ONE GOD, ONE BAPTISM.

BIBLE PORTION:
Numbers 11:23-30
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
John 10:7-8

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:
1 Corinthians 2:10

INTRODUCTION:
Every religion has its own unique rituals and practices that define it. In Christianity, for example, has its own set of commandments and beliefs that its followers adhere to. One important event in Christianity is Baptism.

While these sacraments are significant in the Christian faith, their true meaning can be lost if we are not understood and embraced. To illustrate this, imagine a cricket player scoring 200 runs in a match but his team still loses. Those 200 runs would be meaningless in the context of the game's outcome. Similarly, if one undergoes baptism without understanding its significance, it becomes a meaningless act.

1.MEANING OF BAPTISM:
Baptism is a symbolic representation of inner transformation. Receiving baptism multiple times without a genuine change of heart is futile. The purpose of baptism is to unite oneself with the Lord and to establish a connection with Him. However, if the true meaning of baptism is not grasped, it can create a divide instead of fostering unity. Essentially, there are two types of baptism.

2.IMMENSE AND SPRINKLE BAPTISM:
Nowadays, there is a misconception among many individuals that being baptized allows them to gain access to heaven. However, it is crucial to comprehend that baptism alone does not grant entry into paradise.

While baptism is an important sacrament that signifies the unity between mankind and God, it does not guarantee one's place in heaven. The current belief that baptism holds the key to eternal salvation fluctuates and can become unreliable. Often, people are baptized based on their trust in human beings rather than placing their faith in Christ. Nevertheless, it is abundantly clear that baptism holds its own significance and should not be equated with entry into heaven.

3.ONLY ONE BAPTISM ( Eph 4:5):
Paul speaks about the conversion of the Israelites in this verse, specifically mentioning their baptism. In 1Cor.10:1,2 Paul explains how the Israelites were baptized by Moses, and emphasizes their belief that the Lord would rescue them from their situation. And it is recorded in Exo.13:21,23 and 14:22-29. The text then describes the predicament the Israelites faced, with Pharaoh's army pursuing them and the Red Sea in front of them. However, the Lord offers them guidance and leads them to safety. Paul highlights the significance of this event, emphasizing the people's trust in God and their baptism through the cloud and the sea. This baptism symbolizes their freedom and new life, and serves as the true baptism. The text also acknowledges the tendency to focus on the external ritual of baptism without recognizing its deeper meaning.

Many individuals fail to understand that true baptism involves experiencing the love of the Lord and reflecting that love through faith in one's life. The text challenges the idea that the method of baptism is the most important aspect, emphasizing instead the importance of the baptism's meaning. The text encourages believers to die to sin, just as the Israelites left behind their bondage in Egypt, and to live a righteous life.

4.REVELATION OF BAPTISM (Numbers 11:23-30):
When someone undergoes baptism, they are asked a series of questions. These questions include whether they believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to which the answer is typically "Yes, I believe in one God." Through baptism, we express the belief that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the only God for everyone in the world. This belief is also referred to as the "Universal God". Jesus Christ, who is considered the savior of the world, is not just God for us, but for all. The Bible describes God's love for the world in John 3:16. It is important to understand that God is not exclusively for us, but for everyone in the world, regardless of whether they know Christ or not. Unfortunately, our own actions and the way we live our lives prevent others from accepting Jesus Christ. It is important to have a personal relationship with God and remain faithful to Him.

The events described in Numbers 11:23-30 highlight the idea of God's presence being available to all, as He poured out the Holy Spirit on both those who were near and those who were not.

CONCLUSION:
We may not have knowledge of God, but He knows us. Despite many people being labeled as followers of God, there are still issues such as ignorance of the significance of baptism and lives that fail to acknowledge the existence of a single God, which indirectly hinder the realization of God’s purpose. However, we have embraced the belief in one God and one Baptism. Let us demonstrate in our lives that we have indeed found fulfillment through this belief. Amen!

©2025, I. Ananda Balakrishnan

For the better updates of Sermons please do visit my WhatsApp channel.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WORSHIP : A TOOL FOR TRANSFORMATION

Image
BIBLE PORTION:  Isaiah 6:1-13 INTRODUCTION: William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury, defines worship in this way: “Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of the mind with His truth; the purifying of the imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of the will to His purpose—and all this gathered up in adoration.” Worship is not merely about glorifying God. It is about bringing an inner transformation in the human being. Worship strengthens a person's relationship with God and transforms human thoughts to align with God’s thoughts. Not every gathering in the church is referred to as worship. Only when the essential elements of worship are present can it truly be called worship. In the Scripture passage we heard, the prophet Isaiah sees a divine vision. According to Isaiah 1:1 , he sees this vision after the death of King Uzziah. The Hebrew calendar year...
Read more

GOD CALLS US TO STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH IN CHRIST

Image
GOD CALLS US TO STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH IN CHRIST  Luke 18:1-8 INTRODUCTION  In the year 1521, a council was taking place in the city of Worms. It was a moment when the world and the Church were waiting for a great change. The power of the entire empire and the anger of the religious leaders were pressing heavily on one man. To many people, he looked like someone who would surely fail. But in God’s eyes, that moment became a place and a time to reform the faith people had in Christ and in the Church. Standing before those powerful political and religious leaders was not a soldier, nor a high official with wealth or authority. It was Martin Luther, a simple monk. Even though he was surrounded by danger, darkness, and the threat of death, he boldly said, “Here I stand.” No one could move him. His faith in Jesus Christ kept him strong. That is the secret and the power of true faith. About a thousand years earlier, Jesus Christ told a parable to teach this same truth t...
Read more

MISSION : FROM EVERYWHERE, TO EVERYWHERE

Image
BIBLE PORTION: 1 Kings 17:1-16 Galatians 2:1-10 Matthew 13:47-52 Psalm 107:1-15 BIBLICAL FOUNDATION: Galatians 2:9 INTRODUCTION Before ascending to heaven, Jesus Christ gave His final command — to carry out the mission of evangelization. Generally, a person’s last words are considered to be of great importance. Therefore, the disciples accepted the words of Jesus Christ and carried out the mission with dedication and enthusiasm. This mission is a responsibility for everyone. The mission is to go out into the whole world, proclaim the Good News, and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the command given by the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples ( Matthew 28:19–20 ). The disciples stayed in Jerusalem and proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Good News. Through the experience on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul was chosen by God to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Once chosen, Paul began preaching Christ to many different peoples. The...
Read more