John A Bridges

​WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR CHRISTIAN WATER BAPTISM?  

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Water Baptism
  1.  1.  Water Baptism is an ordinance (rule) established by Jesus Christ with the command that it is to be obeyed. The two Christian ordinances are acts of obedience and do not provide salvation. For most Evangelical Christians the term “ordinance” refers to Water Baptism, and The Lord’s Supper. These ordinances show the believers relationship with Christ.                                                                                                                                                               
  2.  2. WHAT DOES THE WORD “BAPTIZE” MEAN? The original word means “to dip” “to plunge under.” “To immerse.” It is best defined as being “placed into.”[1] 
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  4. 3. WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE OF WATER BAPTISM?                                             A new believer is baptized in water to follow Jesus’ command after his conversion. In water baptism, the minister immerses the new convert into the water.   Matthew 28:19-2019 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Mark 16:15-1615 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.                                                                                                                                                                                                              
  5. WHY MUST WE BE BAPTIZED IN WATER?                                                                                                                                    We must be baptized in water because: Jesus told us to.                                                                                                                  Matthew 28:19-2019 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.                                                                                                                                             John 14:15 " If you love Me, keep My commandments. Through water baptism, we acknowledge our total identification (union) with Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                                                   Romans 6: 3-5   3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,                                                                                                                            
  6. WHEN SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED IN WATER ?                                                                                                                             We should be baptized in water as soon after our conversion as possible.   Acts 16:30-3330 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.                                                             
  7. SHOULD INFANTS BE BAPTIZED?                                                                                                                                                  No. The Bible nowhere teaches that infants should be baptized. The Bible is emphatic that water baptism is to be administered only after a person has repented and believed in Jesus Christ.                                                                                                         Mark 16:16-1716 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.                         Acts 8:1212 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Other references: Acts 10:42-47; 16:14, 15; 18:8)                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  8. HOW SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?                                                                                                                                                  Total immersion (Exceptions are made for those who are sick and those unable to be placed in water) is the Biblical method of water baptism because: The original meaning of the word “baptize” is “to dip,” “to plunge under,” “to immerse,”                Water Baptism is an illustration of burial – a complete covering over.                                                                                       Romans 6:4 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.                                                                                                                                                             The Scriptures speak of the “baptizer” and the” baptized” going into the water and coming up out of the water. (Other references: Mathew 3:5, 6: Mark 1:9, 10; Acts 8:38,39)
 
STUDY QUESTIONS:

  1. What is a church ordinance (rule of practice)?
  2. What does the word “baptize” mean?
  3. What is the doctrine of water baptism?
  4. Why must we be baptized in water?
  5. When should we be baptized in water?
  6. Should infants be baptized?
  7. How should we be baptized?

(1) Lesson 13 is from Growing a Peaceful Soul, (Following Jesus in Discipleship) John A Bridges 
[2] Strongs definitions # 907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: KJV-- Baptist, baptize, wash.