Baptism

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Understanding basic truths and following basic practices are essential to building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is predicated on a response to Christ’s words in John 15:14, You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
One of the first and most beautiful ways a Christian can obey Christ is by submitting to scriptural baptism. In this message today I want us to examine four truths relevant to baptism.
Matthew 3:13–17 KJV 1900
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Significance of Baptism

Baptism Is Not An Experience Of Salvation….

Some have mistakenly believed that baptism has the magical power to convey forgiveness to those who submit to it. This idea conflicts with the clear teaching of Scripture… (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Baptism Is An Expression Of Salvation…

1 Peter 3:21 KJV 1900
21 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:
Rather than a means of salvation, baptism “not the removal of the filth of the flesh,” is presented as a picture, figure, or “antitype” of salvation.
Like a wedding ring, it represents what provides salvation (the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) rather than being a source or cause of salvation itself.
Baptism signifies what has already taken place within a person when they believed upon Jesus Christ through faith.

Baptism Is An Ordinance Of The Church….

Ordinances are those practices of the New Testament Church that were introduced in the Gospels by Jesus Christ, practiced in the book of Acts by the Apostles, and instructed in the Epistles to the Churches. Of these, there are two, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 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.
Acts 2:41 KJV 1900
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:12 KJV 1900
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Romans 6:4 KJV 1900
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.
Colossians 2:12 KJV 1900
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Symbolism of Baptism

A Symbol Of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection…

Romans 6:3–5 KJV 1900
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV 1900
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
In baptism, the Christian actually portrays what was necessary for salvation. As he stands in the water, the Christian represents Christ dying on the Cross. As he is immersed, he represents Christ’s burial in the tomb. As he emerges out of the water, the Christian represents Christ rising from the dead and the grave.

A Symbol Of Cleansing From Sin…

Because salvation is a cleansing from sin, baptism is a beautiful symbol of that cleansing. (Titus 3:5 declares that salvation is a regeneration or a new birth, which involves a cleansing).
Titus 3:5 KJV 1900
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
In baptism, the plunging or immersing of the Christian below the surface of the water suggests cleansing, like the body is cleansed in water. This symbolism pictures what previously occurred in the Christian when by faith he was saved and cleansed of all his sins.
Acts 15:9 KJV 1900
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
1 Peter 3:21 KJV 1900
21 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:

A Symbol Of New Life In Christ….

At salvation, the Christian is born again and becomes a new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17),
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 6:4 KJV 1900
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.
Romans 6:4 connects baptism with this new life.
In coming out of the water, the Christian symbolizes the new life that he will now live since he has been taken out of the spiritual grave of sin and death.
Baptism beautifully portrays what has been done to secure salvation and what takes place when a sinner accepts Christ as savior.

The Standards of Baptism

The Bible Method Is Immersion…

There are some who believe that baptism may occur with sprinkling or pouring of water on the candidate. Such practice originated hundreds of years after the time of the New Testament and does not follow the Bible pattern.
From its origin in the days of Christ, baptism has been a plunging or immersion in water.
The New Testament Greek word baptizo, from which the English word baptize was transliterated.
Literally the Greek word means,to dip, plunge or immerse.
That is the very meaning of the New Testament Greek word baptizo, from which the English word baptize was transliterated.
Literally the Greek word means, “to dip, plunge or immerse.
This word describes what takes place in baptism; the individual is immersed or dipped into the water. This is verified by New Testament accounts of baptism, with descriptions in harmony with baptism.
John 3:23 KJV 1900
23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Acts 8:38 KJV 1900
38 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.
Romans 6:3–5 KJV 1900
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

The Bible Authority Is The New Testament Church…

In each case of baptism recorded in the book of Acts, the administrator was an officer or minister of a local church.
Acts 2:41… the believers who were baptized were added to the local church of Jerusalem.
Acts 8:36-38… Philip, a deacon of the Jerusalem church baptized the Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 10:47-48…the Apostle Peter of the church of Jerusalem did the baptizing.
Acts 16:30-31, 18:8…the Apostle Paul did the baptizing…
Acts 13:2-3 tells us that Paul had been set aside by the church at Antioch.
In each of these cases these individuals were acting upon the authority given them by their local church...
Besides this, instructions on baptism are almost entirely contained in epistles written to local New Testament churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus and Colosse( see I Corinthians 11:2).
1 Corinthians 11:2 KJV 1900
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
It is not difficult to conclude therefore that the authority for baptism must be the local church. If it were otherwise, the authority would cease with the death of an individual or become invalid because of the infirmity or wrongdoing of the agent who did the baptizing.

The Bible Candidate Is A Believer…

In every case in the Bible, people were baptized only upon their profession of faith after they accepted Christ. (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12-13, 36-38, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15,33, 18:8 and 19:3-5).

The Submission of Baptism

Baptized To Be Obedient To Christ…

Before His ascension to His Father’s throne, Jesus Christ instructed that after one becomes a believer or disciple, he or she should be baptized. (Matthew 18:18-20).
Matthew 18:18–20 KJV 1900
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Submission to baptism is an important way to respond to the command of Jesus Christ and develop our relationship with Him. (James 4:17).
James 4:17 KJV 1900
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Baptized In Likeness To Christ…

Christ began His public ministry by submitting to baptism at the hand of John the Baptist. (Mark 1:9).
Mark 1:9 KJV 1900
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Baptized As A Testimony For Christ…

Baptism is done to picture what Christ did for the Christian at Calvary. It testifies to the world that the believer has accepted Christ and is unafraid to proclaim his faith. Christ commends such a testimony on His behalf…
Matthew 10:32 KJV 1900
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
When a Christian submits to baptism, he is making public his faith in Christ.
To be a Christian is to identify with Christ.
Baptism portrays this identification.
Baptism proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ… the effectiveness of His death, burial and resurrection.
Baptism demonstrates an individual’s faith in Christ and faithfulness to Christ.
Baptism testifies to the individual’s submission and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ….
Baptism declares an individual’s commitment to the local church….
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