Water baptism was ordained by Jesus

Matthew 28:18-20. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

1. Faith in Christ—not water baptism—is what “saves” us.

Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

“Romans Road” to salvation
• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)
• But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
• If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
• For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

2. Baptism portrays our salvation.

Romans 6:4-11. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just 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. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

2.a. Baptism symbolizes our freedom from sin and its affects.

2.b. Baptism symbolizes our resurrected life in Christ.

2.c. Water baptism symbolizes our baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Luke 3:16. John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

1 Corinthians 12:13. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

3. In the New Testament, water baptism quickly follows salvation.

Acts 2:41. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Pastor’s Challenge:

• Recently trusted Christ? Baptism is your next step!
• Followed Jesus a while but not been baptized? Ask him if he wants you take that step.
• Already saved and baptized? Let baptisms encourage and challenge you!
• Not yet trusted Christ as savior? Trust him today!