Baptism

Lesson

All of us have at times desperately wished for an opportunity to start all over again with a new, clean record. Years ago a poet said, “I wish that there were some wonderful place, Called the Land of Beginning Again, Where all my mistakes and all my heartaches, And all my poor selfish grief, Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door, And never put on again”

There was a woman who had done some bad things. She met a man that she liked allot. The more time she spent with him, the more she got to know him. She gradually knew that she loved him, and wanted to marry him. She knew that he would make a very good husband and provider.

But she also knew that he would hate the things that she had done in life. She saw that he cared for and loved her. But would he love her if he knew what she had done? She knew that their relationship could not grow like it should, unless she told him. She invited him to dinner and confessed to him, her pass. He did not like what she had done. But his love for her was very strong. He knew that he wanted to marry her and to make it a pubic ceremony. She is very happy in their relationship and marriage and new life together.

Did you know that Jesus has lovingly provided for us a public ceremony in which the past is officially buried and a marvelous new life begins?

1. How much does God love you, even with your sinful life?

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet ____sinners___, Christ ___died__ for us. 3:23 For ___all_ have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Note: God loves you before you confess your sins to him, but hates the sins. “For God is Love”

1 John 4:8 But God’s love does not make you saved of itself. Like a man and woman are not married just because they love each other. They have not had the “wedding ceremony.”

2. What must you do to be saved?

Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

:31 And they said, ___believe____ on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. :32 And they spake unto him the _____word __ of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. :33 ... and was __baptized ___, he and all his, straightway.

Acts 2:37 ... they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? :38 Then Peter said unto them, __repent___, and be ____baptized ___ every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

3. Like marriage, salvation has a personal experience with Jesus and a public ceremony to join you as one family. What are some of the names for the personal experience and the public ceremony?

John 3:3,5 (born again) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of ____water_ and of the _____Spirit __, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one _____baptism ___, 1Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all _____baptized____ into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,

4. What does baptism symbolize?

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his ___death___? :4 Therefore we are ___buried___ with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was ___raised up__ from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Luke 23:46,52to56;24:1)

:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: :6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

5. How does this symbol of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection take place?

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is __water __; what doth hinder me to be ____baptized___? :37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. :38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went __down_ both into the ___water ___, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

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

Baptize: comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means “to dip, submerge, or immerse”.

The entire body submerged(planted) under water(buried) and (raised up) from the water.

Notice, baptism is a choice with conditions! There are many ways people say they are baptize.

Sprinkled with water, water pour over you, rose petals and salt sprinkled on you, anointed with oil, etc. and some say you do not need to be baptized; but what does Jesus’ word say?

6. Every time someone believes and are planted under the water and raised up from the water, of what should it remind you?

1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the ___gospel__ which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; :2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. :3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ __died___ for our sins according to the scriptures; :4 And that he was _buried__, and that he __rose__again the third day according to the scriptures: Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. :14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? :15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 1 John 1:9; 3:4 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Isaiah 51:1,6,7)

7. What is part of the great commission?

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, ___baptizing__ them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: :20 Teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. :16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be ___saved__; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Note; if you have not believed that you needed to be baptized and have not, what should you do?

If you were so called baptized as a baby or any other non-biblical way, what should you do?

8. If you were baptized before and have learned more truth what should you do?

Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. :3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

:5 When they heard this, they were ____baptized__ in the name of the Lord Jesus.

9. If you have experienced the gift of the Holy Ghost what else should you do?

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. :44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. :45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. :46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, :47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? :48 And he commanded them to be ____baptized___ in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

10. With whom is a person united at baptism and what do you become?

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on __Christ__.

:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye ___Abraham’s seed__, and ___heirs__ according to the promise. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a ____new __ ___creature__: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. :20 Now then we are _____ambassadors__ for Christ, ...

Do you want to be united with Christ? ________Yes!____ John 15:5; Philippians 4:13

Does being baptized save you? No! You can only be saved through Jesus. John 14:6

Is it important for you to be baptized? Yes! All of God’s commandments are important,

are they not important to you?!! 1 John 2:3,4; 5:1to5; Matthew 7:20to23

Remember that one of the men on the crosses beside Jesus was saved and not baptized.

Luke 23:39to43,56 But he would have been if he could have. John 14:15

1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. :21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

(Galatians 3:”27”; Matthew 22:1to “11,12”13) Isaiah 61:1to3,10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. :11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Are you willing to be baptized and put on salvation and righteousness so Christ can cause righteousness and praise to spring forth in you? ______ your name ____________________

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