Romans 6 Baltazar Hubmaier • born 1480… doctor of theology Sept. 29 1512 from University of Ingolstadt. Priest, University professor … passion for preaching! (great influence) • Arrested in August of 1527; March 3 Tortured on rack in Vienna. • March 10, 1528, burned at the stake. As they rubbed sulphur and gun powder in his beard, “O dear brothers pray God that he will give me patience in this suffering. I will die in the Christian faith.” • As his head and hair caught fire, “O Jesus, Jesus!” What was his great crime, …. dangerous heresy • in 1522, he began to study the Bible seriously, personally (Authority of Scripture!) • 1524 letter to Regensburg city council, I openly confess hat I became a Doctor and preached some years among you, and yet had not known the way unto eternal life. Within two years has Christ for the first time come into my heart to thrive! • April 1525, in Waldshut; Hubmaier was baptized as a believer! A few days later, on Easter, he baptized over 300 people. • Book, “The Christian Baptism of Believers.” (sparked fire) The Point of this Story? Today, Bible Doctrine of Believers Baptism • Maybe our most visible Distinctive… Our Name! • Believers Baptism is not a matter of convenience, not stubborn doctrinal detail; but Deep and Crucial Conviction! • Speaks to the Heart of the Gospel. Baptist Identity: Biblical Authority, Priesthood of All Believers; Believer’s Baptism Matthew 28: 19-20 The Mode of Believer’s Baptism Exp – The Bible teaches that Baptism is Immersion… (sprinkle, pour) • Important and Essential aspect of Christian Discipleship • NT Vocabulary • NT Pattern – “Much Water” “Went down, came up” Messy, Crude, Undignified… Inconvenient… Embarrasing. ILL – First Baptism… Old Heater… Curtiss and Billy ν Why am I not a Presbyterian?! App – Most who practice affusion speak of convenience… detail Insistence on Immersion is NOT convenient; Deep Conviction that the Mode speaks to Heart of the Gospel and the NT Meaning of Baptism The Meaning of Baptism Exp – Paul lays out the meaning of Baptism in Romans 6: 3-11 Immersion pictures Burial A Powerful Symbol of Gospel and Christian Discipleship. 1. Proclamation – What Jesus Did for our Redemption ν Why we Lay people back into water. 2. Confession – What Jesus Did FOR ME! (Public) ν Matthew 10 3. Transition – What Jesus did for me changes everything! ν Buried with Christ in Baptism; --- raised to Walk in Newness of Life! 4. Identification – Now I belong to Him; We belong Together. ν United with the Head, United with His Body! 5. Confirmation – Covenant Seal (Christ & Church) App – Believer’s Baptism (not Adult) – Is your child Ready? ν No Infant Baptism = No NT Pattern & No NT Meaning! The Motive for Baptism Exp – Why should you let me dunk you in front of people? NOT to wash your sins away so you can go to Heaven. Baptismal Regeneration – Act of Baptism has a Saving Power Baptism does speak to Purification… Powerful Symbol! Key Motive = Obedience • Not Sacrament (means of Grace), but Ordinance (act of obedience) Believer’s baptism is a public, radical act of obedience through which we indicate our Personal Surrender to His Lordship. ILL – “Jesus Is Lord!” “In Obedience to the Commands of Christ….” App – Baptism sets the Pattern for our New Life in Christ. Personal Surrender to the Lord, Jesus! Conclusion Adonirum Judson graduate 1st in his class from Brown University. Saved at age 21 and graduated from Andover. Married Ann and set out for India with a passion for Burma in 1811. On board ship he began studying the NT teaching concerning Baptism. • Congregationalist practiced Infant Baptism. • Ann wrote to parents.. worried… taking the other side! • India, delay, study… Both Baptized as Believers by Immersion… First American Baptist Missionaries! In 1829, in Burma, Judson wrote a Baptismal Hymn # 364