There are two types of baptism that Christian believers often discuss, water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We want to examine the water baptism in this study. To baptise means to immerse or deep into a liquid or solvent. If you drop a coin inside a bowl full of water, that coin is baptised or immersed in water. Think of other things you can immerse in water or liquids of various types.
(Activities: let the leaders ensure they provide the right atmosphere and appropriate clean and safe liquid to demonstrate immersion).
1. A hand or finger inside a clean bowl 🥣 filled with water.
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Similarly, when a person believes in Jesus as his or her LORD and Saviour (read John 3:3, 5, 16-17), such a person is asked to make a public show of their faith by being baptised in water by immersion in the presence of other Christian believers. Baptism is a physical ceremony demonstrating the spiritual situation of the person being baptised.
- For John the Baptist, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (read Luke 1: 13-17; Matthew 3:1-3, 7-12) baptism is for the people who were willing to repent of and leave their wicked lifestyle, with a spiritual significance.
- For Jesus who went to John for baptism, it was for John and the public to recognise that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of the World, affirmed by the descending of the Holy Spirit like at dove during Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:13-17).
- Jesus gave the order that those who believe in Him should be baptised to illustrate and demonstrate their faith in him (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 5:1-2) and the significance of his death and burial when lowered into the water, and his resurrection when the believer is raised from the water during the baptism to live a new life. This demonstrates a new life, forgiven and redeemed (read Romans 6:1-4, 6-14, 22-23).
- Jesus Christ’s apostles followed Jesus’ instruction and baptised those who believed their message about Jesus. Read Acts of the Apostles 2: 38- 43 below:
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Preparation for Jesus Believers’ Baptism
There are conscious steps to take during baptism: Pre-baptism preparation involves a decision to believe Jesus Christ, who he was, what He came to do, and what he has taught and teaching.
Believing Jesus involves repenting of one’s Sin, initial unbelieve in God, and God’s values.
Ask for forgiveness through repentance and grace to live a changed lifestyle by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Post-baptism is an active step to continue to practice the new life (through the new birth) demonstrated at baptism.
(Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
A few questions for discussion
- Why immersion? _________________________________ (to baptise mean to immerse in something)
- Why should baptism take place only after they have believed in Jesus? _________ (It is believer’s baptism, not a shower or swimming lesson)?
- What should be the believers’ post baptism expectation and experience? __________________________ (to constantly study the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them. They should pray to live in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and seek a Bible believing church to fellowship with other believers (read Hebrews 10:25).
Erroneous teachings about baptism:
- Sprinkle of water on infants during a church programme for special prayer for a baby. This is a tradition but not the real practice of baptizo Greek word for immerse or submerge) like immersion in water.
- Infant baptism: This is a tradition not a believer’s baptism.
- Baptism of the dead: A believer in Christ who had no opportunity of baptism while alive should not have his corpse forced into water to be baptised. The LORD knows if his inability to be baptised was unintentional. An example is the thief on the cross with Jesus who confessed his sin and acknowledged Jesus as the saviour was certainly not baptised, and Jesus promised him paradise after he believed in Jesus.
- Sand baptism: Since baptism means to immerse, some people who live where water is scarce immersed themselves inside sand for their baptism. While we do not condemn, it is not necessary as they can wait until they get water (read Acts 8: 34-40).
- Poring of water as on self as in a shower. While we do not condemn this, it does not represent the biblical example of going into water, immersion. We recommend doing it the way Jesus did it.
- Looking for a flowing river: While the ancient believers baptised in water, mostly flowing rivers in good weather, there is no indication that baptism must be restricted to a particular river, lake, dam, or an ocean. Some rivers could be very cold or freezing ❄, while other could be hot.
Right place and device for baptism.
Baptism could be carried out wherever the church or fellowship find water suitable for the purpose. It can be in a natural pool or safe river, or in a pool made specifically for baptism within the church building or a transferrable container made purposely as a transportable baptistry. The volume of the water should be big enough for the purpose of baptism. Baptism should be done within a congregation of Christian believers. If you have any question, ask experienced Christian churches or fellowship for guidance.
Reflection time:
Have you believed the LORD Jesus as your LORD and Saviour. Do you believe His teachings and the Bible in general as God’s word. Do you rest your mind on Jesus’ saving grace to forgive your sins, fill you with His Holy Spirit, and guide you for the rest of your life? If your answer to all these questions is yes, WHO WILL FORBID WATER THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE BAPTISED? (Read Acts of the Apostles 10:47-48).
If you believe Jesus Christ and want to be baptised, speak to your Christian leader or pastor and they will take it up from there.
If you have questions about baptism or any other Bible related topic, speak to your leader or sent us an email and we will try our best to respond to your queries. Remain blessed.
Let us pray:
God almighty, thank You for your love and the coming of the LORD Jesus as the Saviour of mankind. I believe Jesus and His salvation plan actualised in His birth, life, work, death and resurrection. Forgive me my sin and make me God’s child today and always. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, guide me as I read and meditate on the Scripture to live the rest of my life under Your guidance and for your glory and honour. Thank you for your love in Jesus’ name. Amen.