Baptisms

Baptism

Reasoning for Baptism

New Testament baptism did not exist before the time of John the Baptist. God sent John
specifically for the purpose of baptizing the Christ (Messiah), thereby manifesting him to
Israel and his followers. (John 1:6,31,33 )

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John 1:6

"And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come
baptizing with water." John 1:31

"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me,
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he
which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." John 1:33

Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. He said that we
were baptized "into" (with reference to or "toward") his death.

Romans 6:3-5 states, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together into the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

Baptism is much like a photograph that we carry in our pocket We take a photograph out,
look at it, and it reminds of the individual in the picture. It is not actually the person in flesh
and blood -- it is only a representation of that person. So, baptism is a picture of what
Christ accomplished at Calvary and at the tomb. When we submit to baptism, we picture
for all to see what Christ gained for us. It is an "outward profession of and inward faith." It
is our declaration to the world, to neighbors, and to our God that we accept what Christ
accomplished in his death and resurrection. When he conquered death, he conquered death
for us. When he paid the price of sin, he paid the price for us. Everything won by his
resurrection assures us that we will have the same.

Baptism is open to all who would take it on the Lord's terms.

The Bible declares over and over that for an individual to be baptized, he first must be born
again, or saved! The only proper candidate for baptism is an individual who knows Jesus
Christ as his or her personal savior. Never can an infant or anyone who cannot give a
testimony of the new birth be immersed.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

Before John would baptize those who came to him, he required "proof" of their conversion.
"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within
yourselves.... " Luke 3:8

When asked what stood in the way of his baptism, Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch that he
must first believe! "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:37

Other Bible Scriptures concerning Baptism

►Matthew 3:13-16

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have

prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus

answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he

consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold,

the

heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on

him; and

lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

►Ephesians 4:4-5

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord,

one

faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

►Romans 6:3-5

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his

death?

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the

dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united

with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

►I Peter 3:21

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body, but

the answer of a good conscience toward God, it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

►Colossians 2:12

and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in

the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

►John 3:1-5

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came

Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no

one

can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the

truth,

unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him,

"How can a

man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb

and be born?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he

cannot enter the

kingdom of God.

►Acts 8:26-40

And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Get up, and go toward the south unto the way

that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert. And he got up and went: and, behold, a

man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had

the

charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, Was returning, and sitting

in his

chariot read Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and stay close to

this

chariot. And Philip ran up to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you

understand what you are reading? And he said, How can I, except someone should guide me?

And

he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was

this,

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so

opened he not

his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall

declare his generation?

for his life is taken from the earth.” And the eunuch answered Philip, and

said, I ask you, of whom

is the prophet speaking? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip

opened his mouth, and

began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. And as they

went on their way, they came

to some water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what

keeps me from being baptized? And

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. And he commanded the chariot

to stop: and they both went down

into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and Philip baptized

him. And when they came up out of

the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the

eunuch saw him no more: but he went

on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and

passing through he preached in all the

cities, till he came to Caesarea.

►Galatians 3:26-27

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into

Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

►Mark 16:15-16

And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that

believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.

►Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by

the

washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit

►Matthew 28:19-20

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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I

with you always, to the close of the age.

► Acts 2:38-41

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for

the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to

you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him."

And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this

crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that

day

about three thousand souls

►Acts 22:16

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

Gateway of Light Ministries