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Baptism

I.    WHY BE BAPTIZED?
  1. Because you want to follow Christ’s example.
    “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” Mark 1:9
  1. Because Christ commanded it.
    Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19- 20
  1. Because it shows you are a believer
    “…many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8, NIV
  1. Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know him.
    “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands.” 1 John 2:3, NIV

II.      WHAT IS THE MEANING OF WATER BAPTISM?
  1. It is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection and of our spiritual baptism- our identifying with Christ in our salvation.
  2. “Christ died for our sins…he was buried…and he was raised on the third day.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NIV
  3. Because you want to follow Christ’s example. “…having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12, NIV
  4.   It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
III.         IS BAPTISM NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?
  1. Baptism doesn’t make you a believer. It shows that you are already one! Nor does baptism “save” you. Only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring — it is the outward symbol of the commitment you have already made in your heart.
  2. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…it is the gift of god, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV
  3. “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household.'” Acts16:31
IV.       HOW ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?
  1. We are to be baptized in the same way Jesus was baptized – by being immersed in water. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16, NIV
  2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. “…Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…”Acts 8:38-39, NIV
  3. The word “baptize” from the Greek word “baptizo”, means “to dip” or “to immerse” under water. Immersion is the best way to picture a burial and resurrection. As the person being baptized goes under water, he is identifying himself with the death and burial of Christ. As he comes up out of the water, he is identifying himself with the resurrection of Christ.
V.      WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
  1. Every person who has believed in Christ should be baptized.
    “Those who accepted his message were baptized.” Acts 2:41, NIV” But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12, NIV
  1. The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ! We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe.
  2. “Then Philip began with the Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! Why shouldn’t I be baptized?…Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38
  3. There is no reason to delay. As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, he can and should be baptized.
VI.   WHEN ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?
         As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized…that day!” Acts 2:41, NIV

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