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Lesson #5 - The Next Step - Baptism
This lesson, we want to examine a very important topic for you, now that you are a Christian. That is the topic of baptism.
There are many different ways that people practice baptism, but what is most important for us is to discover what the Bible has to say about it. and then we are to obey God's Word.
So let's see first of all:
What does the Bible says about:
1. Why Should We Be Baptized?
a) Look up Matthew 3:13-17. Read these verses carefully and see Who set an example for us to follow in baptism?
b) Now turn to John 4:1,2. This time see who taught and practiced baptism?
c) Turn over to Acts 2:41. Who continued baptizing people who became Christians?
d) Now lastly read Matthew 28:19,20. What is the most important reason to be baptized?
Now let's see what the Bible says about:
2. What Does It Represent?
a) If Jesus commanded us to be baptized, and we are baptized, then what have we been?
It is really our first step of obedience as a believer. It is important for us to understand, that we can not expect God's blessing if we continue to be disobedient.
b) But secondly, it is also our DECLARATION
We are declaring publicly that we are truly born-again and a child of God
c) And then lastly, it is our IDENTIFICATION
Turn to Romans 6:3-4a and read these verses. What do we identify with when we are baptized?
It is also our identification with a new life. Please read Romans 6:4b.
I call this our "show and tell" time for Jesus. We are telling everyone that we are a Christian with our mouth and we are showing them that we love Him by being baptized in public.
Now let's see what the Bible says about:
3. What It Does Not Represent:
a) Baptism does not save you. Read Ephesians 2:8,9. What is it that saves us?
Baptism has no power to save. Baptism does not add anything to our salvation. Nor does it take anything away from it if we are unable to be baptized. The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized, but Jesus still took him to heaven.
Now then, the important question:
4. Who Should Be Baptized?
The Bible has already taught us that only born-again believers should be baptized. It shows the relationship that a person has with Jesus Christ, as His child. So then, we ought to be saved before we are baptized, or else we are going through the motions of a big lie.
Read these passages - Acts 2:41 - Acts 8:12 - Acts 8:36-39. What happened before each baptism? What did the people have to do?
When a couple get married, before they get to the church for the ceremony, they have already told each other how much they love one another. The marriage is just telling that same thing to all their family and friends.
This is what it is like with baptism. We have already become a Christian and baptism is the ceremony through which we tell our family and friends.
So we can see that this would mean that babies should not be baptized.
Why?
Now another big question that the Bible answers for us is:
5. How Should We Be Baptized?
The Greek word for baptism in the Bible is 'baptizo'. This word means to dip or submerge like in the act of dying a piece of cloth
So the Bible teaches us to be baptized by being placed completely under the water. Not by sprinkling or by pouring.
Read these parts of your Bible - Mark 1:9,10 - Acts 8:38,39. What does it say the person being baptized did with the person doing the baptism?
Then lastly, what does the Bible say about:
6. When Should A Person Be Baptized?
Some people think it is a matter of how old you are.
While others think it is a matter of passing a course of some kind of teaching.
While some teach that it is another step toward your salvation.
But as we have seen already, the bible says "NO" to all of these.
Let's look one more time to the Bible for our answer - just to be sure.
Read Acts 2:41 - Acts 8:12 - Acts 8:35-38 Acts 16:30-33 again.
What did the people have to do to be baptized?
And when were they baptized?
This then is the Bible's teaching on BAPTISM! If you have not been baptized as a believer, why don't you speak to your Pastor about your baptism right now?
Say - why not drop us a note and let us know that you have finished this lesson. We would be so glad to hear from you. Email us here
There are many different ways that people practice baptism, but what is most important for us is to discover what the Bible has to say about it. and then we are to obey God's Word.
So let's see first of all:
What does the Bible says about:
1. Why Should We Be Baptized?
a) Look up Matthew 3:13-17. Read these verses carefully and see Who set an example for us to follow in baptism?
b) Now turn to John 4:1,2. This time see who taught and practiced baptism?
c) Turn over to Acts 2:41. Who continued baptizing people who became Christians?
d) Now lastly read Matthew 28:19,20. What is the most important reason to be baptized?
Now let's see what the Bible says about:
2. What Does It Represent?
a) If Jesus commanded us to be baptized, and we are baptized, then what have we been?
It is really our first step of obedience as a believer. It is important for us to understand, that we can not expect God's blessing if we continue to be disobedient.
b) But secondly, it is also our DECLARATION
We are declaring publicly that we are truly born-again and a child of God
c) And then lastly, it is our IDENTIFICATION
Turn to Romans 6:3-4a and read these verses. What do we identify with when we are baptized?
It is also our identification with a new life. Please read Romans 6:4b.
I call this our "show and tell" time for Jesus. We are telling everyone that we are a Christian with our mouth and we are showing them that we love Him by being baptized in public.
Now let's see what the Bible says about:
3. What It Does Not Represent:
a) Baptism does not save you. Read Ephesians 2:8,9. What is it that saves us?
Baptism has no power to save. Baptism does not add anything to our salvation. Nor does it take anything away from it if we are unable to be baptized. The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized, but Jesus still took him to heaven.
Now then, the important question:
4. Who Should Be Baptized?
The Bible has already taught us that only born-again believers should be baptized. It shows the relationship that a person has with Jesus Christ, as His child. So then, we ought to be saved before we are baptized, or else we are going through the motions of a big lie.
Read these passages - Acts 2:41 - Acts 8:12 - Acts 8:36-39. What happened before each baptism? What did the people have to do?
When a couple get married, before they get to the church for the ceremony, they have already told each other how much they love one another. The marriage is just telling that same thing to all their family and friends.
This is what it is like with baptism. We have already become a Christian and baptism is the ceremony through which we tell our family and friends.
So we can see that this would mean that babies should not be baptized.
Why?
Now another big question that the Bible answers for us is:
5. How Should We Be Baptized?
The Greek word for baptism in the Bible is 'baptizo'. This word means to dip or submerge like in the act of dying a piece of cloth
So the Bible teaches us to be baptized by being placed completely under the water. Not by sprinkling or by pouring.
Read these parts of your Bible - Mark 1:9,10 - Acts 8:38,39. What does it say the person being baptized did with the person doing the baptism?
Then lastly, what does the Bible say about:
6. When Should A Person Be Baptized?
Some people think it is a matter of how old you are.
While others think it is a matter of passing a course of some kind of teaching.
While some teach that it is another step toward your salvation.
But as we have seen already, the bible says "NO" to all of these.
Let's look one more time to the Bible for our answer - just to be sure.
Read Acts 2:41 - Acts 8:12 - Acts 8:35-38 Acts 16:30-33 again.
What did the people have to do to be baptized?
And when were they baptized?
This then is the Bible's teaching on BAPTISM! If you have not been baptized as a believer, why don't you speak to your Pastor about your baptism right now?
Say - why not drop us a note and let us know that you have finished this lesson. We would be so glad to hear from you. Email us here