God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

LESSON 3: BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, A STUDY OF NEW TESTAMENT WATER BAPTISM 1. WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM? Baptism is a holy sacrament (religious ceremony) commanded by Christ. Outwardly, a person is submerged completely under water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Inwardly, a person undergoes a spiritual work of grace which is DEATH UNTO SIN and a NEW BIRTH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 Peter 3:21, Amp. The Greek work translated as "baptism" actually means to immerse or dip. It means to "whelm," that is, cover wholly with fluid. The Bible shows Baptism to be more than "sprinkling"; for instance: Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:23; Acts 8:38. Thus we see that Jesus and His followers went INTO the water and then came up OUT OF the water - giving us a clear pattern to follow. Anyone who has genuinely repented of his sin and has been justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (see previous lesson) can and should be baptized. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38. No. The Bible teaches that only people old enough to repent and believe should be baptized. A parent's good intentions are not enough. We must individually decide. 2. WHAT DOES THE WORD "BAPTISM" MEAN? 3. WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED? 4. SHOULD BABIES BE BAPTIZED?

5. WHO SHOULD DO THE BAPTIZING?

Spirit-filled ministers of the Gospel of Christ should baptize the new converts. Such a minister should have

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