ARE YOU IN A PICKLE?

Text: Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today, for the second time in about a month, we are going to observe the ordinance of baptism. It is a wonderful event in the life of the church when people identify with the body of Christ by entering into the baptismal waters. It is not wrong to think of baptism as a rite of initiation into the body of Christ but it is so much more than that. We hold to believer's baptism which is simply the conviction that baptism is for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and become a child of God.

I would like to explore some of the meanings of baptism today and as I do let us each examine our own relationship with Jesus Christ. What does baptism signify?----------

I. CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY (Colossians 1:27)

To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27).

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23).

The word "baptize" is translated from the Greek word "baptizo" (907), "to baptize," primarily a frequentative form of bapto, "to dip," was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc. Plutarchus uses it of the drawing of wine by dipping the cup into the bowl (Alexis, 67) and Plato, metaphorically, of being overwhelmed with questions (Euthydemus, 277 D).

Now, it should be clear that in order to be true to the meaning of the word, the intent of scripture and the practice of the early church, it is necessary to immerse the candidate fully in water. That is why we do what we do as baptists and that is why we are called "baptists".

More important than the mode one may choose (and I think it is important to remain true to scripture) is what the ordinance of baptism signifies. When we look at the metaphor of dyeing a garment we get a beautiful picture of what it is to be a Christian. As we read already the mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Wow! We ought to get really excited about that. Dye permeates and becomes a part of it. That is what Jesus does in our lives. Revelation 3:20 tells us that He comes to live in us.

II. YOU IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).

Becoming a Christian is kind of like diving into a cool, refreshing, invigorating body of water. You are standing on the shore and you can see all that the water has to offer but you will never receive its benefits until you take the plunge. Jesus is the living water. You can stand on the shore and say, "Yes, I see the water. Yes, the water looks fine. Yes, I know that water is life-giving water.....". But, until you immerse yourself in Jesus Christ you haven't done anything. You do that by taking a leap of faith saying, "Yes, I know that I am a sinner, I know that Jesus died to save me from my sins and He is the only one that can so here I come-----splash."

When you take that step of faith you are "in Christ". Baptism wonderfully depicts that believer's position as being "in Christ".

III. CHRIST CHANGING YOU (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In studying the word "baptizo" I found another common usage which helps us to understand more fully what it means to be in Christ and to have Christ in you.

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

If you have ever canned pickles then you know that pickling causes a permanent change in the vegetable. I remember what I did to some cucumbers that A.J. Cothren gave to me when we first arrived at Mt. Zion over 16 years ago. I went and got some "Ball" brand bread and butter pickle mix. I followed the directions carefully and by the next day I had delivered a jar of beautiful bread and butter pickles to A.J. and Maxine. A.J. was somewhat skeptical that one day was enough to change those cucumbers into something worth eating but he confessed to me that when he ate the pickles he had to eat his words. The spices, the sugar, and the vinegar had changed the cucumbers permanently by becoming a part of them.

That is what Jesus does when He saves us and comes to live in us. Baptism symbolizes this. When used in the New Testament, the word "baptizo" more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!

And so, we have these words from scripture: Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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