have you been baptized?. someone has observed that baptism is one of the more controversial subjects...

Have You Been Baptized?

Someone has observed that Baptism is one of the more controversial subjects in the Bible.

• It is not controversial however because of a lack of clarity.

• The reason there is controversy is because of a wide variety of teaching and practice. This is not because of the word of God! (1 Cor 1:10)


• 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


• The scriptures indicate that we can know and stand upon the one baptism as we can upon the one true God! (Eph 4:4-6)


• Ephesians 4:4-6 - There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.


• I ask that each of you consider this simple outline to answer this question: “Have I received the baptism that Christ commands?”

How should I view the Bible?

• How one views the Bible will greatly affect how they read it. Do you accept the Bible as inspired by God? (2 Tim 3:16-17)


• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.


• Because of our common belief in the inspiration of the scriptures it is possible for us to know and stand upon God’s will. (John 17:20-21)


• John 17:20-21 - " I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.


• Throughout history men have needed to fight human traditions which powerfully hold men. Many have a long history of practice. (Col 2:8; 1 Pet 1:18)


• Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.


• 1 Peter 1:18 - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,


• On a personal basis we put away our pride and admit when we are wrong.

• Learning and standing on truth shows a real trust in Christ. (Jn 7:17)


• John 7:17 - "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.


• Please feel free to express an disagreements or questions! (Jn 8:32)


• John 8:32 - "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Consider these personal questions before we examine the scriptures

• 1. When were you saved by the blood of Christ?

• 2. How old were you?• 3. How long after your salvation were you

baptized?• 4. For what purpose were you baptized?• 5. How long after your request to be

baptized were you actually baptized?

Consider these personal questions before we examine the scriptures

• 6. What did you confess before you were baptized?

• 7. How were you baptized? That is was it sprinkling, pouring of immersion in water?

Were you ready to be baptized?

• Before one can be baptized one must:• Have heard the word of the Lord.

(Acts 16:31-33)


• Acts 16:31-33 - 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.


• Have believed in Jesus as the Son of God. (Mark 16:15-16)


• Mark 16:15-16 - And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.


• Have repented of their sins. (Acts 2:38)


• Acts 2:38 - 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.


• Have confessed with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Rom 10:9-10)


• Romans 10:9-10 - 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.


• If even one of these steps are left out then the one being baptized has yet to receive scriptural baptism.

• Inspired men were selective concerning who they baptized. (Acts 8:36-38)


• Acts 8:36-38 - 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.


• This would mean that infants could not be baptized.

• This also would mean that young children could not be baptized.

• Those who can be baptized must have reached an “age of accountability”. (Rom 7:9)


• Romans 7:9 - I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.


• Were you a proper subject when you were baptized?

• I have often found those who later admitted that they did not know what they were doing.

• What did you confess? Often churches ignore this area.

Were you immersed in water?

• Baptism is a burial in water. (Col 2:12; Rom 6:4)


• Colossians 2:12 - buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.


• Romans 6:4 - 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.


• This involved men going into and coming up out of the water. (Acts 8:38-39)


• Acts 8:38-39 - So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.


• John the Baptist went where there was “much water”. (John 3:23)


• John 3:23 - Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.


• Baptism by definition means to immerse. • Baptizmo means to immerse or

overwhelm.• Look up the word yourself! Also check out

other translations.

What was the purpose of your baptism?

• Baptism is for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38)


• Acts 2:38 - 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


• What if we changed the purpose of the Lord ’s Supper and made it into a memorial for a man? (1 Cor 11:24-25)


• 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 - and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."


• Paul understood the purpose of Baptism. (Acts 22:16; Rom 6:4; 1 Cor 12:13)


• Acts 22:16 - 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'


• Romans 6:4 - 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.


• 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.


• Can baptism be acceptable if one believes they are saved first and then baptized?

• There are Bible examples of those who were immersed for the wrong reason and then later scripturally baptized. (Acts 19:1-5)


• Acts 19:1-5 - 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.


• Why would Paul expect these men to have knowledge of the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38)


• Acts 2:38 - 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.


• Did sincerity make their Baptism acceptable?


• Things that indicate a baptism for another reason.

• When you are asked to confess that: “God for Christ’s sake has forgiven me of my sins.”

• When those who baptize you wait for several days.


• When you cannot remember the reason.• When you are baptized to become a

member of a denominational body.• Will you make your salvation sure?• Salvation is found in Christ and His death.

How do you know? (Col 2:11-13)


• Colossians 2:11-13 - In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.


• 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,


• You will only receive the one baptism once in a lifetime. Make it sure!

have you been baptized?. someone has observed that baptism is one of the more controversial subjects...

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