1. Everyone who desires to become a Christian must face the question of baptism –Every church (except Quakers) requires an act they call baptism Any person who wants to become a member of a church must decide what baptism is and what it is for –“But this would require a knowledge of dead languages.” –“But this would require a knowledge of dead languages.” –Wrong! Any person of average intelligence can read any standard translation and understand what God requires of him

2. The Method The Method: Reading through –Ps.119:160 entiretyThe entirety sumThe sum –The sum total The AttitudeThe Attitude: A clear mind I Baptism Passages

3. Mt.3: 5-6, John baptized in the Jordan River –He did something with water 11, John baptized with water –“Unto repentance” = in order that they may live the changed life 13-16, went up immediately (He had been at or in the river itself) (1) Baptism required water (2) after baptism, came up from it needrighteousness(3) fulfilled a “need,” “righteousness”

4. Mt.28:18-19 To be done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –Must be very solemn, important All nations are subject to it

5. Mark 1:4-5, 8-9 Baptism of repentance for remission of sins (Mk.1:4) Two facts: renounce sin 1.Mt.3:11, man’s part: renounce sin pardon sin in connection with baptism 2.Mk.1:4, God’s part: pardon sin in connection with baptism 8-9, baptized in wilderness in the Jordan River (5, 9)

6. Mk.16:15-16 For every creature Targets same audience as Mt.28 –Adds the precondition of belief

7. Luke Lk.3:3 –People from all around Jordan came to receive a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins Lk.7:29-30 counsel of God –By rejecting John’s baptism, Pharisees…rejected the counsel of God concerning themselves purpose of God –“rejected the purpose of God…” (ESV) God wanted them to be baptized; they rejected it

8. Jn.3:22-23 Much water explains why John and Jesus used the Jordan River –A little water would not be enough

9. Ac.2:38, 41 38, apostles begin what Jesus commanded (Mk.16:15-16) anotherprecondition: repentance38, another precondition: repentance for forgiveness of sins38, repentance and baptism are for forgiveness of sins gladly receiving41, gladly receiving His word is the opposite of the Pharisees and scribes (Lk.7:30)

10. Acts 8 8:12, Samaritans were baptized –Philip (not an apostle) could preach apostles’ message and baptize –No congregation present to witness the event both both8:35-39, both went down into water, both came up –Confirms our conclusions in Mt.3 and Mk.1

11. Ac. 9, 10, 16 –9:18, Saul was baptized why wash away sins22:16 shows why he was to do it (wash away sins) forgiveness of sinsParallels 2:38 (forgiveness of sins) –10:48, Cornelius and others were baptized in name of Jesus Christ (as 2:38) –16:15, Lydia

12. Acts, concluded 16:31-34, Philippian jailer –Baptized the same hour of the night –No congregation there to witness it heardbelieved were baptized18:8, Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized 19:1-7, Ephesians were baptized

13. Ro.6:3-4 into ChristBaptized into Christ into His deathBaptized into His death BuriedBuried (in water) Explains Mt.3, Mk.1, Ac.8 Both went into the water to bury the person in water “But if you leave him there, he will drown!”“But if you leave him there, he will drown!” –Jesus, eunuch, and others were raised up… Ro.6:4-5

14. Col.2:12 buriedraisedChrist was buried and raised buriedraisedBy baptism we are buried and raised Explains why John used the Jordan: –Both people went down into the water –Both came up out of it after the burial was completed

15. II Conclusions: 1.Baptism is an act in which one is buried in water, and raised in imitation of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection 2.It is done by Christ’s command, by His authority. Ps.137:5-6 3.The blessings following baptism: –Salvation –Salvation (Mk.16:16) –Forgiveness of sins –Forgiveness of sins (Ac.2:38) –Washing away sins –Washing away sins (Ac.22:16) –Put us into Christ –Put us into Christ (Ga.3:26-27)

16. IIIWill We Take God’s Word Seriously? III Will We Take God’s Word Seriously? “But I was baptized as a baby; the preacher sprinkled water on my head; my mother told me so”“But I was baptized as a baby; the preacher sprinkled water on my head; my mother told me so” faith repentanceconfession –Baptism requires faith (Mk.16:16), repentance (Ac.2:38), confession (Ro.10:10) A baby cannot believe...A baby cannot believe... burial –Baptism is a burial (Ro.6; Col.2)

17. “But I was immersed, so my baptism must be okay” Ac.19:1-7 – –These correctly followed three of the four elements of scriptural baptism: WhoBelieversWho? Believers (Mk.16:16) WhatIn waterWhat? In water (Ac.8:36-38) HowImmersionHow? Immersion (Ac.8:36-38) WhyForgivenessWhy? Forgiveness (Ac.2:38)? ?

18. Paul’s response (vv. 4-5): Purpose matters! If not, why did Paul immerse them?If not, why did Paul immerse them? Ep.4:5, there is one baptism one Lord –There is one Lord: no other will do one faith –There is one faith: no other will do one baptism –There is one baptism: ? ? ?

19. Does purpose matter? In marriage? In children? In war? In worship and charity? In fun?