Water
Baptism
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1) Confirming Salvation: (John 3:1-6 and 15-17 Story of Nicodemus) 2)
Eunuch was baptized after believing
Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 8:36-39)
3)
Jesus established the pattern for
Christian Water Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17)
4)
Jesus commanded water baptism (Matthew
28:19-20) “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe
all tings whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen."
5)
Signs shall follow those who believe
and are baptized (Mark 16:15-17)
6)
Water Baptism is the first step of
obedience for a new believer. To be obedient to Jesus’ words (John 14:15
– If you love me, you will keep my commandments).
7)
Repent and be baptized. “Be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins;
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) (Acts
22:16) “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away
thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
8)
Water baptism is an act of our faith.
(James 2:17 an 20) It
is a sacrament, a first principle of the church, a commandment of Christ. We get water baptized to let Jesus Christ
and the world know publicly that he is our Lord.
9)
Baptism fulfills all righteousness.
It completes the rightness we have by faith
(Romans 5:1)
10)
Baptism is full emersion in water.
The word baptize comes from the Greek word “baptize” which means
to immerse totally in a fluid and to make fully wet.) Examples of full emersion: (Acts 8:35-39 and Mark 1:9-10) Jesus coming out of the water. Baptism
represents a death, burial and resurrection. Full immersion is the only form of water
baptism that picture this. (Romans 6:3-4)
11)
Some churches Baptize in the name
of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Other churches baptize in the Name of
the Lord Jesus. Both are
correct, so we do all. (Matthew
28:19 and Acts 2:38)
12)
Who can water baptize?
Anyone who is a born again believer and has been water baptized
and knows the scriptures related to water baptism can baptize.
(John 4:1-2 – disciples baptized - Matthew 28:19 – Jesus told
us to go out and baptize…)
13)
Water Baptism is meant to be a significant
life changing experience. If we mix it with faith, we can expect
to experience certain things as a result of water baptism. It’s important to have an understanding
of what water baptism represents before we are baptized so we can mix
it with our faith (Colossians 2:11-12)
Prerequisites for Water Baptism
The
first two foundation stones in the Christian experience must already
be laid prior to baptism. (Repent and Believe Mark 1;14-15)
Repentance
and belief are prerequisites for water baptism they include: (John 3:1-16
story of Nicodemus)
In
water baptism we are identified with the death, burial and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. We recognize that Jesus Christ died our
death in our place, that He took our death penalty, and because of that
we died, not literally, but we died.
We died to the old man, we died to sin, we died to Satan and
his kingdom, and we died to the kingdom of self. We recognize that our
old man is dead and buried, which is pictured by going under the water.
Then, coming up out of the water, we come alive in a way like
we’ve never seen before. Jesus
Christ becomes our life and we begin to experience the life of Jesus
Christ being made manifest in us.
As a result of water baptism, we are baptized into Christ, putting
Christ on.
(Romans
6:3-6; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; Galatians 3:27)
See the following 7 truths about Water Baptism
(Romans
6:7-11; Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:13; Luke 9:23; Philippians 2:12-13)
3.
A New Victory Water baptism represents a new victory
and power over life dominating sin.
That’s why many people who have not been water baptized always
seem to be struggling with sin and are unable to overcome. Water baptism represents our freedom from
and victory over the bondages and the demonics of the devil that we
have inherited or that have been in our personal lives. (Romans 6:12-18; Colossians 2:10-15)
4.
Washing, Cleansing, and Renewal Water baptism represents a spiritual
washing, cleansing and renewal.
It symbolizes washing away of the filth of the old man, a cleansing
from sin. The Holy Spirit works with us because
of our faith and obedience to give us a new power over Satan in our
lives. (Acts 22:16;
I John 1:9)
5.
Circumcision of Heart Water baptism symbolizes the circumcision
of the flesh (the old nature), of the body of sin. The old nature are those things which
are not of God, they get cut away from our lives, from our spirit. New
testament circumcision is a circumcision of the heart, in the spirit. (Colossians 2:11-12)
6.
Separation and a New Beginning
The
primary Old Testament type and pattern of water baptism is that of the
children of Israel passing through the Red Sea after leaving Egypt. The Israelites were physically cut off
from the Pharoah’s kingdom, his armies, his taskmaster, and their old
lives. Christian water
baptism represents our being spiritually cut off from the devil, his
kingdom, and our old lives. There
is no provision for returning to the old life.
After water baptism we are headed to a new land, the land of
God’s promises. We have
a new beginning. We move
out of the territory of slaves and spiritual orphans, and we move in
the territory of sons and daughters of the Most High God.
Water baptism represents our deliverance, freedom from, and victory
over Satan, his armies and his taskmasters.
We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. (Romans 8:15)
Another
Old Testament type and pattern of water baptism is that of Noah and
his family passing through water of the flood by entering into the ark. They were separated from the old life,
and when they came out of the ark, they began a totally new life.
They had a new beginning and there was no possibility of returning
to the old life. (I Peter
3:18-22)
Water
represents cleansing, deliverance and a new beginning. When the Israelites passed through the
parted sea, they were delivered by water.
When Noah entered the arc, he was delivered by and through water. Water is used when coming into a new place,
new hope, new life, without the option of turning back. Once you are baptized, you are baptized
with all that goes with it.
7.
Not a formality Water is symbolic and represents real
spiritual change that takes place in our lives as a result. It is not a religious ritual or a formality.
It is a living breathing relationship action that brings us into
a more intimate relationship with the Godhead.
We do it because we love our Lord.
Every facet of what it represents is to be dear and true to our
hearts. It was dear and true to our Lord’s heart
when he died for us, and when God the Father raised Him from the dead. Our Lord’s heart and desire is to bring
many sons and daughters into glory.
Water baptism reminds us of what Jesus did through the Atonement
(His death, burial and resurrection) so that we could be forgiven and
have eternal life. (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2)
After Water Baptism
After
water baptism we are constrained by the Love of Christ, by the love
that was manifest by His dying for us.
That love constrains us to live no longer for ourselves, but
for Jesus who died for us. After
water baptism we are to keep in memory what water baptism represents. Now, by participating with God, we grow
into the experience of what it represents.
By faith, what water baptism represents is true for us. Now we commit to learning to appropriate
to our lives what it represents.
To some degree what water baptism represents is to be a part
of what we think, and do everyday.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; Romans 6:3-18;
Luke 9:23 and 3:27; Colossians 3:1-5; Romans 8:13; Galatians 2:20)
After
water baptism we are identified with Jesus Christ in His death, burial
and resurrection. Our old
man is now dead and buried in the waters of baptism.
Now, we are risen with Christ to walk in newness of life and
we are going to “seek those things which are above’ (Colossians 3:1-4). Christ is our life and we are committed
to be just like Him. We
now commit to the process of putting to death the deeds of the body
(sin), and receiving what it means to be a son or daughter of God (Romans
8:13-15). We are also identified with righteousness
of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). His righteousness becomes our righteousness
by faith. When we are baptized
we put on Christ (righteousness).
God
the Father now sees us as His beloved sons/daughters in whom “He is
well pleased.” After Jesus was baptized in water, these
were the words He heard His Father in Heaven speak. (Matthew 3:17).
Supporters
Pray
for them that God will meet them according to their heart and according
to His grace, mercy, faith and hope for them.
Pray that they would receive a greater revelation of Father God’s
love for them. Water baptism is a time of rejoicing (Acts
8:39). Let us rejoice with those that do rejoice (Romans 12:15)
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