9-24-2017 受浸的意義

背誦經文：³豈不知我們這受洗歸入基督耶穌的人，是受洗歸入祂的死嗎？ ⁴所以，我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和祂一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裡復活一樣。(羅6:3-4)

A. 受浸的意義

1. 宣告我的信仰

a. 耶穌看重我們在人前宣告我們的信仰

· ³²凡在人面前認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必認他； ³³凡在人面前不認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不認他。(太10:32-33)

b. 受浸與相信是一體兩面，不可分割的

· 信而受洗的必然得救，不信的必被定罪。(可16:16)

· ¹⁹所以你們要去，使萬民做我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。(太28:19)

· ¹¹你們在他裡面也受了不是人手所行的割禮，乃是基督使你們脫去肉體情慾的割禮。 ¹²你們既受洗與祂一同埋葬，也就在此與祂一同復活，都因信那叫祂從死裡復活神的功用。(西2：11-12)

· 【註】受浸本身不能使我們得救，唯有在相信接受耶穌基督之後，受浸才有意義。

· 這水所表明的洗禮，現在藉著耶穌基督復活也拯救你們；這洗禮本不在乎除掉肉體的污穢，只求在 神面前有無虧的良心。(彼前3:21)

2. 見証所得的救恩

a. 表明我歸入基督的死和復活：在基督的死和復活上與祂聯合

· ³豈不知我們這受洗歸入基督耶穌的人，是受洗歸入祂的死嗎？ ⁴所以，我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和祂一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裡復活一樣。 (羅6:3-4)

· ¹¹你們在祂裡面也受了不是人手所行的割禮，乃是基督使你們脫去肉體情慾的割禮。 ¹²你們既受洗與祂一同埋葬，也就在此與祂一同復活，都因信那叫祂從死裡復活神的功用。 (西2：11-12)

b. 表明我脫下舊人，穿上新人（基督）

· 你們受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督了。 (加3:27)

²²就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的； ²³又要將你們的心志改換一新， ²⁴並且穿上新人，這新人是照著神的形象造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。 (弗4:22-24)

c. 表明與世界（紅海的預表）和舊造（挪亞洪水的預表）分開：在基督裡我已經進入神愛子的國度

· 若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了(林後5:17)

· ¹³祂救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到祂愛子的國裡； ¹⁴我們在愛子裡得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。 (西1:13-14)

3. 加入教會的生活：我們因信基督都是神的兒子，在基督裡成為一

· ²⁶所以，你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。 ²⁷你們受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督了； ²⁸並不分猶太人、希臘人，自主的、為奴的，或男或女，因為你們在基督耶穌裡都成為一了。 (加3:26-28)

· ¹³我們不拘是猶太人，是希臘人，是為奴的，是自主的，都從一位聖靈受洗，成了一個身體，飲於一位聖靈。 (林前12:13)

· ⁴¹於是，領受他話的人就受了洗，那一天，門徒約添了三千人；⁴²都恆心遵守使徒的教訓，彼此交接、掰餅、祈禱。(徒2:41-42)

B. 「矽谷基督徒聚會」受浸的實行

1. 我們要求受浸者必須已經相信接受耶穌基督的救恩（12歲以上）

2. 我們實行浸水禮

3. 我們要求受浸者參加浸前班並通過浸前談話

4. 主持浸禮的同工為教會長老團從牧長執中挑選之代表教會的領袖

5. 我們要求受浸者在教會公開作得救的見證

6. 受浸者得以在浸禮之後第一次領用餅杯

The Meaning of Baptism

Memorization Scriptures: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:3-4)

A. The meaning of Baptism

a. Proclamation of personal faith

i. Jesus cares about the proclamation of our faith before man.

§ Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 10:32-33)

ii. Baptism and believing are two sides of the same coin and cannot be separated

§ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

§ Go thereforeand make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt 28:19)

§ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins^[^a^] of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹²buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Col 2:11-12)

v Note: Baptism in itself does not bring about salvation. Only after faith in Jesus Christ does baptism have any meaning.

§ There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21)

b. Testimony of the salvation received

i. Signify that we have entered into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: We are united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

§ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:3-4)

ii. Signify that we have put off the old man and put on the new man (Christ)

§ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27)

§ That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:22-24)

iii. Signify that we are separated from the world (typology of crossing the Red Sea) and the old creation (typology of Noah through the flood): in Christ, we have entered into the kingdom of the beloved Son

§ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

§ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)

c. Enter into the church life: We are sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ and have become one in Christ

§ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26-28)

§ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:13)

§ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. ⁴²And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)

B. Implementation of Baptism at SVCA

a. We require that participants must believe and have received the salvation through Jesus Christ (Minimum of 12 years of age)

b. We baptize by immersion

c. We require that participants must have completed the baptism class and passed the post class interview

d. Those administering the baptism ceremony are individuals out of the MED (Minister, Elder, Deacon) group - selected by the elder board to represent the leadership of SVCA

e. We required that participants give a public testimony of their salvation before the church congregation

f. Participants may start receiving communion after they are baptized