1. Please turn to:
Isaiah 1:18

2. A Snake, A Captain, A Blind Man & Baptism

3. The Snake Numbers 21:4-9 Old Testament Purpose – Romans 15:4
1 Corinthians 10:11
Colossians 2:14,15
2 Peter 1:21
Hebrews 7:22; 9:15
Galatians 5:4; 2:21

4. The Snake
Numbers 21:4-9
Faith is Not Found when Commands of God are Not Obeyed-
1 John 2:3-5
Was this “Snake salvation?”
NO!
Obey & be Healed, Disobey & DIE!

5. The Snake Numbers 21:4-9 The Order of Their Healing:
Belief – that looking would heal
Obedience – actually looking up
Healing – Benefit (blessing) received upon compliance
BELIEF + OBEDIENCE = HEALING

6. The Captain 2 Kings Chapter 5 Isaiah 55:6-9 Healing came on 7th Dip:
Dip 1 = step of obedience
Dip 2 = step of obedience
Dip 3 = step of obedience
Dip 4 = step of obedience
Dip 5 = step of obedience
Dip 6 = step of obedience
Dip 7 = completion of obedience that brought about cleansing.

7. The Captain 2 Kings Chapter 5 Was this “water salvation?” NO!
The Power of God Healed Naaman
But When? At What Point?
Until he came:
To the PLACE (Jordan River)
To the TIME (7th Dip)
He was NOT CLEANSED!
OBEY & be HEALED, or DISOBEY and REMAIN A LEPER

8. The Captain 2 Kings Chapter 5 The Order of Naaman’s Healing:
1. Belief . . .”If I dip 7 times in the Jordan, I will be healed.”
2. Obedience Dips in the Jordan
3. Cleansing . . .Benefit (blessing) received upon compliance
BELIEF + OBEDIENCE = CLEANSING

9. The Blind Man John 9:5-7 Matthew 7:21 James 2:24
Faith in God never calls a command of Jesus “nonessential” or “unnecessary.”
Until he did what Jesus told him to do, he remained blind

10. The Blind Man John 9:5-7 Jesus told him: When he came to that:
When he would be healed
A Place where he would be healed
When he came to that:
TIME (when he washed the clay form his eyes)
PLACE (pool of Siloam)
HE WAS HEALED

11. The Blind Man John 9:5-7 Was this “CLAY”/ “WATER SALVATION?” NO!
Notice the ORDER of his healing:
Belief . . “If I wash the clay from my eyes, I will be able to see.”
Obedience Actual washing off
Healing .. . Benefit (blessing)
BELIEF + OBEDIENCE = HEALING

12. Baptism
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
When one BELIEVES the facts & OBEYS the commands of the gospel, he is blessed with SALVATION – not until then!

13. Baptism John 8:24- not believe, die in sins
Acts 17:30- commanded to repent
Matthew 10:32,33 – confess
Romans 10:10
Acts 2:38; 22:16 – be baptized for remission of sins

14. Baptism The Savior is: NOT FAITH NOT REPENTANCE NOT CONFESSION
NOT BAPTISM
The LORD JESUS CHRIST

15. Baptism (immersion in water for the remission of sins) is:
The Last step or act of obedience before salvation is granted
The borderline to the kingdom of God
The last Step before entrance into Christ – Galatians 3:27

16. Baptism Is this “Water Salvation?” NO!
Water no more power to cleanse from sin than:
Brass snake in healing snake bites
Water in healing Naaman
The clay & water to cure Blind Man

17. Blood of Jesus the ONLY Power to Remove Sin
Revelation 1:5
Baptism is the TIME the blood washes away sins of man.
The Water is the PLACE where the promise of God & obedience of Man meet for it to happen
Romans 6:3-5

18. Listen Carefully
Baptism is the POINT at which a person is cleansed of his sin.
This is WHEN faith saves
No inherent good or evil in the water of baptism
It is merely an instrument & not a power in & of itself

19. The Order:
Belief – “If I am baptized into Christ I will be cleansed of all of my sins.”
Obedience – Baptized (Immersed in water) for the remission of sins
Cleansing – Cleansed (forgiven) of all past sins

20. Consider this: Baptism is the TIME one:
Enters Christ- Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3
Sins are washed away- Acts 22:16
Is born again – John 3:3-5
Is raised to the new life – Romans 6:4
Is added to the Kingdom of God – the church- Acts 2:42,47
Is Saved – Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21