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Basic Bible Study Course

WATER BAPTISM

LESSON #5

1. ORDINANCE AND PRINCIPLE OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
2. IMMERSION
3. COMMANDMENT
4. FOR BELIEVERS
5. WATER BAPTISM DOES NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS, it shows you are forgiven.
6. JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE
7. WHEN SHOULD I GET BAPTIZED?
8. FALSE DOCTRINE

WATER BAPTISM

1. ORDINANCE AND PRINCIPLE OF DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

Water baptism is an ordinance and a principle of the doctrine of Christ. The Bible teaches us to obey the ordinances of God and to follow the doctrines of his son Jesus. Read Exodus 18:20 and Leviticus 18:4.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2.

Water baptism is called the baptism of repentance. It shows the world you believe God for salvation and have repented of your sins.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4.

John the Baptist preached that you need to repent, confessing your sins, and be baptized. Doing this shows God and the world that you believe God's holy Word and are willing to obey it. Luke 1:17 tells how the preaching of John the Baptist about repentance and water baptism prepared the people for the coming of Jesus. There is repentance, water baptism, the Holy Ghost baptism, growing in grace, and much more. We are supposed to go on to receive the gifts of the Spirit. We are supposed to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) and to attain to the ". . . stature of the fulness of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:13). We are able to build on the foundation God provided for us in Hebrews 6:1-2.

There are two separate baptisms available to believers in Christ Jesus. They are water baptism and the Holy Ghost baptism. People baptize with water but the Holy Ghost baptism is a supernatural baptism from heaven. We will deal with water baptism in this lesson. There is separate lesson on the Holy Ghost baptism. Read Luke 3:16 and John 1:33.

2. IMMERSION

In order to fully understand about baptism we need to know what the word itself means. Definitions are taken from Webster's Dictionary.

BAPTISM: to plunge, immerse.

BAPTIZE: to plunge, immerse, to purify; cleanse; initiate.

Initiate means beginning, in the first stage. Immersion means baptism in which the person's whole body is dipped under water.

Therefore, getting baptized according to the scriptures is having your body plunged completely under water. This is your first step in following Christ, AFTER repentance.

IMMERSION is the correct way to baptize. Sprinkling with water as a form of water baptism is not scriptural. Jesus brought in the New Testament. God's Word is infallible; it is the law of God. There is no scriptural basis for sprinkling as a form of water baptism. Bible scriptures DO support water baptism by immersion (remember above where Webster said that this means the person's whole body is dipped UNDER water). Also read Matthew 3:16.

And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. John 3:23.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: Mark 1:9-10.

3. COMMANDMENT

Water baptism is a commandment of Christ. God sent John the Baptist to baptize. Jesus was baptized. Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19. (Jesus said this.)

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 10:48. (Peter, an apostle, commanded water baptism here, obeying Christ's command.)

4. FOR BELIEVERS

True repentance includes being sorry for sin, asking forgiveness, and then by the grace and help of the Lord, changing. There is an immediate change in the heart and we grow in grace.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

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

The Spirit told Philip to join himself to the eunuch's chariot. He did and found the man reading the Word. He was seeking God. Philip preached unto him Jesus. Then the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philip told him if he believed with all his heart, he could get baptized. Read Acts 8:26-40.

(37) 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. (38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8:37-38.

After you show God through repentance of sins that you will serve him, you show God and the world through water baptism that you are going to follow God. The dictionary says that baptism is used as a symbol of washing away sin. It is an outward sign of an inward experience.

You can wash the outside of something but the inside can still be dirty. Therefore repentance must precede water baptism because without repentance, water baptism has no value.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Matthew 23:26.

5. WATER BAPTISM DOES NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS, it shows you are forgiven.

Baptism is an outward sign that you have been born again (saved) and are following the commandments of Jesus. Some people get baptized in water and are still not forgiven of sins or free from the devil's bondage. An example of this is: Simon the sorcerer found in Acts 8:5-24. In verse 13, "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which were done." Then he wanted to pay money for the things of God. Verse 19, "Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." He believed the salvation message was real and was baptized, but where was the repentance?

