Bible Baptism
What is required before you can be baptized?
Believe with all your heart and then you may be baptized.
What is John the Baptist up to down in the Jordan?
Matthew 3:4-6
1. Believe and be baptized.
2. Repent and be baptized.
3. Jesus was dedicated as a baby.
4. Jesus was baptized as an adult.
Matthew 3:13-16, Mark 1:9-11 & John 3:23
“There was much water there”
John 3:23 (NKJV)
Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
This scripture tells us there had to be a lot of water to baptize. If not lots of people could be baptized with a few gallons of water by pouring it over them or sprinkling them. But that would not meet the biblical description of baptism.
The words pour and sprinkle are never used in reference to baptism in the bible.
Pour or to pour down upon-
Strong’s Exhausted Concordance 2708 καταχέω [katacheo /kat·akh·eh·o/] Verb From 2596 and cheo (to pour); GK 2972; Two occurrences; Authorized Version translates as “pour” twice. 1 to pour down upon. 2 pour over, pour upon. [1]
Sprinkle –
Strong’s Exhausted Concordance 4472 ῥαντίζω [rhantizo /hran·tid·zo/] Verb From a derivative of rhaino (to sprinkle); 6:976; TDNTA 984; GK 4822; Four occurrences; Authorized version translates as “sprinkle” four times. 1 to sprinkle. 2 to cleanse by sprinkling, hence to purify, cleanse.[1]
Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G2708). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
6. Believers are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
Romans 6:1-9
Who would want this picture removed from the eyes of the believer? The Devil
7. Baptism proclaims our identity in Christ Jesus.
Why be baptized?
Why is this method of baptism important?
The method draws a clear picture of dying to the old you then found in Christ becoming the new you, foretelling the future you who will live in heaven.
Baptism illustrates the death burial and resurrection in a visual and yet vivid picture. The person is laid down in the water and then raised up.
8. You proclaim your life in Christ
9. You live in a new commitment to Christ
10. You are commanded to be baptized by Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 10:47-48
You will have new desires and you will pursue God in like manner as David did:
You can step forward and upward in your obedience now.
‘Not I but Christ’