Baptism and the Wholly Reverence of the Lord

Dying with Fear, Rising with Fire

Introduction: The Holy Ground of Baptism

Baptism is not a religious ritual or a public ceremony for applause. It is holy ground—an encounter between God and the repentant soul. To approach it lightly is to mishandle the sacred. It is not merely a step of obedience, but a burial and resurrection, a declaration that the old man is dead and a new creature has risen by the power of God (Romans 6:3–5).

Scripture teaches us that to approach God is to do so with holy awe. Psalm 89:7 says, "God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones; he is more awesome than all who surround him." Baptism is not a casual stroll into a tank of water—it is a sacred entrance into covenant. It demands consuming awe and heavenly humility.

I. Baptism Is a Covenant of Death and Resurrection

Romans 6:4 (NLT) says, "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."

This is not symbolic play. This is death. This is burial. This is resurrection. To stand in those waters is to say before heaven and earth: I no longer live; Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). That moment is not entertainment—it is eternity in motion.

II. The Fear That Loves and Obeys

Hebrews 12:28–29 (NLT) declares, "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire."

This is the posture we bring to the waters. The fear that loves and obeys doesn’t cause us to run away from God, but to fall on our faces before Him in devotion. Baptism is not a rite of passage—it is surrender at the altar of fire.

III. Sacred Trembling in the Presence of Majesty

Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips... and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5, NLT). If this was Isaiah’s response to God’s presence, how dare we enter the waters of baptism with unrepentant hearts, casual minds, and eyes still full of the world?

Baptism must be entered into with sacred trembling. Acts 2:37–38 shows that when the people heard Peter’s preaching, they were "pierced to the heart" and said, "What must we do?" Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” The heart that is pierced will not play with holy water. It will tremble in it.

IV. Consuming Awe—Because God Is in the Waters

When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke (Matthew 3:16–17). This wasn’t a symbolic activity, it was a manifestation of the Trinity.

Do we expect less when we step into the water in Jesus' name? If anything, we must walk into that moment with consuming awe, knowing that this is no dead tradition but a living altar where God marks a soul for Himself.

V. Baptism and the Judgment Seat

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 (NLT) says, "For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve... Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others."

If we knew we would give an account to Christ tomorrow, how would we approach baptism today? This is why we baptize with soul-trembling awe—because we know this moment is recorded in heaven. We will give account not just for whether we were baptized, but how we approached the God who called us to it.

Conclusion: The Water Still Burns

Baptism is beautiful—but it is also terrible, in the best sense of that word. The water may look still, but it burns with the glory of God. Let us not bring flesh, rebellion, pride, or performance into His waters.

Let us come with devotional dread, sacred trembling, and consuming awe—because God is there.

Let every baptism be a holy funeral, where the old man is buried forever—and a holy coronation, where a child of God rises with heaven watching.

“Let everyone in the world fear the Lord and let everyone stand in awe of him.” —Psalm 33:8 (NLT)