Why Baptism?

Introduction

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Baptism

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.

Notice, the act of baptism always involves water unless we are referring to baptism of the Spirit as contrasted with baptism in general…that is baptism in water.

Key Scriptures from the Gospels

Matthew 28:16-20 “16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Mark 16:16-18 “16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.””

Questions that Baptism Answers

How do we participate with Christ?

Suffering

Death

Resurrection

How do we enter new community?

How do we gain resurrection power?

How do we walk in newness of life?

How do I receive forgiveness and sins?

Questions that Baptism Does Not Answer

1. How do we become saved?

2. How do I know that I am saved?

Paul’s Idea of Salvation and Baptism

First, we should understand Paul’s idea of salvation, which coincides with his doctrine of baptism.

We are saved by grace through faith.

We are saved not by works of the law of Moses.

We are saved for good works.

Salvation

Ephesians 2:1-13 “1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which …”

Paul taught that the believer was saved for good works, which is expressed through a newness of life. This new life is make up the Christian ethics as modeled by the life of Christ.

So, we are to put on Christ or be baptized into Christ.

Colossians 3:1-17 “1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free…”

Baptism

HERE’S THE BIG QUESTION: HOW DO WE PUT ON CHRIST? HOW ARE WE IN CHRIST?

**The idea of being baptized into Christ opposes the notion of being baptized into something else. The “into” preposition is strong in that it indicates affiliation and partnership.

This is where Paul’s idea of baptism becomes so important, because His response to this question is baptism. We put on Christ when we are baptized.

Romans 6:1-14 “1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin onc…”

Galatians 3:26-27 “26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.”

Colossians 2:11-12 “11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

Examples of Baptism

Acts 2:38 “38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

**Baptism into Christ is baptism into forgiveness of sins.**

Baptized: to be or become momentarily immersed in water as a cleansing, ceremonial, and initiatory rite.

Forgiveness/ remission: a formal release from an obligation or debt; especially understood of the debt of sin.

Acts 2:41 “41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.”

Acts 10:1 “11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.”

Acts 10:34-43 “34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to tes…”

Acts 10:48 “48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.”

Acts 16:30-33 “30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.”

Conclusion

Baptism was a means of public initiation into the community of believers, the means of being placed into forgiveness of sins, and the putting on of a resurrected life in Christ Jesus.