What Does the Bible Say About Baptism?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BAPTISM?

1. FORESHADOWED in the Flood & Old Testament 

(1 Peter 3:20-21) because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is,eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

2. John’s ministry of baptism POINTS TO JESUS 

(Mt 3:11) I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3. Jesus was baptized because it was GOD’S PLAN 

(Mt 3:15) But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

4. In Jesus’ baptism we SEE THE TRINITY 

(Mt 3:16-17) And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

5. Jesus LED HIS DISCIPLES 

to baptize others (John 3:22) After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

6. Baptism was the FIRST STEP of being a disciple 

(John 4:1) Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

7. Jesus COMMANDS us to baptize believers 

(Mt 28:19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

8. Baptism was always connected with REPENTANCE AND BELIEF 

(Acts 2:37-41) v.38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

9. Baptism was always IMMEDIATE 

(Acts 2:37-41) v.41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

10. Baptism was always by IMMERSION 

“baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there” (John 3:23)

11. Baptism is always by a biblical, Christian church leader, with a BIBLICAL understanding of baptism 

(Mark 1:1-11) “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

12. Jesus said baptism is a PICTURE of faith 

(Acts 1:5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

13. For UNITY, not division 

(1 Corinthians 1:10-17) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

14. BAPTISM ALWAYS FOLLOWS SALVATION 

Peter commands the Gentiles (non-Jews) to be baptized when they had already received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47-48)“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

The Ethiopian eunuch was EAGER when he saw water, asking, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:38)

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What Does the Bible Say About Christian Identity?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT CHRISTIAN IDENTITY?

The Gift: New Identity

The greatest gift of Christianity is not merely a future existence in Heaven, but is the present and eternal reality of a relationship and unity with Christ (John 15:1-11, 1 Corinthians 6:17).  As Christians we must realize that we are not products of our past or present decisions, failures, or successes.  Our identity, value, & worth are rooted in our new name and identity in Christ.  We focus on knowing God first and foremost and simultaneously discover our amazing nature as God’s forever adopted children.

In Christ, I am…

• Truly Alive.  Alive Forever. (Romans 6:23, John 11:25-26, Romans 6:8, Philippians 1:21)
• Washed.  Cleaned.  Declared Innocent. Atoned. Not Condemned. (Isaiah 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Romans 8:1-2)
• Victorious. (Romans 8:37)
• Loved. (Romans 8:31, Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16)
• Secure. (Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:4-7)
• Known. (John 10:14, Jeremiah 1:5)
• Heard. (1 John 5:14-15)
• New Creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Empowered Representatives. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 1:8)
• Justified and Made Righteous. (Romans 5:17-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Filled with God’s Holy Spirit. (John 7:38-39)
• Never Alone. (Matthew 28:20)
• Blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)
• Chosen and Adopted. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
• Forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 2:13-14)
• Friend. (John 15:15)
• Part of the Body of Christ. (Romans 12:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:20)
• United with God. (1 Corinthians 6:17, Colossians 3:3-4)
• The Temple of God and of Priceless Worth. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• Inconceivably Rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
• Children and Heirs of God. (Romans 8:16-17, Galatians 4:6-7, 2 Cor 6:18)
• Saints. (Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 4:21, 1 Peter 2:9-10)
• Salt of the Earth. (Matthew 5:13)
• Light of the World. (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Purposed. (Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
• Strengthened. (2 Corinthians 12:10, 1 John 4:4, Philippians 4:13)
• Aroma of Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
• Called to Not Fear or Worry. (John 14:1, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:8-9, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 13:6)
• Comforted and Comforters. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
• Citizens of Heaven. (Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 13:14)
• Crucified, Buried, Risen, and Free with Christ. (Romans 6:4-8)

In Christ, I am…

Truly Alive.  Alive Forever.

• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)
• Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)
• Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:8 ESV)
• For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

Washed.  Cleaned.  Declared Innocent. Atoned. Not Condemned.

