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Baptism Is by Lynn White

Baptism is By Lynn White lwhite@cinternet.net BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE CONFESS OUR SINS…..Baptism is place of humility. It is humbling to admit our sinful condition. Matthews 3:5 “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE FOLLOW JESUS……If for no other reason than Jesus' example, we should be baptised. Matthew 3:13 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” BAPTISM IS WHERE WE OBEY JESUS' COMMAND TO THE WORLD The authority behind baptism is Christ Jesus the Lord. It is not an optional command where we decide if WE want it or not without consequences. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” BAPTISM IS WHERE WE DECIDE TO ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE…..No one truly converted remains the same in their daily life. Changes must follow our baptism, to be like Jesus. Luke 3:10 “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Luke 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” BAPTISM IS WHERE WE DECLARE THAT GOD IS RIGHT…The word justified means…to be right. In obeying John the Baptizer’s preaching to repent and be baptised, the people were saying, God is right. Luke 7:29 “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” BAPTISM IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE GLADLY RECEIVE GOD'S WORD…The people who argue about baptism generally are already baptised or not truly desiring it. Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE TELL THE WORLD WHO WE BELIEVE JESUS IS….Being ashamed of our faith proves that our faith is not sufficient to be worthy of participating in baptism. Acts 8:36 “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? Acts 8:37 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. Acts 8:38 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. Acts 8:39 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.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD….It is not enough just to say, "Jesus save me!", without some responsibility on our part. Here Saul of Tarsus, had prayed and not eaten for three days. This verse goes along with Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” The water in baptism is the same as any other water, but the obedient act of being immersed in water in obedience to Christ Jesus has great power. BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE MEET WITH THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND OUR OWN…death, burial and resurrection…Romans 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Rom 6:4 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.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE TELL THE WORLD, WE BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD…1 Corinthians 15:29 “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” There were Christians in Corinth who doubted the resurrection. Yet baptism pictures not only death, but burial and resurrection. The litteral meaning of this passage is that we are "baptised (buried) for being dead". There is no 'article' THE in the Greek. Baptism is what is done to a "dead" “TO THE WORLD” person. BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE ONENESS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST…There is no place in the Christian life for boasting, except to boast "in the Lord" and about the Lord's doings. 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Cor 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 1 Cor 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 1 Cor 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE ARE REMINDED TO BE FAITHFUL TO FOLLOW CHRIST….Just being baptised is NOT enough. That's just the beginning of the spiritual journey. 1 Corinthains10:1 “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1 Cor 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Cor 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 1 Cor 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 1 Cor 10:9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Cor 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” BAPTISM IS A PLACE WHERE WE PUT ON CHRIST AND BECOME ONE WITH HIM AND EACH OTHER….Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 4:5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” This verse tells us there is one baptism to which we must submit and it is the same baptism that Jesus commanded his disciples to teach to the end of the world. BAPTISM IS AN ANSWER TO A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, BY THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD…..1 Peter 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 1 Petrt 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” Baptism is not an “outward” washing, but our conscience is clear after we obey Christ Jesus in his command for water baptism. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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: Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mark 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. If you desire to begin a new walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior or if you are already walking by faith in him as God, the Son, the only begotten of the Father,…….and have never been obedient in the command of baptism, to be buried in a watery grave, showing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ……….YOU SHOULD ACT AT ONCE!!

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