Baptism Handout
Baptism
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Who do we Baptize?
Baptism is an important milestone in the life of every believer. We as a member of the global family of the Christian and Missionary Alliance embrace what is sometimes called, “credo-baptism”. Credo is a Latin word meaning “I Believe”; this simply means that we embrace the believer’s baptism. For this reason, we do not baptize infants and only baptize those that are old enough to make an intelligent decision to follow Christ as His disciple.
In New Testament times, baptism followed repentance and faith. Peter invited his listeners on the day of Pentecost to “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Three thousand people responded to the invitation, and “those who accepted his message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
When the apostles took the gospel across the Roman Empire from Jerusalem, new churches were planted, and believers were baptized soon after they turned away from sin and put their trust in Christ for salvation. Acts 18:8 says, “Many of the Corinthians who heard [Paul] believed and were baptized.”
Alliance churches follow the same practice of baptism subsequent to conversion to Christ. Those who have repented of sin and put their faith in Jesus for eternal life are encouraged to take this step of obedience.
How do we Baptize?
The Biblical word for “baptize” means to “immerse, douse, or saturate.” In the two full descriptions of baptism found in the New Testament, individuals were immersed in water. Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River to identify Himself as God’s Son: “As soon as He was baptized, [He] went up out of the water” (Matthew 3:16).
The apostle Philip baptized the Ethiopian by going down into a body of water and coming up with him (Acts 8:38–39). In both of these examples, a large enough quantity of water was required to immerse the person.
Because of the meaning of the word baptize and the mode of the first baptism, Alliance churches practice baptism by immersion.
Why do we Baptize?
The Five Points of Baptism
- Repentance
Baptism is an outward showing of an inward repentance. After an individual has repented and believed the Gospel, they are offered the opportunity to be baptized for REPENTANCE of their sins. They are using baptism as the crisis point for the new direction of their lives in Christ.
- Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, Acts 19:4
- Initiation
Baptism is a sign and a prophetic declaration of…
- Baptized into His death by immersion– Romans 6:3
- Buried with Him in Baptism by submersion – Col. 2:12
- Raised with Him out of the Water – Col. 2:12, Rom 6:4-5
- Identification
A Major aspect of baptism is the public declaration of the new believer’s faith in Christ. Sometimes this is down outdoors in an existing body of water and at other times this is done inside of a church building. Either method is acceptable, but the public declaration is still maintained as an important part of baptism. This is the new convert INDENTIFYING with fellow believer’s and with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Water baptism identifies a person as a disciple of Christ and celebrates the passage from an old life into a new life in Christ. Simply stated, it is an outward sign of an inward change.
- Galatians 3:27
- Cleansing
Baptism is a New Testament “continuation” or prophetic fulfillment for the Old Testament “pattern” of the Bronze laver/basin. This Basin was designed so that priests could wash before ministering to Lord in the Tabernacle.
It is the Blood of Christ that cleanses man of His sins and Baptism is a prophetic showing of that cleansing in preparation of service to the Lord.
- Exodus 29:4, Exodus 30:18, Exodus 40:12 & 30, Leviticus 8:6
- Freedom (Remission, forgiveness)
Baptism as a promise of freedom from judgement
- 1st Peter 3:18-22 – Noah’s Ark (Earth was baptized)
- Matthew 3:16 – The promise of the Holy Spirit The landing of the Dove on Christ, Who is the fulfillment of the promised freedom from judgment at the moment of His baptism.