Documents
Documents about different biblical subjects
3-4-1 Baptism into Christ
January 18th, 20111 Corinthians 15:1-11
- God’s plan to bring salvation to the world culminated in the death, burial and resurrection of his Son,Jesus Christ.
- This is the heart of the “gospel” or good news about Jesus.
- Draw picture - Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is now available.
- In this study we will look at the Bible’s teaching about baptism, a crucial link between Christ’s sacrifice and the forgiveness of our sins.
Acts 2:36-41
- The first proclamation of the good news of Jesus after his departure.
- What did Peter instruct those to do who believed the message about Jesus?
- When do we receive the forgiveness of sins? The Holy Spirit? (More on this later.)
- Thosewho accepted this message were baptized, thus they were saved.
- Let’s look at some passages that describe more fully what takes place in baptism…
Romans 6:1-4
- In baptism, we are united with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection.
- Through baptism, we die to sin and are raised to a new life.
Ephesians 1:3-10
- An important New Testament teaching: every spiritual blessing from God is found “in Christ.”
- What are some of those blessings listed here? (Sonship, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness…)
- So how does a person enter “into Christ”? (Next passage.)
Galatians 3:26-29
- We are baptized “into Christ.” Note that Paul did not consider faith and baptism to be contradictory.
- Baptism is a tangible expression of faith that places us “in Christ” where salvation occurs.
Infant Baptism? Colossians 2:11-12
- Baptism is an immersion in water (from the Greek baptizo meaning “plunge, dip, immerse” - see Acts 8:38-39), but it does not operate “automatically” apart from the faith of the one who is baptized.
- Can an infant believe? Repent of sin? And what sins need to be forgiven?
- Ezekiel 18:20: Contrary to the widely held doctrine of “original sin,” guilt for sin is not inherited from our parents.
- We are guilty for our own sins and saved by grace through our own response of faith.
Sinner’s Prayer? 1 Peter 3:21
- Some claim that a person needs only to pray a “sinner’s prayer” or “ask Jesus into his/her heart” in order to be saved.
- This is the predominant view in the evangelical Christian world. However, this is not the message that was preached in the Book of Acts.
- Everyone was called to repentance, faith and baptism, and as Peter wrote here, “baptism now saves us” by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Acts 22:7-16
- After encountering Jesus, repenting, praying, fasting (Acts 9:9-11), being healed, and being called by God,
Paul remains in sin.
- What was left for him to do?
- Why the urgency - what is so pressing about the need for baptism?
- What remains for you to do or think about before you are ready to be united with Christ in baptism?
Finish picture - The benefits of salvation made available at the cross become real for us when we participate in his death, burial and
resurrection.