever it is, it’s not God. The death of Christ has killed this old way of living.

His resurrection has replaced it with a "new life"—a God-centered life. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God". This is what baptism says==that we’re dead to sin and alive to God. Not perfectly, of course. But really.

We pastors are often too fond of our own voices. Maybe we ought to be quiet and let Baptism speak for itself. I pray it will speak to your soul this day. For Christ’s sake. Amen.