Notes on Water Baptism

1. Water Baptism
1
DEFINITION
OF
BAPTIZE
1.
The
word
“baptize”
comes
from
the
Greek
words
“bapto”
and
“baptizo”.
2.
The
words
mean
to
cause
something
to
be
dipped
or
to
immerse
something
beneath
the
surface
of
the
water
or
some
other
fluid.
3.
Baptism
marks
the
passing
out
of
one
stage
to
another
–
like
the
opening
and
closing
of
a
door.
CONDITIONS
FOR
BAPTISM
A.
Repentance
1.
Repentance
is
a
necessary
condition
for
baptism.
Acts
2:38
(NIV)
Peter
replied,
“Repent
and
be
baptized,
every
one
of
you,
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
for
the
forgiveness
of
your
sins.
And
you
will
receive
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
2.
Repentance
means
to
have
a
change
of
mind,
to
turn
back
or
move
away
towards
a
completely
new
direction.
In
the
context
of
God
and
faith,
repentance
means
consciously,
intentionally
moving
away
or
turning
away
from
deception,
lies
and
destructive
lifestyles
and
moving
towards
God.
3.
Acts
2:38
above
does
not
mean
that
repentance
washes
away
sin,
but
that
being
immersed
in
Jesus
cleanses
us
from
sin.
B.
Belief
in
Jesus
1.
In
order
to
be
baptized
you
must
have
expressed
belief
in
Jesus.
Mk
16:15–16
(NKJV)
And
He
said
to
them,
“Go
into
all
the
world
and
preach
the
gospel
to
every
creature.
16He
who
believes
and
is
baptized
will
be
saved;
but
he
who
does
not
believe
will
be
condemned.
2.
In
the
verse
above,
we
see
that
“believe”
or
belief
precedes
baptism.
The
kind
of
belief
in
Jesus
that
we
must
have,
covers
the
following
areas:
• belief
that
Jesus
is
the
Son
of
God;
• belief
that
He
came
into
the
world
in
the
flesh;
• belief
that
He
destroyed
the
works
of
satan
and
healed
every
disease;
• belief
that
He
took
our
sins
and
sicknesses
on
His
body;
• belief
that
He
willingly
laid
down
His
life
for
us;
• belief
that
He
was
crucified,
died
and
was
buried;
• belief
that
He
arose
from
the
dead
on
the
third
day;
• belief
that
He
ascended
into
heaven
and
is
at
the
right
hand
of
the
Father;
• belief
that
He
has
sent
us
the
Holy
Spirit
who
will
never
leave
or
forsake
us;
• belief
that
Jesus
will
come
again

2. Water Baptism
2
3.
In
short,
we
must
have
a
definite
salvation
experience.
We
must
be
saved.
C.
Commit
to
being
a
disciple
1.
We
ought
to
start
the
journey
of
becoming
a
disciple
before
being
baptized.
Matt
28:19
(NKJV)
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.
2.
The
verse
above
records
some
of
the
final
instructions
given
by
Jesus
to
His
disciples
before
He
ascended.
It
is
clear
from
the
verse
that
the
disciples
were
to
first
disciple
people
before
baptizing
them.
3.
The
word
“disciple”
means
pupil,
educated
one,
one
receiving
instruction.
In
the
context
of
faith
it
means
to
be
a
student
of
the
faith,
being
educated
and
instructed
in
the
faith.
4.
Commitment
to
discipleship
comes
before
baptism.
REASONS
FOR
BAPTISM
A.
An
opportunity
to
identify
with
the
death,
burial
and
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
1.
We
identify
with
the
death,
burial
and
resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
through
baptism.
Rom
6:3–7
(NIV)
3Or
don’t
you
know
that
all
of
us
who
were
baptized
into
Christ
Jesus
were
baptized
into
his
death?
4We
were
therefore
buried
with
him
through
baptism
into
death
in
order
that,
just
as
Christ
was
raised
from
the
dead
through
the
glory
of
the
Father,
we
too
may
live
a
new
life.
5For
if
we
have
been
united
with
him
in
a
death
like
his,
we
will
certainly
also
be
united
with
him
in
a
resurrection
like
his.
6For
we
know
that
our
old
self
was
crucified
with
him
so
that
the
body
ruled
by
sin
might
be
done
away
with,
that
we
should
no
longer
be
slaves
to
sin—7because
anyone
who
has
died
has
been
set
free
from
sin.
2.
Stepping
into
the
water
symbolizes
that
we
have
died
to
sin
just
as
Jesus
died
for
our
sins
on
the
cross.
Rom
6:3
(NIV)
3Or
don’t
you
know
that
all
of
us
who
were
baptized
into
Christ
Jesus
were
baptized
into
his
death?
Rom
6:10–11
(NKJV)
For
the
death
that
He
died,
He
died
to
sin
once
for
all;
but
the
life
that
He
lives,
He
lives
to
God.
11Likewise
you
also,
reckon
yourselves
to
be
dead
indeed
to
sin,
but
alive
to
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord.
3.
When
we
are
lowered
beneath
the
water,
this
symbolizes
a
burial
just
as
Jesus
died
and
was
buried.
Rom
6:4
(NIV)
4We
were
therefore
buried
with
him
through
baptism
into
death.

