The Dynamics Of Baptism In The Life Of A Believer

The Dynamics of Baptism In The Life of a Believer

MATT 28:19-20; 3:13-16; ROM 6:1-7; ACTS 2:41-47

19. “Go therefore and make disciples of call the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 28:19–20.

The Baptism of Jesus

13. Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

14. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

15. But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

16. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

17. and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 3:13–17.

Romans 6

Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God

1. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

2. May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

3. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was braised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6. knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

7. for he who has died is freed from sin.

8. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 6.

Acts 2:41–47

41. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand 1asouls.

42. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and 1ato prayer.

43. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and 2signs were taking place through the apostles.

44. And all those who had believed 1were together and had all things in common;

45. and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

46. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread 1from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

47. praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding 1to their number day by day those who were being saved.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 2:41–47.

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, there were two, maybe three activities He considered vital to the walk of a believer in Christ. Not essential for salvation, yet essential in a growing relationship with Jesus Himself. The disputed one, meaning some will practice it, and others will not is “foot washing”. Foot washing was one of the last activities Jesus did on the evening He was to be betrayed. At the end of this act, He encouraged his disciples to serve likewise. The second act activity important to our growing as a believer is that of “communion” The remembering of the death of Christ affords us the opportunity to keep our relationship with God and with others clean and open. It was NEVER God intention that we refrain from communion, but that we examine ourselves before participating, making the necessary adjustments so that we CAN participate openly and without hesitation. The third activity, we celebrate today, is that of “baptism”. This is a personal act, yet one that is rich in meaning. This is what we will be looking at today – The dynamics of Baptism in the life of a believer!