All authority rests in Jesus, Mt. 28:18 ▪ Exalted above all, Phil. 2:9-11 ▪ Head of all principality & power, Col. 2:9, 10

Christ is the only authority on salvation ▪ His gospel has the power, Rom. 1:16, 17 ▪ Must be obedient to the faith, Acts 6:7 ▪ Salvation to those who obey, Heb. 5:9

Naaman was a great man, but diseased, 2 Kgs. 5:1

Naaman was told he could be cured in Israel, 2 Kgs. 5:2-8

Naaman was cured when he obeyed, 2 Kgs. 5:9-14 ▪ “Go and wash…” ∙Generic: Go ∙Specific: Wash ∙Specific: Jordan

Naaman was cured when he obeyed, 2 Kgs. 5:9-14 ▪ “Go and wash…” ∙Specific: Seven times ∙Statement: Go and wash ∙Necessary Inference:… T HIS I S T HE ONLY W AY Y OU W ILL B E C LEANSED

Naaman was cured when he obeyed, 2 Kgs. 5:9-14 ▪ “Go and wash…” ▪ Naaman was furious ▪ Servants reasoned with him ▪ Naaman washed & was cleansed

All of the “great” things about him Did not matter since he was a leper ▪ Leprosy symbolic of sin ▪ Whole world not worth our soul, Mk. 8:36 ▪ Do what is required to cleanse our sin

His thoughts on the matter did not matter ▪ Furious: did not hear what he expected ▪ A river is a river, why not the Abanah… ▪ It is futile to get angry or object to God

Consider this… ▪ Would he have been cleansed after 6 dips? ▪ Was he 6/7 clean after the sixth washing? ▪ Would he have been cleansed in the Pharpar? ▪ Would he have been cleansed by pouring?

Consider this… ▪ Did he wash because he had been cleansed? ▪ Was his washing an outward sign Of an inward cleansing? ▪ Could he have just believed God Could and would cleanse him… And be cleansed?

Facts we should know ▪ Power to cleanse not in the water ▪ Cleansing was not in the act of washing ▪ Power to heal was in God ▪ Cleansing resulted from obedience to God

NT replete with the necessity of baptism ▪ Believe & be baptized, Mk. 16:16 ▪ Repent & be baptized, Acts 2:38 ▪ Baptized to wash away sins, Acts 22:16 ▪ Baptized to walk in newness of life, Rom. 6:4 ▪ Baptized to put on Christ, Gal. 3:27 ▪ Sins cut off and cast away, Col. 2:12 ▪ Baptism saves, 1 Pt. 3:21

Requirements regard baptism ▪ Element: water, Acts 8:36; Jn. 3:23 ∙One baptism, Eph. 4:4-6 ∙Not baptized in the Holy Spirit

Requirements regard baptism ▪ Mode: immersion ∙Buried, Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12 ∙No hands, feet, knees sticking out of water ∙Baptists & others not concerned with this

Requirements regard baptism ▪ Purpose: for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38; Mt. 26:28; Col. 2:12 ∙Not because sins have been forgiven ∙Not an outward sign of inward grace ∙Put on Christ, Gal. 3:27 ∙Added to the Church, Acts 2:38, 47 ∙Not for denominational membership

Requirements regard baptism ▪ Timeliness: immediately, Acts 16:33; 8:36-38 ∙Saul did not wait for the next assembly, Acts 9:18; 22:16 ∙No monthly baptismal service ∙URGENT – for salvation!

Objections work as well as Naaman’s ▪ I think God saves at the point of faith ▪ I think my baptism in the Baptist church is fine, Acts 19:1-5

Objections work as well as Naaman’s ▪ I think if someone is sincere And dies before they can be baptized They will go to heaven

Objections work as well as Naaman’s ▪ I think if you are baptized for salvation You are trying to earn your salvation

Facts to affirm ▪ Power of salvation is not in the water ▪ Forgiveness is not inherent in act of immersion ▪ Power of salvation is with God; blood of Christ ▪ Forgiveness granted based on obedient faith ∙Alternative 1: forgiveness without faith ∙Alternative 2: forgiveness w/disobedient faith

Make your call & election sure, 2 Pt. 1:10, 11 ▪ Baptized too young ▪ Baptized under denominational preaching ▪ Uneasy or unsure in any way

All authority rests in Jesus, Mt. 28:18 ▪ Exalted above all, Phil. 2:9-11 ▪ Head of all principality & power, Col. 2:9, 10 ▪ Worthy of power, Rev. 5:12

Christ is the only authority on salvation ▪ His gospel has the power, Rom. 1:16, 17 ▪ Must be obedient to the faith, Acts 6:7 ▪ Salvation to those who obey, Heb. 5:9