Baptism The Spiritual Catalyst

Mark 1 Verses 4 to 5 and Verses 9 to 11 Acts 8 Verses 9-13 and Verses 34-39

Baptism The Spiritual Catalyst November 2, 2025 Lesson 4 Making Disciples Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

· John 4:1–2 (NASB95)

1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),

· Acts 16:11–15 (NASB95)

          11 So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis;

          12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.

          13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

          14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

          15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

· Romans 6:1–7 (NASB95)

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

          2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

          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.

          5 For if we have become united with Himin 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.

· 1 Corinthians 1:10–15 (NASB95)

          10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

          11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

          12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”

          13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

          14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

          15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.

Main Idea:

· Baptism for a follower of Jesus is the first act of obedience and a catalyst for spiritual growth and ministry.

Study Aim:

· To understand how believer’s baptism is an act of obedience and unleashes spiritual insight, growth, and ministry.

Create Interest:

· The main purpose of baptism is its function as an outward manifestation of inward transformation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, inaugurating a new life in obedience to Christ. In Rom 6:4, Paul notes, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (ESV). This verse encapsulates Paul’s argument that those who have been saved through Christ, are dead to sin, and the boundless grace of God is available to them.[1] 

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Baptism(βάπτισμα, baptisma). The act of washing in water as part of a purification ritual. The rite of formal initiation into the Christian church through water. Regarded by many Christian groups as a sacrament (though some groups prefer the term ordinance). Though several allusions to baptism exist in the Old Testament, baptism is primarily a New Testament concept.

· Since its origins in Jewish religious life, Christian baptism has served as a symbol of passing from death into life through Christ’s resurrection, and the church has continued to contemplate the mystery and concreteness of the practice.

· Baptism began as a ritual to initiate new believers into the Jewish religion and continued to serve as a purifying mechanism in Jewish religious life. After the time of John the Baptist, baptism took on an expanded meaning, as it signified turning from death to life through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. Over time, the apostles and early church fathers developed this doctrine further, and the practice began to take on new meaning for different communities of faith throughout the centuries.[2]

Bible Study:

Mark 1:1–5 (NASB95)  Our Biblical Foundation

   1     The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

   2     As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way;

   3          The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Make ready 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.

· The baptism of John was not Christian baptism, nor was that which was practiced by the disciples before our Lord’s crucifixion. Till then the New Testament economy did not exist. John’s baptism bound its subjects to repentance, and not to the faith of Christ. It was not administered in the name of the Trinity, and those whom John baptized were rebaptized by Paul (Acts 18:24; 19:7).[3]

· Vs. 1-3: Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance Mark gave Old Testament texts a messianic interpretation by altering “the way before Me” (Mal. 3:1) to Your way, and “the paths of our God” (Isa. 40:3, LXX) to paths for Him. Thus, the speaker, I, was God who will sendHis messenger (John) ahead of You (Jesus) who will prepare Your (Jesus‘) way. John was a voice urging the nation of Israel to prepare (pl. verb) the way for the Lord (Jesus) and to make straight “paths for Him” (Jesus). The meaning of these metaphors is given in John’s ministry (Mark 1:4–5).

· Vs.1:4-5. In fulfillment of the preceding prophecy, John came (egeneto, “appeared”) on the stage of history as the last Old Testament prophet (cf. Luke 7:24–28; 16:16), signaling a turning point in God’s dealings with mankind. John was baptizing in the desert region (erēmō, dry, uninhabited country) and preaching a baptism of repentance. The word “preaching” (kēryssōn) could be rendered “proclaiming as a herald,” appropriate in light of the prediction in Mark 1:2–3.

· John’s baptism was no innovation since Jews required Gentiles wanting to be admitted into Judaism to be baptized by self-immersion. The startling new element was that John’s baptism was designed for God’s covenant people, the Jews, and it required their repentance in view of the coming Messiah (cf. Matt. 3:2).

· This baptism is described as one relating to or expressive of repentance for (eis) the forgiveness of sins. The Greek preposition eis could be referential (“with reference to”) or purpose (“leading to”) but probably not cause (“on account of”). “Repentance” (metanoia) occurs in Mark only here. It means “a turn about, a deliberate change of mind resulting in a change of direction in thought and behavior” (cf. Matt. 3:8; 1 Thes. 1:9).

· “Forgiveness” (aphesin) means “the removal or cancellation of an obligation or barrier of guilt.”It refers to God’s gracious act whereby “sins” as a debt are canceled, based on Christ’s sacrificial death (cf. Matt. 26:28).

o Forgiveness was not conveyed by the outward rite of baptism, but baptism was a visible witness that one had repented and as a result had received God’s gracious forgiveness of sins (cf. Luke 3:3).[4]

Mark 1:9–11 (NASB95) The Baptism of Jesus

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

10     Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

11     and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

· In ancient times, before a king visited any part of his realm, a messenger was sent before him to prepare the way. This included both repairing the roads and preparing the people. By calling the nation to repentance, John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah and Malachi join voices in declaring that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Jehovah God.

· Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:1–15) John was telling the people symbolically that they were in a “spiritual wilderness” far worse than the physical wilderness which their ancestors had endured for forty years. John called the people to leave their spiritual wilderness, trust their “Joshua” (Jesus), and enter into their inheritance.

· John was careful to magnify Jesus and not himself (see John 3:25–30). John would baptize repentant sinners in water, but “the coming One” would baptize them with the Spirit (Acts 1:4–5).

o This did not mean that John’s baptism was unauthorized (see Matt. 21:23–27), or that water baptism would one day be replaced by Spirit baptism (see Matt. 28:19–20).

o Rather, John’s message and baptism were preparationso that the people would be ready to meet and trust the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

o Our Lord’s Apostles were no doubt baptized by John (see John 4:1–2 and Acts 1:21–26).

· The Father and the Holy Spirit are Mark’s final witnesses to the identity of God’s Servant (vv. 9–11). When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit came on Him as a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven and identified His beloved Son.

o The people who were there did not hear the voice or see the dove, but Jesus and John did (see John 1:29–34).

o The word beloved not only declares affection, but it also carries the meaning of “the only one.” The Father’s announcement from heaven reminds us of Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1.

· You will want to note these references in Mark’s Gospel to Jesus Christ as the Son of God—Mark 1:1, 11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 12:1–11; 13:32; 14:61–62; and 15:39.Mark did not write his book about just any Jewish servant. He wrote his book about the very Son of God who came from heaven to die for the sins of the world.

· Yes, Jesus is the Servant—but He is a most unusual Servant. After all, it is the servant who prepares the way for others and announces their arrival. But othersprepared the way for Jesus and announced that He had come!

o Even heaven itself took note of Him! This Servant is God the Son.[5]

Thoughts to Soak on:

· Baptism, as we have seen, is a sign. But what does it signify? John’s preparatory baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin. He called the people of Israel to take a bath in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah. That significance, of course, is incorporated into New Testament baptism.

· But New Testament baptism signifies much more than John’s baptism indicated. In a sense, because baptism is the sign of the new covenant, it signifies allof the benefits that God gives to His people under that covenant, all of the fruits we gain when we embrace the gospel of salvation through Christ alone.

· One historic Protestant and Reformed doctrinal statement, the Westminster Confession of Faith, defines baptism this way: “Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his engrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world” (28.1)[6]

· The Baptist Faith and Message states the following:

o Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.

· Matt 28:19–20“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.”

· Rom 6:3–5 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 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. 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,

· Now putting all that into our beliefs let’s summarize:

o To symbolize His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was emersed under water and raised out of the water. 

o As His followers we are following His example by our water emersion baptism, declaring to the world that we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, (boss as the children would say), and want to declare that fact and belief to all the world that we are united with Him in the likeness of His death, burial, and resurrection.

o This is foundational to our beliefs and a distinctive of being a Baptist.

Historical thoughts before moving on:

· Kathy and I aligned our family with First Baptist Church Sugar Land in 1978 because of its belief that the Bible was theologically inerrant, and that body of believers sought to teach the Bible in love with accuracy and to lead others to join in that mission of reaching the world for Christ.  

· Our introduction to that loving body of believers was through the “Mother’s Day Out Program”.  

· We voted to start the work called Williams Trace Baptist church and look back now with joy at the result of almost 44 years (in February) of folks from all walks of life who joined to the common mission of reaching others for Christ. 

· So foundational was water baptism for the young family of believers, before our first building was built was exhibited in baptism in the backyard swimming pool of Gary and Barbara Hinkle, who still honor our family with their regular attendance, participation, and support.   One of the first 11 families that left the comfort of their favorite pew seats in exchange for setting up folding chairs in Colony Bend Elementary, Mike and Barbara Rozell, are still with us.

· Kathy and I joined WTBC in February 1984 to help with the work and mission and have had to joy of both leading both of our children, Matthew, Mary to Christ and witnessing their baptism.

· The joy of witnessing baptism is always the “best sermon of the day” as noted by our Pastor, Taylor Sandlin, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” knowing that our church family is dedicated to “teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus Christ) commanded you; and lo, I (Jesus) am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 8:9–13 (NASB95)

   9     Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

10     and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

11     And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

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

13     Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

· The story of Simon (often referred to as Simon Magus, since ‘Magus’ means ‘magician’) reminds us that wherever the gospel makes its way, there will be new and often unexpected challenges. To begin with, all seemed to go well. Simon had been a leading figure in the local Samaritan district and had gained a great reputation through his magic powers. People had been hailing him as a manifestation of ‘the great God’. Quite what they meant by that Luke does not explain further. It is possible that Simon had been seen as, or even that he had described himself as, the incarnation or manifestation of the one true God, but we cannot be sure. In any case, he quickly seems to have recognized in what Philip was doing a power greater than the one he himself possessed. He not only believed and was baptized, but stuck close to Philip.

