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Baptism
Beach Baptism
Sunday, August 29, 2010
6:00 p.m. at Mickler's Landing
Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows that you already are one.
Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that.
Baptism is like a wedding ring - it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
“For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith...it is the gift
of God - not by works, so that no
one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
Why be baptized?
Water Baptism According to
the New Testament
1. Because you want to follow
Christ’s example.
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth
and was baptized by John in the river.”
Mark 1:9
2. Because Christ commanded it.
“Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all people
everywhere and make them My disciples,
baptize them in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then
teach them to obey everything I have
commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20
3. Because it shows you are
a believer.
“...many of the Corinthians who heard him
believed and were baptized.”
Acts 18:8
4. Because obeying Christ’s
commands shows you know Him.
“We know that we have come to know
Him, if we obey His commands.”
1 John 2:3
The Meaning of Baptism
1. It is a symbol of Christ’s
burial and resurrection.
“Christ died for our sins...He was buried...and He
rose again.”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised
with Christ.”
Colossians 2:12
2. It is a symbol of your new life
as a Christian.
“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“By our baptism then we were buried with Him
and shared His death, in order that just as Christ
was raised from the dead also we might live a
new life!”
Romans 6:4
How are we to be baptized?
1. Like Jesus was baptized - by being
immersed in water.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out
of the water.”
Matthew 3:16
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by
immersion under water.
(Example)
“...then both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water...”
Acts:8:38,39
3. The word “baptize” literally means “to dip
under water.” The Greek word “baptizo”
means “to immerse or dip under water.”
4. It is the best way to picture a burial and
resurrection.
Who should be baptized?
Every person who has made the decision to
believe in Christ should be baptized.
“Those who believed and accepted His message
were baptized.”
Acts 2:14
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the
Good News...and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 8:13
The one requirement for baptism is belief in
Christ! We do not baptize children until they
are old enough to understand and believe.
When are we to be baptized?
As soon as you have believed!
You shouldn’t delay.
“Those who believed...were baptized...that day!”
Acts 2:41
There is no reason to delay. As soon as a
person decides to believe in Christ, he can
and should be baptized.
The founders of denominations agree:
Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran church:
“I would have those who are to be baptized to
be entirely immersed, as the Word imports
and the mystery signifies.”
John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian church:
“The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is
certain that immersion was the practice of the
ancient church.”
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church:
“Buried with Him, alluding to baptizing by
immersion according to the custom of the first
church.”
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