Baptism - Why? Baptism - Why? Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments. One of those commandments was to be baptised in Mark 16v15 where Jesus said unto the disciples: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved 1
Sources Wikipedia - Baptism In Christianity, baptism (from Greek βαπτίζωbaptizo: "immersing", "performing ablutions", i.e., ritual washing) is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which a person is admitted to membership of the Church. 2
Wikipedia - Baptism Most Christians baptise infants; many others hold that only believer s baptism is true baptism. The New Testament reports that Jesus himself was baptised. The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christianswas for the candidate to be immersed totally Infant Baptism X The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or credobaptism, from the Latin word credomeaning "I believe," which is the religious practice of baptising only individuals who personally confess faith in Jesus, therefore excluding under aged children. Infant baptism is also excluded by.., Christadelphians 3
Wikipedia Believer s baptism A person is baptised on the basis of his or her profession of faith in Jesus Christ and as admission into a local community of faith. Such baptisms are performed in various manners: believer's baptism by immersionis more common than by pouring water or sprinkling water. Jewish practice of Immersion Mikveh(or mikvah, both also spelled without the ending -"h") (Hebrew: ModernMiqva TiberianMiqwāh ; plural: mikva'otor,מקווה orמ ק ו ה[ 1 ] mikves[2]hebrew: orמ ק ו וֹת (מ ק ו אות is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism. Converts to Orthodox Judaism, regardless of gender, are also required to immerse in a mikveh Dated to AD 69 Jerusalem The word "mikveh", as used in the Hebrew Bible, literally means a "collection" generally, a collection of water. Birmingham 2010: Several biblical regulations specify that full immersion in water is required to regain ritual purity after ritually impure incidents have occurred. Most forms of impurity can be nullified through immersionin any natural collection of water. 4
Baptism in Old Testament We could look back at creation where we have darkness, then water is mentioned and then light is created. Or at how God cleansed the earth in the time of Noah by covering it completely with water. There are also many references to Ritual washing for uncleanness where it is necessary to bathe in water: Leviticus 15-11 occurrences Leviticus 16 2 occurrences Leviticus 17-2 occurrences Numbers 19-2occurrences Naamanwas a leper -2 kings 5 - had to go down into the water 7 times Israel passing through the red sea, leaving Egypt behind going to the promised land The Old Testament is relevant - Peter The apostle Peter talked about Noah s flood, and then specifically tells us that New Testament baptism corresponds to this God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which just 8 people were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, could save you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. (1 Peter 3:20-22) 5
The Old Testament is relevant -Paul In the New Testament, the apostle Paul explicitly says that the Israelites were baptised. He also mentions a number of other things that the Israelites experienced. Then he goes on to say that these things he wrote down occurred as examples for us: For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.... Now these things occurred as examples.... (1 Corinthians 10:1-6) Also, Hebrews 9, John 3, and Colossians 2 each point us back to various Old Testament passages as well. Why full immersion? Baptism means "dipping". It involves the complete immersion of a person in water. Matthew 3:13-17; Jesus came up out of the water Mark 1:9-10; Jesus baptised in the Jordan John 3:23; much water there Acts 8:36-39 they went down both into the water 6
What is baptism? Baptism is by complete immersion in water of a person who knows the Gospel. Belief and baptism allow us to share in the promises of eternal life, and is for the forgiveness of sins. It s the start of a life-long commitment to serve God. Academic reasons for baptism Myths of Evolution The Goldilocks Earth Acceptance there is a God that created Reasons why but not normally enough. 7
When? Prophecy? When? World Events? 8
When? Gradual Process X A bright light like Apostle Paul? I doubt it. More often a slow drip A gradual realisation But I can be wrong When? Life-changing events 9
Reasons to be wary You are turning 13,16,18,20,30,40 etc. soon Your friends/siblings seem to all be getting baptised. You re under pressure from family, friends or people in the ecclesia. You are an impulsive person where you just want to get it over with now You have reservations with believing in God, accepting the Bible, or the Christadelphian interpretation of the Bible. You are on a spiritual high after an uplifting gathering or youth weekend. 10
Other reasons why not? I do not believe there is a God. I believe the Bible is true, but I know what I am like, and I could never live up to the ideals. There is someone I really dislike who is a Christadelphian, so I do not want to be one. I do not feel I know enough about the Bible to be baptised. I know nothing about Christianity or the Bible. If I'm honest with myself, I know I should be baptised, but I don't want to because of Commandments not suggestions 11
Baptism For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 John 3:16 Baptism Total Immersion in water Shows you accept the Gospel and its implications The first step in a life serving God An important reasoned decision not on impulse Don t be pushed into it by peer or family pressure What to do next? Read the leaflets quietly, read the Bible and pray Talk to others, parents, Sunday school teachers. Remember Baptism It s your choice IF and WHEN. 12