Baptism

First Step on the Road of Obedience as a Christian!
In Christianity, the first step on the road of obedience as a Christian is to follow our Lord’s Command to be baptized. Baptism is simply the outward symbol of an inward change. Baptism is also the identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have already been converted, born again, or saved (Spiritually) by grace through faith. Therefore, baptism does not save you but it is the first open, public sign to all that you are following in the steps of Christ.
Christ’s Command:
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spoke unto them saying all power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen!!
After the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, He met with the eleven disciples on a mountain and commanded them to spread the Gospel to all nations. We are to follow their example and our Lord’s Command.
Christ’s Example:
Matthew 3:13-17
(15) “And Jesus answering said unto Him, Suffer it to be so: For thus it becometh us to fufill all righteousness.” Jesus was our example to follow. He was baptized not as a baby but right before he began his public ministry.
Christ’s Disciples
Matthew 20:22
“But Jesus answered and said, “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the Baptism that I am to be baptized with?” They say unto Him, “We are able!”
John 3:22-23
“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the Land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them and baptized (23) And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water: and they came, and were baptized.”
John 4:1-2
“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (2) (Though Jesus himself baptized not but His Disciples).”
Jesus left the order of baptism to His Disciples. His Disciples baptized all upon a declaration of belief in the resurrected Christ.

Other Biblical Examples:
Acts 2:41 (Day of Pentecost) “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Acts 8:12 (Samaritan Believers) “But they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.”
Acts 8:36 (Ethiopian Eunuch) “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, ‘see, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?”
Acts 9:18 (Conversion of Saul) “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
Acts 10:47-48 (Cornelius and Friends) (47) “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Acts 16:14-15 (Lydia and Friends) (14) “ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyartira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened , that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul (15) and she was baptized and her household.”
Acts 16:30-33 (Philippian Jailer) (31) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (33) and he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized and all his, straightway.”
Acts 18:18 (Corinthian Believers) “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all His house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.”
The Biblical Mode of Baptism:
Immersion (Under the water)
Death Burial Resurrection
Definition of Baptize:
Greek Word- ‘baptizo” – fully immerse, Dip. From “Bapto- to dip, as in the Greek way of dyeing cloth or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.

Reason for Immersion:
1. Greek word “baptize” in its primary meaning
2. Usual meaning of “into and out of” the water (Matthew 3:16, Acts 8:38-39)
3. John’s Baptism (Typical Jewish Baptism was total immersion)
4. The Early Church practiced immersion.
5. The Greek words for sprinkle and pour were never used in conjunction with baptism (John 3:23- much water).
6. Every biblical case uses immersion.
7. Immersion best visualizes the baptism work of the Spirit as seen in Romans (Chapter 6).
Identification with Burial:
Colossians 2:12 “Buried with Him”
Romans 6:3-6 “know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death? (4) Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into Death: That like as Christ was raised up 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 planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
The water becomes symbolic of a grave. We then become identified with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in our life. How many graves have you seen with only a sprinkle of dust over the dead corpse to cover it?
Truly Biblical Baptism is total immersion and nothing else comes close.
Who is to be Baptized?: Believers!
Acts 8:13 “Simon Believed”
Acts 8:37 “If thou believest”
Acts 2:36, 41 “Gladly Received Word”
Acts 16:30-34 “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ”
Baptism is only for an individual when he comes to the point in his life where he can make the decision to become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ of his own free will. Therefore, infants cannot make such a decision and show openly their identification with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in their being. Plus, there is not one verse of scripture to promote “infant baptism”. This practice (infant baptism) is totally traditions of man and not scriptural by any means.
When? :
Acts 2:41 “Same Day”
Acts 16:33 “Same Night”
Acts 8:36-38 “Same Hour”
Baptism does not wash away your sins, only the precious blood of Jesus (Colossians 1:14). Baptism also is not in any way essential for the salvation of your soul. Baptism is the outward showing of the conversion that has already taken place inwardly. It’s letting everyone know openly that now in your life you have died to your old self in order that the Life of Jesus can flow through for others to see as you walk “in the newness of Life.” Praise the Lord!! Now take the First Step of Obedience and show the world and everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Galatians 3:27)\

Sermons iTunes Born Again Baptism