WATER BAPTISM

MATTHEW 3:1

A. WATER BAPTISM IS DEFINITELY A GOSPEL ORDINANCE
  1. John, the forerunner of Christ, baptized the people: Matt. 3:1-18
  2. Christ baptized the people through His disciples: John 4:1, 2
  3. Water baptism is one of the gospel ordinances:
    1. A part of the gospel commission - Matt. 28:1-20; Mark 16:15, 16
    2. A commandment obligatory upon all who accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour - Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 10:48
    3. Salvation is linked with the obedience of water baptism - Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-29
B. MEANING OF WATER BAPTISM
  1. Negatively:
    1. Not putting away the filth of the flesh - 1 Pet. 3:21
    2. The ceremony does not by itself change human nature - Acts 8:21
  2. Positively:
    1. A memorial of the death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ - Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12
    2. It is an outward symbol of an inward experience
      1. It symbolizes an inward faith - Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 10:9-11
      2. Stands for a good conscience toward God and men - 1 Pet. 3:21
      3. It calls for fruit meat of true repentance - Matt. 3:8
      4. It symbolizes a new life - Rom. 6:6-9; Gal. 3:27
    3. It is an act of obedience with which even the Son of God complied -
      1. It is an act of righteousness - Matt. 3:13
      2. It is the counsel of God - Luke 7:29-30
    4. It is the symbolical door into the body of Jesus Christ - 1 Cor. 12:13
    5. Not to comply with it means that we set ourselves against the holy will of God.
    6. It is a blessed experience for those who enter it in full dedication - Matt. 3:17; Acts 8:39
C. MODE OF BAPTISM
  1. There is great confusion among Christians as to the proper mode of baptism:
    1. The majority practices sprinkling - Ezek. 36:25
    2. Others pour water over the head of the person baptized.
    3. Still others dip the candidate three times forward.
    4. Some baptize by immersion.
  2. The Bible knows only one mode of baptism:
    1. Paul declares that there is only one baptism - Eph. 4:4
    2. He says that "we are buried in baptism" - Rom. 6:4
    3. That is why John baptized at Aenon because there was much water there - John 3:23
    4. Acts 8:38, 39 as well as Matt. 3:13, 14 show plainly that both the one who baptizes and the one that is baptized go down into the water; that excludes sprinkling.
  3. Blessing of water baptism:
    1. The forgiveness of sin is connected with water baptism - Acts 3:38; 22:16
    2. The gift of the Holy Ghost is also associated with this ordinance - Acts 3:38, 39; 5:32; Matt. 3:13-18
    3. My personal experience: I saw many divine benedictions upon those who followed their Lord in baptism. Many were healed instantly at their baptism. People received the gift of the Holy Spirit as they came forth from the watery grave. One must enter the rite of water baptism to experience its blessings. I think of the words of the Master, "Happy are ye if ye know these things and do them." - John 13:17
  4. Preparation for water baptism:
    1. No one should be encouraged to be baptized without some instruction in the way of the Lord.
    2. The baptismal candidate should have some experience in the truth and with the Lord before he is baptized.
    3. An examination by the church board is a wise provision for the safety of the church and the candidate.


Design © John Bryant 2011