Landmark                           Missionary

Independent                         Anabaptist

New Testament baptism did not exist before the time of John the Baptist. God sent John specifically for the purpose of baptizing the Christ (Messiah), thereby manifesting him to Israel and his followers. (John 1:6,31,33 )

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John 1:6

"And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." John 1:31

"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." John 1:33

Baptism is open to all who would take it on the Lord's terms.

It is the purpose of this lesson to explain the proper method and reason for baptism.

Monday

The Reason for Baptism

As previously stated, many pervert the truth of what baptism is all about. Rather than try to disprove all the misinformation about why one should be baptized (usually in order to obtain salvation), let us consider what the Bible said its purpose is.

It Is A Picture

Romans 6:3-5 states, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together into the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

Paul makes it clear that baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. He said that we were baptized "into" (with reference to or "toward") his death.

Baptism is much like a photograph that we carry in our pocket We take a photograph out, look at it, and it reminds of the individual in the picture. It is not actually the person in flesh and blood -- it is only a representation of that person. So, baptism is a picture of what Christ accomplished at Calvary and at the tomb. When we submit to baptism, we picture for all to see what Christ gained for us. It is an "outward profession of and inward faith." It is our declaration to the world, to neighbors, and to our God that we accept what Christ accomplished in his death and resurrection. When he conquered death, he conquered death for us. When he paid the price of sin, he paid the price for us. Everything won by his resurrection assures us that we will have the same.

Matthew 3:15

And __________ answering said unto him, _____________ it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to _____________ all _____________________. Then he suffered him.

Colossians 2:12

____________ with him in ____________, wherein also ye are ___________ with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath _____________ him up from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21

The like ___________ whereunto even ________ doth also now save us (_____ the putting away of the filth of the ___________________, but the ____________________ of a good _____________________ toward God,) by the __________________ of Jesus Christ:

Questions:

1. Who was the first person to administer legitimate baptism? ________________________________
2. What does baptism picture?____________________________________________
3. According to 1 Peter 3:21, what does baptism answer?______________________
4. What are three reasons some other religions baptize their converts?

   1. ___________________________________

   2. ___________________________________

   3. ___________________________________

The Candidate

Notice some scriptures on this subject that make it very clear that ONLY those who had been born again were allowed to be baptized.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

Before John would baptize those who came to him, he required "proof" of their conversion. "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves.... " Luke 3:8

When asked what stood in the way of his baptism, Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch that he must first believe! "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." Acts 8:37

The Bible declares over and over that for an individual to be baptized, he first must be born again, or saved! The only proper candidate for baptism is an individual who knows Jesus Christ as his or her personal savior. Never can an infant or anyone who cannot give a testimony of the new birth be immersed.

Acts 8:13

Then Simon himself ______________ also: and when he was ___________, he continued with Philip, and _____________, beholding the __________ and _________ which were done.

Acts 8:12

"But when they _________________Philip preaching the things concerning the ____________________of God, and the ______________of Jesus Christ, they were _______________________, both _____________and women."

Questions:

1. Who may be baptized?________________________________________
2. What stood in the way of the eunuch's baptism?____________________________
3. What happened to Simon prior to his baptism? ____________________________
4. Read Acts 2:41-43 and write out God's divine order.

   ______________________________

   ______________________________

   ______________________________

   ______________________________

    

The Authority

"The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me." Mark 11:30 What do you think the answer was that Jesus wanted? No question, he wanted them to say "of heaven." Baptism is of God, not man!

The ONLY authority (one who has the right) by which anyone may baptize is by the authority of God. When Christ ascended to heaven, he left this authority to baptize in the hands of his church. He did not leave it with individuals nor did he leave it with another group. There are many who claim the right to baptize today. Do they have this right? Consider the following:

1. God authorized ONLY John to baptize (John 1:29-34).
2. To be a disciple of Jesus, one MUST have had the baptism of John.
3. John was put to death, and the right to baptize was given into the hands of the church (Matthew 28:19-20).
4. All New Testament followers were then to receive baptism by the authority of the Lord's church. (Acts 2:38).
5. The Lord's church consisted only of born again believers who had been properly baptized.
6. Whenever a new church was established, the first church made sure of those individuals' salvation, and then they baptized them. Every true church from that time to this has been established the same way.
7. Therefore, if a church CLAIMS authority from God to baptize, they MUST have been saved and baptized by the authority of a New Testament church. In other words we have an unbroken line of succession back to the baptism of John! What this means is that if a "church" sprang up a few hundred years later, and their members were NOT baptized by a true church, then no matter how large they are or what they may say, THEY are not a true church!