• And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:7 ESV)
• And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV)
• There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 ESV)

Victorious.

• No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Loved.

• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
• I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (Jeremiah 31:3 ESV)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

Secure.

• For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 ESV)
• But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

Known.

• “I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:14 ESV)
• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:5 ESV)

Heard.

• And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)

New Creation.

• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Empowered Representatives.

• Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV)
• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Justified and Made Righteous.

• For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-19 ESV)
• For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

• “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” [39] Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38-39 ESV)

Never Alone.

• “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

Blessed.

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

Chosen and Adopted.

• even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV)

Forgiven.

• In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)
• He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
• And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  (Colossians 2:13-14 ESV)

Friend.

• No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 ESV)

Part of the Body of Christ.

• For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  (Romans 12:4-5 ESV)
• Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV)

United with God.

• But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV)
• For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3-4 ESV)

The Temple of God and of Priceless Worth.

• Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

Inconceivably Rich.

• For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)

Children and Heirs of God.

• The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17 ESV)
• And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:6-7 ESV)
• “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV)

Saints.

• But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (Ephesians 5:3 ESV)
• Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. Philippians 4:21)
• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV)

Salt of the Earth.

• “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Light of the World.

• “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Purposed.

• For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
• All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV)

Strengthened.

• For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV)
• Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 ESV)
• I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)Aroma of Christ.
• But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ESV)

Called to Not Fear or Worry.

• “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)
• fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)
• “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. [9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9 ESV)
• do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
• So we can confidently say,    “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 ESV)

Comforted and Comforters.

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV)

Citizens of Heaven.

• But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)
• For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

Crucified, Buried, Risen, and Free with Christ.

• We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:4-8 ESV)

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How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?

HOW CAN I BE SURE I'M A CHRISTIAN?

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

1. Did a work start in you?  if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

• And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

2. Have you experienced God’s Spirit in you?  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

3. Is there fruit of God’s Spirit growing in you? (Read the book of 1 John)

1. Do you enjoy having fellowship w/Christ & Christians? (1 John 1:3)
2. Would people say you walk in the light or darkness? (1 John 1:6-7)
3. Do you admit and confess your sin? (1 John 1:8)
4. Are you obedient to God's Word? (1 John 2:3-5)
5. Does your life indicate you love God or the world? (1 John 2:15)
6. Is your life characterized by "doing what is right"? (1 John 2:29)
7. Do you seek to maintain a pure life? (1 John 3:3)
8. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? (1 John 3:5-6)  [i.e. not continuing in sin as a way of life, not a total absence of sin.]
9. Do you demonstrate love for other Christians? (1 John 3:14)
10. Do you "walk the walk," vs just "talking the talk"? (1Jn 3:18-19)
11. Do you maintain a clear conscience? (1 John 3:21)
12. Do you experience victory in your Christian walk? (1 John 5:4)

4. Do you endure in the faith? They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19)

Works of the Flesh vs. Fruits of the Spirit: What best describes you?

The “works of the flesh” are evidence for unbelief and an eternity in Hell.

The “fruit of the Spirit” evidences God’s saving work and eternity with Christ. (Galatians 5:16-24)

[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

OR

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Parable of the Sower: What category of “soil” best describes your response to the good news about Jesus?

(Matthew 13:19-23 ESV)

1. [19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
2. [20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 
3. [22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 

Only the fourth ("good") soil below describes a genuine Christian.

4. [23] As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

Do You See These Three Characteristics in Your Life?

The Book of 1 John Helps Us to See Characteristics of Truly Converted and Saved Souls.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

1. Obedience to God's Commands?

• If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6 ) 
• Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:4-6) 
• If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 28:9) 
• No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6)
• By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)
• For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.  (1 John 5:3)

2. Forgiveness?

• Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (1 John 2:9) 
• For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matt 6:14-15) 

3. Love?

• If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15) 
• No one who denies the Son has the Father. (1 John 2:23) 
• But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)
• Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8) 

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