BAPTISM

•It is a public declaration of a person’s faith in Christ. It is a public way of saying to everyone that you have decided to give your life to Jesus Christ.

• It is a point of departure from your past and an entrance into the altogether new

(2 Corinthians 5:17)Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:13-17) serves as the example of this. His baptism became a point of departure from His life in Nazareth (where he grew up) to the life of a traveling prophet and preacher.

• It is the means to bringing us into union with Christ and His body, the church

In Romans 6 we are told that we are “baptized into Christ” (v. 3) and “united with him” (v. 5). First Corinthians 12:13 says that when we were baptized we were baptized into the body of Christ, the church.

• It is God’s claim to ownership over me. You are baptized “in the name of the Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20). To baptize in the “name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38; 8:16), or in the name of the triune God, is one and the same. We use the names of the Trinity since it was our Lord’s command to His disciples and to His church.

The phrase “in the name of” means both to call on the character and power of the one named and it means to become the “possession of” the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christian baptism is rich with beautiful meaning and symbolism. Consider what baptism illustrates:

• It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection “Christ died for our sins...he was buried... and he rose again.” I Corinthians 15:3-4

“For when you were baptized, you were bur- ied with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Colossians 2:12 (TEV)

• It illustrates the cleansing of sin. In Acts 22:16 Ananias instructed Saul (later known as Paul, the Apostle) to “Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on the name of the Lord.” This is why immersion is so significant, it is a complete cleansing by which we are forgiven of all our sin. (cf. Acts 2:38).

• It illustrates my new life as a Christian. “When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (TLB)

“By our baptism then, we were buried with him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...so also we may live a new life.” Romans 6:4 (TEV)

Baptism does not make you a believer – you are baptized because you are a believer in Jesus Christ. The act of baptism alone doesn’t “save” you. Christian baptism is preceded by personal faith/trust in Christ and is coupled with confes- sion and repentance. Consider these passages:

“You are all (children) of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16

“Repent and be baptized...for the forgive- ness of your sins.” Acts 2:38

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the man said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

•Because you want to follow Christ’s example

“At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9

• Because Christ commands it

“Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all the people ev- erywhere and make them disciples, baptize then in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” Mat- thew 28:19-20 (TEV)

If it was important enough for Jesus to com- mand, isn’t it important enough for us to obey? And if it is important enough for Jesus to do, isn’t it important enough for us to follow?

• Because it demonstrates you are a believer

“Many of the Corinthians who heard him be- lieved and were baptized.” Acts 18:8

• Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know Him

“We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.” I John 2:3

• Because it is the appeal we make to God for a clean conscience

“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good con- science – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 3:21 (NASB)

• Because it unites you with Christ in a very special way

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were bap- tized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 6:26-27

• Because you desire to be forgiven

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you cruci- fied, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Broth- ers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Re- pent and be baptized everyone of you for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will re- ceive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:36-38

Like Jesus was baptized – by being immersed in water

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16

The Greek word translated “baptized/baptism” literally means to “immerse, dip under, or sub- merge beneath.”

For the first 1200 years of Christian history immersion was the universally accepted mode of baptism. Many of the great churches built during those years, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, have large pools in which they immersed people.

Even Reformation leaders such as Martin Luther (Lutheran), John Calvin (Presbyterian), and John Wesley (Methodist) agreed that the accepted New Testament practice was immersion.

White Oak Christian Church is committed to “doing Bible things in Bible ways.” Therefore our practice is to baptize people by immersion.

• Every baptism in the New Testament was by immersion

When Jesus was baptized, the Bible uses the Greek word baptizo to describe that event.

When Jesus commanded that His disciples be baptized, he used the Greek word baptizo to instruct them how to do it.

Every baptism recorded in the New Testament was by immersion, consistently usin the Greek word baptizo to describe the event.

“Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water...” Acts 8:38-39

The Apostles, consistent with Jesus’ example and command instructed new believers to be immersed into Christ, using the Greek word bap- tize to describe the action.

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

• It is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may have new life.” Romans 6:3-4

The picture immersion portrays is compelling: just as a person lowers you into the water, Christ lowers you into the pool of His grace until every inch of your soul is clean. Buried in a watery grave, covered from head to foot with God’s love, you are washed clean by the blood of Jesus.

Consider the statements from the founders of three denominations and other church historians and scholars:

Martin Luther (Lutheran): “On this account I could wish that such as are baptized should be completely immersed into water accord- ing to the meaning of the word and the signification of the ordinance...as also with- out doubt it was instituted by Christ” (Works, Vol. II. p. 75, ed. 1551)

John Calvin (Presbyterian): “The very word baptize signifies to immerse, and it is cer- tain that immersion was the practice of the primitive church.” (Institutes, Vol. XI., ch. 15, sec. 49)

John Wesley (Methodist): “We are buried with him, alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion” (Notes on N.T., Romans 6:3). “Baptized according to the custom of the first church and the rule of the Church of England, by immersion” (Journal, Vol. 1 p. 20).

