BAPTISM
Is it enough to believe and accept the Saviour?
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
As the verse says, you must be baptized and you shall be saved. It is not enough to believe. A true believer of the Saviour will accept
What are the requirements for baptism?
- Taught and instructed
Acts 8:26-39 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Philip was teaching and instructing the eunuch before he was baptized.
Bible Study is a must. Through the study of the Scriptures, you will learn about the gospel of the kingdom and what you need to do to enter or be a part of it.
- Believe (In Jesus Christ the Son of God)
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
Believe (In the truth)
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Repentance –
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, 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.
Fruits Examined Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
What is the manner the Bible teaches regarding baptism?
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Examining:
Out of the water
Much water
Biblical method of baptism is through immersion. The Bible says "much water" and "out of the water". Sprinkling cannot be it for it does not require much water nor someone can come out of water by it.
What gift one receives in baptism?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, 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.
Baptism is symbolized by what?
Romans 6:4 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.
Buried into death = bury sins into the watery grave
Raised into newness of life = new creature
1 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 6:6,12 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. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
For those who have accepted the cross and wanted to be children of God, what must they do?
Galatians 3: 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
If we have been baptized into Christ, then we become baptized into what?
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
If we become part of one body, whose body do we become part of?
Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
This body of Christ is called what?
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
It means we become a member of the body of Christ or Christ’s church.
Baptism = entrance for church membership
We needed to be washed or baptized to enter into the spiritual Holy Place which is Christ’s church on earth.
Who is the head of Christ’s church?
Colossians 1:18 And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
Who is the counterfeit if this church?
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
What is the first description of the church of satan?
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie;
What is one of God’s commandments?
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Synagogue of satan = commandment-breakers
Church of God = keep commandments
Which church are you a part of? Commandment-keeping? or no-more-law do-what-you-want church, just-believe-in-Christ church?
If you find yourself a member of the synagogue of satan, what must you do?
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
Why do we need to separate?
Plagues –
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Destruction –
Micah 2:10 Arise ye, and depart; for this [is] not [your] rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy [you], even with a sore destruction.
Jeremiah 51:45 My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
Babylon will be destroyed by God’s plagues and so if you remain there, you will also receive the same condemnation.
Vessel -
Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
The Lord cannot use us while we willfully choose to be connected to Babylon.