Water Baptism

Meaning and Importance
Water Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work. It gives testimony of a changed life.
1) Why is it Important?
Jesus was baptized of John to fulfill scripture and left us an example to follow. (Matthew 3: 13-17)
a) Matthew 3:15 “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized.
b) Matthew 28:18, 19 “…and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”
I have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
c) Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (because of) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
An act of my obedience
d) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
I am now a follower of Christ. It is my privilege to follow the Lord in being baptized in water.
e) Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

2) What is the significance?
a) Romans 6:4 “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.”
It is a testimony of my love and obedience to the Lord before my unsaved friends, family and to my fellow believers.

3) Mode or Method of Baptism
“Baptize” means “to dip or immerse, to be covered by water, put completely under, buried.”
a) Colossians 2:12 “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Immersion in water- baptism- typifies the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. I go completely under the waters of baptism- an act on my part to symbolically bury my old life (death to self)- and come up in newness of life in Christ.

If you were to plant a seed, would you sprinkle a little dirt on it and expect the seed to grow? Or would you completely cover (bury) the seed?

Now, if we are to be “buried with Him in baptism” how much water is sufficient?

How could Jesus come “straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16) if water had been sprinkled or poured on Him? Why does Acts 8:38 record “And he commanded the chariot to standstill: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him”? Why didn’t they use the drinking water carried on such travels, if sprinkling or pouring was enough to be buried with him in baptism?”

4) In What Name are We Baptized?
We are baptized in the mane of Jesus. (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 19:5)
a) Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Let us look very closely at this verse to see what it is really saying. Did the apostles disobey Christ in Acts 2:38 and 19:5 or do we miss something? If we baptize in the NAME of the Father, we must find out what His NAME is.
b) In John 5:43 Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s name.” This tells me (us) the NAME of the Father.
If we baptize in the NAME of the Son we must also find out what His name is. That name is Jesus.
c) Matthew 1:21 says, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus.”
And if we baptize in the NAME of the Holy Ghost we must find this name. That name is Jesus.
d) In John 14:16-18, 20 Jesus said, And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him” but ye know Him: for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU.”
e) In verse 20 Jesus said, At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me, and I in you.”
f) John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my stead, He shall teach you all things.”
We see by these scriptures the NAME of the Father is Jesus (John 5:43).

The NAME of the Son is Jesus (Matthew 1:21).

The NAME of the Holy Ghost is Jesus (John 14:26).

Therefore, if we baptize in the NAME OF Jesus we are obeying Matthew 28:19, “baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
g) Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Holy Ghost.” And Ephesians 3:14,15 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”