F. Brenner (Roman Catholic): “Thirteen hundred years was baptism generally and ordinarily performed by the immersion of a man under water” (Work on Baptism, Au- gusti, Denkwurd, VII. p. 62).

Philip Scaff (Presbyterian): “Immersion, and not sprinkling, was unquestionably the origi- nal form of baptism. Baptism is to immerse in water” (History of Apostolic Church, pp. 568-569).

Many people find it difficult to believe that the prescribed form or way of being baptized is important to God. They would contend that outward symbols are irrelevant to God; He is only interested in what is in the heart.

It is true that God is most concerned about our heart condition, but He often uses prescribed forms to test and demonstrate the sincerity of our hearts (i.e. our faith, trust, confidence, loyalty, obedience).

In the Old Testament cases are recorded where people ignored the form of the sacrifice and offered animals forbidden by law or had the form right but their meaning, or hearts, were all wrong (Malachi 1:8, Amos 5:21-25).

These truths can be seen in the New Testament as well in Mark 7:8-9,13 with Jesus’ harsh indictment of the Pharisees:

“’You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.’ And he said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’”

Could Jesus make the same statements to us today if we, like the Pharisees, choose to obey those traditions or forms we are comfortable with, and disregard the forms that don’t suit us? They may differ from our past traditions, but inconvenient, or even humbling...but if our Lord prescribed a certain form (i.e. immersion as the way of being baptized) do we really want to disregard His clear and specific request and command?

• Every person who has believed in Christ

According to the Scriptures, those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God should be baptized.

The Ethiopian Eunuch asked Philip:

“Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Philip replied, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” Act. 8:36

Every person in the New Testament who was baptized first believed in who Jesus was – the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He or she also believed what Jesus did...died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and was raised back to life

three days later.

“Those who accepted his message were baptized.” Acts.2:41

“Simon himself believed and was baptized.” Acts 8:13

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News...and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

• Those who have repented of their sin

Closely connected to belief is repentance. Peter exhorted the people at Pentecost to “Re- pent...and be baptized” (Acts 2:38).

Repentance means to have a change of mind. It means to make a U-turn or to do an about-face. You were going down the road of destruction, death and hell; but you repented, you turned around, changed your direction, changed your mind. Therefore, baptism is for believers who have repented of their sin.

First, you should be grateful that you had parents who cared enough about you to set you apart for God. Because of their devotion, you have an opportunity to complete their prayer by willingly submitting to Christ in His call to you to be immersed.

Second, being immersed is not a sign of disrespect for what your parents did, nor is it an act of condemnation toward them. The very opposite is true: it should be seen as the fulfillment of their prayers and best desires for you.

Be thankful for the heritage of concerned parents, but don’t be negligent of your respon- sibility as an adult to make your personal com- mitment and obedience to God in baptism (Philippians 2:12-13).

Re-baptism is only encouraged for those who lack confidence in their initial baptism experience because they don’t remember it, they were coerced, or their heart was not right with God at the time. Anyone who has fallen into a pattern of sin after having received Christ and having been baptized should repent and seek forgiveness, but re-baptism is not necessary (Acts. 8:13-24).

No. Scripture is abundantly clear that only Jesus saves (Acts 4:12). The work of salvation is a finished work by Christ on the cross (Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:10-14). Baptism has no redemptive powers of its own. There is nothing special about the water in the river, pond, or baptistry.

Tragically, some people believe they are going to heaven when they die just because they have been baptized. They have no genuine personal faith, have never made a personal decision to receive Christ as Savior and Lord, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. If baptism itself could save, why did Jesus die on the cross? If we could be saved merely by being immersed, would Jesus have had to die for our sins? No. If a person’s faith is in the sacrament and not the Savior, he is trusting in a powerless ritual.

As soon as you have believed in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and Savior of the world.

“Those who accepted his message were baptized...that day.” Acts 2:41

“But when they believed...they were bap- tized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

“Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled about the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ‘Look, here is water! Why shouldn’t I be baptized right now?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38

The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). In the New Testament church a person’s baptism was always the im- mediate expression of faith, not separate from it. At White Oak Christian Church, our desire is to restore the original intent and practice of baptism found in the Scriptures. Therefore we encourage people to be baptized at the point they are ready to make a commitment to Christ.

As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized – there is no reason to delay being baptized. If you wait until you are “perfect” you’ll never feel “good enough!”