Sermon Tone Analysis

1) Why do we believe baptism is necessary for salvation?

Why do we believe baptism is necessary for salvation?

Do we believe in "baptismal regeneration?

The church in the Bible was taught that they must be baptized to be forgiven.

Why do we believe baptism is necessary for salvation?

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Do we believe in "baptismal regeneration?

What is "baptismal regeneration?"

It depends on who is defining it, and for what purpose...

The church in the Bible was told they must be baptized to be forgiven.

What is "baptismal regeneration?"

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It depends on who is defining it, and for what purpose… (Note: This is a good example of how people over-complicate biblical teaching by unnecessary concepts and terms)

Generally refers to the concept of baptism being necessary for salvation.Specifically, refers to baptism as a "sacrament," which operates apart from faith.It's often used as an accusation against anyone who believes in the necessity of baptism.

Generally refers to the concept of baptism being necessary for salvation.

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22:16

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Why do we immerse and not sprinkle or pour?

Why don't we baptize infants or children?

Isn't baptism just an outward sign of an inward forgiveness?

If Christianity is not to evolve, thus nothing has changed, neither has this rule!

Specifically, refers to baptism as a "sacrament," which operates apart from faith.

It's often used as an accusation against anyone who believes in the necessity of baptism.

Why do we immerse and not sprinkle or pour?

2) Do we believe in “baptismal regeneration?”

Why don't we baptize infants or children?

Some groups (e.g.

Catholics) believe in this doctrine.

Isn't baptism just an outward sign of an inward forgiveness?

This discussion is largely a matter of semantics—who is defining this term, and why?

The term generally refers to the belief that baptism is necessary for salvation, but specifically to baptism as a sort of “sacrament,” which operates apart from faith.

Two thoughts to consider:

The Bible teaches that baptism is part of obedience to the gospel, i.e., salvation.

The Bible does not teach that baptism ever works apart from faith.

Consider the order of events leading to forgiveness and salvation in these passages:

· Consider the order of events leading to forgiveness and salvation in these passages:

– Belief > Baptism > Salvation

—Repentance > Baptism > Forgiveness

—Baptism > Washing of Sins

—Baptism = Burial > New Life

—Baptism = Burial > Raised through Faith = God’s Working

—Baptism = Appeal for Cleansing > Salvation

Baptism is necessary, but must be accompanied by other things—thus, we don’t believe in the Roman Catholic idea of “baptismal regeneration” and baptism as a sacrament.

3) Why do we immerse and not sprinkle or pour?

Answer from Orthodox Presbyterian Church website:

Q: Where in the Bible does it show an example of sprinkling instead of immersion as a symbol of baptism?

And if there is not one, why do Presbyterians allow sprinkling instead of immersion?

A: The Westminster Confession of Faith (28.3), the official confession of faith of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, says, "Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person."

(Goes on to give a weak connection between a statement in and what is thought to be baptism)

· Baptism in the Bible is always understood to be immersion.

Baptism in the Bible is always understood to be immersion.

“Baptizo,” lit.

“I immerse”; “Baptismos,” the act of washing or immersing.

I wonder if the “transliteration” of this word is a work of Satan intended to confuse people as to the truth about this issue…

People went “down into” the water and “came up out” of the water in the Bible:

Jesus—;

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Eunuch—

Burial—;

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When all the evidence (definitions and examples) are put together, the only practice that makes sense biblically is total immersion.

4) Why don’t we baptize infants or small children?

Interestingly, this was one of the major points of contention in the Restoration Movement (not the necessity of baptism or instrumental music).

Baptism is to be accompanied by some other things…

1) NO Need for Forgiveness—; ;

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2) Belief—

3) Repentance—;

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4) Understanding—

The Order Matters!

—Teach > Baptize > Teach

—Teach > Baptize > Teach

Mark 16:15

—Preach > Belief > Baptism

—Preach > Belief > Baptism

—Proclaim > Repentance > Forgiveness

Summary—Teaching > Belief/Repentance > Baptism > Forgiveness

Infant Baptism Order—Baptism > Teaching > Belief/Repentance > Forgiveness

Simply put, infants and small children do not qualify.

5) Isn’t baptism just an outward sign of inward forgiveness?

This view presumes baptism is merely a symbol for everyone else to show that forgiveness has already taken place by God in that person’s heart (thus, timing doesn’t matter)

Consider carefully…

This passage has caused controversy because of what it appears to some to teach.

KJV/NKJV: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer OF a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

ESV/NASB: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God FOR a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

Why the difference?

Two different textual backgrounds… but the ESV/NASB version is the most textually supported and correct reading.

If baptism is anything, it is an appeal to God to cleanse a person’s conscience

Thus, how could it be an outward sign of an inward forgiveness that has yet to happen, because that outward act of obedience in baptism is what is the appeal FOR a clean conscience?