A. If one is to be saved he/she must be baptized
- Peter preached the need of baptism
Acts 2:38 New King James Version (NKJV)
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a] remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- In addition to studying the word of God – the Bible, another requirement of baptism is repentance. Repentance means: 1) you have to confess your sin, 2) promise to God that you will not do it again, and 3) ask for forgiveness.
- You will only receive the Holy Spirit after baptism. Not all those who were baptized have the Holy Spirit in them for there are those who were baptized who do not have genuine faith in Jesus Christ. Situation like that, their baptisms are just like swimming in the pool.
- If you are not born of water you will not enter heaven.
John 3:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a] again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
- Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a spiritual leader of a religious group that does not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They were against Jesus, but Nicodemus believed that Jesus is the Son of God. Thus, Nicodemus went to Jesus by night, for he did not want to be seen by the other Pharisees visiting Jesus.
- Jesus said to Nicodemus in verse 5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Born of water means “Physical birth”. Born of the Spirit means “Spiritual birth.”
- When we are born physically, we had no choice not to be born. For our physical birth is God’s will through our parents. Spiritual birth that is to become a member of God’s family in the New Heavens and New Earth is our choice.
- God gives us the freedom of choice because the attribute or characteristic of genuine love is freedom of choice. That is God’s kind of love.
- We have the freedom to reject or accept His gift of eternal life. When we reject His gift of eternal life (that is we rejected Jesus as our Lord and Savior), it means we choose eternal death, for our salvation is through genuine faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
- We need to be born spiritually for our physical body (flesh and blood) is sinful and could not enter the kingdom of God.
- That is why in verse 7, Jesus said, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.” The word “must” means water baptism by immersion is mandatory or compulsory requirement for salvation.
- Jesus gave us an example.
Matthew 3:13-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a] He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Jesus does not need to be baptized for he was not a sinner, but He insisted that John the Baptist baptize Him, for two reasons: 1) as an example for us, that even Jesus Himself, who did not commit sin, was baptized, the more we have to be baptized because we are sinners, 2) Jesus said, in verse 15, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness”, what it means, is Jesus’ baptism is for those who accepted Jesus at the last moment of their lives and were not baptized before their death.
- Jesus’ baptism was the will of God for God the Father and the Holy Spirit appeared as mentioned in verses 16 and 17.
B. The meaning of baptism
1. Burial of the old way of life
Romans 6:3-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be [a] done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
- The reason why biblical baptism is by water immersion (lots of water) because when we are immersed in the water, it is a symbol that we die with Jesus. When we are raised from the water, it is a symbol that we are resurrected with Jesus.
- Aside from studying the Bible to know God’s plan of salvation as a requirement to be born again or to be baptized, by water immersion, we need to have genuine faith in Jesus. Without genuine faith in Jesus, baptism could not transform our life. Why? Because baptism is only our outward expression in our heart that we truly accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
- After our baptism the Holy Spirit resides in us to empower us to obey God’s commandments willingly from our heart. Without genuine faith even if you are baptized multiple times there is no transformation in your life.
2. A symbol of cleansing from sin
Acts 22:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
- To remove dirt from our body, we take a shower or take a bath in water. Sin is like dirt in our soul (our inner being), which could be removed only by confession of our sins, then, repentance and God’s forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ. Baptism is the symbol of cleansing our sins, thus, our entire body should be fully immersed in the water. Again, though Jesus did not commit sin, he was baptized as an example for us to follow.
3. A new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- We are a new creation for we do not do the sinful things we have done before we were baptized. With the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we will be living a godly life, reflecting the character of Jesus.
C. Pre-requisite of baptism
1. One must be taught first.
Matthew 28:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 Go [a] therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b] Amen.
- Before baptism a candidate for baptism must study first, the Basic Bible Lessons, to understand God’s plan of salvation and why baptism is a requirement for salvation.
- No one should be baptized without studying the Basic Bible Lesson for baptism is like a symbol that we are marrying Jesus, for we need to follow Him as our Lord and Savior, for our salvation.
- In a marriage you will not marry someone you do not know.
2. One must repent to be baptized.
Acts 2:38 New King James Version (NKJV)
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a] remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- As above mentioned, repentance is essential before baptism. Repentance means a promise that we will not sin again as we had before accepting (genuine faith) Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
D. Mode of baptism
1. There is only one mode of baptism
Ephesians 4:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 “one Lord, one faith, one baptism;”
2. The original meaning of baptism is “immerse” into the water.
3. The significance of baptism is burial; birth demands the symbol of water immersion.
4. The implication of the baptism of John and the apostles is by immersion. Much water is necessary.
John 3:23 New King James Version (NKJV)
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
-Jesus was also baptized with much water.
Matthew 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a] He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Notes:
1. Children should not be baptized in view of the significance and meaning of baptism, that a person being baptized should fully understand the meaning of baptism – that is accepting Jesus Christ is his/her Lord and Savior. Nothing in the Bible that says children were baptized. In fact, Jesus was baptized at the age of 30. It was Jesus’ official start of His ministry. Baby dedication is biblical. Jesus was dedicated by His parents but not baptized as a baby. Baby dedication is a recognition by parents that their child is a gift from God, and promise to God in the presence of church members to train the child God’s way, as God commanded in Proverb 22:6 and Deut. 6:5-7.
2. For several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, baptism was usually done by immersion, but since the 12th century, the practice of baptism by infusion or by sprinkling water, was prevailed, as the manner is less of an inconvenience than baptism by immersion.
The next lesson—Lesson 7 “How to Keep Our Body Healthy” discusses the right food to eat.