Bible Basics Concerning baptism2

04/22/2007     

BIBLE BASICS CONCERNING BAPTISM!

Mark 16: 15-16

            **As a young Church it is exciting to commemorate and celebrate some of your more significant “FIRSTS”. For example on Mother’s Day May 8th 2005 we experienced our first service as a Church.

**On April 1st we experienced our first “Communion” service and on April 8th we participated in our first “Easter” celebration! 

**Today (April 22nd) marks another significant first in the life of our young Church. Today we will be blessed to be able to experience our first baptismal service in our new facilities!

**There are two ordinances that the Church has embraced that will be observed until Jesus comes! One is the Lord’s Supper and the other is Baptism.

**Today I want to talk with you about some BIBLE BASICS CONCERNING BAPTISM.

**In order to break the subject of Baptism down into its simplest form there are four (4) questions that we will need to ask and answer. The first question we need to ask is:

I.                  WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

A.                 A PERSON who has BELIEVED!

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and been baptized shall be saved . . .

**The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is reserved only for people who have placed their faith, trust and hope in the person and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ!

**Notice the words in our text He who has BELIEVED . . .

Notice also Acts 2: 41

Acts 2: 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized!

Notice also Acts 8: 12

Acts 8: 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized men and women alike!

**I think the Bible is very clear on the fact that only people who have BELIEVED should be baptized. However we do need to clarify what it is that a person must believe before they are baptized.

      **In Mark 16: 15 Jesus commanded His disciples to Go into all the world and preach the gospel to creation!

      **The word for PREACH is Kay-rue-so and it means to PROCLAIM or to HERALD an announcement with authority.

      **What is it that we are to “proclaim or herald”? The Word of God says that we are to preach, proclaim or herald the GOSPEL!

      **The gospel is the word yoo-ang-gheleon and it means “the good news concerning Jesus having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for everyone who believes!

      **So every person who has BELIEVED the good news, who has placed their faith, hope and trust in the Person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ should be baptized.

**The second question we need to ask is:

II.               WHY SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?

**There are two primary reasons why a person needs to be baptized. The first reason a person who has believed should be baptized is:

A.                 For the purpose of OBEDIENCE!

Matthew 28: 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit

Acts 10: 47 Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? 48 And he (Peter) ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!

B.                 For the purpose of IDENTIFICATION!

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life!

**The Death and Resurrection of:

1)   CHRIST

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

2)   CHRISTIANS

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection! 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin 7 for he who has died is freed from sin!

III.           WHEN SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?

A.                 BEFORE you are DEAD!

Hebrews 9: 27 And in as much as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment!

B.                 AFTER you have BELIEVED!

Acts 8: 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him! 36 As they went along the road they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 Philip said, “if you believe with all you heart, you may!” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!” 38 and they both went down into the water . . . and Philip baptized him!

**Some of you may need to get your baptism on the right side of your salvation!

IV.            HOW SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?

A.        By IMMERSION!

Matthew 28: 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them . . .

1)         The EXAMPLE of our SAVIOR!

Mark 1: 9 In those days Jesus . . . was baptized by John in the Jordan 10 Immediately coming up out of the water . . .

2)         The EVIDENCE from the SCRIPTURE!

Acts 8: 38 And they both went down into the water . . . and Philip baptized him 39 When they came up out of the water