INTRODUCTION

1.      The church has been given only TWO pictorial ordinances:

a.       LORD’S SUPPER 

i. Westlawn has elected to observe this supper the first Sunday of each quarter

b.      BAPTISM

2.      Which we will be observing this morning

3.      To be baptized should NOT be an option for a child of God

a.       Every child of God should want to be BAPTIZED

b.      Every child of God should want to do what our Lord DID

4.      Jesus set the EXAMPLE for baptism

a.       His intent was and is that all believers be baptized

b.      But NOT all baptisms are SCRIPTURAL baptisms

c.       Baptisms that do NOT follow God’s FORMAT are UNSCRIPTURAL

d.      Let quickly look at BAPTISM

5.      What does baptism MEAN?

a.       We need to look to the Greek dictionary for the word baptizo for its meaning

1. Liddell & Scott - to dip
2. Bagster - to immerse
3. Every Greek Lexicon (dictionary) will report either dip or immerse

1. The word for sprinkle is rantizo #. The word for pour is echeo

6.      What are the ELEMENTS of scriptural baptism?

a.       It requires the proper MODE - the immersion in water,

b.      It requires the proper AUTHORITY – the local New Testament church

c.       It requires the proper CANDIDATE - a believer in Christ

7.      ALL THREE are essential for their to be SCRIPTURAL baptism

a.       Without IMMERSION - there is NO baptism

b.      Without the CANDIDATE being saved - there is NO baptism

c.       Without Proper authority, i.e. Church authority - there is NO baptism

d.      Let us look at these THREE elements

THE ELEMENTS OF BAPTISM

A.    Baptism requires the proper MODE - immersion

1.      To immerse; that is what baptize means; to immerse

2.      John the Baptizer immersed

Mark 1:5  And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

a.       When it came time for Jesus to be baptized He went to John the Baptist

b.      Baptized in the RIVER Jordan

Mark 1:9  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

3.      Philip immersed

Acts 8:38-39  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

4.      WHY immersion?

a.       That is what the Bible TEACHES

b.      Is there MORE to it than just going under the water?

c.       BAPTISM is a PICTORIAL ordinance

d.      Baptism SHOWS us something

e.       Baptism SHOWS us death, burial and resurrection

Romans 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

B.     Baptism requires the proper AUTHORITY

Matthew 28:19-20   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1.      The AUTHORITY to baptize was given to the CHURCH  ONLY

a.       Many would like to do away with this

1.)    Idea being that we can do our OWN thing apart from the church

2.)    That we can have church in front of the TV set

3.)    That we can set the rules

4.)    That we can set the bar

b.      Remember the COMMISSION was given to the CHURCH

1.)    The COMMISSION is our MARCHING orders

2.)    The COMMISSION - to EVANGELIZE the world

c.       We find a THREEFOLD commission in Matt. 28

1.)    FIRST: we are to TEACH – that is to EVANGELIZE

a.)    To WIN the lost to Christ

b.)    Evangelism is to start first with our HOMES

c.)    Then spread out into the UTTERMOST parts of the earth

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

d.)   Means we are to go with the good news

e.)    The Good News that Jesus saves

f.)     We go because Jesus told us, Jesus sent us

2.)    SECOND: we are to BAPTIZE

a.)    We are to bring them INTO the church

b.)    Remember we are talking about CHURCH authority

c.)    The church is to ADMINISTER baptism

d.)   Remember, the church does NOT save anyone

e.)    The church does NOT exist apart from us

f.)     We who have COVENANTED together with Westlawn MBC are a part of Westlawn MBC

g.)    It is to YOU that Jesus gave that AUTHORITY

h.)    If you are a member of a church of like faith and order it is to you through YOUR church that Jesus says GO

i.)      So then we are to BAPTIZE new believers

j.)      But it does NOT stop there

k.)    The churches work has just BEGUN

3.)    THIRD: the church is to TEACH these new Christians the all things

a.)    The teaching of the DOCTRINES

b.)    WHO has AUTHORITY to teach the Bible?

