This part isn’t mentioned in the Bible per say, such as the rapture, or the trinity, but the Bible infers these things without actually saying it. What is the unworthy manner? Well just to recap what baptism is; you are putting away the old sinful life, and starting a new one in Christ, in holiness, in obedience. If you have not yet been baptized you need to take that all important first step of obedience towards Christ. Christ makes a very clear command to all who believe and that is to be baptized; Mark 16:16. In baptism you are making a commitment to Christ to live for Christ. If you have not yet made that commitment or aren’t yet serious about it, do not participate in the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism Don’t
Don’t Baptize a baby or an infant! This is not Biblical. Nowhere in the Bible has God commanded us to baptize babies. Baptism is a conscious decision made by the person being baptized. Although this tradition has been practiced by Catholics for hundreds of years this seemingly good ceremony is not valid. Many of us have been baptized as an infant and we have god fathers, and god mothers. But we must all make a decision in our lives to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus commands us to be baptized. Can a baby make that choice or confess Jesus is Lord? Certainly not.
Baptism is the next step after receiving Christ into your life. Once you’ve decided to sincerely follow Christ as your Lord and Savior you next step of obedience is to be baptized. The Bible offers several instances where people were baptized immediately after making this important decision. Here are two.
Common misconception. Baptism doesn’t wash away our sins. It’s the official act of obedience commanded by Jesus to commit our lives to God. Our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Cross. Baptism is symbolic of Jesus death when he bore the sins of the world. When He rose from the dead He had no more ties to sin. In the same way when the believer is submerged we die to the old way of living. When we emerge, like the resurrection, we begin a new life and live from that day on in the Spirit, truth, and the will of God: Rom 6:1-14
Paul, Silas and the Philippian Jailer.
Acts 16:25-34
Phillip and The Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-40
Jesus didn’t officially start His ministry until He obeyed His own command of baptism. Jesus commands that we all be baptized. After receiving the word into your heart and believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior the next step is Baptism. What is baptism? Baptism is the official act of obedience to begin your new life in Christ, aka: being Born Again. Its significance is the death and resurrection in Christ. See; Romans 6:1-14
Baptism’s Significance.
The apostle Paul explains.
In order to be baptized, one must first hear the word, then believe in your heart, and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, risen from the dead. Can a baby do that?
Matthew 3:13-17 King James Version (KJV)
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16And 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:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 28:19-20 King James Version (KJV)
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 King James Version (KJV)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:38 King James Version (KJV)
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10:47-48 King James Version (KJV)
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 16:30-34 King James Version (KJV)
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Romans 10:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV)
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 19:4-6 King James Version (KJV)
4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
1 Peter 3:21 King James Version (KJV)
21The 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:
Colossians 1:14 King James Version (KJV)
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Revelation 1:5 King James Version (KJV)
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Romans 6 King James Version (KJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Baptism
Baptism
Newness of Life
Born Again.
John 3:2-5 King James Version (KJV)
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 8:36-38 King James Version (KJV)
36And 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?
37And 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.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Baptism is the only act done in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Hearing, Believing, Confessing.
Baptism doesn’t wash away sin.
Baptism comes after Salvation.
Salvation is a gift of grace through faith; Eph 2:8-9. The minimum requirement for salvation is your humble repentance, calling out to God in Jesus name in faith, this is true belief. God is the righteous Judge; Ecc 3:17, 1 Pet 2:23. He knows if someone was not able to be baptized after believing in heart. They might of had difficult circumstances. God’s long-suffering gives people up until their last dying moment to repent and ask for His forgiveness; Psalm 86:15, 2 Pet 3:9. One great example of this is the criminal on the cross.
Luke 23:39-43 King James Version (KJV)
39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The Great Commission
Baptism is a command from God.
Many so-called pastors are using the criminal on the cross as a doctrine for not needing to be baptized. The criminal had his hands nailed to the cross. He wasn’t able to do any works. He did however do something internally. He repented, and received Jesus in his contrite heart; Prov 28:13-14. In his heart he believed, and with his mouth he defended Jesus, and called out to Him.
Acts 2:21 (King James Version)
21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How long should I wait to be baptized?
The criminal on the cross was an example of last minute repentance. See; Last shall be first: Matt 20:1-16. But this is not the same case for those who do not have their hands tied down. The command has been given by Jesus after the resurrection and that is to be baptized. Who dares to argue and deny the Lord’s commands?
