Baptism

Part I

Jesus was baptised

Matthew 3:13-16 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  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. 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: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Baptism is part of the Doctrine of Christ

Hebrews 6:1-2 - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

John 3:1-5 - There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Baptisms in the Old Testament

1Cor 10:1-4 - Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In the old testament, an immersion in water (or mikveh) was a process of spiritual purification and cleansing.   Immersion was required as part of conversion to Judaism, cleansing after being "unclean", cleansing of utensils, and ritual immersion by for ceremonial purifications.  

The mikveh also represented the "womb" from which the one being immersed emerged in a new birth separating them from the world.

Baptism can seen in Noah passing through the flood leaving the world that then was behind.  Also in the Israelites coming up out of the land of slavery, passing through the Red Sea and leaving bondage behind.  Also in the Israelites passing through the river Jordan and entering the Promised Land.

Baptism is for Believers – follows belief and repentance

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned

Acts 2:38-41 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:36-38 - See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  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.

Part II

Philip and the Ethiopian’s Baptism

Acts 8:26-40 - And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  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.  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.  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.

Baptism is by Immersion

Mark 1:10 - And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him

Acts 8:38b-39a - and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water

The Greek word ‘baptizo’ means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water and where we get the Bible word 'baptism'.

Baptism Does Not Save (or help to save) Us

Mark 1:8 - I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Baptism does not wash or regenerate us, but it instead represents the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that washes and regenerates us.

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change

Matthew 10:32-33 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Luke 12:8-9)

We identify with Jesus

Acts 19:1-5 - And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

Romans 6:3-5 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  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.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

I Peter 3:21 - 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:

Colossians 2:10-15 - And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  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.  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Represents being made part of the Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:3-5 - endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Any believer can administer Baptism

Acts 8:38 - And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

The authority of baptism is in Jesus Christ, so any believer can baptise in His name.  It is not dependent upon a special person or priest.

Don’t put off baptism

2Cor 6:2 - For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation

Acts 8:36 - See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

Commentary
The wages of sin is death.  We are unable to satisfy payment for our sins.  When Jesus died on the cross, He, who had no sin, paid the death penalty for our sins. Through baptism we are united with Christ in paying the death penalty for sin. We are baptized into His death, into the death penalty for sin. 

We are unable to return from death on our own because of sin.  Because Jesus is sinless and victorious over death, we join Him in Resurrection through uniting with Him in Resurrection. 

We are saved by grace through faith.  Through the baptismal act of faith God gives us a way to act on our belief in our participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (an event which occurred 2000 years ago).

Baptism is about leaving our old sinful, worldly ways behind and taking on the yoke of Christ. It is about lifestyle change and dying to ourselves and doing God’s will instead of ours. Our reason and purpose for living changes after baptism. Afterward is a new way of life. Baptism is about faith, total commitment of the heart, surrender, self-denial, death, resurrection, repentance, and seeking God’s mercy through Jesus Christ and the work He completed on the cross.

Order of Service

Baptism is an expression of our faith that we share in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom 6:4).  It is an outward sign of an inward change of heart and our opportunity to confess our faith in Jesus before men (Matt 10:32).

Q: Why are you here?

A: To be baptised

Q: What do you believe?

A: I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, He died for my sins, He rose again from the dead, and He is my Savior.

__(name)______, be baptized in the name of Jesus, in whom is the fullness of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 19:5; Matt 29:19; Col 2:9)