· But all was not well. When Peter and John came down and laid hands on those who had believed—curiously, it seems as though Simon may not have been one of those who experienced this at this stage—he was enormously impressed by what he recognized as their still more powerful ‘magic’. The people who had the apostles’ hands laid on them were miraculously transformed! Something happened to them, a new power, new tongues … and Simon wanted it. He wanted, not the gift of the spirit itself, but the power to lay hands on people and have the spirit come upon them. And he thought that Peter would sell him this power for money. This is the origin of the word ‘simony’, which means the attempt to buy spiritual office, status or power.

· Peter’s reply is sharp and swift. Destruction was the only destination for such money, he said—and you along with it. We are not told, frustratingly, what happened; only that Simon received a dire warning, and begged Peter to pray that he would be spared. Luke is not interested in Simon’s fate, so much as in the general point that any attempt to bring the spirit under human control is nonsense and to be rejected outright. The spirit is the spirit of the sovereign God, who blows where he wants and how he wants. Neither Peter, nor John, nor Philip, nor any human being then, since or now can do other than be open to what the spirit wants, ready to be blown along by the rushing mighty wind.

And that is precisely what happened to Philip next.[7]

Acts 8:34–38 (NASB95)

34     The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

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     [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38     And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

· Vs. 34-35:  At the request of the eunuch, Beginning at this Scripture: Philip talked about more than this passage from Isaiah, but he started there. He began at common ground with the Ethiopian but made his way to talking about Jesus. It was easy to talk about Jesus beginning at this Scripture.

· Preached Jesus to him: Philip’s effective preaching consisted in explaining who Jesus was (like a lamb … preached Jesus) and what He has done for us (He was led as a sheep to the slaughter). Explaining who Jesus is and what He has done for us is the essence of the gospel.

o Too many today focus on what we must do for God, but the gospel begins with and is founded upon what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

o Philip preached Christ in Samaria (Acts 8:5) and he preached Jesus to this Ethiopian. We can be sure it was the same Jesus he preached in Jerusalem. He didn’t need a different Jesus or a different message for different audiences.

· Vs. 36-38:  And the Eunuch said: The Ethiopian himself was ready to respond to the gospel. This was a work of the Holy Spirit, not a tribute to Philip’s salesmanship.

o See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? This shows that the Ethiopian did in fact believe, and that he wanted to be baptized to declare his belief. He saw the truth of God and knew that it was for him.

o “Maybe Philip even ended his explanation of the gospel with an appeal for baptism like Peter did at Pentecost.” (Hughes)

· If you believe with all your heart, you may: Philip insisted that the Ethiopian believe with all his heart before being baptized. In a nutshell, this describes how we should respond to the gospel: Believe with all your heart.

o The devil himself has faith of the head, but he hates the truth in his heart.

§ God wants His truth not only in our heads, but also in our hearts.

§ We may intellectually know that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but do we know in our hearts that He died to cleanse oursins?

· I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: This confession of faith, taken in all that it means, is the essential belief for anyone who will come to God. We must believe in the person of Jesus, in all that He is and has done as Christ. We must believe that He is the Divine Son, and that He is the Son of God sent from the Father to accomplish the salvation of all those who will believe with all their hearts.

o When the Ethiopian said “Jesus Christ,” he confessed that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ). He agreed with his mind and heart that Jesus is the sin-bearing servant that Isaiah described and Jesus fulfilled.

· Went down into the water: Clearly, Philip immersed the Ethiopian in baptism. This was not sprinkling, but immersion.[8]

· The Ethiopian had at last found what he was looking for—not a ritualistic religion, but a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.[9]

Thought to soak on in closing:

· God did not tell Philip why he was to travel the main road to the South, only to arise and go. Just like Abraham of old, Philip had to walk by faith. And this he did. He arose and went, not knowing why, but trusting God to show him.

· Philip’s openness to the Holy Spirit was such that he could be led from a busy city mission to minister to one person on an inter-city highway.[10]

· God does whatever is necessary to instruct and guide believers. He is not limited to our theories and beliefs.

o He has at His disposal all the power and all of creation to use as He wills. And He will use whatever is needed to reach anyone who is truly hungry to know the way of salvation.

§ No one will ever be lost, not if they honestly believe God and diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). God will see to it, no matter what has to be done.

§ Hebrews 11:6 (NASB95)

          6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and thatHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 

Note:  The cry of the hour is for believers …

•   to arise.

•   to go out into the roads of the world.

•   to trust God to lead to those who are seeking Him.[11]

Matthew 4:19 (NASB95)

19     And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 22:9–10 (NASB95)

   9     ‘Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’

10     “Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.

Romans 10:12–15 (NASB95)

12     For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

13     for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14     How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

15     How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Shalom

[1]Benjamin Espinoza, “Baptism,”in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

[2]Benjamin Espinoza, “Baptism,”in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

[3]M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 81.

[4]John D. Grassmick, “Mark,”in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 103.

[5]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 110–111.

[6]R. C. Sproul, What Is Baptism?, First edition, vol. 11, The Crucial Questions Series (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2011), 33–34.

[7]Tom Wright, Acts for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-12(London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2008), 129–130.

[8]David Guzik, Acts, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Ac 8:32–40.

[9]Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 683.

[10]Mark Water, Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible (AMG Publishers, 2003), 1023.

[11]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Acts of the Apostles, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 118.