Download What is “baptism”? - Brunswick Christians

What does the Bible teach ?
Baptism
Studies In The Scriptures
Introduction
 One of the most controversial topics in religion today is
concerning “baptism”
 God’s Word is truth (Jn 17.17); our appeal is to the divine!
 In this lesson, we will look at an overview of baptism as found
in the Bible covering
 Various baptisms mentioned in the Bible
 Some assertions about baptism taught today
 The true “mode” of baptism
 Proper subjects for baptism today
 The God-given purpose of water baptism today
 What hinders a person from being baptized?
Several Baptisms
 Baptism of Moses – I Corinthians 10:1-5
 Baptism of Holy Spirit – Mt. 3:11
 Baptism of Fire – Mt. 3:11
 John the Baptist’s baptism – Mt. 3:1-7
 Baptism of the Great Commission – Mt.
28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16; Acts 19; Acts 22:16;
Gal. 3:26,27; Rom. 6:1-4
Assertions taught today
 Some teach that infants should be baptized
 Others teach only responsible people should be baptized
 Some teach sprinkling and pouring and immersion are all
baptism
 Others teach baptism is immersion only
 Some teach baptism is not required by God
 Others teach baptism is only for the saved/Christians
 Others teach baptism is for the remission of sins/puts one into
Christ
 The Bible cannot teach ALL the above, for many are
conflicting and contradicting (i.e. opposing teachings)
What is “baptism”?
• Bible dictionaries
• Greek lexicons
• Define words used at the time of their
being used by Christ and inspired writers
• Do NOT define words in NT by modern
dictionaries alone!
• Words change meanings over time; don’t
want to put modern meaning if it changes
God’s meaning
What is “baptism”?
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary
• Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
• “Much water there” - inference
• “Went down into water” – inference
• Compare with Rom. 6.3,4 and Col. 2.12
Romans 6:1-4
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin
that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall
we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you
not know that as many of us as were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into His
death? Therefore we were buried with Him through
baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life.”
- NKJV
Colossians 2:11,12
“In Him you were also circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, by putting off
the body of the sins of the flesh, by the
circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism,
in which you also were raised with Him through
faith in the working of God, who raised Him from
the dead.”
- NKJV
What is “baptism”?
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary
• Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
• “Much water there” - inference
• “Went down into water” – inference
• Compare with Rom. 6.3,4 and Col. 2.12
• Baptism is immersion!
“But, I’ve already Been Baptized!”
• Acts 19 – baptism in the name of Jesus
• Folks who have been baptized before
“might” need to be baptized again in order
to be baptized as God would want
• Even folks who had been baptized by John
the Baptist’s baptism in Acts 19 needed to
be baptized “again” in order to be right
with God
• Various reasons for baptism today;
“might” need to be baptized again?
Who should be baptized?
• Let the Word of God answer!
• Acts = the book of conversions
• Acts 2 – believers willing to repent
• Acts 8 – believers willing to confess
• Acts 22 – believers needing sins removed
• Rom 6:1-17 – desire to obey form of
doctrine
• Col. 2:12 – desire to be buried with Christ
• Gal. 3:26,27 – to become child of God
Mark 16:15,16
“And He said to them, "Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. He
who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be
condemned.”
- NKJV
Acts 2:38
“Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let
every one of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit.”
- NKJV
Acts 2:47
“praising God and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church
daily those who were being saved.”
- NKJV
Acts 8:35-38
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this
Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they
went down the road, they came to some water.
And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What
hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said,
"If you believe with all your heart, you may." And
he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot
to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went
down into the water, and he baptized him.”
- NKJV
Acts 22:16
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling
on the name of the Lord.”
- NKJV
Galatians 3:26,27
“For you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
- NKJV
Purposes of Baptism
• To obey God’s command
• For the remission of sins
• To put one into Christ
• To wash away sins
• To become a new creature
• To demonstrate love for God
• To bury old man of sin
• To rise with Christ
• To enter the kingdom of God
• To allow God to add you to the saved/church
Hindrances to baptism
• Ignorance of God’s Word
• Incorrect understanding on the topic
• “I’ve already been baptized” (various)
• Waiting for a “convenient season”
• Ashamed of the gospel of Christ
• Not willing to “sell all for Christ”
• Procrastination
Prerequsites to baptism
• Hearing the Word of God
• Belief in the Word of God
• Faith that begins to work through love
• Repentance of sins
• Confessing Jesus is Son of God
• Understanding what baptism is “for”
Romans 10:17
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God.”
- NKJV
Acts 8:35-38
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this
Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they
went down the road, they came to some water.
And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What
hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said,
"If you believe with all your heart, you may." And
he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot
to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went
down into the water, and he baptized him.”
- NKJV
Prerequsites to baptism
• Hearing the Word of God
• Belief in the Word of God
• Faith that begins to work through love
• Repentance of sins
• Confessing Jesus is Son of God
• Understanding what baptism is “for”
Conclusion…
• Believers willing to repent of sins and
confess Christ as the Son of God can be
baptized “for the remission of sins” today
• We only have Bible Authority to teach what
God’s Word says on the topic
• Becoming a Christian today is just
according to the same pattern/form of
doctrine as in the New Testament
• Do you need to be baptized?