Why We Are Baptized
August 13, 2022

2 Ordinances Of The New Testament Church
Water Baptism
Holy Communion

Ritual Without Revelation = Religion

What is Baptism?
Baptism – Greek “baptizo” – To Dip or Fully Dunk
77 Times Always Meaning Total Submersion
Never Used In The Passive Tense

Acts 8:36-38
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

What is the Purpose of Water Baptism?
To Obey Jesus – It’s a Command!

John 14:15
If you love Me, keep My commandments.

It’s a Public Confession

Matthew 10:32-33
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

It’s a Physical Picture of Our Spiritual Reality

Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

Romans 6:3-11
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Must I Be Baptized To Be Saved?

Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

When Should I Be Baptized?
Delayed Obedience often Leads To Disobedience

Acts 2:37-38
Acts 2:41
Acts 8:12
Acts 8:36-38
Acts 22:16
Acts 10:47-48
Acts 16:14-15
Acts 16:30-31
Acts 16:33
Acts 18:8
Acts 19:2-5

Baptism
Reasons People Don’t Get Baptized

1. It’s Not That Important
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

2. Pride – This Could Be Short or Long-Term Disobedience or Ignorance.
Things People Think
I Just Don’t Want People To See Me Wet
I Don’t Want People To Know I’m Not Baptized
Let Me Think About It, Pray About It

3. The Belief That Water Baptism Makes Someone A Christian

4. People Believe Church Tradition But Not The Word of God
Mark 7:13
making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.

Water Baptism
Always After Conversion
Always Total Immersion
Always In Public
Always Immediate

“It is certain that immersion was the practice of the early church.” John Calvin

Two Great Examples

Baptizing Infants
Infant Baptisms – Roman Catholics/Lutheran/Presbyterian

Infant Baptism is a ritual of regeneration
Participating In The Sacraments Is The Means of Salvation

IMPORTANT UNDERSTANDING:
Christ On The Cross Simply Gives You Access To The Sacraments

Roman Catholic/ Lutheran Belief
Water Cleanses The Baby From Original Sin
Martin Luther – “Baptism Cleanses The Baby From Original Sin”

Lutheran Church Infant Baptism Liturgy
Almighty God hath begotten thee anew through water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven thee of thy sins. Amen

If The Child Dies and Is Not Baptized
Enter “Limbo of the Innocence”
The Child Lives Forever Enjoying The Natural Bliss of Life Without Any Vision or Knowledge of God For Eternity

Baptism By Sprinkling
Council of Vienne 1311 A.D.
They Debated – Immersion – Pouring – Sprinkling

There Are No Examples of Sprinkling or Pouring Found In The Bible
There Are No Examples Of Infant Baptism In The Bible
If It’s Not In The Bible – We Should Not Build A Doctrine On It

I Was Baptized As An Infant or I Was Sprinkled. Should I Now Be Baptized?

Mark 1:9-11
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”