LESSON 2: BAPTISM
The subject of “baptism” is without doubt one of the most controversial of all Bible teachings. Different types of “churches” have varying modes of “baptism.” Some sprinkle, some pour, and some immerse. Some baptize infants; others baptize older children and/or adults. And there are groups which even “baptize” on behalf of those deceased. Then others tell us it is not an important thing and therefore practice no baptism at all.
History reveals that baptism has been the most divisive issue throughout the present age. Our Baptist forefathers paid dearly for their stand upon the Bible truth of baptism. Millions were cruelly put to death just because they refused to have their children “sprinkled,” or dared to stand upon the teachings of God’s Word. We do not have to face such persecution today – but we ought to be willing to take the same stand upon the truth of the Bible.
You can learn the truth by carefully studying the following Scriptures. Set aside any preconceived notions and see exactly what the Bible teaches.
I. WHAT IS BAPTISM?
A. How many kinds of Scriptural baptisms are there according to Ephesians 4:5?
B. What is baptism called in Colossians 2:12?
C. Romans 6:4 teaches that we are
D. Romans 6:5 pictures baptism as being
E. In your understanding, which action most accurately pictures a burial, or a planting: baptism by immersion or baptism by sprinkling?
F. In Matthew 3:6, where did John the Baptist baptize?
G. From John 3:23, what was John the Baptist’s reason for baptizing at a place called Aenon? there was much
H. What does your answer to “G.” say about the method of baptizing?
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I. In Mark 1:10, when Jesus was baptized, what did He come up out of? the
J. Look up Acts 8:38-39. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian, what was the relationship of both men to the water?
K. From your honest study of these verses of Scripture, what do you conclude to be the mode of baptism? (Check one)
o Sprinkling
o Pouring
o Immersion
Having drawn your conclusion, the following information will help reinforce the truth:
- The Greek word rendered baptize in your Bible is “baptidzo.” The meaning of baptidzo is “dip, plunge, immerse, submerge, overwhelm.” ALL reputable Greek scholars (Catholic, Protestant, and Baptist) agree on this point.
- Pope Stephen II declared the practice of “pouring” for baptism was valid in the case of sick candidates in the year AD 754. The Roman Catholic Council of Ravenna, in AD 1311, gave the first official sanction of sprinkling. Prior to these times, immersion was the mode of baptism. In some Roman Catholic circles, immersion was still practiced as late as the 18th century.
II. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
A. According to Matthew 3:7-8, what did John the Baptist require from people BEFORE he would baptize them?
B. Look up John 4:1. What does the relationship between the words “made” and “baptized” show concerning whom should be baptized?
C. In Acts 2:41, what had those who were first baptized done?
D. In Acts 8:12, what had the men and women who were baptized first done?
E. In Acts 8:37, what was the requirement for the Ethiopian’s baptism?
F. Look up Acts 10:47. A person receives the Holy Spirit at salvation. What does a person do after receiving the Holy Spirit? get
G. Look up Acts 16:14-15. What had the Lord done with Lydia before she was baptized?
H. Study Acts 16:30-34. What happened to the keeper of the prison and his household before they were baptized?
I. List the three steps of the Corinthians given in Acts 18:8.
J. From your honest study of these verses of Scripture, whom do you conclude to be the proper candidates for baptism? Which one (note below)
Babies
Believers
Any sincere person
Having drawn your conclusion, the following information will help reinforce the truth:
1. There is NO evidence of “infant baptism” to be found in the first couple of centuries in church history. The first recorded instance of “infant baptism” was when the Roman Emperor Valens insisted his dying son be“baptized” – in the year AD 370.
2. The Catholic Council of Mela made infant baptism “law” in the year AD 416. It was from this point that the intense persecution of true believers began to be practiced – by other “Christians.”
III. DOES BAPTISM ACCOMPLISH SALVATION?
Many people believe (and are taught) that baptism is a Sacrament – that is, a “means of God’s grace,” a channel through which our salvation comes.
A. Look up Ephesians 2:8. What is the channel of God’s saving grace? “… by grace are ye saved through
B. What are we NOT saved by? (Ephesians 2:9) “ … Not of
C. Compare Titus 3:5, Ephesians 5:26; and John 17:17. How are our sins “washed away?” The
D. Read Luke 23:32-33, 39-43. One thief was saved. Was he ever baptized?
E. From your honest study of these verses of Scripture, what part does baptism play in your salvation? Which one (note below)
No part
Some part
Absolutely essential
IV. WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN?
A. Look up 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
1. What does Paul declare here? The
2. Where does he ask them to keep it? In
3. What is the Gospel? “Christ
B. According to Romans 6:5, baptism is called the
C. In 1 Peter 3:21, baptism is called the
(Carefully read this verse. It does not teach that baptism saves anyone; it is that which baptism pictures that saves. Baptism is the answer or the response of a good conscience. We receive a good conscience before God when we are saved!)
D. From your study and consideration of these verses of Scripture, what would you say baptism is? (Note one below)
A symbol of the Gospel
The washing away of sin
V. WHAT DOES BAPTISM MAKE ME
A. Baptism does not make you a Christian.
We have already seen that baptism plays no part in our salvation. A person is
Scripturally baptized AFTER salvation, not before it.
B. Baptism makes you a church member. Look up Acts 2:41-42. List the order of events.
“Then they that gladly
- According to John 3:3-5 the “new birth” is the doorway to eternal life.
