OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT…

The Baptism of the Great Commission

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Some have said:  “There are no stupid questions.”  Having been around for a while, and having heard a lot of questions, I would question the truthfulness of that statement.

 

B.     That being said, questions are extremely useful tools.

1.       Questions cause people to think.

2.       Questions cause people to learn.

3.       Questions cause people to change their minds.

4.       Questions cause people to change their behavior.

 

C.     This year, we started a series on the first Sunday of each month entitled:  “Questions and Answers about…”

1.       This series is different from our Sunday evening service.

2.       Two differences:

a.       I ask the question.

b.      We answer several questions about one topic.

 

D.    In today’s lesson, we will look at the subject:  “Questions and Answers about…Baptism.”

 

I.             WHY STUDY BAPTISM?

 

A.     We should study baptism because it is a Bible topic.

1.       We barely get into Matthew’s gospel and read about John baptizing people in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:5-6).

 

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

 

2.       In the same chapter, John tells his hearers that Jesus would baptize them “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt. 3:11).

3.       In verses 13-17, we read about Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan River.

4.       Matthew concludes his gospel account with Jesus’ words that include baptism (Matt. 28:18-20).

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

 

B.     We should study baptism because of all the controversy that surrounds it.

1.       Who should be baptized?  The lost?  The saved?  Adults?  Infants?

2.       How should one be baptized?  Sprinkling?  Pouring?  Immersion?  All three?

3.       Does baptism save?  Some say, “No.”  Others say, “Yes.”

4.       Is there one baptism in existence today?  Or, are there many baptisms?

 

II.           WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF BAPTISM?

 

A.     Lexicons:

1.       Strong (907):  to make whelmed (that is, fully wet)

2.       Thayer:  to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge, to cleanse by dipping or submerging…to overwhelm

3.       Vine:  consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence

 

 

B.     Baptism is said to be a burial.

1.       Romans 6:3

 

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…

 

2.       Colossians 2:12

 

Buried with him in baptism…

 

C.     The definition is seen in Scripture.

1.       John baptized in Enon near Salim because “there was much water there” (John 3:23).

a.       Sprinkling and pouring do not require much water:  a bowl or a pitcher.

b.      Immersion requires “much water.”

2.       In baptism, individuals went down into the water and came up out of the water.

a.       Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:16a).

 

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water…”

 

b.      The eunuch’s baptism (Acts 8:38-39a)

 

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.  And when they were come up out of the water…

 

III.         DOES BAPTISM SAVE?

 

A.     Jesus and Peter say it does.

1.       Jesus (Mark 16:16)

 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…

 

2.       Peter (I Pet. 3:21)

 

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…

 

B.     It removes and cleanses from sins.

1.       Acts 2:38

 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…

 

2.       Acts 22:16

 

And now why tarriest thou?  arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

C.     It puts us “into Christ” where salvation is found.

1.       Salvation is in Christ (II Tim. 2:10)

 

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

 

2.       Baptism is the means whereby an individual gets “into Christ.”

a.       Romans 6:3

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 

 

 

b.      Galatians 3:27

 

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

IV.         HOW DOES BAPTISM SAVE?

 

A.     There are some who falsely claim that we believe there is some magical power in the water to cleanse sin.

1.       The water, in and of itself, contains nothing to cleanse the inner man.

2.       NOTE:  The water is simply “the dividing line of faith.”

 

B.     There are two things needed in order for a man to be cleansed of sin:  the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5) and faith (Rom. 5:1).

1.        Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:34).  In baptism, we come into contact with the death of our Lord (Rom. 6:3).

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 

2.       Faith will only save a man when it hears the commands of God and obeys them. 

a.       Baptism is a command to be obeyed (Acts 10:48).

 

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord….

 

b.      James tells us that faith is wrought with works and is thereby made perfect (James 2:22).

 

Seest thou how faith wrought with works, and by works was faith made perfect.

 

V.           IS BAPTISM A WORK?

 

A.     Baptism is not something one does to himself.  Baptism is something that is done to the individual.  Therefore, it can in no way be looked upon as a work in the sense of laboring to earn one’s salvation.

 

B.     Baptism is a work in the sense that it is a command that God expects man to carry out.

1.       Man says that he has faith in God.

2.       God commands man to be baptized to be saved.

3.       Faith must combine with this work (command) in order to be manifest and proven.

a.       James 2:14

 

What doth is profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?  Can faith save him?

 

b.      James 2:18

 

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:  shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 

C.     NOTE:  Baptism is not a work that was devised in the mind of man in an attempt to be saved.  This is a work devised in the mind of the Almighty God that must be done in order to be saved.

 

VI.         SHOULD BABIES BE BAPTIZED?

 

A.     There are some religious groups who baptized babies.

1.       Some believe they are born with original sin.

2.       Others believe that they are totally depraved.

3.       Both believe that babies must be baptized in order to have their fallen natures forgiven of sin.

 

 

B.     Babies, however, are not the proper candidates for baptism.

1.       They do not have the ability to believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37).

2.       They do not have the capacity to repent of sins (Acts 2:38).

3.       They cannot speak.  Therefore, they cannot confess the wonderful name of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10).

4.       Too, they do not have any sins for which to be forgiven (Eccl. 12:7; Zech. 12:1).

 

VII.       WHAT ABOUT RE-BAPTISM?

 

A.     There are two groups of people who are “re-baptized.”

1.       Those who have submitted to a man-made baptism in the past.  They were immersed back then.  Since then, they learn the truth and are immersed again.

2.       Those who were baptized in the past, who, believing they did not understand what they were doing back then, now want to be baptized again.

 

B.     First, we must understand that the Bible teaches that there is really only one baptism (Eph. 4:5).

 

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

 

C.     It is possible to be immersed more than once in a lifetime.  We have an example of individuals immersed twice in Acts 19.

1.       Several men in the city of Ephesus had been baptized with John’s baptism (Acts 19:3).

a.       At one time, that baptism was valid.

b.      After the cross of Calvary, however, only the Lord’s baptism was a valid baptism.

2.       When these men learned the truth, they were re-baptized (Acts 19:5).

 

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

D.    When a person is baptized the second time, and in some cases individual have been baptized more than this, they must acknowledge that the first baptism was not valid.  In other words, they must understand that they are lost in their sins and need to be baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).  NOTE:  The Bible does not teach the idea that one should be baptized in order to be safe.  One is baptized in order to be saved (I Pet. 3:21).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Satan is a crafty enemy.  It is he who has confused the religious world regarding the final step in the initial plan of salvation.  He will allow men to be baptized all day long as long as they are not doing it to be saved.

 

B.     The New Testament is so clear on this topic. 

1.       Baptism saves.

2.       Baptism is the line of faith that man must cross in order to be forgiven of his sins.

 

C.     Acts 22:16

 

And now why tarriest thou:  arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.