ADULT WATER IMMERSION / BAPTISM

INSTRUCTION ABOUT ‘BAPTISMS’ HEB 6:1

i. into Jesus Christ

by the Holy spiritUniversal Church of Believers (Ephesians 4:4-6).

ii. Christian Baptism

• I STAGE DISCIPLE “INTO” WATER• BY AN ORDAINED SERVANT OF GOD • OR IN HIS ABSENCE BY ANY BORN AGAIN

BELIEVER

III. into / with the Holy Spirit

• BY JESUS CHRIST• FOR THE DISCIPLE• FOR COMPLETION OF MAKING A PERSON

100% BORN AGAIN - A CHRISTIAN• A Child delivered, washed, laid hands on till

the sound of cry emanates & is fully born. • FOR AN “EFFECTIVE” CHRISTIAN LIFE

What does Water Baptism signify?

DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION & NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Romans 6:1-10, Freedom from sin – life on earth. Galatians 2:20, Christ lives in usEphesians 2:5 Alive in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 – New life in the Spirit.

2 DEATHSI. LORD’S SUPPER-JESUS CHRIST ONCE DIED &

RESURRECTED- OBSERVED ON EVERY OCCASION

II. BAPTISM – ONLY ONCE ADMINISTERED / UNDERGONE

BAPTISM = ARK & FLOODNOAH & FAMILY MEMBERS

BY FAITH IN GOD THEY ENTERED THE “ARK”GOD CLOSED THE DOOR. LEFT BEHIND CORRUPT WORLD SYSTEM.ENTERED A NEW LIFE/ NEW WORLD IN A NEW WORLD (I PETER 3:20-21).

RED SEA BAPTISM

HEBREWS IN EGYPT (I CORINTHIANS. 10:14 & EXODUS.14:10-20)Egypt = BONDAGE TO “sin” & “the worldly sinful system”PHARAOH= BONDAGE TO SATANREDEEMER-MOSES – type of Christ Egyptians chase. BUT GOD STOOD BETWEEN THEM & THE ISRAELITESRed sea escape - a type of Baptism

DARK ON ONE SIDE & BRIGHT ON OTHER SIDEFIRE ON ONE SIDE & LIGHT ON OTHER SIDEEGYPT ON ONE SIDE – CANAAN ON OTHER SIDESLAVERY ON ONE SIDE – FREEDOM ON OTHER SIDESORROW ON ONE SIDE – JOY ON OTHER SIDEDEATH ON ONE SIDE – LIFE ON OTHER SIDEDOMINION OF ‘EGYPT’ BLOTTED OUT

baptized person cannot sin?I John 3:9

THE CHILD OF GOD WILL NO MORE ‘CONTINUE’ IN SIN. HOLY HATRED AGAINST SIN TOTAL SURRENDER IS THE KEY. PROGRESS IN HOLINESS IS NOT A FORCED MARCH. THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE GUARANTEE (1 JOHN 1:7-9). However, DON’T MISUSE GRACE. SALVATION IS FREEDOM FROM SIN & NO MORE BONDAGE (For He

shall save His people from sins) Baptism helps a Christian to overcome Sin. Romans 5,6,7 talks

upon constant reckoning of our death to sin in Baptism. However, without true repentance Baptism by itself cannot achieve anything

ii. WATER BAPTISMPRECONDITION

• REPENTANCE• John the Baptist demanded proof of

repentance• Baptism with Holy Spirit generally

follows later, but like in Cornelius case may precede water baptism.

What is Immersion Baptism?

GREEK – ‘BAPTISO’=FULLY IMMERSEDJewish Baptisms in the rabbinical practices before and during Jesus Christ’s ministry were only Immersion Baptism in living water (running water).

Infant Sprinkling Baptism vS Adult Immersion Baptism

‘Gnanasnanam’=‘GNANAM’-’SNANAM’SEQUENCE IN:Matthew 28:18-20:

1st step: ‘Go’ 2nd step: ‘Make disciples’, 3rd step: ‘Baptize them’ ‘teach them to obey what all I have

commanded you’• Acts 8:27-38, 9:17-18 &

Hebrews 6:1-2 natural sequence

1. Repentance 2. Faith 3. Baptisms (Ref. 3 different baptisms in earlier points 1,2 & 3) 4. Receiving the Holy Spirit ‘by laying on of hands’ on the chosen person

( Ex Samaritans & Ephesian believers. Exception 120 & Cornelius household)5. Resurrection 6. Judgment

JESUS OUR ROLE MODEL

Commanded US to take Baptism, Himself took “immersion” baptism only when He was an adultSo that all righteousness of God would be fulfilled.

