There are several things we can do for a new believer such as encouraging daily devotions and prayer, etc. The Holy Spirit did not show up again until after Jesus crucifixion. The Corinthians had made the mistake of identifying their baptism with the person... 2. Notice that it says “the washing of water” by the Word. As a result of our old man being fully put to death, the rite of water baptism, especially being willing to be fully immersed in a pool of water, is a perfect outward sign of our old man and old life being fully put to death in the Lord. Today I want to focus on a practical step you can lead people to take that will make them stronger disciples of Christ: Water Baptism. There was nothing spiritual taken place except getting the people prepared for the Messiah ( Jesus). People need no translation or version: , somebody’s “in-other-words that subtly turns the meanings of God’s inspired ,written word, in a direction it does not truthfully go. If you are saved at a Billy Graham crusade, but do not go through an actual water baptism at the crusade, you will still go straight to heaven if you should die on the way home before you could have gone through an actual water baptism at a later date. Satan and all other fallen angels believe in Jesus Christ and they too know WHO He is exactly, but they are not Holy in any way and therefore, they do not possess the Holy Spirit. So, if no belief, no baptism and NO SALVATION. , 5. The Bible says the church is the body of Christ and through baptism we are joined to that body (1 Cor. I am one of the Elder preachers and I benefited from the notes very much. He said it is expedient I go to the Father so I can send the counselor the Holy Spirit! This is why a person should be old enough to understand the meaning before being water baptized. Baptism in Water is important, because it is a step of Faith that confirms that the person has been converted to Christ (Mk 1:4-5, Acts 4:41, 8:12, 36-38). I believe the word “water” in this verse means “the Word of God.”. But I do not believe that this is the correct interpretation of the word “water” in this verse. I base my reasoning off the last two verses. Instead, we are saved by grace through faith, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Being pierced to the soul they cried “Men and brethren, what shall we do”? You are confusing yourself, because there is no such thing as baptism of the Holy Spirit without water. By proclaiming His message, we’re identifying ourselves with Him. You will see Believing and Spirit baptism happens at the same time. But if by chance they would die before they could have been baptized with water, they would still go straight to heaven. Many times, people make an emotional decision for Christ at an altar and then never think about it again afterwards. In the same way, I believe that we should undergo a full body immersion to line up with Jesus’ physical body being put fully into the grave. You need the Word and the knowledge of the Word. The fact that they could not be baptized with water will have no bearing or influence on them being able to enter into heaven if they should die before they could have been baptized with water. Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. And this will now lead us right into the next section. Water baptism is one of the first things we can do practically in our lives to show our desire to live to honor God. It’s why Jesus himself didn’t ask many questions about it but rather approved it by recieving it himself “to fulfill all righteousness”-Matt 3:13-15. If that should happen, then the person who has just been saved should be baptized with water as soon as they reasonably can at a later date. The Bible first mentions Christian baptism in its accounts of John the Baptist. I question this version. Can’t we just agree that Jesus had his reasons for tacking on the rite to go hand and hand with a newly saved soul, a believer? Believe is a verb. Water Baptism should have dropped off after Calvary, as animal sacraficing did. “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. The Importance of Baptism. The baptisms John performed had a specific purpose. If Peter’s message was NOT water baptism for the forgiveness of sins,then Philip was incorrect in his teaching of the eunuch, Ananias was incorrect in his teaching of Paul,and Paul was incorrect in his teaching of the jailer,and the many other stories of conversions in Acts are contradictory of each other as to what is required for salvation. It not only affirms the relationship but actually builds it. It is important to understand that baptism involves a confession of faith in the Lordship of Christ. However, when you look very closely at the verses I will list below, and exactly what water baptism is really signifying and symbolizing with the Lord, I believe these verses are telling us that water baptism should be included as an actual “part” of the salvation experience with the Lord, but that it is not an actual “essential” or necessary requirement of it. Water baptism introduces a person’s story to the church and makes them a familiar face. In a profound example of leadership, Jesus modeled water baptism to us by being water baptized Himself! I never heard of anyone actually being concerned about it, on any personal level. The significant symbols that are important for baptism are baptismal font, water, oil and… Entrance into the church would have to be CONSISTENT. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: “I baptize you with water for repentance.” Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. 