Baptize: to submerge or immerse
Matthew 3:16, As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
Baptized people are changed people. People on a mission
An outward profession of an inward faith.
Matt 28:19-20 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Baptism demonstrates a recognition of one s sin, desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God s law
Acts 19:1-6, There he (Paul) found some disciples 2 and asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them
Acts 8:15-16, When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Matt 3:11, I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
1 Cor 12:13 says, We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
He counts himself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus Rom 6:11
Col 2:12, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Rom 6:4
Water baptism is an outward testimony of your inward changed life
Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation, not a requirement for salvation.
Acts 2:41, Those who accepted [Peter s] message were baptized.
Romans 10:9-10, If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
It s always about the heart!
Today you will be with me in Paradise. Luke 23:43
A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. Gal 2:16
What about One Baptism?
Eph 4:4-6, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
God calls you, Jesus saves you, Holy Spirit indwells you. One God, one hope, one baptism!
What about Infant Baptism?
Scripture is clear that God judges the heart of each person and the decisions they make, not the good intentions of the parents. Each person will stand before God (Romans 14:12).
Rom 14:12, So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
baptism is the result of salvation not a contributor to it.
What about Spiritual Baptism?
Titus 3:5, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5, Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Ez 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
What about Holy Spirit Baptism?
Holy Spirit baptism is thought to be the filling of the Spirit that occurs after salvation
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity-not an it! You get ALL of God when you enter a relationship with Him.
Rom 8:16, The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God s children.
Eph 4:30, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
We serve the same Lord, share the same faith, and experience the same baptism.
Eph 4:3-4, Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.
Have you been baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ? Are you continuing to make an outward profession of an inward faith? An outward testimony or an inward changed heart!