by Derek Gentle
1. Baptism is for Believers
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
2. Baptism is by Immersion
Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up
out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as
a dove descending upon him
3. Baptism Does Not Save (or help to
save) Us
Mark 1:8 I baptized you in water; But he
shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
1st Corinthians 12:13 For in
one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks,
whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one
baptism"
Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision
anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
4. Baptism is a Symbolic Act
A. It Symbolizes Identification
with Jesus
Acts 19:1-5
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos
was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus,
and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive
the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not
so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. And he said, Into
what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. And
Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the
people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that
is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into
the name of the Lord Jesus.
B. It Symbolizes Christ's Substitutionary
Work
Romans 6:3 Or are ye ignorant that all
we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
C. It Symbolizes Cleansing from Sin
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise,
and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
D. Baptism Testifies of the Death Christ
Has Made For Us
Romans 6: 4 We were buried therefore with
him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness
of life.
5. Baptism is Required for Church Membership
Acts 2:41 They then that received his word
were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand
souls.
6. Baptism is Not Dependant upon a Special
Person to Administer It
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot
to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and
the eunuch, and he baptized him.
