Baptism

Intro series

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Matthew 3:11–17 ESV

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

What is Baptism

Ritual act that has been practised for a very long time

John the Baptist before Jesus did it in hope of the one who was to come

Baptism is a spiritual ceremonial act of being submerged in water

Baptism is a part of our response to the good news of what God has already done for us.

Baptism, a once-for-all rite of initiation (Matt 28:19; Gal. 3:27).” - JI Packer

It is a practical representation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the person is plunged beneath the waters and brought forth in the same way that Jesus was buried in the earth and resurrected on their behalf for forgiveness of their sins (Romans 6:1-10; Colossians 2:12).

It is one of the two sacraments (the other being Communion) that Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:19) His church to practice and each of His followers to participate in.

Which means that it’s an act of obedience as well as a natural part of our response of faith to what Jesus has accomplished for us (see also the command from His Apostles in Acts 2:38).

Simply put, we believe that when a person repents of sin and receives God’s gift of salvation through faith, they are to be baptized (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).

Is and Is not

Three Things Baptism is NOT:

It is NOT what saves you

It is NOT an extra thing to do for believers who are more serious

It is NOT something we do to show God how ready we are

Three Things Baptism IS:

It IS a symbol of what God has done to save you through Jesus

It IS a symbol of the fact that we have been united in the death and resurrection of Jesus and our desire to follow him above all else

It IS a public declaration that we belong to Jesus alone

When to Do it.

If you are a christian who is proclaiming christ. you believe that Jesus died for you and that he is the son of God.