2. Now the revelation is much more because the Grace of God is abundant, Romans 5.20. It’s been said, “Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward transformation.”. God richly bless you. However, for those denominations who still like to baptize infants shortly after their births – I personally do not see any harm in doing this. Therefore, when the person believes in Jesus Christ and understands the gospel, he must be baptized … It’s may be firm in the ground, but of what considerable use is it to nature besides being an epitome of questionable productiveness. #4 Water baptism identifies us with Christ and his church. Another area of debate on this issue is whether or not to undergo a full immersion or to just have water sprinkled or poured on you. As such, I believe that every born-again believer should fully obey this command from the Lord and go through this rite if they have never done it before. Again, going through the rite of water baptism where you are being fully immersed in the water is a perfect, symbolic act of dying and resurrecting with our Lord. Though water baptism is a powerful rite and symbolic act to make before the Lord – it is not what actually gets us saved and born again before Him. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, all of our past, present, and future sins will be fully forgiven. 3 – When they come up out of the water, he places his hands on them to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit…and they speak in tongues as they receive it. bap’-to For this reason every Christian who believes in Jesus Christ must be baptized, since Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk 16:16). As he came out of the water, he lifted his hands in joy and was free from his oppression. In conclusion, water baptism is a valuable tool for a small group leader to add to their ‘discipleship tool belt.” As you are talking one-on-one with believers in your group about their faith, don’t hesitate to ask them if they’ve ever been water baptized. Full immersion in the water thus symbolizes and represents a complete and maximum death of our old lives and our old selves. The first option looks to the context of Jesus’ words dealing with being born “again” (3:3). Baptism is an act in which a Christian is immersed in water to symbolize the end of an old way of living, and a new start. And as a result of all of the old things in our lives having passed away, all things have now been become brand new. baptō Reference is also made that through water baptism that on many occasions the believer rises up and speaks in tongues symbolizing the maturity of the person in their new determined life of surrender. The Bible tells us that once we are saved – that we have now become new creations in Christ, that our human spirits have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and that our old life and our old man have now died and been done away with. It is of first importance to note that this work is done by God. Do you want to help them solidify their faith in Christ so they can endure trials and tribulation (Mark 4:17)? 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. That age will vary depending on how well a child has been brought up in the Lord. To identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus 5. Right on target. When he himself was baptized the holy spirit in the form of a dove sat on him and God spoke from heaven acknowledging that he was his son and he was pleased with him. Rather than being works, what you have here is obedience, in faith to our Lord . As you will see in the verses below, water baptism is also identifying and testifying to the death and resurrection of Jesus. And the rite of water baptism is still a form of works, and as a result, cannot be accepted as being an essential or required part of the salvation experience with the Lord. However, this one official baptism is not water baptism – it is being baptized direct with the Holy Spirit Himself. We then baptized him in a bath in one of the apartments. So when Jesus, the Messiah, came…why did he continue to approve of His own disciples baptizing people with water in John 3:22-4:2? This is how you know that water baptism should always be included as a part of anyone’s personal salvation experience with the Lord. Read Ephesians 2.8. The word and combines believing with Spirit baptism. The first verse I will give you will show you that our “old man” was crucified with Christ. It proves to themselves that what they’ve experienced is significant enough to warrant getting out of their comfort zone and into a pool of water for Jesus. 1. 1. The Names of Jesus: Who is Jesus According to the Scriptures? Baptism means to cleanse. Not water & Holy Spirit- This act does not take place until after Jesus goes to Calvary ( Cross) at Pentecost. I agree with you totally. Another area of debate among some of the different denominations is at what age should people go through the rite of water baptism. Baptism by water is a “reenactment” of the baptism by the Spirit. Water baptism is essential because even Jesus had taken water baptism. Cornelius and his brethren we baptised in the Holy Spirit and Peter commanded that they should be water immersion baptised. Initiation into the Body of Christ 2. Your comment would be spot on IF “Baptism” was properly defined as “being dipped or immersed into water” as you profess. In other words, when they are ready to make an eternal commitment to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Your small group member will have a stronger identity in Christ as they allow others to see them as a follower of Christ. