1. What is ?
a. The of the word.
The Greek word “baptize” or “bapto” means “to plunge, dip, immerse.”1
Mark 1:5 (ESV) – And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sin.
1) John baptized the river.
2) Jesus came up of the water.
Mark 1:10 (ESV) – And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
Acts 8:36, 38a (ESV) – And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop and they both went down into the water…
b. The of baptism.
1) The Old Testament .
Numbers 19:19b (ESV) – Thus, on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean.
2) Old Testament “”.
3) John the Baptist’s Baptism of .
Luke 3:3 (ESV) – And [John the Baptist] went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 19:3-5 (ESV) – And he said , “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
c. baptism.
BF&M 1925 – Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The act is a symbol of our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Saviour. It is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper,
BF&M 2000 – Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
d. baptism.
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith – PARAGRAPH 1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
i. Baptism is the sign of our with Christ.
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV) – Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Colossians 2:12 (ESV) – Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
ii. Baptism is the sign of our being into Christ.
Galatians 3:27-28 (ESV) – For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 3:18-21 (ESV) – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit, in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
iii. Baptism is the sign of our of sins.
Acts 2:38 (ESV) – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 (ESV) – And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.
iv. Baptism is the sign of our into God through Jesus Christ.
BIG THOUGHT: Baptism is our public demonstration of our faith in Jesus signifying our with Christ, our being in Christ, our being of our sins, and our to Jesus as Lord.
2. Why be ?
a. Christ it.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
b. Christ it.
Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV) – Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
c. My personal .
d. My with Jesus.
3. When should you get ?
a. After you the Gospel.
b. After you .
Acts 8:12 (ESV) – But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
c. As as you can.
4. Who does ?
a. Who is the ?
i. Only .
Paedobaptism vs.
ii. Does matter?
b. Who the baptism?
i. Looking at Jesus and the .
John 3:22, 4:2 (ESV) – After this Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, and He remained there with them and was baptizing… (although Jesus Himself did not baptize, but only His disciples).
ii. Looking at and .
1 Corinthians 1:14 (ESV) – I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
Acts 10:48a (ESV) – And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
iii. Only ?
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 (ESV) – As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
iv. What are the ?
“there seems to be no need in principle to restrict the right to perform baptism only to ordained clergy” and that it is appropriate for “mature believers to baptize new converts” (Systematic Theology, 983-84)
1) Each local church must decide how they conduct this ordinance.
2) Since baptism is an ordinance of the church, there must be the approval/affirmation of the leadership of the church.
3) The baptizer must be a more mature believer.