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Water
baptism is a vital part of the Christian experience as we will
see in this study. In fact, it is a very necessary part of the
spiritual foundation that is being built in our lives. It is much
more
than a Christian ritual. Like everything else in the Christian
life,
we must have the application of faith in it, in order to experience
what God has truly purposed for the Christian in water baptism.
Water Baptism is about destroying the old nature and coming forth in
the new nature that has been created after Jesus Christ.
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This is just a sample, abbreviated
Water Baptism Outline.
You can download the entire Outline by clicking on the links below in
either
PDF or Word formats:
Related Online Messages on Water Baptism
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As we look at this wonderful subject and truth, it is very important that we hear the word of God with faith. The Bible says "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." If we are to receive all that the Scriptures show us that we can receive through this wonderful truth then we must agree with the Word of God. As we determine to agree with God's Word, our hearts are filled we faith which enables us to receive all that God has for us.
The
Primary
Condition for Water Baptism.
What
is the primary condition for being water baptized and when should it
happen in
a Christian’s life. We find in Scriptures there is really only
one
condition.
You Must Be
Saved! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Acts 8:36
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch
said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being
baptized?”
Acts 8:37
Then Philip said, “If you believe
with all your heart, you
may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.”
Notice Philip’s
response is, “If you
believe with all your heart.” What does it mean to believe with all of your
heart? The
Bible says in the Book of James, “the demons even believe and
tremble.” So, we want to make sure we are believing with all of
our
hearts. God doesn’t want just some of our heart, He wants it
all.
Have You Been
Born Again? If you believe Jesus is the Son of God and you
have sincerely repented of your sins, you may be baptized.
The
Proper
Method for Being Baptized? It is important to be baptized in the same manner that we see it illustrated to us in the New Testament. We find that it is by immersion and is really the only way that the Scriptures elude to as the manner in which we should be baptized.
Being Baptized is by Immersion.
There
is no one Scripture that says it is by immersion, but all of
the examples of people being baptized show that it is by
immersion.
- The example of
Jesus being immersed – Jesus is a good example to follow.
- The example of
Philip and the Eunuch – Acts 8
- Baptism Definition – Greek The very
word “Baptism” means to be fully
wet. Baptizo, bap-tid’-zo; make whelmed (i.e.
fully wet)
Why We Need to
be Baptized
- Jesus Commanded us to.
- It is a
Necessary Part of Our Spiritual Foundation.
- It
Breaks the Bondage of Sin in our Lives.
- We Identify With Christ In His Death,
Burial & Resurrection
- Our
Old Nature Is Crucified With Him
- Our New Nature Comes Forth
- We
Experience Circumcision of the Heart.
- God
promises to bless everywhere His Name is recorded
Eventually we are going to be married to Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul says, "I have espoused you as a chaste virgin unto Christ." This means we have been engaged to him. You might say, prior to our baptism we have been in a courting relationship with Christ, simply getting to know Him. But now that we have gotten to know him, we are allowing ourselves to be officially engaged to Him. Water Baptism is the only experience we as Christians have to take upon the name of our Bridegroom.
The
Bible’s
final encouragement to you is:
Acts
22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
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