GOSPEL & ACTS EXAMPLES

JESUS CHRIST 3000 new believers on the Pentecost day, Cornelius and his family, Apostle Paul, the Ethiopian minister The disciples at Ephesus

were all adults when they took baptism.

ENTRANCE OF ‘CHILD’ BAPTISM• Frauds: ANANIAHS & SAPPHIRA (Acts 5:1-10) &

SIMON THE MAGICIAN (ACTS 8:9-24)• ONCE A YEAR - RESURRECTION DAY BAPTISM• KING CONSTANTINE TIME –CHRISTIAN NATION• DARK AGE- BIBLE HIDDEN• St. AUGUSTIN - Introduces concept of ORIGINAL

SIN (PS 51)- LIMBO - Wrong teaching• CHILD DELIVERY PROBLEM – many infants death.• MIDWIVES SOLUTION – baptise before death.• CHILD BAPTISM became A STANDARD PRACTICE

ONE BAPTISM OF EPHSIANS 4:4• EXPLAINS ‘THE MYSTERY’

OF FORMING OF THE ‘UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF GOD’

• ONE CHURCH • HOLY SPIRIT UNITING A BELIEVER INTO THIS

IS CALLED THE “ONE BAPTISM”• ACTS19:1-5- JOHN’S BAPTISM -INADEQUATE

SAID APOSTLE PAUL• CHILD BAPTISM IS OF NO VALUE

Why obey the command FOR Baptism?• Jesus Christ our Lord told us to! (Matt 28:-20). • He set an example (Matthew 3:13-17). • After His baptism, the Father God commended Jesus

“Here is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” • Unless a man is born out of water and out of Spirit, he

shall not see the Kingdom of God. Baptism is a pre-requisite for entering the Kingdom. (Treat this literal unless Jesus indicated it as a ‘Simile / metaphor’)

• What do you want to hear from God?

Other examplesEVERY PERSON WHO BECAME A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST IN ACTS OF APOSTLES TOOK ADULT BAPTISM.

ACTS 2:40-42; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:38; 9:17-18; 10:45-48; 16:32-33; 19:1-5.

Bible emphasizes the importance of Baptism John 3:5 Mark 16:15-16, Acts2:37-38 (It “saves”) Romans 6:2-10, (way to new life in Christ) I Peter 3:20-21, (It “saves”) Hebrews 6:1-2, Galatians 3:27-29 & I Corinthians 10:1-4,11.

Ministry prerequisite qualification

If one does not obey the Lord in undergoing Adult Immersion Water Baptism, how can he / she serve the Lord in anything else?

Mt 3:15obeying the command of

Water Baptism = fulfilling the

“righteousness of God”

MT 3:7 PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES

“WHO TAUGHT YOU THE WAY (THROUGH BAPTISM) TO

ESCAPE FROM THE WRATH OF GOD?”

This means that it is essential as per God’s demand.

1 PET3:20-21 CLEAN GOOD CONSCIENCE

TOWARDS GOD, SAYS APOSTLE PETER

LUKE 7:30 TO IGNORE OBEYING THE COMMAND OF BAPTISM

IS TO IGNORE THE COUNSEL OF GOD

MEANT FOR OUR GOOD

BOLD STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL,

SIN & THE WORLD

THAT IS OPPOSED TO GOD

Is Baptism necessary for being saved?

Yes, Acts 2:37-40, 1 Peter 3:21, Titus 3:5Ephesians 2:7-8 is quoted that we are not saved by “what we did”?

It is not what we do on our own. It is obedience to the command of Jesus Christ – expression of trust in Him.

The thief on the cross could not take baptism but in his heart he trusted Jesus. In a way he underwent all the essentials of baptism physically. He was crucified with Christ physically and risen again with Christ in paradise.

We are not on the cross or death bed. Hence, our faith must be complete by obedience

Check yourself:1. EVIDENCE THAT JESUS IS YOUR THE LORD, IF

THERE IS NO OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMAND?2. HAVE YOU TRULY AND COMPLETELY REPENTED?3. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THEY ARE DISCIPLES?4. HAVE YOU TRULY & FULLY TRUSTED THE LORD?5. IF THESE ARE ALL DOUBTFUL QUESTIONS,

ARE YOU TRULY A CHRISTIAN?