In each lesson, we have noticed that we honor Christ by our obedience to his commands. We see the importance of baptism by Christ’s own submission to it: Matt. 3:14,15 “But John forbade him saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, it was the right thing to do, because it was the Father’s will for him to submit to it. Christ commanded all men to be baptized (Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19).
Notice the following outline. It will make it easier to follow the points of evidence.
- Baptism is necessary to be saved.
- Baptized for remission of sin – Acts 2:38
- To wash away one’s sins – Acts 22:16
- Belief + Baptism = Salvation – Mark 16:16
- A Bible definition of baptism.
- A burial – Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12
- A birth – John 3:3-5; 2 Cor. 5:17
- Requires much water – John 3:23
- Who should be baptized?
- Those who have heard the word – Rom. 10:17; Acts 11:14
- Those who believe in Christ – Mark 16:15,16; John 8:24
- Those willing to repent – Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31
- Those willing to Confess their belief – Matt. 10:32-33
- Examples of Conversion.
- Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8
- Those at Pentecost – Acts 2:36-38
- Saul of Tarsus – Acts 9, 22, 26
- Philippian Jailor – Acts 16
- Result of Baptism.
- Remission of our sins – Acts 2:38
- Wash away sins – Acts 22:16
- Saved / Salvation – Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21
- Places one “in Christ” – Gal. 3:27
Baptism is a picture the Gospel – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 6:4-6). Compare these two passages and notice that baptism is also a death, burial and resurrection. We honor Christ by our obedience to his command of baptism. The promise He gives is salvation. May we all submit to His will and honor the God of heaven with our obedience to Him.
Wayne Rodgers