According to Acts 2:41 baptism (which follows salvation) is the doorway in the
membership of a church (a body of baptized believers). - When you are baptized, you become a member of our church. As such, you
enjoy the rights and privileges of membership which include:
a. Participation at the Lord’s table for the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
b. Participation in church business meetings.
c. Opportunities to effectively serve the Lord through His church here. - As a Baptist you may be interested in knowing the following:
a. The name “Baptist” is a Biblical name.
It is found 14 times in the New Testament, referring to John the Baptist.
According to Matthew 3:1 John was called a Baptist before he ever baptized
anyone. It is a God given name. (He wasn’t called “John the Catholic” or “John
the Episcopalian.”)
b. Christ honored John the Baptist. See Matthew 11:11. Thus the name
“Baptist” is one we can bear unashamedly.
c. All the apostles received Baptist baptism. This was never repudiated – it was
a requirement for the selection of a new apostle.
VI. WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BAPTIZE?
A. The authority to baptize was given to New Testament churches.
Just before our Lord ascended back to Heaven, He left “orders” for His work to
be continued. These orders are given in Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke
24:46-48; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8. The Lord spoke these words to His disciples.
However, if He gave this commission only to the disciples currently present, then it no longer applies – because they are long dead! The Lord Jesus Christ
gave the Great Commission to His disciples
INSTITUTIONALLY – not individually. That is, the command to go, preach,
baptize, and teach all nations was given to His Church. The disciples comprised
the first church. Since the command to “baptize” is contained in the Great
Commission, then the authority to baptize has been given to New Testament
churches – not to individuals or manmade religious organizations.
The Lord Jesus walked 60 miles (from Galilee, where there was plenty of water,
to Judea) to receive baptism from the right authority (John the Baptist). He
obviously considered the authority in baptism to be important. It is just as
important today.to replace Judas Iscariot (see Acts 1:22).
B. There are four requirements for baptism to be scriptural:
o THE RIGHT CANDIDATE – a believer
o THE RIGHT MODE – immersion
o THE RIGHT MEANING – a picture
o THE RIGHT AUTHORITY – a New Testament church
All those who are baptized into this church are baptized on the authority of this
church. Even though the pastor actually performs the act, he does so on behalf
of the church body.
That is why …
1. All those desiring baptism are presented before the church members, and
the church votes to receive them into membership upon their baptism.
2. The church receives members from other New Testament churches of like
faith and order by way of a “Letter of Commendation.”
3. The church does not receive into membership those who have been
“baptized” into some man-made religion, “church,” or denomination. We
require Scriptural baptism.
VII. WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED
Some people do not hold great importance to baptism – seeing it as either
unnecessary, or an “option” of being a Christian. On the other hand, the Word
of God places great emphasis upon the ordinance. The Biblical “symbol” of
Christianity is baptism…
Not the cross
Not the fish
These later became identifying symbols of Christianity. They are good symbols,
but they do not replace the one God gave – baptism.
Here are some reasons why you should be baptized:
A. The Lord Jesus Christ was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17).
1. He came from
baptism (verse 13). It was important to the Son of God to get baptized.
2. Jesus said baptism “
3. God the Father was “well
(verse 17).
4. By baptism we are figuratively buried with H
Christ when following Him in baptism (Rom. 6:4).
B. Baptism is a command from the Lord (Matthew 28:19).
As noted previously, the command to baptize was given to the Lord’s churches
– thus it follows that those who are won to Christ have a duty to be baptized.
Write out John 14:15.
C. Baptism is the Bible way.
1. Look up Acts 2:38. Here the command is for “
baptized.
2. Acts 8:12 includes both
D. All Christians are exhorted to be faithful in church attendance.
We read of this command in Hebrews 10:25. Can we properly follow this
command and not be a member of a New Testament church, and not be
baptized? No.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED: Be sure to record the date of your baptism at the
very beginning of these lessons. Write it (along with the date of your salvation)
in your Bible.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BAPTIZED: Write out the question the Ethiopian asked
in the last part of Acts 8:36.
In your own words, and in your own situation, answer this question.
Why not decide now to obey the Lord?
“Having studied the Scriptures concerning the subject of baptism, and realizing
this step is required of me by the Lord, I hereby determine by the grace of God
that I will present myself for baptism by coming forward during the invitation at
the next service of the church, thus publicly associating myself with the Lord
Jesus Christ, and committing myself to active membership in this church.”
Signed:
Date:
VIII. WHAT DO I DO TO PREPARE BAPTISM
“Okay, I’ll get baptized!! What do I do?” Follow these simple steps:
Come down the aisle during the invitation at the close of the service. I will meet
you there, and we can tell Pastor what you have come for.
Pastor will lead the church to accept you into its membership upon your
baptism. Your baptism will be scheduled on a Sunday morning at your
convenience (schedule it now).
Many people use this event as an opportunity to invite unsaved family and
friends. They will hear the gospel presented. Perhaps they also will receive
Christ as Savior.
Talk to the Pastor or his wife about what you should bring for the baptism.
When you arrive to church on the day of your baptism someone will go with
you to the dressing room to leave your bag of clothes.
During the first verse of the invitation, go to the dressing room and prepare for
baptism. A church member will be at the dressing room to answer your
questions and help you in any way.