CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.
1. THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS
(Matthew 3:13):
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptised by him."
2. THE GREAT COMMISSION
(Matthew 28:18 -20):
"And Jesus came and said to them,
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always,
to the close of the day."
3. BAPTISM IS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO FAITH
(Mark 16:16):
"He who believes and is baptised will be saved."
4. BAPTISM IS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO REPENTANCE
(Acts 2:38 -41):
"Peter said,
'Repent and be baptised every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of sins.'
...So those who received his word were baptised."
5. BAPTISM SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE UPON FAITH
(Acts 8:36-38):
"As they went along the road they came to some water,
and the eunuch said,
'See here is water!
What is to prevent my being baptised?'
And Philip said,
'If you believe with all your heart you may.'
...And he commanded the chariot to stop
and they both went down into the water."
6. SO WE SEE BAPTISM TO BE BY IMMERSION
AS A SYMBOL OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
(Matthew 3:16):
"When Jesus was baptised, He went up immediately out of the water."
(Colossians 2:12):
"And you were buried with Him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with Him
through faith in the working of God."
7. BAPTISM UNITES US WITH ALL CHRISTIANS
(1 Corinthians 12:13):
"For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body
...and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
8. JESUS PRESENT AT BAPTISMS
(John 4:1-2):
"The Pharisees had heard that Jesus was baptising more disciples than John
(although Jesus Himself did not baptise, but only His disciples)."
MAY HE BE PRESENT WITH US TODAY AS WE ENTER THE WATERS OF BAPTISM!
