SESSION #4
The Doctrine of Baptisms
Presented by: Pastors, Calvin Bergsma & Jim Bugg
Video: vimeo.com/gcf/70-principle-4
Audio:
Notes: PDF Notes
Addition explanation of how to do Water Baptism
• Repentance from Dead Works
• Faith Toward God
• Water Baptism
Embedded Files
Before returning to heaven, Jesus said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15)
Baptism by immersion is rooted in Jewish and pagan form. While Jews required that proselytes be immersed, in Pagan circles daily baptism was a common practice.
John called all Jews to a baptism of repentance and preparation for Another who would come with a baptism of fire and of the Spirit. It was not uncommon for God to take religious practices of the day, clean them up, and use them for His glory.
BAPTISM DEFINED
BAPTIZO - the basic root word for baptism. It comes from the word “bapto”, used three times in the New Testament.
The meaning - to dip, to plunge, to immerse in a substance and bring it out again.
1. Luke 16:24: The rich man cried out, “Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may DIP the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.”
2. John 13:26: At the Last Supper, Jesus stated concerning Judas who would betray Him, “It is he whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.”
3. Revelation 19:13: John speaking of Jesus said, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood.”
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible gives this definition of the word
“bapto” - “To cover wholly with fluid, hence to dip.”
Two further features of the meaning “Baptism”
1. Total and Transitional:
a. Total - involves the whole person and personality of the one being baptized.
b. Transitional - passing out of one stage or realm of experience into a new stage or realm, never entered into before. The opening and closing of a door, passing out of one room into another.
THREE BAPTISMS IN SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER
1. John’s Baptism
2. The Believer’s Baptism in Water
3. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
JOHN’S BAPTISM
(Brief & Temporary)
Mark 1:4 “John came baptizing in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
He demanded evidence of a real change in their behavior.
“…Paul, having passed through the upper region, came to Ephesus and finding some disciples he said to them. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit (at the time) you believed… said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit,” and he said to them, “into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “into John’s baptism.” 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.” When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:1-5).
THE BELIEVERS BAPTISM
(Permanently Given)
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him… “
John stated… “I have need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me.” 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…”
“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 and suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:15 “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. “
Three key words:
1. THUS - The mode used for Baptism (immersion)
2. FITTING - For believers to follow Him in baptism with sincere hearts.
3. US - To fulfill all righteousness by an outward act of obedience, Believers who have confessed and repented are completing all righteousness they have received through Jesus Christ inwardly.
JESUS REFERRED TO HIS DEATH AS A BAPTISM
Mark 10:38 “ . . . You do not know what you ask, are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.”
Luke 12:50 – “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished.”
Romans 6:3 – “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death! 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 should walk in newness of life (walk in the Spirit). For if we have been united together in the likeness of His Death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
In water baptism, the believer is fulfilling the righteousness of Christ in them as they are buried with Christ and raised (resurrected) with Him.
CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO BE BAPTIZED
1. Repent (Acts 2:37-38)
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, ‘men and brethren what shall we do?” 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.”
2. Believe (Mark 16:15-16)
“. . . Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
3. A Good Conscience (1 Peter 3:21)
“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.”who were in his home. Having believed in God, with all his household.” (Verse 34).
NOTE: This requirement for baptism automatically rules out infants. Scripture refers to the household of the Philippian jailer being baptized (Acts 16:32) and he spoke the Word to him and to all
The household of Cornelius (Acts 10:46-47) - “Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
They were all God-fearing - They all received the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues.
For more about water baptism: Why We Immerse (Baptize) New Believers in Water
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