Scriptural Baptism
(My Next Step)
The step that outwardly shows what happened inwardly. Salvation is the only step
needed to get to heaven,
[Not Salvation + Baptism ]
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19
THE MOTIVE FOR BAPTISM
There are three basic motives for being baptized: obedience, love and joy. After salvation God gives us a wonderful command. That command is to
follow Christ in Baptism. Baptism is the first step of obedience for the new believer in Christ.
Be sure to take this blessed step of obedience. I have never known one Christian to grow in Christ
or to be blessed of God who did not obey God in believer's baptism. Our first motive then is obedience to God's command.
The second motive is love for Jesus Christ. Love has no meaning unless it is put into action. In
John 14:15 the Bible says,
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
If we are really saved and we love
the Lord,
we will not hesitate to follow the Lord in Baptism
as soon as possible as a proof of our
love.
The third motive is for our personal benefit. The Bible records the story of the baptism of the
Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:35-39. Notice what is says:
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
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? 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. 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. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught
away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
The Bible says after he was baptized that he went on his way rejoicing. When we are obedience in
Baptism it does bring joy to our lives. To disobey robs us of the joy of the Lord.
THE METHOD OF BAPTISM
Baptism can only be performed in one way. In the
Bible, no one was ever baptized except by immersion of the body under water. The very word "baptism"
literally means to dip, to plunge, to submerge, or to immerse. Nowhere in the Bible is sprinkling
of babies or adults taught. Notice how the Bible records that Jesus was baptized by immersion in
the River of Jordan.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17
THE MEANING OF BAPTISM
Baptism shows our death, burial and resurrection
with Christ. Baptism pictures the death of the old man before we were saved, burial of the old life,
and the resurrection of a new life to be lived for the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Romans 6:3-5 and see how
God speaks of baptism.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? There 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:
Now that you know the importance of baptism, why not make a real commitment to follow Christ
in this great step.
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