When I Hear Baptism

“When I hear baptism, I think of a faith that has surrendered to the King of kings” Confirmation of the Lordship of the Crucified Christ – 2:36a Miracles (2:22): “a man approved of God…by miracles…” Death (2:23) “Him being delivered…of God.” Resurrection (2:24-32): “This Jesus God has raised up…” Exaltation (2:32-36): “God has made that same Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” Conviction of the Lordship of the Crucified Christ – 2:37 They were believers. They believed what Peter preached. If they had not believed they would not have been pricked in their heart They were convicted believers. However, a convicted believer is not a saved believer, hence they asked the question, “What must we do to be saved?” The answer of 2:38 is a response to the question of 2:37 and the fulfillment of 2:21 It was a question borne out of a heart that realized the Lordship of Jesus Christ and was crying out for salvation from sin The apostolic answer was, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38) In our baptism have placed our allegiance upon the Captain of our salvation – 1 Cor 1:13 This point cannot be over-emphasized: In baptism we are submitting to the Lord and Christ (36) who ruling on the Davidic throne in heaven (30)

“When I hear baptism, I think of being added to the body of Christ” I think of being added to the body of Christ – Acts 2:47 In a faith based baptism we are NOT added to a denominational body Many preachers urge folks to answer an altar call and then “join a Bible believing church,” in other words join a denomination Most religious bodies in this matter of “baptism” regard their particular baptism as putting one into their denomination Those that the Lord added to the church were those that were being saved, but those that were being added were those that were being baptized Thus, those that were being saved were those that were being baptized – Acts 2:41, 47 In the gospel age, the word “believer” designated a “baptized believer” - Acts 22:19; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:2; Acts 8:3 - All of these involve the same classification - “Them that believed” was “the church” (baptized believers, even according to Baptist doctrine, because one can't be in the Baptist church without being baptized) Baptism is a unifying event. It makes us one with Christ and one with each other Baptism was intended to unite the one body of Christ, according to 1 Cor 12:13, “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” New Testament baptism is based upon a common faith in a common Savior it unites us in a common death for the remission of the sins of the whole world It is a common action in a common element for a common purpose resulting in a common fellowship in a common love Thus, willful rejection of baptism after receiving instruction concerning the significance of baptism is unconscionable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ, for it is defiant repudiation of his authority in the gospel. Also, anyone who regards baptism abstracted from repentance as effectual to save lacks faith in the only one who can save – F.F. Bruce

“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. Acts 22:19 (NASB95) I think of being added to the body of Christ – Acts 2:47 In a faith based baptism we are NOT added to a denominational body Many preachers urge folks to answer an altar call and then “join a Bible believing church,” in other words join a denomination Most religious bodies in this matter of “baptism” regard their particular baptism as putting one into their denomination Those that the Lord added to the church were those that were being saved, but those that were being added were those that were being baptized Thus, those that were being saved were those that were being baptized – Acts 2:41, 47 In the gospel age, the word “believer” designated a “baptized believer” - Acts 22:19; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:2; Acts 8:3 - All of these involve the same classification - “Them that believed” was “the church” (baptized believers, even according to Baptist doctrine, because one can't be in the Baptist church without being baptized) Baptism is a unifying event. It makes us one with Christ and one with each other Baptism was intended to unite the one body of Christ, according to 1 Cor 12:13, “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” New Testament baptism is based upon a common faith in a common Savior it unites us in a common death for the remission of the sins of the whole world It is a common action in a common element for a common purpose resulting in a common fellowship in a common love Thus, willful rejection of baptism after receiving instruction concerning the significance of baptism is unconscionable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ, for it is defiant repudiation of his authority in the gospel. Also, anyone who regards baptism abstracted from repentance as effectual to save lacks faith in the only one who can save – F.F. Bruce

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Acts 9:13–14 (NASB95) I think of being added to the body of Christ – Acts 2:47 In a faith based baptism we are NOT added to a denominational body Many preachers urge folks to answer an altar call and then “join a Bible believing church,” in other words join a denomination Most religious bodies in this matter of “baptism” regard their particular baptism as putting one into their denomination Those that the Lord added to the church were those that were being saved, but those that were being added were those that were being baptized Thus, those that were being saved were those that were being baptized – Acts 2:41, 47 In the gospel age, the word “believer” designated a “baptized believer” - Acts 22:19; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:2; Acts 8:3 - All of these involve the same classification - “Them that believed” was “the church” (baptized believers, even according to Baptist doctrine, because one can't be in the Baptist church without being baptized) Baptism is a unifying event. It makes us one with Christ and one with each other Baptism was intended to unite the one body of Christ, according to 1 Cor 12:13, “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” New Testament baptism is based upon a common faith in a common Savior it unites us in a common death for the remission of the sins of the whole world It is a common action in a common element for a common purpose resulting in a common fellowship in a common love Thus, willful rejection of baptism after receiving instruction concerning the significance of baptism is unconscionable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ, for it is defiant repudiation of his authority in the gospel. Also, anyone who regards baptism abstracted from repentance as effectual to save lacks faith in the only one who can save – F.F. Bruce

and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:2 (NASB95) I think of being added to the body of Christ – Acts 2:47 In a faith based baptism we are NOT added to a denominational body Many preachers urge folks to answer an altar call and then “join a Bible believing church,” in other words join a denomination Most religious bodies in this matter of “baptism” regard their particular baptism as putting one into their denomination Those that the Lord added to the church were those that were being saved, but those that were being added were those that were being baptized Thus, those that were being saved were those that were being baptized – Acts 2:41, 47 In the gospel age, the word “believer” designated a “baptized believer” - Acts 22:19; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:2; Acts 8:3 - All of these involve the same classification - “Them that believed” was “the church” (baptized believers, even according to Baptist doctrine, because one can't be in the Baptist church without being baptized) Baptism is a unifying event. It makes us one with Christ and one with each other Baptism was intended to unite the one body of Christ, according to 1 Cor 12:13, “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” New Testament baptism is based upon a common faith in a common Savior it unites us in a common death for the remission of the sins of the whole world It is a common action in a common element for a common purpose resulting in a common fellowship in a common love Thus, willful rejection of baptism after receiving instruction concerning the significance of baptism is unconscionable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ, for it is defiant repudiation of his authority in the gospel. Also, anyone who regards baptism abstracted from repentance as effectual to save lacks faith in the only one who can save – F.F. Bruce

