Beginning the Christian Life – The Doctrine of Baptisms (Part 1)

Sep 17, 2020 | Bible Studies, Teaching aids

Beginning the Christian Life

The Doctrine of Baptisms (Part 1)

Romans 6:1-10 (KJV)

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 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:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

We come now to the third of the “first principles ” which constitute the Christian’s “foundation” (Hebrews 5:12;6:1,2). Usually, When we speak of Baptism, we are referring to water baptism, and that is what we will be studying in this lesson. However, the New Testament makes reference to at least four baptisms.

  1. The baptism of John (Matthew 3:11, & 21-25)
  2. Our Lord’s baptism of suffering (Luke 12:50)
  3. Christians baptism (Acts 2:38)
  4. Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48)

Since we are dealing with water baptism, two of these baptisms shall receive our main attention; namely, the baptism of John and Christian baptism.

What is the meaning of the word “Baptize”?

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD “BAPTIZE”?

“Baptize” is the Anglicized form of the Greek word “baptize”, and means “to dip, immerse, submerge.” By definition and usage, the word means “to put into or under water (or other penetrable substance) so as entirely to immerse or submerge.”

WHAT IS THE FIRST REFERENCE TO WATER BAPTISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

Matthew 3:11 – – “I (John the Baptist) indeed BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER unto repentance…”

WHO AND WHAT WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST?

  • He was the son of Zecharias and Elizabeth. (Luke 1:5. 13)
  • He was the greatest of the prophets.
    • Luke 7:28 – -“For I (Jesus) say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is NOT A GREATER PROPHET than John the Baptist.”
  • He was sent to introduce Jesus to Israel.
    • John 1:31 – -“That he (Jesus) should be MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” (Matthew 3:3-17)

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JOHN’S BAPTISM?

  • He was divinely sent to baptize.
    • John 1:33 – – “…And he SENT me to BAPTIZE WITH WATER!”
  • His ministry marked the beginning of a new age.
    • Luke 16:16 – – “The law and the prophets were UNTIL JOHN: SINCE THAT TIME the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
  • Luke 3:2,3 – -“…THE WORK OF GOD CAME UNTO JOHN the son of Zecharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”
  • It was “the counsel (purpose, will) of God” for that time.
    • Luke 7:30 – – “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected THE COUNSEL OF GOD against themselves, BEING NOT BAPTIZED OF HIM!”
    • AMP. “But the Pharisees and the lawyers (of the Mosaic Law) annulled and rejected and brought to nothing GOD”S PURPOSE CONCERNING THEMSELVES, by REFUSING AND NOT BEING BAPTIZED BY JOHN.”
  • Those who were baptized, “justified God “. (Declared God to be right in His demands.)
    • Luke 7:29 – – “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, JUSTIFIED GOD, BEING BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.”
    • AMP. “And all the people that heard him, even the tax collectors, ACKNOWLEDGED THE JUSTICE OF GOD (in calling them to repentance and pronouncing future wrath of the impenitent), BEING BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.”
  • John’s Baptism was superseded by Christians baptism.
    • Acts 19:4,5 – – “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME AFTER HIM, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, THEY WERE BAPTIZED INT THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.”
    • AMP. “And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME AFTER HIM, that is, Jesus, (having a conviction full of joyful trust that HE is the Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to Him), On hearing this, THEY WERE BAPTIZED (again, this time IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS,)

WHAT WAS THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM?

  • The Great Commission.
    • Matthew 23:19 – – “Go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
    • Mark 16:16 – -“He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

HOW DID THE APOSTLES OBEY THIS COMMISSION?

  • Acts 2:38 – -“Repent, and be BAPTIZED every one of you IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
  • Acts 8:16 – – “They were BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.”
  • Acts 10″48 – -“And he commanded them to be BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.”
  • Acts 19:5 – – “When they heard this, they were BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.”