3. Water Baptism
3
4.
Thirdly,
when
we
are
lifted
out
of
the
water,
this
signifies
resurrection.
We
are
raised
victorious
in
the
new
life
in
Christ,
just
as
Christ
rose
victoriously
from
the
dead.
Rom
6:5
(NIV)
5For
if
we
have
been
united
with
him
in
a
death
like
his,
we
will
certainly
also
be
united
with
him
in
a
resurrection
like
his.
Col
2:12
(NLT)
For
you
were
buried
with
Christ
when
you
were
baptized.
And
with
him
you
were
raised
to
new
life
because
you
trusted
the
mighty
power
of
God,
who
raised
Christ
from
the
dead.
4.
It
is
through
baptism
that
we
are
symbolically
crucified,
buried
and
resurrected
with
Christ.
B.
Obedience
to
the
command
of
Jesus
1.
Jesus
commanded
that
every
believer
be
baptized.
Mark
16:16
(NKJV)
He
who
believes
and
is
baptized
will
be
saved;
but
he
who
does
not
believe
will
be
condemned.
Matt
28:19
(NKJV)
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
C.
Jesus
was
baptized
1.
Scripture
tells
us
that
Jesus
Himself
was
water
baptized
by
John.
Matt
3:13–15
(NKJV)
Then
Jesus
came
from
Galilee
to
John
at
the
Jordan
to
be
baptized
by
him.
14And
John
tried
to
prevent
Him,
saying,
“I
need
to
be
baptized
by
You,
and
are
You
coming
to
me?”
15But
Jesus
answered
and
said
to
him,
“Permit
it
to
be
so
now,
for
thus
it
is
fitting
for
us
to
fulfill
all
righteousness.”
Then
he
allowed
Him.
2.
If
Jesus
thought
it
was
the
right
or
righteous
thing
for
Him
to
do,
then
it
surely
is
the
right
thing
for
us
to
do.
D.
We
symbolically
put
on
Christ
1.
Through
baptism,
we
symbolically
put
on
Jesus
Christ.
Gal
3:27
(NKJV)
For
as
many
of
you
as
were
baptized
into
Christ
have
put
on
Christ.
Gal
3:27
(NLT)
And
all
who
have
been
united
with
Christ
in
baptism
have
put
on
Christ,
like
putting
on
new
clothes.
THE
MANNER
OF
BAPTISM
1.
Infant
baptism
is
not
biblical
baptism
because
an
infant
cannot:
(i) repent;
(ii) express
belief
in
Jesus;
or
(iii) commit
to
being
a
disciple.
2.
Baptism
also
involves
full
or
total
immersion
in
water.
Matt
3:16
(NKJV)
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.
Matt
3:16
(Message)
…
came
up
out
of
the
baptismal
waters
…

4. Water Baptism
4
Matt
3:16
(NLT)
…
came
up
out
of
the
water
…
Matt
3:16
(NIV)
…
went
up
out
of
the
water
…
3.
The
above
verses
clearly
show
that
Jesus
was
under
the
water,
thereby
establishing
that
baptism
is
by
total
immersion
in
water
of
one’s
body.