Basic Bible Teaching Lesson 10 THE MEANING OF BAPTISM

Overview  Review: Lesson #9 – Salvation through Jesus Christ:  God’s command to everyone: 1) repent; and 2) be baptized  How we benefit: 1) forgiveness of sins; and 2) eternal life  Baptism is the next essential step to salvation after belief and repentance  The meaning of baptism: “a burial under water” and the “washing away of our sins”  Why does God command us to be baptized?  When we rise out of the water, we commence a new life, serving a new master

Peter’s charge: "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst … this [Man], delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put [Him] to death. And God raised Him up again, … Acts 2:22-24 [NASB] Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.“ v The People’s response: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?“ v 37 Peter’s Advice: 12 Review

What is Repentance? To understand that you have sinned against God To understand that you have sinned against God To realize that you have disobeyed God’s commandments To realize that you have disobeyed God’s commandments To feel the need to change and make your life right with God To feel the need to change and make your life right with God To feel this strongly in your heart To feel this strongly in your heart Sin & Death EternalLife Repentance = to change the direction of our way of life Review

How we benefit from Repentance & Baptism 1. God will forgive our sins through the Lord Jesus Christ 2. We are promised a gift = eternal life Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.“ v Peter’s Advice: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 Review

God calls us, but he does not force us The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.“ Acts 2: 38 God calls us to believe the Gospel, to repent, and to be baptized. God calls us to believe the Gospel, to repent, and to be baptized. But he will not force us to do it. But he will not force us to do it. We must decide for ourselves. We must choose to follow Jesus as his disciples. We must decide for ourselves. We must choose to follow Jesus as his disciples. For those who do decide to obey God, their lives will be changed. For those who do decide to obey God, their lives will be changed. Review

The Meaning of Baptism

Believe & Repent (Acts 3:19) Hear and Understand (Romans 10:17) Continue in well doing (Romans 2:7) Salvation at the return of Christ (2Tim 4:8) Baptism (Mark 16:16) “ And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized ” (Acts 18:8) Steps to Salvation

Believe the Gospel & Baptism – both essential for salvation “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16) “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12) “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12) “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized ” (Acts 18:8) “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized ” (Acts 18:8) “Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) “Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) “It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63) “It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63)

Greek word for Baptism = βαπτιζω “Baptizo” Greek word for Baptism = βαπτιζω “Baptizo” Strong: “to make whelmed (that is, fully wet)” Strong: “to make whelmed (that is, fully wet)” Thayer: 1) “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe Thayer: 1) “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe “Baptizo” is derived from βαπτω “Bapto”: “Baptizo” is derived from βαπτω “Bapto”: Strong: “to whelm, that is, cover wholly with a fluid” Strong: “to whelm, that is, cover wholly with a fluid” Thayer: “to dip, to immerse, to dip into dye, to dye, colour” Thayer: “to dip, to immerse, to dip into dye, to dye, colour” Baptism = “to be buried under water”

What about infant sprinkling? Not taught in the Bible: 1.T he word “Baptism” means to fully immerse in water 2.T he examples of baptism in the Bible are full immersion (Mark 1:5, 9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-29) 3.A baby cannot “believe the gospel” and “repent” Historically, the Roman Catholic Church changed from immersion to sprinkling in 1311 AD Very important point!

Why does God ask us to be Baptized? John insisted that they confess their sins first, and then be baptized John insisted that they confess their sins first, and then be baptized Baptism is like washing – not our dirty skin, but our sins Baptism is like washing – not our dirty skin, but our sins We acknowledge that sin makes us dirty inside, and we need to be baptized to become clean We acknowledge that sin makes us dirty inside, and we need to be baptized to become clean When we come out of the water, although we cannot see that our sins have been washed away, this is how God sees us When we come out of the water, although we cannot see that our sins have been washed away, this is how God sees us We agree with God’s method of salvation via the death and resurrection of Jesus – next slide…… We agree with God’s method of salvation via the death and resurrection of Jesus – next slide…… In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matt 3:1-2, 5-6

Baptism is like being buried with Jesus Going under the water and coming out again is like dying and coming back to life. Going under the water and coming out again is like dying and coming back to life. Just as Jesus died, we go under the water. Just as Jesus died, we go under the water. Just as Jesus was resurrected, we come up out of the water. Just as Jesus was resurrected, we come up out of the water. Baptism is therefore a public witness that we believe our sins can be forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Baptism is therefore a public witness that we believe our sins can be forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.. Romans 6:3-5

Baptism is the beginning of a new life Before we repent and are baptized, we are slaves to sin (sin is our master) and we cannot escape death. Before we repent and are baptized, we are slaves to sin (sin is our master) and we cannot escape death. When we repent and are baptized – we are freed from sin, and have chosen to serve a new master (God) When we repent and are baptized – we are freed from sin, and have chosen to serve a new master (God) Our old life dies in the water, and we come out a new person Our old life dies in the water, and we come out a new person We try our best to obey God’s commandments and follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. We try our best to obey God’s commandments and follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not easy, but we know that God will forgive us when we fail. This is not easy, but we know that God will forgive us when we fail. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:12-13

Case Study 1: When should I be baptized? “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16) “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12) “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12) Answer When you understand and believe the true gospel

Case Study 2: Do I need to be re-baptized? “I am astonished that you are so quickly … turning to a different gospel …. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-8) “I am astonished that you are so quickly … turning to a different gospel …. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-8) “Paul..arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples…So Paul asked, “What baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:1-5) “Paul..arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples…So Paul asked, “What baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:1-5) Answer: If you did not understand the true gospel at the time of your first baptism, then yes, you need to be re-baptized.

Believe & Repent (Acts 3:19) Hear and Understand (Romans 10:17) Continue in well doing (Romans 2:7) Salvation at the return of Christ (2Tim 4:8) Baptism (Mark 16:16) “ And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized ” (Acts 18:8) Steps to Salvation

Are You Ready?

Review Questions 1. What is baptism? 2. What did John ask people to do before he would baptize them? 3. What is washed away in baptism? 4. Whose death do we remember when we are baptized? 5. In the old life, whose slaves are we? 6. In the new life, whose slaves are we?

Next lesson The Kingdom of God on Earth A fundamental bible teaching which Jesus mentioned in his model prayer (Matthew 6:9-10) A fundamental bible teaching which Jesus mentioned in his model prayer (Matthew 6:9-10) The promised time when God’s purpose will be done on the earth. The promised time when God’s purpose will be done on the earth. It will happen when Jesus returns from heaven It will happen when Jesus returns from heaven Look at versus which tell us what the kingdom will be like Look at versus which tell us what the kingdom will be like