Jesus never asked His disciples to remember His birth, but He did instruct them to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders of His death. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

» FIRST ORDINANCE: BAPTISM

Ordinance definition:

• an authoritative decree or direction, a law
• something ordained or decreed by fate or a deity
• a prescribed usage, practice, or ceremony

1) WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?

IT ILLUSTRATES CHRIST’S DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.

“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day.” —1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. —Colossians 2:12 NLT

IT ILLUSTRATES MY NEW LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! —2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. —Romans 6:4 NLT

Baptism doesn’t make you a believer; it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. It’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

2) WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE SET BY JESUS.

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. —Mark 1:9 NLT

BECAUSE CHRIST COMMANDS IT.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. —Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

IT DEMONSTRATES THAT I REALLY AM A BELIEVER.

Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized. —Acts 18:8b NLT

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. —1 John 2:3 NLT

3) WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

// EVERY PERSON WHO HAS BELIEVED IN CHRIST. //

Those who accepted his message were baptized… —Acts 2:41 NIV

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

Some churches/denominations practice a “baptism of confirmation” for infants/children. This practice is found no where in Scripture.

Baptism as described and depicted in the Bible was only for those who made a personal profession of faith in Christ.

4) WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

// AS SOON AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED! //

“Those who believed…were baptized…that day!” —Acts 2:41 NLT

As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized.

5) WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?

BECAUSE JESUS WAS BAPTIZED THAT WAY.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. —Matthew 3:16 NIV

EVERY BAPTISM IN THE BIBLE WAS BY IMMERSION.

“…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 NIV

THE WORD “BAPTIZE” MEANS “TO PUT UNDERWATER.”

The Greek word baptizo means “to immerse or dip underwater.”

IT BEST SYMBOLIZES A BURIAL AND RESURRECTION!

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. —Romans 6:4 CSB