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SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:1-17; JOHN
13:1-17; 1 CORINTHIANS 11 :23-29
In this lesson, we will study the example of Jesus, to determine what He would
have His followers do today in matters of religious ceremony. When the Saviour
called the disciples to His service His invitation was, "Follow me." To Peter,
Andrew, James, and John on the shores of the Sea of Galilee; to Matthew at the
receipt of customs; to the rich young ruler who sought the way to life eternal;
to Peter after the resurrection-to all who came to Him in sincerity He gave the
same invitation, "Follow me.” And to all who turn to Jesus for light and comfort
and salvation in every age He has the same call. "If any man serve Me, let him
follow Me" (John 12:26). Christ's example is for the Christian a sufficient
reason for every rule of life, for every ordinance of the church.
I - WHAT EXAMPLE DID JESUS SET FOR HIS CHURCH AT THE RIVER JORDAN?
He was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
Matthew 3:13 -"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be
baptized of him."
He was baptized by John the Baptist (or Baptizer), not because He had sinned,
but as an example to us, and "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).
Heaven was pleased, for we read, "Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3: 17). He commanded His
disciples to baptize converts among "all nations. "
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"
Baptisms are to be conducted in "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost.” The true Christian will obey the command of Christ that brings
him into such a close relationship with God. The baptized believer is actually
adopted into the royal family of God and takes the royal name of Christian.
2 - SPRINKLING OR IMMERSION, WHICH?
Baptism by water is God's plan. This is made clear by Jesus' words to Nicodemus:
John 3:5-"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."
John baptized at Aenon, "because there was much water there" (John 3:23).
Jesus is our example; He walked into the old Jordan River, and John baptized
Him. Jesus then "went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3: 16). To the
candid mind there surely can be no doubt about the method used by John. Had he
used "sprinkling," one pail of water would have sufficed for a great host of
people. But Jesus was immersed in the Jordan .
Philip and the eunuch went into the water, and came out (Acts 8:36-39). Philip
baptized in the same manner as John the Baptist. He and his candidate "went down
both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." They then
came "up out of the water."
Here we have but one candidate. He could have been sprinkled with a few drops of
water or a cup of water might have been poured over his head, but this would not
have been baptism according to Jesus' example and commandment; hence Philip
immersed the eunuch in a pool of water by the side of the road.
The word "baptize," in the Greek, means "to immerse," "to dip under." The word
"baptize" is from the Greek word, baptize, which comes from the root bapto,
signifying "to immerse," "to dip," "to cover with fluid," "to plunge," etc., as
material is dipped into a vat of dye, as the blacksmith plunges hot metal into a
tank of water. The meaning is definitely not "sprinkle" or "pour."
3 - IS THE METHOD OF BAPTISM IMPORTANT?
Yes, because the method is designed to illustrate the meaning and purpose of
baptism. Said Paul:
Romans 6:3-6 -"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have
been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the
likeness of His resurrection: 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."
Notice these four points:
1. Baptism commemorates Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
2. It symbolizes the death and burial of the "old man" of sin.
3. It represents resurrection to "newness of life" in Christ Jesus.
4. It indicates the washing away of sin (Acts 22: 16).
Since baptism commemorates the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and
Jesus died and rose but once, those who immerse the individual three times
instead of once miss the important point of Jesus' sacrifice "once" for all (1
Peter 3: 18). Those who baptize the candidate face down, depart from the regular
mode of burial. The "old man" of sin must die and be buried, and the "new man"
(Ephesians 4:22, 24) be brought forth to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).
This is symbolized by the candidate's closing his eyes, holding his breath,
being buried under the water, being raised up, opening his eyes and breathing
again, then walking out of the watery grave. Sprinkling or pouring simply cannot
symbolize this spiritual work of grace in the Christian. Baptism is first and
foremost an outward symbol of the change made by God's grace in the sinner's
heart.
4 - WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE BAPTISM?
