| Although the ritual of water baptism in itself has no saving power over a man. we are commanded to do it as an act of obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. obedience to Christ as Lord is the evidence that our faith in him is REAL. lets look at how the bible describes baptism and what it symbolizes in the Life of the believer. |
| WEEK 14 STUDY PURPLE BOOK 3.4 WATER BAPTISM If you take a trip to ancient Israel and tour the land where Jesus lived and ministered, you will discover that the world of the Bible included the concept of ritual bathing. Men and women would wash ceremonially to cleanse themselves from the dirt and defilement of the outside world. Jesus and his disciples came preaching and calling people to be baptized in water to symbolize the cleansing that takes place through their faith. In the “Great commission Jesus commanded his disciples to GO and make disciples, baptizing them in the NAME (authority and identity) of the Father, Son and holy Spirit. What happened to those who accepted Peters message? Acts 2:41 What did the men and women who believed Philips message do? Acts 8:12 After hearing the good news about Jesus what did the Ethiopian eunuch want to do? Acts 8:35-36 Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. What did he say to do with those disciples? Matt. 28:19-20 Vs. 19? Vs. 20? The New testament uses different illustrations to demonstrate the significance of water baptism: Burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5) The Israelites crossing the Red Sea when they escaped Egypt (1 Cor. 10:1-2) Circumcision (Col. 2:11-12) The Flood (1 Peter 3:20-21) Paul compares Christian baptism to a burial. In order to be buried, a person must first die. What must we die to before we get baptized? Romans 6:1-4 The Israelites passing through the Red Sea is a picture of baptism for us. Why were they fleeing from the Egyptians? Exodus 2:23; 3:7,9 What happened to the Egyptians? Exodus 14:22-28 In the same way Israelites were slaves to Egypt, we were all slaves to sin. The Israelites were freed from their bondage by passing through the Red Sea. Baptism pictures the freedom from sin that Jesus purchased on the cross. Paul says baptism is like circumcision not done by human hands, but a circumcision done by Christ. What is put off during this spiritual circumcision? Col. 2:11-12 What did Peter say the flood water symbolized? 1 Peter 3:21 What is baptism a pledge of? 1 Peter 3:21 Peter teaches that it is not the “removal of dirt from the body” that saves us. In other words, it is neither the act of baptism nor the water of baptism. Rather, it is “the resurrection of Jesus Christ” that saves us. Once gin we see the scriptures teaching that we are saved by what Jesus did, (his death and resurrection), NOT by what we do (water baptism). Peter geos onto say that baptism is a pledge of clear conscience. Each of the pictures of baptism show the old life being put away and a new life emerging. In baptism we publicly display what Jesus did through his death, burial and resurrection. We also show that we have identified with this. By obeying his command to be baptized, we identify with the power of the cross and resurrection to deliver us completely from the power and authority of sin. “…and now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name!” Acts 22:16 What did you learn? How will you apply it? |
