Bible Answers About Baptism

IS BAPTISM FOR ME?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.    Acts 8:37

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:  Acts 2:41

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  Acts 16:30-33

CONCLUSION: Baptism is for believers only.


WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?   

1.  Commanded by Christ

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Matthew 28:19

2.  Christ our example.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  Matthew 3:13

3.  Believer shows obedience

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:  Acts 2:41

CONCLUSION: We are baptized to obey the command of Jesus Christ.


HOW SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

Baptism by immersion pictures our position with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.  Romans 6:3-5 

1.  Baptism is with water.  

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water:  John 1:26

2.  Baptism is by immersion (under the water). 

 Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan.  Mark 1:9

And straightway coming up out of the water… Mark 1:10

…….they went down both into the water…..Acts 8:38

CONCLUSION: Only baptism by immersion pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.


WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

Following salvation.

….when they believed……..they were baptized……Acts 8:12

……and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  Acts 8:36-37

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  Acts 2:41

See also Acts 16:25-33

CONCLUSION: Baptism follows salvation, immediately, if possible.


WHAT IF I REFUSE TO BE BAPTIZED?

Disobedience: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  James 4:17

Loss of testimony: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  John 8:31

Loss of fellowship: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  John 15:14

Abb Thomas Ministries – Copyright 1972

Used with permission.


Note:  Please be aware that this article deals strictly with water baptism.  The Bible teaches that all true believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the time that they trust in Him as their only hope of salvation.  When studying the Scriptures and encountering baptism, always think Spirit baptism first unless the context of Scripture indicates otherwise.  Those who believe in baptismal regeneration do not make a distinction between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and water baptism.  The Bible does.


Buried in the likeness of His death, raised in the likeness of His resurrection!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.