1. The candidate should be carefully taught.
Matthew 28:19-20-"Teach all nations, baptizing them. . teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
The candidate should be taught "all things" that Jesus commanded. This is really
much more necessary today than in the apostles' time, for the following reasons:
There was a definite risk and sacrifice even in professing Christianity in the
days of the apostles. Baptism tended to eliminate a mere nominal profession of
His name. People do not relish scorn, reproach, division in the family or
martyrdom just to take up a new religion. But, today, it is a matter of honor to
be counted a church member. So every candidate for baptism should understand
fully what it means to become a follower of Christ.
In those days, Jesus Christ Himself was the issue. No one thought of any Sabbath
but the Bible Sabbath. So that was not an issue. But today it is. Today, the
teachings of Christ, as well as Christ Himself, is the issue. What will the
candidate do? Accept Christ and reject His teachings? This is impossible. To
receive Jesus as Lord and Savior means to accept "all things whatsoever" He
commanded.
One may join a church that preaches Christ and yet deny almost every fundamental
doctrine of Bible religion. We have, in the churches today, everything from
fanaticism and playing with rattlesnakes, on the one hand, to ethereal ideas
that there is no sin or death, but only God and life and good. Millions seek
some mystic "higher plane" while evading the eternal teaching of the Word of God
and avoiding the everlasting truths that "sin is the transgression of the law"
of God. that "the wages of sin is death," and that Jesus is the only Savior from
the transgression of the law. It is therefore clearly essential that candidates
for baptism be thoroughly taught "all things" that Jesus commanded. else the
profession of Christ may mean fatal delusion and dangerous heresy.
2. He must believe.
Mark 16:16-"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
After being taught, the candidate should. in his heart, believe in Christ as
Lord, as a personal Saviour, and in His teaching. It is not enough to say, "I
believe in Christ." Today that may mean almost anything. He should believe His
Word and teachings as recorded in the Bible; and. by faith. follow his Savior.
3. He must repent of his sins.
Acts 2:38-"Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."
To repent means to turn away from sin. It means to turn to God and
righteousness. Man, of his own free will and choice, must make the decision to
turn to God and away from sin and error.
A vital element of true repentance is "godly sorrow," which "worketh repentance
to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). This repentance God
will give us if we are willing to turn away from every sin (Acts 5:31; Romans
2:4). God's love melts the heart, and the Holy Spirit makes us truly sorry for
sin when we behold the precious Savior dying for the sins we have committed.
4. He must be willing to die to sin (Romans 6:3, 11-13).
As Jesus died for sin, man must die to sin. He will choose to lose a hand, a
foot, an eye, before he wills to use them to do evil (Mark 9:4347). His hands
will not hold ill-gotten gain or lift to his lips the red and
stirring wine that bringeth forth "babbling" and "woe." Nor will he stain his
fingers or foul his breath with the poisons of tobacco. His feet will not cross
the forbidden places of the world's alluring and sinful pleasures. He will not
yield his members as instruments of unrighteousness.
5. He must be ready to live for God (Romans 6:11,13).
And Christ will dwell in him by His Holy Spirit. When Satan knocks at his heart
door, he will find the "old man" gone-dead. A little girl put it this way: "When
Satan comes to my door and calls for me, I tell him that Jesus lives here, and
then Satan goes away." When God calls, we yield our members as "instruments of
righteousness unto God." With Isaiah we say. "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
Such are "born again" men and women. Candidates for baptism should learn,
believe, repent, die to sin, and surrender to God; therefore, infant baptism is
not Biblical. We may dedicate our children to God, but infant baptism is
without meaning in the light of these facts. There is no example for it in the
New Testament!
5 - WHAT IS THE DOOR TO CHRIST'S CHURCH?
We are "baptized into Jesus Christ" (Romans 6:3). The church members are called
the members of Christ's body, and we are baptized into this body of Christ on
earth. Christ calls Himself "the door," but we are baptized into Him. Thus
baptism is an entrance. Notice three points: 1. Christ is the head of the
Christian body (Ephesians 4:15-16).
2. We become members of Christ's body, the church. at baptism (1 Corinthians
12:20. 27).
3. We are baptized "into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13)
Jesus is calling YOU today!
If you would like to know more about being baptized into the church, click
here.
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