Baptism

Inscription of Priene

The birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good news for the world that came by reason of him,” which Asia resolved in Smyrna... Providence sending him as a saviour of the world

Let us listen to the gospel of Mark

Mark 1:1–5 NASB 2020

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending My messenger Before you, Who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one calling Out in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight!’ ” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

What is baptism?

The beginning of all our journeys with God

It is obedience to what God said

It is participation in what Christ has done in his death and resurrection

It is simulteneous with repentance

Baptism is the beginning of all our journeys with God

John the Baptist

John the baptist prepared the way for the Lord and he did so by baptising.

Mark 1:1–5 “1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending My messenger Before you, Who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one calling Out in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight!’ ” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”

Him leading the people to the Lord and preparing the way of the Lord was baptism because baptism and repentance is how we are united with the Lord

Matthew 3:11 (NASB 2020)

11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus

Christ himself also began his journey of ministry by baptism. He submited to be baptised by John though John, rightly said that he needed Christ to baptise him.

Mark 1:9 NASB 2020

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

All believers

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB 2020

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 follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 2:38 NASB 2020

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:4 NASB 2020

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

Hebrews 10:22 NASB 2020

let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB 2020

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Acts 8:36–38 NASB 2020

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

What is included in the baptism?

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB 2020

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Romans 10:9 NASB 2020

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

1 John 2:27 NASB 2020

And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him.

Acts 19:2–3 NASB 2020

He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

The faith handed down

We do not reinvent the faith that was handed down to us, we preserve it and follow it.