Believer’s Baptism: A Dramatization of the Gospel Matthew 28:19-20 Romans 6:1-4

Article of Faith We believe that Christ instituted the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19, 20) to be observed until He comes (I Cor. 11:23-26). We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 10:47; 19:5) in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. It pictures our death to sin and resurrection to a new life and that it is a prerequisite to church membership (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12). We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the showing forth of His death until He comes again and should always be preceded always by self-examination (I Cor. 11:23-38).

Our Covenant As a bond of unity among us, Berean Baptist Church accepts for its members the following covenant: Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and upon our profession of our faith in Him, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

For 400 years, insistence upon baptism by immersion has been a clear distinctive of Baptist and Bible churches when a majority of “Christianity” still baptizes infants.

Baptist Church History 1608/9 (Amsterdam, Holland) Separatist Pastor John Smyth Former Anglican Priest Determines that NT churches Baptized Believers Rejects Infant Baptism as unscriptural Forms a church made up of adults who have been baptized after salvation

The Schleitheim Confession (1527) Baptism shall be given to all those who have learned repentance and amendment of life, and who believe truly that their sins are taken away by Christ, and to all those who walk in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and wish to be buried with Him in death, so that they may be resurrected with Him and to all those who with this significance request it (baptism) of us and demand it for themselves.

The Schleitheim Confession (1527) This excludes all infant baptism, the highest and chief abomination of the Pope. In this you have the foundation and testimony of the apostles. Matt. 28, Mark 16, Acts 2, 8, 16, 19. This we wish to hold simply, yet firmly and with assurance. Swiss Brethren Conference

Radical Reformers Anabaptists re-baptizers advocated the baptism and church membership of adult believers only

Are these Anabaptists correct? What’s the big deal? Question Are these Anabaptists correct? What’s the big deal?

What’s the big deal? Baptists insist upon believer’s baptism because of the example and commandment (ordnance) Christ gave the church. When done right, baptism is an incredible dramatization of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 3

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: The church has been given a task to teach people from all nations to be followers of Christ.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Disciples of Christ Candidates for baptism must be disciples of Christ and be baptized in the name of the each member of the Trinity?

Who do we baptize? the first act was to make disciples, then those disciples were to be baptized. Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Repentance [a call to become disciples of Christ] always precedes baptism.

Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Believer’s Baptism “Baptism for the entire NT community of believers became what circumcision had been for males in ancient Israel (Col 2:11-13).” baptisthistory.org William H. Brackney

What’s the big deal? Baptists insist upon believer’s baptism because of the example and commandment (ordnance) Christ gave the church. When done right, baptism is an incredible dramatization of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are we trying to picture? Romans 6

Dramatization When a local church baptizes someone they are collectively celebrating the work the Holy Spirit has already done in the life of the convert by God’s grace through personal faith in the gospel.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized [immersed] into Jesus Christ Paul is using a picture of baptism to describe a spiritual position already achieved.

“In Christ” Romans 8:1 Romans 12:5 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ,

Who places the believer in Christ? For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13)

What places the believer in Christ? Repentant faith in the gospel!

Repent(ance) and Believe Repentant Faith Repent Faith (believe) Repent(ance) and Believe Faith Luke 13:3 Acts 2:38 Romans 1:28 John 3:16 Mark 1:16 Acts 20:21

Biblical Fact A person is NOT anymore saved, righteous or justified because he or she has been obedient to water baptism. However, a refusal to submit to full water baptism is something that cannot be ignored.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Look at verse 6

Described baptism as entering a “watery grave.” Joseph Stennet (1700) Described baptism as entering a “watery grave.”

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Dramatization

Doing Right Candidate Matters Mode/Method Matters Disciple of Christ (Believers) Mode/Method Matters Full Immersion in Water Father, Son and Holy Spirit The Agent of Baptism Matters A Local Church

Should the church be concerned with baptizing unconverted people? Application Question Should the church be concerned with baptizing unconverted people?

What is at Stake? Baptizing a “convert” before there is legitimate credible evidence of conversion creates a possibility of false assurance of salvation.

What about baptizing someone living with unrepentant sin? Questions Someone walks in off the street and says, “I want to be baptized”—do we just dunk him? What about baptizing someone living with unrepentant sin?

Questions Should the church baptize a person who demonstrates NO intention of growing as a disciple of Christ? Should the church run contests and giveaways to increase the number of people it baptizes?

But won’t this lead to someone judging someone else? Yes—the person who conducts the baptism leads the assessment.

?s that could be asked What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? How does one become a disciple of Christ? When did you become a disciple of Christ? What is the gospel? What does it mean to repent? What Bible verses can you point to that show you are converted?

Application Questions If the church does not examine candidates for baptism, can it really use baptism numbers as a sign of its effectiveness in making disciples? If person is not willing to participate in instruction from the Bible to be baptized is there any reason to think of him or her as a follower of Christ?

Analogy Using baptisms to measure discipleship WITHOUT examining the candidate is like grading your own PT test or playing basketball without keeping score.

Doing Right Candidate Matters Mode/Method Matters Disciple of Christ (Believers) Mode/Method Matters Full Immersion in Water Father, Son and Holy Spirit The Agent of Baptism Matters A Local Church

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Repentance [a call to become disciples of Christ] always precedes baptism.

What about pre-salvation baptism? Acts 19 John’s Baptism