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Lesson 24 - BaptismIntroduction: Having identified God's remnant church, the true follower of Jesus will want to know how to join it. Jesus said: "Other sheep I have who are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock" (John 10:16). Generally one joins the church through baptism, though those who previously have been baptized may join by receiving Jesus as absolute Lord of their life and accepting the Biblical principles upon which the church is built. In this lesson we will learn the meaning and importance of baptism, as well as the way Jesus showed it should be administered. 1. What two things are involved in being born again? John 3:5 (John 3:5 NKJV) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [Note: It takes love AND a legal ceremony for a good marriage. There also are two aspects to the new birth: The spiritual part is our new, loverelationship with Jesus; and the official part is baptism, where we publicly pledge ourselves to Him. Both are called for in Scripture. The Further-study verse is 1 John 5:4-6] 2. Through what rite do we "put on Christ"? Gal. 3:27 (Galatians 3:27 NKJV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [Note: "Baptism" is a Greek word meaning "to dip" or "to immerse." It was carried over directly into English in our Bibles, being made a "theological" term. To call sprinkling baptism is a misuse of the term. Acts 22:16] 3. What does baptism represent? Rom. 6:3-5 (Romans 6:3-5 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, [Note: Immersion represents two things: 1) Our faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection; and 2) our death to self, burial of our old habits of sin, and our resurrection to a new way of life in Jesus. Col. 2:11-13] 4. Why was Jesus baptized, and what was God's response? Matt. 3:13-17 [Luke 3:21, 22] (Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. {14} And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" {15} But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. {16} When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. {17} And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 5. Was Jesus sprinkled, or immersed? Mark 1:10 (Mark 1:10 NKJV) And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. [Note: There is not a single instance of sprinkling in the New Testament. Sprinkling was substituted by noninspired men after the death of the apostles. Eph. 4:5] 6. If Jesus Himself was baptized, should any of us consider ourselves too important to be baptized? Should pride prevent anyone from being buried in water for Him, when He was buried in a tomb for us? 7. In the Old Testament, the animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus' death. Were these sacrifices effectual without faith on the part of the worshiper? Heb. 10:4 [Lev. 4:35; Lev. 23:27-30; Rom. 9:31, 32; Deut. 32:20; Hab. 2:4] (Hebrews 10:4 NKJV) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 8. In this respect, baptism is like these sacrifices. While baptism is necessary, can baptism itself, without faith, save us? Mark 16:16 (Mark 16:16 NKJV) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. [Note: Baptizing infants is meaningless because they have no faith. An infant can be dedicated to the Lord, as Jesus was as a baby, but baptism is meaningful only when it expresses the believer's faith. 1 Peter 3:21; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 5:1, 2] 9. At Pentecost, what did Peter tell the new converts to do? Acts 2:38 [Acts 8:12, 38] (Acts 2:38 NKJV) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 10. What were the new converts "added" to when they were baptized? Acts 2:41, 47 (Acts 2:41 NKJV) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (Acts 2:47 NKJV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. [Note: Some Bible versions omit "to the church." See KJV or NKJV. Acts 5:14] 11. What symbol represents the church? Eph. 1:22, 23 (Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, {23} which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. [Ans: 'The church . . . is His body.' Col. 1:24] 12. What are we to be baptized "into"? 1 Cor. 12:13 (1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. [Ans: Christ's body, the church. verses 27, 28] 13. What is given to those who are baptized? 1 Cor. 12:7-12 (1 Corinthians 12:7-12 NKJV) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: {8} for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, {10} to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. {11} But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. {12} For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. [Ans: Everyone receives some gift of the Holy Spirit for service in God's work and in His church. "Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God."--Christ's Object Lessons, p. 327. Rom. 12:4-11] 14. What are we to do with these gifts after we are baptized? John 15:2, 8 [Matt. 12:30] (John 15:2 NKJV) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:8 NKJV) "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 15. What was Jesus' last commission to the disciples? Matt. 28:18-20 [Mark 16:15, 16] (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. 16. On one occasion, what did Paul do to those who had been baptized before learning all of the gospel? Acts 19:3-5 (Acts 19:3-5 NKJV) And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." {4} Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." {5} When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [Ans: He baptized them again. Acts 17:30] Commitment: Jesus said, "Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father" (Matt. 10:32). Once God gives us the opportunity to develop a faithrelationship with Jesus, and then as we learn how to publicly confess that relationship through baptism by immersion, salvation is conditional upon our obedience. Would you like to request baptism today and begin to prepare for that wonderful event? And while you are preparing for baptism, will you pray that God will show you what gifts He has given you to be used in service for Him and His church?
Further Study VersesQuestion 1 - Further Study (1 John 5:4-6 NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. {5} Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? {6} This is He who came by water and blood; Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. -->Back to Study Question 2 - Further Study (Acts 22:16 NKJV) 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' -->Back to Study Question 3 - Further Study (Colossians 2:11-13 NKJV) In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, {12} buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. {13} And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, -->Back to Study Question 4 - Further Study (Luke 3:21-22 NKJV) When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. {22} And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." -->Back to Study Question 5 - Further Study (Ephesians 4:5 NKJV) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; -->Back to Study Question 6 - Further Study Question 7 - Further Study (Leviticus 4:35 NKJV) 'He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the LORD. So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him. (Leviticus 23:27-30 NKJV) "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. {28} "And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. {29} "For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. {30} "And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. (Romans 9:31-32 NKJV) but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. {32} Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. (Deuteronomy 32:20 NKJV) And He said: 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith. (Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV) "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. -->Back to Study Question 8 - Further Study (1 Peter 3:21 NKJV) There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. -->Back to Study Question 9 - Further Study (Acts 8:12 NKJV) But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:38 NKJV) So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. -->Back to Study Question 10 - Further Study (Acts 5:14 NKJV) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, -->Back to Study Question 11 - Further Study (Colossians 1:24 NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, -->Back to Study Question 12 - Further Study (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NKJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. {28} And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. -->Back to Study Question 13 - Further Study (Romans 12:4-11 NKJV) For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, {5} so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. {6} Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; {7} or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; {8} he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. {9} Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. {10} Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; {11} not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; -->Back to Study Question 14 - Further Study (Matthew 12:30 NKJV) "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. -->Back to Study Question 15 - Further Study (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. -->Back to Study Question 16 - Further Study (Acts 17:30 NKJV) "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, -->Back to Study
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