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The Five W's of Baptism
WHAT:
immerse/dip/plunge into& under water (baptizo) [Mark 1:10, Acts
8:38, 39], NO=pouring, sprinkling
*one baptism (Eph 4:5) -vs-
baptisms (Heb 6:2) ----Jesus' (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 2:38),
John's (Matt 3:6, 11, Mark 1:4, 5, Luke 3:3, John 1:24-28), fire
(Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16), Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11, John 1:33),
suffering (Mk 10:38)
WHERE: no
magic (holy) water. Needs to be plenty of water (John 3:22,23) for
complete coverage ---pool, whirlpool, bath tub, lake, creek, river,
beach, plastic liner filled with water inside a truck bed or a hole
in the ground, church baptistery.
WHY: big
debate -- Is it because your sins have been washed away or
in order to have your sins washed away!?!?! What does the
BIBLE say?
-Jesus was - Matt
3:13-17, Mark 1:9, Luke 3:21 *He had no sin *"To
fulfill all righteousness"
-Jesus commanded it -
John 3:1-8, Matt 28:18-20
-Forgiveness of sin -
Acts 2:38, 22:16
-Gift of Holy Spirit -
Acts 2:38, 5:31, 32
-Clothe self with Christ
- Gal 3:27
- Model the Passion
(d/b/r) of Jesus - Col 2:12, Romans 6:1-10
-Means by which He saved
us - Titus 3:5,6, Mark 16:16, 1 Pet 3:21
-Clean conscience before
God - 1 Pet 3:21
-Foreshadowing of Naaman
- 2 Kings 5 - his leprosy was cleansed by dipping in the Jordan
River
WHO: NOT
Babies (Ezek 18), NOT for the dead (1Cor 15:29), or anyone other
than yourself (Acts 2:38). All mankind - NOT just Americans,
Male/Female, old/young, rich/poor, weak/strong, smart/dumb......
"Age of Accountability," old enough to know what is going on. What
is sin? Who am I? Who was/is Jesus? Do I believe the Bible/Church/
God/eternity/heaven & hell/"Calvary for me"? Am I willing to make a
lifetime commitment? Am I doing this for me & not just to
please someone else? Am I wanting a relationship with God & not
doing "what I got to do?"
WHEN: why not now? Don't procrastinate -
(1) uncertainty of this life, (2) uncertainty of the time of Jesus'
return, (3) hearts harden, (4) open vessel for Satanic attacks [Matt
12:43-45; no access to the Spiritual armor - Eph 6:10-18, 1Pet 5:8],
(5) wasted opportunities and regrets, (6) continual daily
disobedience, (7) willingly staying in a lost condition, rejecting
Christ and His gift of grace & life- "How can you say, 'NO,' t this
Man?"
ANYTHING ELSE?: FAITH (Heb 11:6) REPENTANCE (Luke
13:3,5) CONFESSION (Matt 10:32, 33) FAITHFULNESS/GROWTH (Rev 2:10a,
Eph 4:11-16, Heb 12:14, 1 Cor 4:2, Acts 2:42, Heb 10:25)
IS BAPTISM ALL THERE IS?: Nooooooo!! Luke 3:7-14 -
Fruits of repentance; Acts 8 - Simon the Sorcerer
WHAT ABOUT SPRINKLING BABIES or PRAYING THE SINNER'S PRAYER?:
Neither are in the Bible. God evidently will not consider these when
dealing with spiritual matter of eternity. See Ezek 18 & Rom 10.
WHAT ABOUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS?: Jesus told him he
would be saved (Lk 23:39-43) Has Jesus told any of us that?
That man lived & died under the old covenant before there even was
such a thing as baptism into death, burial and resurrection of
Jesus. We are all now part of the new covenant of grace and faith
due to Calvary.
WHAT ABOUT OPENING OUR HEARTS TO JESUS WHO IS KNOCKING AT THE
DOOR?: Rev 3:20 is not about initial salvation to a pagan,
but a word of warning to the Church in Laodicea who had become so
self righteous, Jesus was not even in their midst anymore and they
didn't even realize it!
WHAT ABOUT CONFESSING OUR SINS TO GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL TO
FORGIVE?: 1 John 1:9 was written to Christians for continual
grace for forgiveness after intial salvation. It is not addressed to
pagans for salvation.
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