WATER BAPTISM

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two symbolical ordinances of the New Testament. The Lord’s Supper represents the work of Christ for us, and Baptism the work of the Spirit of God in us.

(1) The Lord’s Supper pictures the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. (2) Baptism pictures our identification with Christ and His work.

Three Significant Baptisms for Believers

For the believer, there are three significant baptisms: Heb 6:2 - The “doctrine of baptisms”

• Baptism by The Spirit into the Body of Christ, which takes place at the moment of conversion;(1 Cor 12.13) By The Spirit and Into Christ - spiritual, unseen.
• Water baptism, which is done publicly and is a declaration that Jesus Christ is my Lord, and my life is totally devoted to Him/         immersion;(Rom 6) In water - public, seen.
• Baptism of The Holy Spirit, which is divine          enablement to do the will of God.(Acts 1.8; Eph 5.18) By Jesus and with The Holy Ghost-for          empowerment

 One Essential Baptism

There is one essential baptism, and that is by the Spirit into the Body of Christ which takes place at the moment of conversion.

• Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
• 1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
• Ga 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ

This baptism into the body of Christ occurs the very moment that you receive Christ as your Savior and are born again. Until this takes place, a sinner is separated from God, and lost in their sin.

• John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Who should be water baptized?

• Ac 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Ac 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
• Ac 16:32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house (Philippian jailer and his household). 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
• It must be noted that every baptism in The New Testament is associated with repentance and a confession of faith in Jesus Christ whether it is an individual or an entire household.
• 1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

·      If a young person understands the meaning of water baptism, there is no reason why they cannot be baptized, provided that they have repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus Christ Mark 10.13-15.

Water Baptism is Symbolic

• The full immersion into the water, symbolizes your death to the old life; the method is full immersion, because baptism is meant to symbolize a death to the old life, burial of that old man and resurrection in newness of life Rom 6.
• Water baptism is ministered to those who have repented of their sin and have called upon The Name of Jesus for salvation. Thus NT water baptism is performed by fully immersing adults who confess Jesus Christ is Lord, not sprinkling infants who are unable to make such a confession of faith..

Why Baptism by Immersion?

• The Greek “baptisma” (from “bapto”) means to dip, i.e., immersion, submersion and emergence. 
• This was the way that Jesus Christ was water baptized. Mt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water

Your stepping into the water for baptism is a public profession that Jesus Christ is your Lord and that, by the grace of God, you are walking in newness of life.

• 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.
• This walking in newness of life will be an ongoing process which is known in Scripture as sanctification. Justification before God is immediate; sanctification into the image of The Lord Jesus Christ is ongoing and progressive.
• It is critical that we do not confuse or combine justification and sanctification. Confusing them will undermine the gospel of grace and turn justification by faith into justification by performance.

This coming up out of the water is also a confession of faith in the resurrection of the body that will happen when Jesus returns for His bride the church.

• 1Thess 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
• 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

It is important to remember that water baptism is symbolic, it doesn’t save you.  If water baptism saves you, then the apostle Paul didn’t get that memo.

• 1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.1
• If water baptism is necessary for salvation, why was water baptism not mentioned along with the rest of the gospel message in 1 Cor 15.1-4?
• 1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scripture.

It is clear that water baptism follows salvation, it is not the cause of it. Let’s look at a couple of examples from Scripture:

• Ac 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
• Ac 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Water baptism is an outward expression of the saving faith that you already possess through Jesus.  Peter tells us that water baptism is the answer of a clear conscience toward God. Just as the flood in the days of Noah wiped away the old sinful world, so baptism pictures one’s break from his old, sinful life into a new life in Christ

• 1Pe 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:

Remember, it’s the blood of Jesus that washes away my sin(s), not water.

• Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
• Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

·      Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

• When we celebrate The Lord’s supper, none of the elements have anything to do with our water baptism.

Remember beloved:  Salvation is a free gift - Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9. It’s all grace and none of me.

Jesus has done it all - John 19:30.

Jesus is The Author and Finisher of our faith.

Repent and believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

• If you are here this morning and have yet to repent and believe the saving gospel of the grace of God, may I plead with you this morning to cease from all efforts to look inside of yourself for the redemption of your soul. Despair of finding any answer for your right standing with God by your own religious duties or righteous acts. Trust Christ today for your forgiveness and the salvation of your soul.         

For today’s candidates it is important for you to understand that A soldier in those days swore loyalty into the name of Caesar; i.e., he belonged absolutely to the emperor.  The meaning of water baptism “in the name of” or “into the name of” implies utter possession on Christ’s part. Each candidate this morning is confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and identifying with Jesus and His gospel.  The person baptized recognizes that he or she is the property of the one into whose Name he is baptized. 

We will be baptizing each one of you in or into His name: 

• Matt 28:19 - name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;
• Ac 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
• Ac 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.