THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
MEMORY VERSE: JOHN 3:23
Two grievous errors about baptism can be found in the religious world today. (1) The idea that one is regenerated or saved through baptism, is a terrible error. (2) Some believe in a Spirit baptism at the time of salvation, that puts one into a universal church, which they call the body of Christ. Some who hold the second doctrine have eliminated water baptism altogether. The others then hold to there being two baptisms, yet the Bible says there is only one baptism. Eph. 4:5 The ordinances are not sacraments as many non-Baptists teach. There is no saving power in the ordinances, nor do they bestow grace or merit. Yet, we are commanded to keep them, as they have been delivered. I Cor. 11:2
I. THE ORDINANCE OF BAPTISM
A. It Requires A Scriptural Subject. (Candidate)
1. Baptism is for the believer the saved. Acts 8:12; (a)-1 Acts 8:36-39; 10:43-47
2. Only those who had received the word (of salvation) were baptized. (d)-1 Acts 2:41-42
B. It Requires A Scriptural Mode. (Method)
1. Baptism comes from the Greek “baptize”, which means to immerse, dip, plunge, bury, etc. It never is used to indicate sprinkling or pouring.
2. All the Scriptural examples indicate immersion. (a)-1 Acts 8:36-39; (a)-2 Matt. 3:6; (a)-3 John 3:23; (a)-4 Rom. 6:4-5; (a)-5 Matt. 3:16
C. It Requires A Scriptural Authority.
1. Baptism is to be performed in the name of the Trinity. (b)-1 Matt. 28:19
2. God sent the first baptizer. John 1:6
3. Jesus and all twelve of His disciples were baptized by John the Baptist. Acts 1:21-22.
4. Jesus gave His disciples authority to baptize. John 4:1-2
5. Those disciples (apostles) were placed in the Church first. 1 Cor. 12:28
6. Jesus gave the commission to His Church. Matt. 28.16-20 That kind of church is the only church that has the authority to baptize.
7. This authority is exercised through the pastor or pastors and missionaries of that
church. A minister apart from the local church has no authority to baptize.
church. A minister apart from the local church has no authority to baptize.
D. It Requires A Scriptural Purpose. I Pet. 3:21; Rom. 5:14. Baptism is symbolic and pictures certain Bible truths.
1. It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. (c)-2 Col. 2:12
2. It pictures the death of our old life; to sin; the burial therein; and the resurrection to walk in newness of life. (c)-1 Rom. 6:3-5
3. It pictures our putting on of Christ. Gal. 3:26-27
4. It declares our belief in the Triune God. (b)-1 Matt. 28:19
5. It is the door way into, or the prerequisite for Church membership. Acts 2:41
Continued in Lesson #17