BAPTISM EXPLAINED

Water Baptism According to the New Testament

WHY BE BAPTIZED?

Jesus commanded baptism. He instructed His disciples to baptize new believers:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

The Bible depicts baptism as a regular practice for new believers in the early Christian Church.

“… many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8)

Conclusion:

Baptism demonstrates our loyalty and obedience to Christ and His Word.

“We know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commands.” (1 John 2:3)

WHAT BAPTISM SYMBOLIZES

Baptism beautifully illustrates two things that happen to us when we become followers of Jesus. We die to our old life, and we are raised to new life in Christ.

First: When a person is baptized he/she is completely submerged under the water This act symbolizes the death and burial of your old life… the life and identity you once had apart from relationship with God through Christ. (Rom. 8:29-30)

Then, the act of coming up out of the water is a picture of rising to a new life; life under the grace and forgiveness of God. But also a life empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. God not only sets us free from condemnation for our sin past and present, but the Holy Spirit also gives us the power to begin living the new life He has called us to live. And while we will never be perfect in life, God works in us to grow us more and more into the likeness of Christ as we follow him throughout our lives. (Rom. 8:29-30)

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4)

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

From the following passages in the Bible we find that those who were baptized were those who believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and as the Savior of the world.

“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.” (Acts 8:12)

“Simon himself believed, and was baptized.” (Acts 8:13)

The people who heard Peter’s Pentecost sermon asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”(Acts 2:37). He answered: “Repent, and be baptized …” (verse 38). Their response: “Those who accepted his message were baptized …” (Acts 2:37-38, & 41).

WHEN ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?

In one account of baptism in the Bible, we find that there was no delay made in baptizing a man who had professed belief in Jesus. So it is possible that, as soon as someone professes belief, they can be baptized. (Acts 8)

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 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?’ Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38)

At Tamarindo Church, we take time to meet with individuals who want to be baptized, and we make efforts to baptize people together with as many people from the church present as possible. The reason we meet with individuals is to hear their “story” of how they came to belief, to answer any questions they may have, and to make sure they have a proper understanding of what baptism means. The reason we try to have people baptized in groups is because the Bible demonstrates that we are baptized into a “family” of faith, and our hope is to have as much of the family present to celebrate on our day’s of baptism.

WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO A FAMILY

When we are baptized, the new life that we raised not only brought into a new relationship with God through Christ, but we are also brought into new life in relationships in the family of God. As the Bible shows, we not only come into relationship with our heavenly Father as a child of God, but into a family of brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 3:1, Matt 12:48-15). We find other examples in Scripture where we see that faith is to be lived out in unity with other believers as the Bible describes the church as a body with many parts (Rom. 12:3-8), a building made up of many stones, and a While it may sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable to participate in a “new” family, God calls us to live out our faith in a local family of faith because this is where we can find support, encouragement, teaching, and accountability that will help us to grow and mature spiritually in a healthy way.

HOW ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?

(1) The Greek word baptizo (from bapto) means “to dip,” “to immerse,” or to “sink.” At Tamarindo Church we perform baptism by immersion because Scripture shows us that this was the method of baptism in the the early church. We perform baptisms at the local beachfront here in Tamarindo.

“… Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water …” (Acts 8:38)

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” (Matthew 3:16)

(2) It has been traditionally accepted that baptism by immersion was the practice of the early church.

Martin Luther: “I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.”

John Calvin: “The word baptize signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.”

John Wesley: “Buried with Him, alluding to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

For Further Explanation, view the following articles:

Crosswalk- baptism-what-is-it-meaning-and-definition.html
Baptism, an Explanation http://www.intouch.org/you/article-archive/content?topic=baptism_an_explanation_article#.VNTN6kvLc3R
Taking the Plunge http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/taking-the-plunge/
Baby Dedication https://bible.org/article/baby-dedication