Baptism The Simplest & Most Convincing Way to Teach Its Truth

Baptism: The Simplest & Most Convincing Way to Teach Its Truth

Douglas Alvarenga

Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ

Introduction:

1. Baptism is one of the most controversial subjects of the Bible.

1. Most people don’t believe it is essential to salvation.

1. However, there is a way to teach people, without being confrontational, that Baptism, as is taught in the Word of God, is indeed essential to salvation.

1. This method divides itself into 4 simple steps (Acts 17:11):

a.      Proving from the Bible that baptism is a commandment given by Jesus not men.

b.      Proving from the Bible that baptism is as equally important as faith, repentance and confession are to obtain salvation.

c.      Proving from the Bible that baptism is the means by which men are able to contact Jesus’ Blood.

d.      Proving from the Bible that we must be baptized in order to fully obey the gospel.

1. By mastering these 4 steps a Christian can become proficient in teaching the Biblical Truth about Baptism.

1. Accordingly, let us elaborate on these 4 simple steps.

I.                    Baptism is a Commandment Given by Jesus not men.

A.      When a person is baptized, he or she is baptized because Jesus commanded it and not because men came up with the idea (cf. Matthew 15:9).

1.       Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

2.       Mark 16:15-16, “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

3.       Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

B.     Deduction.

1.       God the Father gave Jesus all authority; and it is because of that authority that Jesus had the power to command us to go preach the gospel and baptize those who believe in order for them to be saved (cf. John 14:15).

II.                  Baptism is as Equally Important as Faith, Repentance and Confession Are to Obtain Salvation.

A.     Salvation’s “picture” is mounted on a four-sided frame.

1.      Faith is side # 1 of Salvation’s “picture” frame (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; cf. John 3:16, 18; 8:24; James 2:17, 19, 24, 26).

2.      Repentance is side # 2 of Salvation’s “picture” frame (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30-31; II Corinthians 7:10; cf. Romans 2:4; II Peter 3:9).

3.      Confession is side # 3 of Salvation’s “picture” frame (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10; cf. Acts 8:36-37; John 12:42).

4.      Baptism is side # 4 of Salvation’s “picture” frame (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; cf. Acts 2:38; 8:36-37; 9:18; 18:8; 22:16; I Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-11).

B.     Salvation’s complete “picture” frame.

*1. Graphic does not show, but picture a square frame. The lower bottom part of the frame represents faith, the left side represents repentance, the right side represents confession and the upper part of the frame represents baptism. You have a picture frame and inside that frame you have salvation's picture.

III.                Baptism is the Means by Which Men Are Able to Contact Jesus’ Blood.

A.     Baptism and the Blood of Christ.

1.      Matthew 26:28 & Acts 2:38 – Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins and we repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins; hence, it is in baptism that we contact His blood to receive forgiveness of sins.

2.      John 19:32-34 & Romans 6:3-4 – Jesus shed His blood in His death and we are baptized into His death; hence, it is in baptism that we contact His blood to die to sin.

3.      Revelation 1:5; 7:13-14 & Acts 22:16 – Jesus’ blood washes away our sins and we are baptized to wash away our sins; hence, it is in baptism that we contact His blood to have our sins washed away.

B.     Deduction.

1.      It is an undisputable fact that baptism is the means by which men are able to contact Jesus’ blood.

IV.               We Must Be Baptized in Order to Fully Obey the Gospel.

A.     What is the Gospel?

1.      I Corinthians 15:1-4 – The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins according to the Scriptures, His burial and resurrection on the third day according to the Scriptures.  This is the message Paul received and is the same message he preached to the Corinthians.

B.     What does being baptized have to do with fully obeying the Gospel?

1.      Romans 6:3-4 – When we are baptized we die to sin, we are buried and are raised/resurrected to walk in newness of life.

2.      NOTE: Based on the Word of God (i.e. Ro. 6:3-4) the new life starts after we’ve been baptized, not before [See charts “The Gospel Enacted & The Gospel Re-enacted” at the end of this study].

3.      NOTE: In the first century, everyone who heard the gospel, believed it, repented of his sins and confessed Jesus was baptized to obtain forgiveness of sins [See “Conversions in the Book of Acts” chart at the end of this study].

Conclusion: Based on the Scriptural evidence, baptism is indeed essential to salvation.  May the Lord help us to teach this truth with meekness and reverence to all the world! (I Peter 3:15; cf. II Timothy 2:15).