Believers Baptism

West Meadows Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB

The subject of BAPTISM is very important. I am glad you are studying this! Our church believes that it is a vital step one takes in their Christian walk. 1. THE COMMAND ABOUT BAPTISM The New Testament plainly teaches that every Christian should be baptized. Notice these scriptures: Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:38 "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" Acts 10:48 "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." It would appear that every person who was saved in the New Testament was baptized. We have no record of anyone refusing to be baptized. Believers knew it was a command and they cheerfully obeyed the Lord, usually right after trusting Christ for salvation. 2. THE CANDIDATES FOR BAPTISM Many churches teach that BAPTISM is essential in one's salvation. However, the scriptures declare that a person is saved solely by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. You could be baptized many times and still not go to heaven for "By grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) NABC Statement of Faith: The ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lords Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believers identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5). The New Testament records only believers being baptized. Notice the following verses and that believing always preceded baptism: Acts 2:41 "So those who received his word were baptized."

Acts 8:12 " But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:36-38 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water! What prevents 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. And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Acts 16:14-15 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized Acts 16:30-33 Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once Acts 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. Baptism ALWAYS followed believing No one was baptized in the New Testament that was not a believer This excludes infants as they are not able to believe the gospel Baptism is for believers only

3. THE CONFESSION OF BAPTISM Three forms of BAPTISM are practiced by churches: Pouring / Sprinkling / Immersion We believe that the proper mode is immersion because: A. The Greek word for baptism is baptizdo and it means "to immerse or submerge completely in water" (Vines Dictionary of N. T. Words) B. The examples from scripture indicate complete immersion: Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up out of the water ..."

Acts 8:38 "...and they went down into the water, both Philip and the Ethiopian; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water ..." John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim because water was plentiful there..." (If John was sprinkling or pouring he would not need deep water but if he was immersing the people he would need "plentiful water") C. Baptism identifies us with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion pictures: death of the old/former person before Christ the new person rising to walk in newness of life This illustration is not seen in sprinkling or pouring only immersion Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Colossians 2:12 states that Christians are buried with Him in baptism 4. BAPTISM IS THE WAY TO PUBLICLY PROFESS YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST After we come to Christ, God wants us to profess our faith in Him. How do we publicly identify with Christ? The Lord could have asked us to take out an ad in the local newspaper or walk up and down the street with a sign saying we have been born again, but He didn't. The way He chose for us to make our decision known was to be baptized. Jesus died on the cross publicly and He asks His followers to publicly identify themselves with Him by baptism. When you are baptized in a church service there are many witnesses present to observe and this fulfills the need to publicly profess your faith in Christ. BAPTISM SUMMARY: Is a command from Jesus that we must obey Only believers are candidates By immersion not sprinkling or pouring