Baptism
What is baptism? What does it represent?
Baptism is an “outward display of an inward change.”
Baptism displays the link between the believer and Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Scripture: Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 3:23-27; Colossians 2:6-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22.
Who should be baptized?
Only Christians should be baptized.
In all of Scripture, no example exists of a nonbeliever being baptized.
There is no category in Scripture for a non-baptized follower of Christ. Being a Christian came with the expectation that one would be baptized.
Why should a Christian be baptized?
There are two primary reasons and one secondary reason to be baptized as a follower of Christ.
Followers of Christ should be baptized because Jesus was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)
Followers of Christ should be baptized because Jesus commands his followers to baptize while making disciples. (Matthew 28:16-20)
As a secondary reason, Christians should be baptized to link them through a common baptism to a local church (Ephesians 4:4-7)
How are we to baptize?
In the Bible, believers were baptized by immersion:
The Greek word baptizo, which is translated into English, as baptize literally means to immerse or dunk.
The early church including those in the New Testament baptized by immersion.
Jesus was baptized by immersion.
Baptism by immersion most clearly displays the link between believers and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. (See above: “What is baptism? What does it represent?”
Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34; Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 3:23-27; Colossians 2:6-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22
When should we baptize (age or time)?
The New Testament always presents baptism immediately after faith. The order most consistent with Scripture is:
1. The Gospel is preached
2. People believe
3. Those who believe are baptized. Therefore, we should baptize only those who profess faith in Christ (believer’s baptism).
Scripture: Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:12-13; Acts 8:26-40; Acts 9:1-19; Acts 10:34-48; Acts 16:11-15; Acts 18:8.
Where should someone be baptized?
Baptisms may occur anywhere where there is a candidate and water.
Baptisms occurred in rivers and other bodies of water.
Scripture is silent on a specific on a specific location.
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