But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Acts 8:3 (NASB95) I think of being added to the body of Christ – Acts 2:47 In a faith based baptism we are NOT added to a denominational body Many preachers urge folks to answer an altar call and then “join a Bible believing church,” in other words join a denomination Most religious bodies in this matter of “baptism” regard their particular baptism as putting one into their denomination Those that the Lord added to the church were those that were being saved, but those that were being added were those that were being baptized Thus, those that were being saved were those that were being baptized – Acts 2:41, 47 In the gospel age, the word “believer” designated a “baptized believer” - Acts 22:19; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:2; Acts 8:3 - All of these involve the same classification - “Them that believed” was “the church” (baptized believers, even according to Baptist doctrine, because one can't be in the Baptist church without being baptized) Baptism is a unifying event. It makes us one with Christ and one with each other Baptism was intended to unite the one body of Christ, according to 1 Cor 12:13, “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” New Testament baptism is based upon a common faith in a common Savior it unites us in a common death for the remission of the sins of the whole world It is a common action in a common element for a common purpose resulting in a common fellowship in a common love Thus, willful rejection of baptism after receiving instruction concerning the significance of baptism is unconscionable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ, for it is defiant repudiation of his authority in the gospel. Also, anyone who regards baptism abstracted from repentance as effectual to save lacks faith in the only one who can save – F.F. Bruce

“When I hear baptism, I think of a faith that has united me with the sacrifice of the Redeemer” In a faith based baptism we are united with Christ: “Baptized into Christ Jesus” – 6:3a “Baptized into his death” – 6:3b “…Walk in newness of life” – 6:4b “…United with Him in the likeness of his death…likeness of his resurrection” – 6:5, 6 There is no picture here or in any other passage of the NT. You must be joined to the sacrifice for sin. God says he raises us when we are united with the Redeemer Paul connects our baptism and our death to sin together as cause and effect. This does not mean that the water or the physical act as such produces this spiritual effect Only the spiritual working of God himself, which he graciously performs in conjunction with the physical act, can cause us to die to sin and rise again The means is the death of Christ The effect is death to sin This is God’s operation and God’s divine plan for uniting us with Christ The significance of baptism: While faith and baptism are distinguishable they are inseparable as far as conversion is concerned. The reason baptism serves as a line of demarcation for the life of the Christian is because it is a part of conversion to Christ New life – 6:4 Crucifixion of sinful past – 6:5-7 Serving righteousness – 6:12-20

“Baptized into Christ Jesus” – 6:3a “Baptized into his death” – 6:3b “…Walk in newness of life” – 6:4b “…United with Him in the likeness of his death…likeness of his resurrection” – 6:5, 6 In a faith based baptism we are united with Christ: “Baptized into Christ Jesus” – 6:3a “Baptized into his death” – 6:3b “…Walk in newness of life” – 6:4b “…United with Him in the likeness of his death…likeness of his resurrection” – 6:5, 6 There is no picture here or in any other passage of the NT. You must be joined to the sacrifice for sin. God says he raises us when we are united with the Redeemer Paul connects our baptism and our death to sin together as cause and effect. This does not mean that the water or the physical act as such produces this spiritual effect Only the spiritual working of God himself, which he graciously performs in conjunction with the physical act, can cause us to die to sin and rise again The means is the death of Christ The effect is death to sin This is God’s operation and God’s divine plan for uniting us with Christ The significance of baptism: While faith and baptism are distinguishable they are inseparable as far as conversion is concerned. The reason baptism serves as a line of demarcation for the life of the Christian is because it is a part of conversion to Christ New life – 6:4 Crucifixion of sinful past – 6:5-7 Serving righteousness – 6:12-20

“When I hear baptism, I think of a faith that trusts in the working of God in removing my sin” In baptism we receive the circumcision of Christ, i.e. forgiveness of sins This spiritual “circumcision” consists in the removing or cutting away of our sins This circumcision is not baptism itself, but it occurs when we are baptized, for it is described as the “circumcision without hands” and as a “working” or “operation of God” – 2:11, 12 In baptism we are buried and raised with Christ – 2:12 The expression of an obedient faith in baptism is when we receive the working of Christ God takes away the sins of the believer who obeys Jesus’ command to be baptized. Jesus said, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved – Mk 16:16 In baptism we trust absolutely the preeminent Christ and His power to bless us – 2:10-11a; 1:14-18 Paul establishes a clear relationship between the power of God to raise Jesus and exalt him into a position of preeminence as his Son and his power to raise us spiritually from the cold death of sin to the light of his holiness

WHEN DID GOD JOIN YOU TOGETHER? “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him” WHEN DID GOD JOIN YOU TOGETHER? When you heard the gospel preached? When you believed that Jesus is the Son of God? When you repented of your sins? When you confessed Jesus as Lord? When you were baptized into Christ Jesus?

When I Hear Baptism