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Documents about different biblical subjects

3-4-1 Baptism into Christ

January 18th, 2011

1 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.