WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is part of the saving plan given in the Bible.  Mark 16:16 says “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  Its significance is substantial, but not sufficient in itself to save a person.  To be saved requires God’s grace, our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and a continued walk of obedience to God.  It is a commandment given by Jesus, not an option or choice for us to decide.  All scriptures in the Bible indicates that Baptism is an action of obedience that follows repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Following are some scriptures selected from the Word of God that will help to learn more about Baptism and its importance.

Significance of Christian water-baptism

a)      To be baptized into Jesus and His death

Romans 6:3 - don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

b)      Signifies the act of being buried with Jesus and raising with Him

Colossians 2:12 - … having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.  

c)       Unifies believers by one Spirit into one Body

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

d)      To be clothed with Christ

Galatians 3:27 - … all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  

e)      To have good conscience towards God

1 Peter 3:21 - … and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Examples of Baptism given in the Bible

a)      The believers after Pentecost

Acts 2:41 - Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

b)      Converts in Samaria

Acts 8:12 - But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  

c)       The Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:38 - And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

d)      Saul (Paul) after his conversion

Acts 9:18 - Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.  

e)      Lydia , seller of purple cloth

Acts 16:15 - When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.

f)        Philippian jailer and his household

Acts 16:33 - At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.  

g)      Believers in Corinth

Acts 18:8 - Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

h)      Disciples in Ephesus

Acts 19:5 - On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Who should be baptized?

a)      Only believers are to receive Christian Baptism

                           i.      Believing (faith) comes before baptism

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:41 - Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

                         ii.      Repentance comes before baptism

Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

b)      Infant baptism is not scriptural

The order given in the Bible is always believe and then baptize.  This order cannot be followed for infant baptism since the baby is not old enough to believe or understand what they are really doing.  Baptizing infants is not mentioned in the Scriptures.  However, following scriptures are note worthy:

                           i.      Infants are sanctified by a believing parent

1 Corinthians 7:14 - For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

                         ii.      It is appropriate and Bibilical to dedicate young children to the Lord and blessed

Mark 10:16 - And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.  

Exodus 13:2 - "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."  

How to be baptized?

a)      In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  

b)      Form of baptism is determined by being BURIED

                           i.      Jesus came out of the water

Mark 1:10 - As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

                         ii.      Because there was much water there

John 3:23 - Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.  When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 

                        iii.      This fulfills the analogy of burial