BAPTISM: A NECESSARY STEP IN FOLLOWING JESUS
BAPTISM Two Extremes: 1. Baptism isn’t necessary for salvation, therefore, it doesn’t matter if I get baptized. 2. Baptism is necessary for salvation, therefore, you must get baptized.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
THREE QUESTIONS REGARDING BAPTISM: 1. Who should get baptized? What is the prerequisite?
Acts 2:36-41 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” 37 When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:36-41 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.
Key Point #1 Baptism is to be practiced by those who have repented of their rebellion toward God and trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior
Acts 10:44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God.
Acts 10:44-48 Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
John MacArthur “The consistent witness of the New Testament is that someone first believes in Jesus and then is baptized. This is called believers’ baptism. Never do we witness the reverse order where someone, such as an infant, is baptized and then later believes in Jesus.”
Key Point #2 Believers were baptized by immersion The word baptism comes from the greek word “ baptizō ,” which means to immerse; to submerge; to make fully wet
Immersion practiced by… 1. John the Baptist
John 3:22-24 22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Immersion practiced by… 1. John the Baptist 2. Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” 15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized.
Matthew 3:13-17 16 After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. 17 And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!
Immersion practiced by… 1. Practiced by John the Baptist 2. Practiced by Jesus 3. Adopted by believers
Acts 8:34-38 34 The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about — himself or another person?” 35 So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture. 36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:34-38 [ 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
THREE QUESTIONS REGARDING BAPTISM: 1. Who should get baptized? What is the prerequisite? 2. What is the meaning behind baptism? What is the purpose? Why is it significant?
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Key Point #2 Baptism is a picture showing what God did for you and what happened to you when He saved you
Romans 6:1-2 1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
Romans 6:4-5 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
Biography of Your Life THE PAST: Buried with Christ
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death,”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “ 55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Biography of Your Life THE PAST: Buried with Christ THE PRESENT: New life in Jesus
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
Biography of Your Life THE PAST: Buried with Christ THE PRESENT: New life in Jesus THE FUTURE: Resurrected with Christ
Romans 6:5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
Philippians 3:20-21 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
THREE QUESTIONS REGARDING BAPTISM: 1. Who should get baptized? What is the prerequisite? 2. What is the meaning behind baptism? What is the purpose? Why is it significant? 3. Why should you be baptized? What should motivate you to be baptized?
Three Reasons 1. To declare your commitment to Jesus
Acts 2:38,41 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3, 000 people were added to them.
Three Reasons 1. To declare your commitment to Jesus 2. To share your story about Jesus 3. To be obedient to Jesus
Acts 10:44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God.
Acts 10:44-48 Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
Key Thought Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is necessary if we are going to truly be followers of Jesus because to truly follow Jesus means we choose to obey Jesus.
Acts 8:36-38 36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” [ 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Question for you What is keeping you from being baptized?
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