Matthew 28:19-20 _____ ye therefore, and ________ all nations, ___________ them in the name of the _________, and of the _______, and of the _________ __________: _______________ them to ______________ all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you ____________, even unto the _________ of the world. Amen Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, _______ ye into _______ the world, and __________ the ___________ to __________ creature. Questions:

1. The baptism of John, where was it from?_________________________________
2. Who has the right to baptize?___________________________________________
3. How many different groups have been authorized to baptize? Name them. __________________________________________________
4. Read Acts 19: 1-7, and determine why these individuals were rebaptised.

Mode

When we use the term "mode," we mean the manner in which baptism is done -- immersion, sprinkling, or some other way. Not just any mode is acceptable; we are looking for the New Testament mode (the way they did it at the time of the writing of the New Testament).

language is a very precise language. There is only one word that God used consistently for the word "baptism" (which means "to immerse") and that word is "baptizo." Unfortunately, the translators of the King James Bible did not translate this word -- they simply transliterated it (i.e., they used the Greek word and put an English ending on it to make it easier to pronounce; hence, the Greek "baptizo" became the English "baptize"). In EVERY place in the Bible where baptizo is used, it means "to immerse." Without question, God meant immerse when he said for us to baptize.

Had God wanted to use the word "sprinkle," he could have done so. In fact, he did use this word in several places, but NEVER in reference to baptism.

Read Hebrews 9:13, 9:19, 9:21, 10:22, 12:24, and 1 Peter 1:2. In each of the instances where you see the word "sprinkle," the Greek word "rantizo" is used. "Rantizo" means "to sprinkle." So from the very word itself, we can see immersion is certainly the proper mode of baptism.

Next we look at the scriptures where it refers to the fact that they used MUCH water.

Acts 8:38: Philip baptized the eunuch and "...they went down both into the water...."

John 3:23: John baptized where there was MUCH water, "and John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim because there was much water there..."

Then, of course, there is the logical point that we never bury an individual with parts of their body protruding from the ground. Because baptism is a picture of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, it certainly seems logical that we would "bury" them under the water.

Acts 16:33: (Note the words "wash" and "baptize"- they are two different words.)

And he took them the same _____________ of the night, and ______________ their stripes; and was ________________, he and _______ his, straightway.

Colossians 2:12

__________ with him in _____________, wherein also ye are ____________ with him through the _____________ of the operation of God, who hath ____________ him from the dead.

Luke 7:29-30

And all the people that _________ him, and the publicans, _______________ God, being ___________ with the _____________ of John. But the __________ and ___________ rejected the counsel of __________ against themselves, being _________ baptized of him.

Questions:

1. What do we mean when we say "mode?"_________________________________
2. What does the word "baptizo" mean?____________________________________
3. What does the word "rantizo" mean?____________________________________
4. Why did John baptize in Enon?____________________________________

Some Facts to Think About

Let us think about the doctrine that "anyone" can baptize and any mode is acceptable. Listed are some logical conclusions to this idea. Compare the ideas concerning baptism that are prevalent among churches today with the Bible's definition of baptism.

1. If only those who have authority from God can baptize, where did you or your church get its authority?
2. If any saved individual can baptize, why then does he not baptize himself?
3. If any saved individual can baptize, where is a scripture that proves this?
4. If any authority is OK, then why would the following scenario not constitute valid baptism? Two saved boys are swimming together in the local swimming pool. One boy decides that he will "baptize" the other. If both are saved, why would his baptism not be valid?
5. If you can "baptize" a baby, who has no say in the matter, can you not also require your spouse to be baptized against his/her will?
6. Is infant "baptism" any different from kidnapping, where an individual is forced to partcipate in a ritual whether or not he wants to?
7. If sprinkling is a valid form of baptism, why did God never use the word when referring to "real" baptism?
8. Since baptism pictures what Christ did for the individual who is being baptized, how can an infant picture something they know nothing about?
9. If the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) was given to individuals and not to the church, then the church has no valid reason for existence.
10. If all "baptisms" are valid, then why did the men in Acts 19:1-7 need to be rebaptized?

1. To whom was the Great Commission given?______________________________
2. Is the practice of "sprinkling" acceptable to God?__________________________
3. If your baptism does not meet the criteria we have studied about in this lesson, would you be rebaptised?__________________ Why ? _____________________________________________
4. _________________________________