Bible study notes on the topic of baptism.
Introduction
Matthew 28:19 make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 "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."
Hebrews 6:1-2 Doctrines of repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, are listed as examples of elementary doctrines.
John the Baptist
Matthew 3:1-10; 21:25
Mark 1:1-6; 11:30
Luke 3:1-14; 7:29-30; 20:4
John 1:31
John 3:22-36 Controversy about baptism from John or from Jesus.
John 10:40
Acts 1:5; 11:16 Jesus predicted a new baptism unlike John's water baptism — baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:24; 19:4 John's baptism was described as a "baptism of repentance".
Acts 1:22; 10:37; 18:25
Jesus Was Baptised
Somewhat surprisingly, Jesus was baptised, even though He didn't need forgiveness or cleansing. John the Baptist was surprised too.
Mark 1:9-11
Luke 3:21-22
John 1:32-34 John testified of seeing the Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus.
1 John 5:6-8
Jesus Did Water Baptism (Through His Disciples)
John 3:22,26; 4:1-2
Spiritual Baptism From Jesus
Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:15-17 John said Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mark 1:7-8 John said Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit.
John 1:24-34 John testified about Saviour Jesus and of the baptism from Him. verse 33, John said Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit.
John 13:3-15 Passover foot washing was an allusion to baptism.
Acts 1:5; 11:16 Jesus promised the disciples that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Response to God's Calling
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism is "…the answer of a good conscience toward God…"
Baptism Requires Repentance
Matthew 3:1-11 John the Baptist's ministry of repentance and baptism.
Mark 1:4-5 John the Baptist preached baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:5 Confession of sins.
Luke 3:3,8 Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 "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."
Acts 13:24; 19:4 Paul referred to John the Baptist's preaching of baptism for repentance.
Rejoicing In Heaven
Immersion, Not Just Sprinkling
Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:9-10 When Jesus was baptised, He came up from the water.
John 3:23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there.
Acts 8:36-39 Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus
Laying on of Hands for Holy Spirit
Acts 8:14-19 People had been baptised in the name of Jesus, but hadnt received the HS. Holy Spirit was given to them later by laying on of hands. Normally this should occur just after baptism. There were rare exceptions such as Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-48.
Acts 9:17 Paul's baptism.
Acts 19:1-7 Paul at Ephesus. They had had baptism by John. Paul baptised them again, in the name of the Lord Jesus, then laid hands on them for the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; 3:5 Water baptism points to the giving of (baptism by) the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3-5 To enter the kingdom of God, we must be born from above, of water and the Spirit.
Acts 1:5; 11:16 Jesus promised the disciples that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 "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."
Acts 19:1-7 Rebaptism in Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 12:13 by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…
Titus 3:5-6 Holy Spirit naturally follows the "washing of the new birth".
Baptism Into Christ
John 15:1-8 Jesus is the true vine.
1 Corinthians 12:13 One spiritual body.
Galatians 3:27-29 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Spiritual Washing
Genesis 35:2 Jacob told his family to wash their clothes before offering a sacrifice to God.
Exodus 19:10,14 Israel was told to wash their clothes before appearing before God at Mt Sinai.
Leviticus 14:1-9 Purification of a healed leper was done with a bird slain over running water, along with cedar and hyssop. The cleansed leper had to wash himself in water. Leviticus 14:46-57 Similar for an infected house.
Numbers 8:7-21 The priests had to wash and use water of purification as part of their dedication to God's service.
Numbers 19; Hebrews 9:13 The red heifer was burned, and the ashes were kept for use for the water of purification.
Numbers 31:19-24 After war, things were purified with fire or washing and water of purification.
2 Samuel 12:20 King David washed and anointed himself and changed clothes before going in to the house of the Lord.
Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38 "be baptised…for the remission of sins…"
John 2:6; 3:25; 11:55 The Jews had their own customs about washings of purification.
John 3:5-6 "unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
John 13:3-15 Foot washing at Passover was symbolic of baptism washing.
John 15:3 Jesus's words give some sort of cleansing. John 17:17 God's truth sanctifies us.
Acts 22:16 "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord," Ananias said to Paul.
1 Corinthians 6:11 …but you were washed…
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 5:25-26 Christ loved the church and cleansed her with the washing of water by the word…
Titus 3:5-7 …through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit…
Hebrews 10:22 …because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water…
1 Peter 3:21 Not a physical washing of dirt.
Washed By Christ's Blood
Hebrews 9:13-14,18-28 Christ's blood cleanses our conscience from dead works.