This lets us know that water baptism does not save you. Simon believed and was baptized but was not saved. He had not decided to forsake his sins. You cannot be saved without repenting of your sins and accepting the atoning blood of Jesus to cleanse you of those sins. Peter talked to him in verse 20-23. "(20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

Simon believed, and was baptized, yet Peter said that Simon's heart was not right and that he was in the bond of iniquity. Being a believer is not enough. The devils also believe and tremble (James 2:19). We must cleanse our hearts of sin and forsake sin (Proverbs 28:13). In order to be ready to meet God you have to repent and change your ways from sinful living to righteous living through Christ. Therefore you see that water baptism does not actually save you. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Read Romans 6:13.

John baptized in water and admitted that water baptism did not cleanse you from sin by what he said in John 1:29.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

Ananias told Saul (Paul) to get baptized. Acts 22:16. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Therefore water baptism is a symbol of our cleansing of sins by the blood of Jesus.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7.

The doctrine that water baptism by itself saves you, hence obtaining forgiveness of sins, is false doctrine, but after repentance, we must be baptized according to the commandment of the Lord!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.

The atonement for our sins came about when Jesus died on the cross, an innocent sacrifice for sinful man. God raised him from the dead to live eternally, making intercession for us. God ordained it this way. Baptism is to remind us of the dying of the will of our flesh, and newness of our life in Christ.

(4) 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. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:4-6.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12.

Water baptism is not done to wash the dirt off of the body, but to show we have asked God to forgive us of our sins. The heart and conscience therefore is cleansed by faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, and we are obeying Christ's command to be baptized.

(18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:18 & 21.

Jesus was literally put to death in the flesh. The "like figure" shows a similitude. God quickened (made alive) the dead flesh of Jesus and he was resurrected. God puts to death the sin and guilt in us when he forgives us. He resurrects us in new life, giving us a good conscience toward God.

Jesus died. We show a symbol of our flesh dying by being immersed under the water since we bury dead people. Jesus rose again. We show that we put our will to death by going under the water and when we raise up out of the water at water baptism, we show we rise in newness of a changed life. Read Romans 6:12-19. Study 1 Corinthians 15:26-58. Read Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:24, and Colossians 3:9 & 10. For further study, read 1 Corinthians 15:29-31, and 2 Corinthians 4:16.

6. JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE

Jesus was baptized. A follower of Christ will obey his commands. Read Mark 1:5.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Matthew 3:13.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27.

7. WHEN SHOULD I GET BAPTIZED?

Here are some scriptural examples: Read Acts 8:26-40. The eunuch in these scriptures was riding along. As he rode, Philip preached to him Jesus and the man believed. They stopped the chariot and Philip baptized the man.

When you are convicted by God to repent, He also convicts you to follow Him closely from then on. You should be baptized as soon as possible to show the world you have made a change from sinful living to godly living.

The keeper of the prison in Acts chapter 16 got saved and the same hour of the night was baptized and all his household. They got baptized immediately according to this. If there is not a suitable place around for you to get baptized, pray and God will provide.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Acts 16:33

You should seek the Holy Ghost baptism right after water baptism because it will guide you and give you power. Read Acts 1:8 and John 16:13.

8. FALSE DOCTRINES CONCERNING WATER BAPTISM.

a. Infant baptism is not scriptural. Baptism is to take place after true repentance of sin and by faith. This can be accomplished when a person reaches the age of accountability, at which time you know right from wrong and are capable of making your own choice. Obviously, an infant cannot do this. Read Romans 5:12 and Romans 3:23 (all are sinners).

Then Peter said unto them, Repent and 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.

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matthew 3:8.

b. Some say and teach that water baptism is unimportant; this is false doctrine. Water baptism is important. The thief on the cross to whom Jesus referred, ". . .To day shalt thou be with me in paradise," had not the opportunity to come down and get baptized. There are probably other exceptions, as someone dying shortly after accepting Christ as savior, but the Bible says that he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin (James 4:17). Water baptism is a commandment.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16.

c. Jesus is our example. It is false doctrine to baptize other than the way Jesus taught in the Word. Matthew 28:19 tells us how Jesus said to baptize! Read also Acts 2:38.

(12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (14) I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; (15) Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 1 Corinthians 1:12-15.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19. (Jesus said this.)

d. The doctrine that water baptism forgives sins is false doctrine.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.

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