God commands that we be baptized. Show God you love in Him by your obedience. Many churches today hardly mention baptism or put it off for later. They do not base their church off being baptized but the focus point is a wonderful worship service, thinking this is what pleases the Lord. Some churches have a perfectly good baptismal pool just sitting there unused. This is upsetting when you consider how many people want to be baptized and some churches put you on a bit of a run-around to be baptized. I’m on the verge of taking a friend to the local pool, and baptizing him there. I don’t know what church to send him to that will baptize him immediately without delay? These churches aren’t promoting the true gospel these days of obedience to the Lord by his established word, so people put it off for later. These churches are subject to modern traditions instead. Also they send out an incomplete message of believing in Jesus alone is what’s needed for salvation, again leading people astray from obeying the Lord. Jesus gave the command to be baptized, and today’s so-called pastors are antagonizing his commands by saying you don’t need to be baptized. Think about that for a second. Who do we serve and follow? If you said Jesus then listen to Jesus and do what he says.
John 15:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
-Jesus
Salvation is FREE. Baptism comes after you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Baptism is FREE. The message of the gospel is FREE. Ask around the churches and find a Bible-based Christian church. Find a pastor or minister who will baptize you without delay. It’s simple and free. Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and begin your new life in Christ in sainthood.
If you’ve already been baptized, live the clean and blameless life of a saint; Eph 5:2-4, Phil 2:15, Rev 3:4-5.
Another reason for you to be baptized is that without it you should not participate in the next commandment of Jesus, The Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is only for serious (Luke 9:59-62, John 6:60-64) born again believers and followers of Christ.
Romans 10:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:27 King James Version (KJV)
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
websiteforGod.net 2014
This part is has some discussion. Some say to do it in the name of Jesus because in Acts they did it in the name of Jesus. I believe God works in 3 ways; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and all three are One and the same God. People love to make up new doctrines out of one verse or misunderstandings. I personally believe there’s nothing wrong with confessing the three persons of God in baptism, and yes, God has given us One name where by we must be saved and that name is Jesus. Just to be safe, let us acknowledge the 3 persons of God in Baptism as commanded by Jesus. Jesus says do it that way, who are we to argue? I was brought up in a Baptist church, and when I was baptized I confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When in doubt we can trust Matt 28:19 as the official command of the Lord.
1 John 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Baptism is by immersion into the water.
Meaning of the verb baptism in Greek
The Online Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon
βαπτ‑ισμός, ὁ, dipping in water, immersion.
Baptism literally means immersion. Many depictions of baptism show a sprinkling of water over the head. These are incorrect. True baptism is by full immersion into the water representing our death of the old life as we die in Christ and emerging or resurrecting into a new one in Christ. Symbolic of the death and resurrection of Christ.
Baby baptism is incorrect and unbiblical, also pouring water over a persons head is incorrect. Baptism is by immersion.
Saul’s conversion Acts 9
Acts 9:18-25 King James Version (KJV)
18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
1 John 2:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Getting Baptized isn't that easy. You kinda sorta need to put forth some effort. But all day we see people put forth some effort into other things thinking that will bring them life and happiness. For example people will go to great lengths to find a costume for Halloween. They had an idea and they looked everywhere until they found what it is they were looking for and when the day came they got all dressed up and had a blast on Halloween. They have their heart set on Halloween. With that said where is that faith in Christ to go and do what the Lord asks? Sure finding a good Christian church who will baptize you can be difficult. They might even put you on a waiting list which they shouldn't. But fine, you are on a waiting list and your heart does not faint. That's true faith, when your heart belongs to the Lord and you keep all his commands. Looking at the rest of the world they keep all the traditions of man and they obey every single holiday and every fleshly lust, kinda lets say tattoos. Everyone is getting one. Now your heart is set on getting one too. You go and you pay top dollar to sit in a chair and have an artist defile your skin with a needle gun for 3 painful hours. Now you have to let it heal for a while but soon after you'll be able to show off your body art to the rest of the world and be just like them. But the things of the Lord, are they not 1st priority? That's not true faith. You can say you believe in God but in heart you really don't. Baptism itself does not save, but if you are saved you will go get Baptized and endure (stay that way) until the end.
Romans 6:23 sounds very different when read in context. Romans 6 is not about simply believing and that’s it, like some are leading you to believe, but obeying the Lord in righteousness. Paul explains the true significance of Baptism is symbolic of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death unto the past sinful life, and a newness of life in righteousness onto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.