WATER BAPTISM
Matthew 28:16-20 "in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost." This
scripture gives us the proper invocation for the minister to use during the
baptismal ceremony.
Acts 2:38 "Repent
and be baptized" Repentance must
precede baptism; thus we understand than infants who are not capable of having
godly sorrow for their sins and true repentance are excluded from this
ordinance. We are also instructed by these words that a heart change
produced by repentance must be the experience of the believer prior to baptism.
1 Peter 3:21 "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh. Water cannot wash away our sins. Only the blood of Jesus
Christ is sufficient for this spiritual cleansing which is symbolically
represented by the subsequent sacrament of baptism.
1 Corinthians 1:14-17 "for Christ sent me not to baptize"
The obvious message is that the ministry of reconciliation, of restoring
the lost soul to its Savior carries a greater priority than that of baptism.
Mark 16:16 "believe
not shall be damned" The scripture does not say that if you are not
baptized you will be damned, but rather that if you do not believe unto
salvation, you will be damned.
John 4:1,2 "though Jesus himself baptized not"
If baptism was essential to the effecting of salvation, Jesus would have
baptized all those who came to Him and believed on Him.
Acts 10:34-48 Cornelius – saved, sanctified, then baptized. In this real life experience, we see
that this devout man experienced a relationship with God which followed certain
steps of faith. First, he was saved by which means and faith he became a
devout man. Secondly, he was sanctified by the receiving of the Holy
Ghost. Thirdly, this man heard the instructions of the full plan of
salvation and was obedient unto baptism as a public testimony of his faith in
Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:1-7 John’s disciples were
re-baptized. The disciples of John who no doubt were baptized by John
were baptized again once they heard the fullness of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation is based upon the
initial work of repentance and believing in Jesus Christ. All other acts
of faith and obedience must follow true repentance.
1 Corinthians 15:29 "Baptized for the dead" Paul was
not confirming the need to be baptized for the dead, as was erroneously taught
by the Maccabees, who were prominent Jewish leaders
before the time of Christ. Rather, he was proving the point that there is
life after death (as even the Maccabees acknowledged)
and therefore a second resurrection to be experienced in the future of the
soul.
Colossians 2:12 "buried
with him in baptism…risen with him" Here
is a clear interpretation of the sacrament of baptism. We are
symbolically buried with Jesus Christ (in this watery grave) and then we are
"risen with him" into a newness of life. This is a public
testimony of allegiance to Christ.
Hebrews 6:1,2 "the doctrine of baptisms"
There is more than one baptism in the Christian experience, thus "the doctrine
of baptisms." The one baptism is the baptism of water and the second
is the baptism of the Spirit, which is sanctification or the infilling of the
Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:35-39 "they
both went down into the water" Here is the mode and method of baptism.
These two men found sufficient water that they both could wade out into the
water to a sufficient depth that Philip could immerse the Ethiopian eunuch in
the “watery grave” of baptism.
Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus was already holy – set
example of a public testimony to the world. It was not necessary for
Jesus to be baptized except for the need to set an example for others to
follow.
Romans 6;1-5 Symbolic: die-bury-resurrected = baptism. Paul
gives a plain statement of the mandate and mode of baptism.
Have you repented of your sins? Have you been
baptized by a true minister of the