Water Baptism

Romans 6:4 NKJV

“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.”

The doctrine of Baptisms is the third of the elementary principles which constitutes the Christians foundation.

Many Christians do not have a strong foundation they haven’t repented properly or had a proper water baptism. Water baptism is very important, some would disagree but we do not listen to the opinions of man, but to what the bible says.

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.

Usually when we speak of Baptism we are referring to water baptism. Baptism or baptise is the anglicised form of the word ‘baptizo’ and means to ‘dip, immerse, submerge or plunge.’ By definition the word means ‘to put into or under water (or other penetrable substances) so as to entirely immerse or submerge.

1- The New Testament makes reference to at least 4 baptisms:

1- The Baptism of John

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

2- The Lord’s Baptism of Suffering

Luke 12:50 NKJV

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”

3- Christian Baptism (Baptism in water)

Acts 2:38 NKJV

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

4- Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Acts 11:16 NKJV

“Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

2- Baptism is a command not an option.

Jesus commands all men to repent and be baptised, He was also baptised as an adult giving us an example to follow. Here are the Scriptures:

Matthew 28:19NKJV

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 16:16 NKJV

“He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Matthew 3:13-17

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptised by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptised by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptised, 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.”

3- The prerequisites for water baptism

They are repentance, faith, and confession of Jesus as Lord. This clearly excludes infant baptism and must invalidate all such acts of tradition by religious men.

When Jesus was a baby He was presented in the temple but He was not baptised. When you get water baptised you are making a statement, you are saying that you are dying to the person you were and that you are burying your sins and living a new life in Christ. Repentance and faith always precede baptism.

We validate our faith by baptism.

When a Christian gets baptised it is an incredible witness, that’s why baptisms must be public.

Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

4- The baptism reality

Water baptism is not just symbolic, something very real happens in the Spirit. Jesus died, was buried and He resurrected. In the water of baptism we identify with Christ, His death, we die to the old sinful life, burial, we leave behind the past and resurrection, we resurrect to a new life.

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised 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 also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 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.

In this symbolism we do exactly what happened to Jesus, died, buried and resurrected.

5- What does Water Baptism accomplish in us?

In a true experience of water baptism:

1- We receive remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 NKJV “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

2- We bury the ‘old man’ – nature of sin.

Romans 6:6 NKJV

“knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

3- We confirm our new birth of resurrection life

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.”

Romans 6:5, 11 NKJV

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

4- We receive the circumcision of heart

It is a sign that you are in covenant with God, your heart has been marked.

Colossians 2:11-12 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, 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.”

Philippians 3:3 NKJV

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”

Questions

1- Have you been baptised?

2- Share 3 things you have learned about water baptism

3- Where in the Scriptures does Jesus command people to be baptised?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

John 7:38-39 NKJV

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

God has designed that everything in the Church be done by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Believing in God, repenting of our sins and being Water baptised is only the starting point for the believer. The Lord not only wants to save us but also wants us to become Sons and Daughters of God, filled with the Spirit of God and walking in the Spirit.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is also very essential in the life of a born again believer, without it, it’s impossible to live the Christian life.

It’s called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit because we are to be fully immersed in the Holy Spirit, a baptism from above. The person of the Holy Spirit envelopes us up completely and fills our lives until overflowing.

1- Why do we need the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit gives and provides us with:

A- Authority to witness and minister to others

Acts 1:8 NKJV

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

B- Inspiration for true worship

John 4:24 NKJV

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Philippians 3:3 NKJV

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”

C- Power in prayer

Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Jude 1:20 NKJV

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”

D- Understanding the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

John 16:13 NKJV

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

E- Guidance (direction) from God

Acts 13:2 NKJV

“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

Mark 13:11 NKJV

“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

F- Ability to use spiritual gifts

1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

Acts 1:8 NKJV

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

G- Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:16-23,25 NKJV

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

2- Evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit

The evidence in the book of Acts receiving the Holy Spirit was speaking in other tongues.

Acts 2:4 NKJV

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 10:44-46 NKJV

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered”

Acts 19:6 NKJV

“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

3- Receive by faith

Whenever an honest hungry seeker comes to God to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, he has never to fear of receiving less than God’s promise

Luke 11:11-13 NKJV

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Questions

1- Have you been baptised with the Holy Spirit?

2- Are you faithful to the what the Holy Spirit entrusted you to?

3- Are you obedient to the great commission? How committed and faithful are you in participated in evangelism?

4- Are you a tither and do you give offerings? How are you in respect to Church attendance?