c.)    The CHURCH only

d.)   We live in an age where there are a lot of PARA-church groups

e.)    Let us be very careful WHERE we go and WHAT we do with the Word of God

2.      Only the CHURCH that has AUTHORITY to baptized

a.       Now, the PASTOR normally administers baptism

b.      But it can be done by ANYONE the church designates

c.       The AUTHORITY rests with the CHURCH not the pastor

Ephes. 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

d.      If the AUTHORITY was given to any INDIVIDUALS,

1.)    It would have DIED with that individual

e.       If it was given to the APOSTLES only

1.)    It would have DIED with the Apostles

f.       But by giving it to Jesus’ local CHURCH

1.)    It will CONTINUE till Jesus comes back for His own

Matthew 28:20 ... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

g.      Any baptism that is WITHOUT proper AUTHORITY is valueless

1.)    This has been one of our LANDMARKS down through the centuries

2.)    WLMBC REFUSES all non-scriptural baptisms

3.)    It does NOT make us popular with the world

4.)    It does NOT make us accepted by the world

5.)    But it is NOT the world that we are here to PLEASE

6.)    We are here to please JESUS

7.)    We are here to BAPTIZE the way Jesus’ said

C.    Baptism requires the proper CANDIDATE

1.      Baptism is NOT a SAVING ordinance

a.       REMEMBER - it is a pictorial ordinance

b.      BAPTISM shows us a picture

c.       BAPTISM shows us the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

d.      But in order for the PICTURE to be complete ALL parts must be as Christ commanded

2.      Baptism should NEVER be administered to anyone NOT saved

a.       Both Paul and Peter taught that one must be SAVED already

3.      Only BELIEVERS were BAPTIZED in the Apostolic times

a.       One example is CORNELIUS and his household

b.      They were saved BEFPRE they were baptized:

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

4.      Like the SOLDIER in the army; 

a.       We are NOT properly CLOTHED

b.      We are NOT properly IDENTIFIED with the Lord

c.       UNTIL we have His BAPTISM   

5.      In our evangelistic outreach remember, God uses people

a.       God uses SPIRIT led people

b.      God uses spirit led CONSECRATED people

c.       God can use YOU; 

d.      God can use ME

e.       IF we will let Him

f.       That is if we are PROPERLY prepared and positioned

6.      God could have WRITTEN the Bible by Himself

a.       He could have took HIS finger and wrote it in hard stone at Mt. Sinai

b.      But he used 40 different WRITERS over a period of 1,600 years

c.       God still works in and through PEOPLE

d.      PEOPLE like you and me

7.      God could have sent Jesus WITHOUT human help

a.       But he used a young Jewish WOMAN

8.      God uses PEOPLE

a.       PEOPLE like you and me

b.      PEOPLE who come together to WORK together in that local New Testament church

c.       PEOPLE who make up His local New Testament church are to GO forth and EVANGELIZE

d.      God’s people are to TELL the world about JESUS

e.       Then through His local church, to administer His BAPTISM

f.       Then through His local church, to TEACH them the all things

D.    What do we SEE in Baptism?

1.      Remember, it is a PICTORIAL ordnance

a.       We see the SAVED candidate going DOWN into water and the coming up out of the water

b.      What we are to see then is one being DEAD to sin and now ALIVE to God

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2.      Baptism declares that one has a good CONSCIOUS towards God

a.       Peter tells us that baptism is the answer of a GOOD conscience toward God

b.      That through baptism one’s life has been POSITIONED to bring blessings to God

c.       Remember, God get His glory through the CHURCH

h.      And WHO makes up His local church?  You and I

3.      Baptism declares our LOYALTY to the Lord

Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

a.       We are letting the world know that we are CHILDREN of God

b.      That we have FAITH in Christ

4.      Baptism also shows our confidence in the FUTURE

a.       Paul writes in 1 Cor.  15 of the coming RESURRECTION

b.      That this life is NOT all there is

c.       But life is just the BEGINNING of eternity

d.      The BEST truly is YET to come

CONCLUSION

1.      Baptism the IMMERSION of a SAVED person by authority of a Scriptural CHURCH