Preparation for Water Baptism
Hearing the Gospel is first.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The term gospel means “good news”
The good news is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
Everyone has sinned according to God’s Word.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The penalty of sin is death.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus came to suffer the death penalty for all mankind.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus became the sacrifice for all of man’s sins.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Although Jesus died for the entire human race it is evident that not all will be saved. WHY?
The answer is, we must believe and obey the gospel message .
We must believe to the point in which we repent and convert to the faith of Jesus Christ.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Repent means to feel compunction for wrongdoing. Compunction is feeling sorry and regret of wrong doings.
Upon hearing the message of Jesus dying for our sins God expects us to regret having sinned against him and ask for forgiveness and upon doing this we must quit doing those things which displease God and convert (change) and start doing the things which please God. We will find those things out as we read and study God’s Word.
Paul put it like this:
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Repenting and conversion includes putting away any and all things which are offensive to God.
These things will be found in the Bible. This includes sins of the flesh and spirit, also all idolatry
which is worship or praying to images or anyone other than God.
A person who has not repented and willing to convert to the faith of Jesus Christ is not a candidate for baptism.
Notice what Jesus and the Apostles said:
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
When a person has believed the gospel and has repented with a willingness to convert in their hearts they are ready for water baptism in Jesus name.
All baptism account in the Bible were done by immersion.
Joh 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Definition of baptism baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet);
Act 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?
Act 8:37 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.
Act 8:38 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.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 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.
Our old sinful life we die to. This old man that has died must be buried and out of sight. This is what baptism does, it buries that old man never to be seen again.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
We re-in-act the gospel in our own lives:
Jesus was crucified ---we die out to the life of sin
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Jesus was buried --- Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Jesus was raised from the dead --- We are raised from our death(repentance) and burial (baptism) to walk in newness of life being filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
As the Spirit of God made Jesus alive again after His death and burial so we also are raised from our death and burial by the Spirit of God (being filled with the Holy Ghost).
Coupled with repentance baptism is for the remission of sins.
Jesus said His name was to be used in this process:
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus said this was to begin at Jerusalem so let go there and read if they did what he said.
After hearing the gospel this is what happened:
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Baptism, when preceded by faith in Christ blood and repentance actually washes away one’s sins never to be remembered against them ever again.
Upon Paul’s conversion to Christ Ananias gives him the following instructions
Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
To be ready to meet God and to enter His Kingdom we must be born again as Jesus said.
Joh 3:5 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.
This is accomplished when we are baptized (in water) in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
Before closing this discussion we feel it is important to bring to the reader’s attention the fact that many whom have believed the message of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross have yet been led astray by many unbiblical teachings some of which concerning baptism are as follows:
1.Infant baptism
2.Sprinkling
3.Baptism using the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost instead of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible clearly states there is only one baptism
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Even John the Baptist disciples were re-baptized in Acts 19
Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 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.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 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.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
John’s baptism was valid until the resurrection of Christ. Since that time it is commanded that all believers be baptized in the name of the one who died for them and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Those who rejected John’s baptism were actually rejecting the council of God against themselves.
Luk 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Luk 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Even so all who reject Christ’s baptism are rejecting the council of God against themselves.
“WARNING”
Not one person was ever baptized (in the scriptures) using the titles of Father , Son and Holy Ghost.
Those who baptize using this formula misinterpret Matthew 28:19 which reads:
Mat 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:
Any honest person that knows English would tell you that there is a singular name being referenced in this scripture as the rendering is “in the name”.
Father ,Son and Holy Ghost are not names but titles.
The only singular name Christians were baptized in in the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The name which fulfills Matthew 28:19 is the Lord Jesus Christ
EXAMPLES
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (the name of the Lord is Jesus)
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
A thorough study of history will show that Father ,Son and Holy Ghost baptism formula did not derive from the Bible but the traditions of men which started a little prior to 325 AD (Council of Nicea) and became an official doctrine of a backslid church and has been handed down through denominations.
