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Sermon Notes

• Baptism is a picture of burial and resurrection.

Romans 6:4

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Who Should Be Baptized?

Who is eligible to be baptized?  Now this may come as a surprise to some of you, but in the New Testament without exception, the only kind of baptism that was practiced was what we call today “Believers Baptism.” In the New Testament, the way you would profess your faith in Christ would be to be baptized.  

Baptism was the profession of faith, because in the Bible two things always go together – Belief and Baptism. They always go together in that order.

Without exception, every time you read about someone being baptized in the New Testament Church it was after they believed, after they had committed their heart to God, never before. Look at these examples:

Acts 2:41 

^“41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

Acts 16:30-33 

^“30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³²And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.”

• People were presented the Gospel
• They responded to the Gospel
• They were baptized.  
• Now, understand that the Bible is also very plain that you do not have to be baptized in order to be saved.

A person is never baptized to be saved. A person is baptized because they have been saved and they want to show they have been saved.

• Why Should I Be Baptized?

Think about this for a moment.  Why was Jesus baptized?  Jesus was not a sinner.  Jesus did not need to become a believer.  He is the one we are to believe in.  He wasn’t professing His faith in God. He was God.  So why was Jesus baptized?  This is important.  The reason Jesus was baptized is directly related to why we should be baptized. 

Baptism is a means of identification.  When Jesus was baptized He was identifying Himself with us and giving us an example to follow and when we are baptized we are identifying ourselves with him.

How does this work?  Baptism is God’s physical picture of the Gospel.  Now, as you know the Gospel is the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried and three days later He was raised from the dead.  That is exactly what baptism pictures: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Identifies us as a Follower of Jesus

Romans 6:3-5 

³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

As you read this passage you see very clearly the…

Death of Jesus – Burial of Jesus – Resurrection of Jesus

A Picture of Transformation

• Baptism is your public profession of faith!

• Baptism: an outside picture of an inside change!

Listen to how Jesus ended His earthly ministry and the command that He gave…

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

2 Types of People Who Need To Be Baptized Today… 

1. One who is saved but has never been baptized
2. One who was baptized, but before salvation 

Acts 8:36

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”