Hebrews 10:1-22
Revelation 1:5 "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…"
Revelation 7:14 Those dressed in white robes—"These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Death of Old Sinful Person
Romans 6:1-14 as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death…
Ephesians 4:22 Put off the old man which grows corrupt…
Colossians 2:12-15 Buried in baptism.
Colossians 3:3,5,9 Put off the old man with his deeds…
Spiritual Rebirth to a New Life
John 3:5-6 "unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Romans 6:1-14
Galatians 3:27 as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Colossians 2:12-13; 3:1-10 Old man of sins died and was buried. Christ raised us forgiven, to a new life. This also talks about baptism in connection with "circumcision made without hands", circumcision in Christ.
Titus 3:5 "washing of the new birth"
Expectation to Bear Spiritual Fruits
God expects us to bear spiritual fruits with what He gives us. True repentance leads to bearing spiritual fruits.
Matthew 3:8-10 Bear fruits worthy of repentance.
Matthew 7:15-20 By their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 13:10-17 Why Jesus spoke in parables. To everyone who has, more will be given; from he who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-26 Parable of the minas.
Luke 8:16-18 Parable of shining the light.
John 15:1-8 Jesus is the true vine. It's essential that we live in Christ, to be able to bear spiritual fruits. If not, we'll wither.
Baptism Commitment
Genesis 19:26 Like Lot's wife, don't look back to the old life.
Joshua 24:16-24 Once you commit, be diligent to be whole-hearted in commitment. God expects a life of dedication.
Proverbs 15:10
Luke 9:62 No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:25-33
Philippians 3:13 Press on to the goal, with perseverance.
Hebrews 6:4-6 If we truly know God's works, and then fall away, there is no second try.
Hebrews 10:26-39 If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
2 Peter 2:20-22 Better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment.
Higher Expectations for Those Who Know
Once we understand spiritual things, we have a greater responsibility and stricter judgement.
Proverbs 15:10
Amos 3:2
Luke 12:47-48
James 4:17
Baptism Quickly
UCG likes to give baptism counselling for some time, to ensure it is a decision understood and taken seriously. There are Biblical cases though of baptism done quickly with no counselling.
Acts 2:41 First NT Pentecost.
Acts 8:12-13 People of Samaria and Simon.
Acts 8:35-38 Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 9:17-18; 22:16 Paul.
Acts 10:44-48 Cornelius and his household.
Acts 16:15 Lydia and her household.
Acts 16:33 Philippian jailer and all his household.
Acts 18:8 Crispus, ruler of the synagogue, along with all his household. Also many of the Corinthians.
Acts 19:3-5 Rebaptism in Ephesus.
Jesus' Own "Baptism With Fire"
Mark 10:38-39 Jesus spoke of His suffering metaphorically as a "baptism".
Luke 12:50
Rebaptism
Acts 19:1-7 Disciples at Ephesus, who had had the baptism of John. They hadn't had hands laid on them; they hadn't heard about the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament Forerunners
Baptism Foreshadowed in Old Testament Narratives — 1517
Genesis 6; 7; 8; 1 Peter 3:20-21 Noah in the ark.
Exodus 2:1-6 Moses was pulled out of the Nile River.
Exodus 14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 The Israelites passed through the Red Sea.
Exodus 30:18-21; Leviticus 16:4,24 The priests had to wash themselves, in the giant bronze laver.
Leviticus 16:26 The person who led the Azazel goat had to wash himself before re-entering the camp.
Leviticus 16:27-28 The person who burned the sin offering must wash himself.
Leviticus 22:6 Someone made ritually unclean had to wash themselves before becoming ritually clean again.
Numbers 19:1-9 Red heifer was used to make water of purification.
2 Kings 5:1-14 Naaman, commander of the army of Syria, washed in the Jordan 7 times, and was cured of leprosy (in days of Elisha).
Hebrews 9:13-14 The blood of sacrificial animals, and the sprinkling of the water of purification from the ashes of the heifer, was a forerunner of being washed by the blood of Jesus.
Baptism for the Dead
1 Corinthians 15:29
2 Corinthians 5:10 We will each be judged by our own actions. We can't have our judgement changed for better or worse by proxy acts of others.