Matthew 28:18-29 – “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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…”
Acts 2:28 – “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.”
Water baptism is about giving a public testimony. It is often described as an outward sign of what God has done inside our lives.
The term baptize is not church or denominational term; it is a Greek term. Baptizo in the Greek meant to "dunk," "dip," "plunge," "submerge," or "immerse." Originally, it had no religious connotation. Rather, the word baptize was used to describe a ship that had been sunk in a battle or a piece of cloth that was dipped in dye. Other times it was used to refer to someone who had drowned or a cup that was dipped into a pitcher to drink from. Its use was general in nature.
Until John the Baptist, “the baptizer,” came along. He preached that people should repent of their sins because the kingdom of God was near. He would then baptize them as a sign of their commitment.
Water Baptism is God’s will for every believer. Baptism is a statement of faith: my old life is behind me – I am a new person.
The importance of baptism in the NT church …10 times water baptism is mentioned in the book of Acts.
- Acts 2:38, 41: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ’…those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
- Acts 8:12-13: “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized…”
- Acts 8:36-38: “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
- Acts 9:18: “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”
- Acts 10:47-48: “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
- Acts 16:14-15: Referring to the conversion of Lydia, we read, “…The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home…”
- Acts 16:31-33: “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.”
- Acts 18:8: “Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.”
- Acts 19:4-5: “Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- Acts 22:16:“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized...”
Discussion Questions:
- Have you been baptized in water as a demonstration of your faith in Jesus? Tell me what it meant to you?
- If you have not been baptized, why not?
- How does baptism declare our allegiance to Jesus
