Baptism

Introduction

We have been talking about how we continue to grow as Christians and become more and more mature.

We have been exploring how we follow the call of God

Leaving everything behind

The Holy Spirit

Body

Baptism is Only For Believers

Acts 18:8 NIV

8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

In scripture we only see people who are believers and have given their life to Christ be baptized

This is not something that we should just do for anyone.

This is why we as pastors have to speak with people and see that they are in the right place to get baptized and not force it to drive up numbers.

Baptism Should Probably Be Full Immersion

Acts 8:38–39 NIV

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

We see in scripture that people are baptized by being fully immersed

But if someone is not in a place where they can be baptized but immersion then i believe that another baptism is okay. But this is my opinion

Example in prison

Baptism is Commanded

Matthew 28:19 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This is something that Christ commanded us to do as believers it was not simply something that is good for us to do it was a command

Baptism Should Be Prioritized

Acts 10:46–48 NIV

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Because of this command Baptism should be prioritized. It should be something that we seek the Lord on but something that when we know we are saved and have given our life to the Lord we need to do prioritize it

Baptism is a Picture of Death and Resurrection

Colossians 2:11–12 NIV

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

One of the many purposes of baptism is for us to declare what Christ has done for us and be with him in this

body of christ

declaring war on the devil

declaring your victory

declaring your life change

declaring that your belong to Christ

Baptism Should Affect Our Lives

Romans 6:1–14 NIV

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Here Paul is speaking to the Roman church and telling them that just because because there is grace doesnt mean they can go on sinning

He is telling them that because they were baptized they have died with Christ

as we talked about before baptism is a declaration that we are apart of the body of christ and a representation of the death and resurrection

Example - celebrities that say they are saved and get baptized but then they turn back to the life they were doing before.

Conclusion

Baptism is Only For Believers

Baptism Should Probably Be Full Immersion

Baptism Is Commanded

Baptism Should Be Prioritized

Baptism Is Picture of The Death and Resurrection

Baptism Should Affect Our Lives

Which one of the 6 points stood out to you the most? Why did it stand out?

Why do you think that baptism should change the way that we live?

What are some reasons someone might put off their baptism? Do you think these reasons are valid?

Do you have any other questions about baptism?