WATER BAPTISM

WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is an essential part of our Christian walk. Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus should be baptized (Acts 2:38). Jesus in His great commission commanded us to make disciples, baptize and teach (Matthew 28:19)

Water baptism is an outward act of obedience by which we testify of the inward change that has taken place in our hearts through believing in Jesus (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). We first repent and believe in Jesus, and then be baptized. (Mark 16:16, Acts 8:37-38). Repentance comes before baptism, hence” infant baptism” is not scriptural. Water baptism does not save us. We are saved by believing and receiving Jesus.

In water baptism, we identify with Christ in His burial and resurrection (Colossians 2:11, 12). It symbolizes separation from the old life of sin (burial) as we are immersed and a new life of righteousness and victory (resurrection) as we come out of the water.

With Christ in His Crucifixion

Romans 6:6– Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Galatians 2:20- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:24- And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Self is crucified and Christ is enthroned.

With Christ in His death

Romans 6:3- Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

1 Corinthians 12:13- For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

We are now dead to sin and the old nature.

With Christ in His burial

Romans 6.4- Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:11, 12- In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Our past and the old nature is buried with Christ

With Christ in His resurrection

Romans 6:5- For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection

Romans 6:8- Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him

Colossians 2:12- buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:20- Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations

The resurrected power of Christ is at work within us.

With Christ in His walk in newness of life

Romans 6:4- Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:6- As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him

We have a new spiritual identity with Christ.

Baptism comes from the Greek verb “baptizo“ which means primarily to immerse, plunge, dip, submerge; to put into or under water. For this reason when a person is baptized, hi is immersed, submerged in water. This was what happened to Jesus

(Matthew 3:16). Immersion (and not ’sprinkling’) is the Biblical pattern.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF WATER BAPTISM

Jesus

Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Believers on the Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:37-41 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?”

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. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

People in Samaria

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

Ethiopian eunuch

Acts 8:37-39 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Paul

Acts 9:18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Conelius

Acts 9:18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Lydia and her household

Acts 6:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

The Philippians jailer and his house hold

Acts 16:31-34 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

The disciples at Ephesus

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

3. WHY MUST A BELIEVER BE BAPTISED IN WATER?

3.1 Water baptism is a command in God’s Word (Mark 16.16, Acts 27:38) this must be obeyed. It is a step of obedience to God and symbolizes total submission to Him. It is not optional.

3.2 Jesus set an example for us to follow to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15-17). It was the pattern set by the early church. All converts were baptized.

3.3 Water baptism pleases God. It has the approval of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16, 17)

3.4 It is a public confession or testimony of our faith and total identification with God. The world acknowledges baptism as a true sign of a person’s commitment to Christ.

4. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

Only those who have repented, believed and received Jesus a s their Lord and Savior. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38).

5. WHEN SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?

In Scriptures, there was no lengthy delay between conversion and baptism. Believers were baptized on the same day (Arts 2:41), the same hour of conversion (Acts 16:33) or Whet they believed (Acts 8:12, 37, 38; 18:8). Believers should be encouraged to take this step as soon as possible.