Baptism

Let’s take a look at baptism. If you haven’t already, please walk through the questionnaire here.

We’re baptized to enter into the New Covenant.

When the Gospel (Good News) is preached, we’re hopefully stirred to obey it. We see this in

Acts 2:37 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?

Acts 2:38 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.

The example is that we hear the Gospel, thought is provoked within us that leads to action. They heard the Good News. They believed what Peter was telling them was true. They asked him what they should do. He tells them plainly their actions are to Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins leading to salvation. Without hearing, believing, repenting (change of mind & heart), confessing Jesus Christ is the Son of God, baptism will do little.

Without being baptized in the above manner, we haven’t come in contact with the blood of Christ.

I Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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:

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, where in also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Noah believed what God said about flooding the world was true, so he acted on that and built a boat. There are no examples in scripture of someone being saved by a ‘sinners prayer’ or by simply believing. Here are two passages that refute such.

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

Several passages in Acts talk about Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-20, 22:6-21, 26:11-23). Paul was fasting and praying (Acts 9:9,11) for three days before Ananias had laid his hands on him . If Paul was saved by faith only (simply believing), or a ‘sinners prayer’ surely he would have been saved during the span of those three days. He ‘called on the Lord’ during baptism. That’s when he was washed and entered into the New Covenant.

If simply believing in God were enough, then surely the devils would be saved as well then, no? James refutes the belief only claim in chapter 2.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James goes on to talk about Abraham and Rahab. They both were justified by works. Their belief in God caused them to act.

What’s the biblical definition of baptism?

The Greek word ‘baptízō’ means to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet);

John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

John was baptizing near Salim because there was a lot of water there. He was dunking people.

We are buried with Christ in baptism. If you were going to bury someone, would you sprinkle a handful of dirt on them and call it good? The water is symbolic of the grave, our old sinful nature is dead and buried in that grave. We are raised up a new creation in Christ when we come up out of the water.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4 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.

Acts 8:36 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?

Acts 8:37And 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.

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

The eunuch and Philip went down into the water so Philip could baptize him by submerging him. That’s also another example of belief in action. The eunuch believed, so he asked to be baptize.

Babies and children cannot, by biblical definition, be baptized. They’re simply unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Here is an example of that from the Old Testament, Deut 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

If you’ve read this far and haven’t been baptized, what are you waiting for? Please contact us today to setup a time to be baptized. We love seeing people added to the Body of Christ!

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

All scripture quotations are from the KJV.