BELIEVER’S BAPTISM
What the Bible says about Baptism
BELIEVER’S BAPTISM – MESSAGE OUTLINE
Old Testament-Baptism was not required
Cleansing by washing was however required under various circumstances.
Exodus 19:10-11 – Moses was to consecrate the people which included having them wash their garments in preparation of God coming down from Mount Sinai.
Exodus 40:12-15 – Aaron and his sons were to be washed with water as a part of the preparation for ministering as a priest.
Leviticus 17:15 – After eating an animal which had died or that was torn by beasts.
2 Kings 5:9-14 – Naaman seeking healing from leprosy – Was to bathe in the Jordan river.
Psalm 51:7 - Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
New Testament-The word Baptism has two principal meanings:
(1) Believing with all your heart that Christ is the son of God, is our Saviour who died on the Cross to Save us from our sins, and repent from our sins.
(2) Christ Conquered sin and Death.
The Act of Immersion in water – Water Baptism
Physical manifestation of our faith in Christ, his crucifixion, conquering death, and rising again to save us from our sins, and grant us eternal life with Christ.
Significance of the Water: Cleansing.
Significance of becoming immersed: Death To Sin – No longer living in Sin – Burial of the Old Life.
Significance of rising from the emersion: Rising to new life. The resurrection of Christ.
Living for Christ – Eternal Life in Christ.
New Testament passages referring to Baptism
Matthew 3:1-17
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,
2 and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
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.
Acts 2: 36-41 Peter Speaking at Pentecost of Repentance, Belief and Baptism
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 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.
39 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.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Romans 6 (The significance of Baptism)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
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:
6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Matthew 28:18-20 (Just before the Ascension of Christ)
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 8:26-40 (Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch who was reading from Isaiah)
26 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.
27 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,
28 was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 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.
32 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:
33 in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 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?
37 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.
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.
39 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.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
Galatians 3: 26-29 – We are all one in Christ
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
CONCLUSION
(1) Believer’s Baptism by water: Is only for those who believe:
a. That Christ is the Son of God
b. That Christ died on the Cross for them, for the remission of their sins.
c. That Christ rose again and is in heaven
d. Who have trusted in Christ as their personal savior and have repented of their sins, and are thus born again believers.
(2) Believer’s Baptism takes place After one becomes a born again Christian
(3) Believer’s Biblical Baptism is intended for those who understand its significance and who have first personally trusted in Christ as their personal savior and Lord.
Anyone who is born again, and has not been baptized should follow through with this public profession of their faith, and be baptised.
Below is the message audio