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. His gospel was the suffering, dying, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Only God can cleanse with clean water; only God can change hearts – and this work of God is what Nicodemus needed to know. For the most part, I believe that you should go through the proper chain-of-command in the Body of Christ and have either the pastor or one of the ordained clergy of your church do the water baptism if you belong to a church. There are deeper truths to water immersion baptism. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. In other words, we have to believe in our hearts who Jesus really is, and then be willing to confess out loud with our mouths the basics of our salvation as to who He really is, and exactly what He has personally done for us with His sacrificial death on the cross. In the waters of baptism, a person says, wordlessly, “I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification.” Wondering? Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ. As prophesied, John the Baptist immersed Jesus and the Holy Spirit came down and STAYED. Then Jesus comes baptizing with the Holy Spirit! 7-year-olds are naturally curious. • Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. God hasn’t designed us to live out our faith alone. Andrew Mason is the Executive Pastor of Discipleship Communities at Emmanuel, a multi-site church in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul. (John 3:5-6). We all were taught quite well on receiving the Holy Spirit, well enough so all received it. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and lives again. The Holy Spirit needs something to work with to begin the sanctification process in your life – and that something is knowledge – and that knowledge can only be received by studying the Word of God. When a person goes through the waters of Baptism they are making a statement. The rite of water baptism perfectly symbolizes the purification and cleansing that we are receiving from the Lord during the salvation experience with Him. Augustine called baptism a visible form of an invisible grace. I could not live out the Christian life until I received the baptism of fire and power. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc 1. However, I do not believe that water baptism is an actual “essential” for a true salvation experience to occur with the Lord. Jesus’ ministry was never about faith ALONE. The third verse is where some people get the mistaken notion that water baptism has to be an essential part of the actual salvation experience. Rom 10:9 (NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. How can baptism in water be considered a work when the one BEING baptized is passive. With all of the above verses tying in water baptism to being saved and converted to the Lord, and that someone can only receive salvation if they have the actual knowledge and intelligence to be able to understand it all – for the most part, we believe that water baptism should be confined to when people are old enough, intelligent enough, mature enough, and accountable enough to be able to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Let’s talk about some easy ways to explain the complex reasons why some choose to be baptized. The third good reason to undergo a full immersion is that this also lines up better with our old man and our old life being fully put to death. Water baptism is a public declaration of our promise not to continue walking in sin. 1 Corinthians 12:13 explains clearly how, when, and with what a person is saved and put in the body of Christ. Baptism has similarities to Tvilah, a Jewish purification ritual of immersing in water, which is required for, among other things, conversion to Judaism, but which differs in being repeatable, while baptism is to be performed only once. As with any dictionary use all words after the first “meaning” words, in this case “to whelm”, are only for examples of how the word has been used by people and societies over the years. At any rate, as believers that Jesus was the Son of God, died on the cross, and then was raised from the dead, it is His examples we are to use in our walk with Him. Wouldn’t he be baptizing people with the Holy Spirit instead? Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice as his Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate baptism! He wanted the Jew to come onboard first! He said “no.” I shared with him the importance of water baptism. My father also was a stroke victim, and my mother has been an amputee for over 50 years (one leg), so I have some idea what difficulties you face. 3. What is the importance of water baptism? One can be “whelmed” out of what was believed before by being “baptized” (overwhelmed) by faith in the authority of Gods’ only Son and if never “overwhelmed” by this new faith they remain lost. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit – You are now born again a new creature in Christ! This is powerful and profound revelation being given to us by our Lord in these next 4 verses. Remind a new believer, Jesus will never ask them to do something that He Himself was not willing to do. In other words, our old man was fully put to death. The verse from 1 Peter specifically says that we have been “born again … through the word of God.” The Word of God is specifically being tied to us being born again in the Lord. I really believe we were more into baptism of the Holy Spirit than any church I have ever been a part of, was into water baptism. From the biblical scriptures you’ve quoted you have actually given substance to the truth that at Baptism you die to this world and your old life: you rise from the watery grave symbolizing you have now shared in his death and have become a ‘new creature” in Christ to walk in newness of Life…that is being ‘born again’. Notice in the first two verses that it specifically says that we have actually been “buried” with Jesus and His death on the cross “through baptism.” And just as Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, so too are we raised into a brand new life. While Baptism isn’t salvation, it is an serious act of obedience. The last verse will then put the icing on the cake as it tells us that the reason we are now able to become brand new creations is because we have now “put on Christ” as a result of being baptized into Jesus through the Holy Spirit. well the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the most important one, and if you read you Bible it will also tell you that water Baptism plays no part in our salvation. When you are being fully immersed during the rite of water baptism, you are going through a perfect, symbolic act of having all of your personal sins completely washed away by the blood of Jesus. I for one, will obey, but if there is a question in your mind whether you should or shouldn’t be water baptized, why not do it if nothing else, not to take a chance of going to Hell? The third verse will really hammer home the point that as a result of dying and resurrecting with Jesus, we have now all become “new creations” in Him. Someone who has been brought up very early in the Lord and His Word can receive the gift of eternal salvation at a much younger age than someone else who has had very little upbringing in the knowledge and ways of our Lord. ROMANS 6:1-11. There are some who believe in what is called “baptismal regeneration.” This is a belief that we cannot be saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit unless we go through an actual water baptism. I believe you only need to be baptized once with water. 4. 5. very well written Tony Morris. Which is still a cleansing – Mt.3:10-12. Discipleship, Discipling group members, Water Baptism. Some denominations like the Catholics still like to baptize infants with water shortly after their births. The Jews knew it meant immersion in water, and they followed the order Peter gave them in Acts 2:38. Baptism is the righteousness which everyone needs to fulfill. Baptism to a 7-Year-Old. That is also the Baptism of the Holy Spirit- the spirit comes in and starts the cleansing of the inner person.This is the One Baptism- that put you in God’s Kingdom! Jesus desires us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8) and not keep our faith in a closet. Water symbolizes a believer’s death to sin. Notice in the last verse from Ephesians that Jesus is looking to clean up His church by the “washing of water by the word.” In other words, you have to have the Word and the knowledge of that Word before God can start to clean you up on the inside by the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a demonstration of our obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe there are five main reasons as to why Jesus wants us to include water baptism as part of our salvation experience with Him. The word for “baptism” in the Greek language is “baptizo” which means to immerse, to plunge or to dip. Others will argue that water baptism should only be done when a person is old enough, ready enough, intelligent enough, and mature enough to make a public profession of faith to the Lord. You have to be initiated first before you can enjoy the benefits of being a born again Christian. In ancient times, the word referred to a number of processes such as dipping to draw wine, steeping tea in hot water, the two-fold process of pickling, and driving a herd across a stream, river or body of water. Jesus cannot just be Savior, he must also be Lord and that is where baptism of the holy spirit empowers us to be obedient to not just go into all the world to make other disciples but to also heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons. 1. I was also baptized at the Jordan River during my tour in Israel. God is so smart! 1. He used water because he knew they believed in ceremonial washings! Baptism symbolizes being washed cle... Water baptism is for the remission of sins. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Back to Baptism by water, yes its a work, but a necessary work just like forgiveness, generosity, evangelism, abstinence from sexual immorality, and last but the root of all, obedience. To say it is an absolute requirement for salvation is too legalistic for my revelation of the Father. The Church is really the individual body of believers, and when there is no church available or nearby, I believe you can baptize another into the Body of Christ by either fully immersing them in a pool of water if a pool of water is readily available, or by sprinkling or pouring water on them from a nearby water source. He is also the Director of Network Partnerships for the Small Group Network. INTRO. If every person on the planet suddenly said the sinners prayer, we’d still have murder, rape, theft, cheating etc the next day. Meaning, Understanding and Importance of Water Baptism by Immersion The word "baptism" is from the Greek word "baptisma" and from a primary Greek verb "bapto," which is also the root of the word baptize. The Gospel becomes a personal message and personal experience through baptism. Though we are not actually saved by water baptism, Jesus still wants all of us to include this rite as a part of the salvation experience with Him. 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