What is Adult Water Baptism
WATER BAPTISM The significance of water in history:
Throughout history, water has been involved in at least four mighty miracles of God: The great flood, the crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan River, and water coming out of the rock. Water is the sustainer of life for mankind. Water is going to be involved in a very important event in your life, your baptism.
Why be baptized?
1. It’s a commandment from Jesus:
Matthew 28:19; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit”
A command from the very mouth of Jesus commanding believers to be baptized!
2. To follow the example of Jesus:
Matthew 3:16-17; When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
I believe at our baptism, the Father says the same thing about us because of our obedience and identification with His Son.
Mark 1:9; It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
I believe that by being baptized, Jesus was making a public announcement of His willingness to accept our sin, die for us, and be
| John 14:15 | “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. |
resurrected so we could live in newness of life. It was His identification with us. He was also giving us an example to follow!
3. It is a symbol of a brand new life in Christ:
Romans 6:4-5 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. Baptism is somewhat like a wedding ring, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.
Baptism is the sign of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It is a sign of our identification with him that shows that our old man has died, been buried, and then resurrected through Him into a new life.
By being baptized you are not entering into a relationship with the Lord Jesus, but rather, making a public declaration of the relationship you have already entered into. You are making an outward show of an inward change.
Baptism is not required for salvation, but is not an option for a Christian:
If you are disobedient in one thing, it paves the way for disobedience in others. And, constant disobedience does not pave the road to eternal life.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Only the blood of Jesus can save us. Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Thief on the cross is an example of not being baptized and still receiving eternal life.
Infant baptism is a dedication not a baptism:
You have to have a relationship with Jesus, and understand the meaning of baptism in order to be baptized.
An infant can’t fulfill those two requirements. Other points for consideration:
There was a foreshadow of baptism in the Old Testament. A cleansing by water of Priests, individuals, clothing, furniture, utensils (Temple)
John the Baptist initiated baptism in the New Testament The purpose of John’s baptism;
Acts 19:4; Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
The purpose of John’s baptism was to point people to Jesus.
Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Two requirements for baptism:
Must have accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour
Should understand the meaning of baptism and be willing to follow Jesus’ command
The Bible teaches (and the Christian Center believes in) immersion, not sprinkling.
The Greek Word for baptize is “baptizo”; meaning to dip, submerge, immerse
Let’s look at some scriptures that support immersion;
Matthew 3:16 And straightway coming up out of the water. (Jesus’
baptism)
Colossians 2:12 Buried with Him in baptism
John 3:23 Because there was much water there. (John baptizing) Summary;
Baptism is a public announcement of a personal experience with Jesus Christ. It is a Christian act of obedience and a public testimony of a believer’s willingness to identify with, and follow Jesus.
Baptism is a picture of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and the Christian’s identification with it. It is an outward expression of a person’s inward change.
When a person is immersed in water during baptism, he should see his old nature as being dead, buried and gone. When he is raised out of the water, he should see himself raised up as a new creation, with a brand new life in Christ. In other words, baptism is the outward sign that he is now dead to sin and alive to God.
Baptism is not required for salvation however, it is an act of obedience. It is not an option for Christians.
If you are disobedient in one thing, it paves the way for disobedience in others. And, constant disobedience does not pave the road to eternal life.
The question proposed is; why wouldn’t you want to be baptized?
Instructions about what will happen at your baptism:
You will be asked to state your name
Do you desire to be baptized?
You will be asked if you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
This is because baptism is a public acknowledgement of your identification with Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Hold your nose with one hand and hold your wrist with the other. And down you go!!!! Glory hallelujah!!
Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes and a towel.