We need to remember Jesus’ warning:
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Hearing the Gospel is first.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The term gospel means “good news”
The good news is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
Everyone has sinned according to God’s Word.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The penalty of sin is death.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus came to suffer the death penalty for all mankind.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus became the sacrifice for all of man’s sins.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Although Jesus died for the entire human race it is evident that not all will be saved. WHY?
The answer is, we must believe and obey the gospel message .
We must believe to the point in which we repent and convert to the faith of Jesus Christ.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Repent means to feel compunction for wrongdoing. Compunction is feeling sorry and regret of wrong doings.
Upon hearing the message of Jesus dying for our sins God expects us to regret having sinned against him and ask for forgiveness and upon doing this we must quit doing those things which displease God and convert (change) and start doing the things which please God. We will find those things out as we read and study God’s Word.
Paul put it like this:
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Repenting and conversion includes putting away any and all things which are offensive to God.
These things will be found in the Bible. This includes sins of the flesh and spirit, also all idolatry
which is worship or praying to images or anyone other than God.
A person who has not repented and willing to convert to the faith of Jesus Christ is not a candidate for baptism.
Notice what Jesus and the Apostles said:
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
When a person has believed the gospel and has repented with a willingness to convert in their hearts they are ready for water baptism in Jesus name.
All baptism account in the Bible were done by immersion.
Joh 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Definition of baptism baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet);
Act 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?
Act 8:37 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.
Act 8:38 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.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 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.
Our old sinful life we die to. This old man that has died must be buried and out of sight. This is what baptism does, it buries that old man never to be seen again.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
We re-in-act the gospel in our own lives:
Jesus was crucified ---we die out to the life of sin
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Jesus was buried --- Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Jesus was raised from the dead --- We are raised from our death(repentance) and burial (baptism) to walk in newness of life being filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
As the Spirit of God made Jesus alive again after His death and burial so we also are raised from our death and burial by the Spirit of God (being filled with the Holy Ghost).
Coupled with repentance baptism is for the remission of sins.
Jesus said His name was to be used in this process:
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus said this was to begin at Jerusalem so let go there and read if they did what he said.
After hearing the gospel this is what happened:
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Baptism, when preceded by faith in Christ blood and repentance actually washes away one’s sins never to be remembered against them ever again.
Upon Paul’s conversion to Christ Ananias gives him the following instructions
Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
To be ready to meet God and to enter His Kingdom we must be born again as Jesus said.
Joh 3:5 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.
This is accomplished when we are baptized (in water) in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
Before closing this discussion we feel it is important to bring to the reader’s attention the fact that many whom have believed the message of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross have yet been led astray by many unbiblical teachings some of which concerning baptism are as follows:
1.Infant baptism
2.Sprinkling
3.Baptism using the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost instead of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible clearly states there is only one baptism
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Even John the Baptist disciples were re-baptized in Acts 19
Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 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.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 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.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
John’s baptism was valid until the resurrection of Christ. Since that time it is commanded that all believers be baptized in the name of the one who died for them and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Those who rejected John’s baptism were actually rejecting the council of God against themselves.
Luk 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Luk 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Even so all who reject Christ’s baptism are rejecting the council of God against themselves.
“WARNING”
Not one person was ever baptized (in the scriptures) using the titles of Father , Son and Holy Ghost.
Those who baptize using this formula misinterpret Matthew 28:19 which reads:
Mat 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:
Any honest person that knows English would tell you that there is a singular name being referenced in this scripture as the rendering is “in the name”.
Father ,Son and Holy Ghost are not names but titles.
The only singular name Christians were baptized in in the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The name which fulfills Matthew 28:19 is the Lord Jesus Christ
EXAMPLES
Act 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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (the name of the Lord is Jesus)
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
A thorough study of history will show that Father ,Son and Holy Ghost baptism formula did not derive from the Bible but the traditions of men which started a little prior to 325 AD (Council of Nicea) and became an official doctrine of a backslid church and has been handed down through denominations.
We need to remember Jesus’ warning:
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.