I. Water Baptism is for the one who believes
A. Those who receive the Word.
Acts 2
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls
B. When they Believed
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.
C. Demonstrating Evidence of Faith
Acts 10
47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
D. Buried with Him in Baptism – Risen in faith
Colossians 2
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
II. Water Baptism is not a requirement for salvation
A. Water Baptism is done in obedience following salvation; it is not a requirement for salvation.
1. Jesus himself commanded baptism (Matthew 28:19)
2. The Apostles taught water baptism
Acts 2
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. We are Justified by faith not faith plus works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
B. What do we do with Mark 16:16
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1. This verse says nothing about those who believe and are not baptized.
Those who don’t believe are condemned
Not those who don’t believe and are not baptized
We cannot force this verse to mean something it does not say.
2. Thief on the cross argument (Luke 23:43)
III. Water Baptism and the methods of practice
A. The Greek word Baptizo means to dip, plunge or immerse
B. New Testament baptism is characterized by immersion, where the believer is completely covered in water and then brought back up again.
1. The Greek (en) = in
Mark 1
5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
2. The Greek (ek) = out of
Mark 1
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
3. The Greek (apo) = came away from.
Not used in the scriptures on water baptism.
C. Went to a place with much water
John 3
23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
D. The case of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8
36 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?” 37/38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
IV. Water Baptism and its symbolism.
A. The symbolism of water baptism is of the union with Christ in His death, , burial, and resurrection
Romans 6
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.
B. It represents an outward expression of an inward decision.
V. Water Baptism: So what now?
A. What is my response?
B. Common questions:
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