INTRODUCTION: There are two stages of baptism for the present day believer: the spiritual (Spirit baptism) and the physical (water baptism). In spiritual baptism, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13) into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Spiritual baptism occurs at the moment of salvation and spiritually places us into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3).
Physical baptism is an outward picture and public profession of what happened inwardly at the time of salvation. In physical baptism, we are baptized by a representative of a local church (Acts 2:41) into water (Acts 8:38-39). Water baptism occurs after salvation and places the believer into a local body of believers: a church (Acts 2:41).
- OUR BAPTISM INTO CHRIST (Romans 6:1-6)
- Buried Unto Death (Romans 6:1-3)
- Dead to sin (Romans 6:1-2; Colossians 3:1-5; 1 Peter 2:24)
- Dead in Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12,20)
- Raised Unto Life (Romans 6:4-5)
- To walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10)
- In the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5; Romans 8:10-11; Galatians 2:20)
- Crucified With Christ (Romans 6:6)
- To destroy the body of sin (Galatians 5:24)
- To refuse to serve sin (Romans 6:11; Romans 8:13)
- THE BAPTISM OF WATER
- The Scriptural Purpose
- Obedience
- The first step of obedience (Acts 8:34-39; Acts 16:30-33)
- To fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15)
- Representation
- In His death (Galatians 2:20)
- In His burial (Colossians 2:12)
- In His resurrection (Romans 6:5)
- Identification
- With Christ (Romans 6:3)
- With other Christians (Acts 2:41)
- With a local church (Acts 2:41)
- The Proper Elements
- The proper candidate: a believer (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:34-39)
- The proper administrator: a local church (Acts 2:41)
- The proper mode: immersion (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38-39)
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
