1. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
Lesson 20:
The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism

2. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Subject of Baptism Is Vitally Important and Yet Highly Controversial.
The subject of baptism is mentioned more than 100 times in the New Testament.
The subject of baptism is vitally important for us, for it comes to us from God Himself.
Unfortunately, man has made the subject of baptism quite controversial.

3. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies That There Is One Baptism.
The New Testament mentions several baptisms in the gospel accounts and the book of Acts.
But, when the book of Ephesians was written, there was then only “one baptism” (4:5).
This is not a contradiction, but it affirms that there is only one baptism which is now valid and in effect for Christians to teach and practice.
Which baptism, mentioned in the New Testament, is the “one baptism”?
Therefore, the “ONE baptism” is water baptism of Christ’s Great Commission.

4. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies the Person Who Is the Biblical Candidate for Baptism.
Who can be baptized? Who should we baptize?
The person who is baptized must meet certain Biblical conditions before baptism.
Only those who meet these conditions can be Scripturally (and properly) baptized.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that infants are not Scriptural candidates for baptism.

5. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies the Process That Is the Biblical Method for Baptism.
What is the proper mode of baptism? How is it to be administered?
The Bible very plainly describes what is involved in Bible baptism:
“Much water” is required to be baptized with Bible baptism.
The person being baptized must come “to” the water.
The person being baptized must go “down into the water.”
The person being baptized must be “buried…in baptism.”
The person being baptized must be “raised” from the water.
The person being baptized must come “up out of the water.”
By simply substituting the words “sprinkling, pouring, immersing” for the word “baptism” or “baptize,” the Bible reader can easily understand what baptism is.
The original Greek makes it clear that the verb “baptize” means “to immerse.”
When one is baptized, he obeys the “form of doctrine” laid out by Jesus (Rom. 6:17).

6. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies the Purpose That God Assigns to Baptism.
Suppose that you wrote on a piece of paper, “What is the purpose of baptism?”
According to the Bible, a purpose of baptism is… to obey the command of Christ.
…to be saved from past sins.
…to obtain the remission of sins.
…to have sins washed away.
…to be sanctified, cleansed and justified.
…to be made free from sin.

7. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies the Purpose That God Assigns to Baptism.
According to the Bible, a purpose of baptism is… …to contact the saving blood of Christ.
…to enter a new relationship with God.
…to be born again.
…to enter the kingdom of God.
…to enter the one body of Christ.
…to become a child of God.
…to put on Christ.
…to enter into Christ, wherein is salvation.

8. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
The Bible Specifies the Purpose That God Assigns to Baptism.
According to the Bible, a purpose of baptism is… …to become a New Testament Christian.
…to walk in newness of life.
…to call on the name of the Lord.
…to appeal to God for a good conscience.
...to be able to truly rejoice.
The conversions in the book of Acts demonstrate that baptism is essential to salvation.

9. The Person, Process & Purpose of Baptism
While the Bible Is Very Plain and Offers Abundant Teaching, Some Still Offer Objections.
Some steadfastly assert that one is already saved before he is baptized.
Some appeal to the thief on the cross, stating that he was saved but was never baptized.
Some point to verses that teach one is saved by faith and claim baptism is not included.
Some suggest that baptism is a work and that salvation is not of works.
While some offer objections to the essentiality of baptism for salvation, the Bible still teaches very plainly that baptism saves from sin.