Water baptism involves full immersion in water and symbolizes dying to the old sinful self and being resurrected to a new life in Christ. It is an act of obedience commanded by Jesus to be done after repenting from sins and having faith. In the early church, baptism typically followed salvation and preceded baptism in the Holy Spirit. To be baptized one must repent of sins, have faith in Jesus, and confess belief that He is the Son of God.

1. Water Baptism
All NKJV unless otherwise specified
Baptism – comes from the Greek word “Baptizo” which means being fully immersed under water. To dip, or be overwhelmed
by. Water baptism means to be fully immersed under water, not just the sprinkling of water. The whole body is to be
submerged.
What water baptism is not:
 Some traditions use the sprinkling of water to signify water baptism. This is not water baptism. This is not immersion.
 Some traditions use the Christening of a baby to signify that the person has already been baptized. This is not water
baptism. The baby does not consciously know of the commitment he/she is making.
What water baptism is:
 In baptism, the new believer through immersion identifies himself/herself with the death and resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ
 The water signifies a grave, and is symbolic of the death of the old sin nature, and a resurrection into a new life and
walk with Christ. Romans 6v1-8 1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3
Or do you not know that as many of us as were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4
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, 6
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away
with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7
For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8
Now if we died with
Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
 2 Corinthians 5v14-17 14
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all
died; 15
and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them
and rose again. 16
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known
Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Was Jesus Baptised?
Matthew 3v13-17
13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need
to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15
But 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. 16
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.”
Is Baptism a commandment?
 As can be seen in Mt 3v15 above, “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness”.
 Matthew 28v18-20 18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and
on earth. 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, 20
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
 Mark 16v16 16
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
 Baptism is an act of obedience. Failing to do so will always be a spiritual hindrance in the life of a believer.

2. What was the pattern of the early church?
 Water baptism is still relevant after the ascension of Jesus Acts 8 v34-38 34
So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I
ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and
beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And
the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37
Then Philip said, “If you believe with
all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38
So he
commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
 We can see that salvation precedes baptism.
 Water baptism typically preceded baptism in the Holy Spirit (but not always!) Acts 19v1-6 1
And it happened, while
Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some
disciples 2
he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not
so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3
And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they
said, “Into John’s baptism.” 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.” 5
When they heard this, they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon
them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
 Baptism in the Holy Spirit is covered under a previous teaching “Pentecost”
What are the pre-conditions for water Baptism?
 Repentance - Acts 2v38 38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 Faith - Acts 16v30-34 30
And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31
So they said,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32
Then they spoke the word of the
Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33
And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes.
And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34
Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food
before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
 Confession of Faith – Romans 10v9-10 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. 10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Galatians 3v26-29
26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Matthew 10v32-33
32
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33
“But whoever
denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.