The Necessity of Baptism – A History
Today’s sermon was a different take on baptism than most have heard before. I wanted to examine some of the history behind what we know of as being “baptism.” Take a moment and read John 1 where John the Baptist is baptizing. Notice the people questioning John did not have a problem with baptism, they had a problem with John. In noting that, I continued my search into the history of baptism and ran across a very interesting word, the Jewish word “Mikvah.” In the lesson this morning, I incorporated some of the thoughts on the comparison between the Jewish Mikvah and the idea of Christian baptism. Take a moment and examine the lesson below to see the comparison.
I have also included the slides for the break between class and the sermon as well as the lesson for the afternoon class. In the afternoon, I brought a lesson on Daniel and the three boys. I wanted to take a familiar lesson and share it a different way. Instead of discussing the lion’s den or the fiery furnace, I discussed the challenge Daniel issued regarding food from the king’s table in Daniel 1.
Give the lesson a glance and see what you think.
I hope you enjoyed!
Just my thoughts for the day…
Chris
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Chris,
Do you believe that we are not truly saved, or that we cannot fully receive Christ’s salvation UNTIL we are baptised, or that our salvation comes at the moment we accept Christ as our personal savior?
Patrick,
Thanks for stopping by. I know we have connected on Twitter, but now on each other’s website. Thanks for stopping by.
I do believe we are truly saved when we are baptized. In my studies I have found that baptism does several things:
(1) washes away sins (Acts 22.16)
(2) Puts us into Christ (Galatians 3.27)
(3) Creates us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6.3,4)
(4) Forgiveness of sins is obtained (Acts 2.38)
With those four characterstics of baptism, I see that my sins are taken away in baptism and I rise to walk in newness of life as I put on Christ. Those four things are deeply important to the overall goal of heaven.
I am also intrigued in 1 Peter 3.21 where it mentions that “baptism saves.”
Those are my thoughts on the necessity of baptism in our lives.
I hope that helps to clarify some more.
Thanks for stopping by again,
Chris
Thanks, Chris.
I don’t disagree with your points, although I think there is a great deal of symbolism intended in the notion of baptism “washing away” sins as opposed to a literal washing away as if sins were like dirt on the skin. That is to say, one cannot see sins “floating” in the water after a baptism has occurred.
But let me ask it this way: if someone becomes convicted, prays and accepts Christ as his personal savior, at THAT POINT, does he have Christ’s salvation? If he were to die in some sort of freak accident just after accepting Christ, but before he could actually be baptised, do you believe that he would still go to heaven if his acceptance of Christ as his personal savior was absolutely sincere?
Patrick,
Sorry about getting back to you late. I placed your comment and arrived into my email in a folder so I woudl not forget and I did. Please accept my apologies.
Patrick, I believe the Bible teaches the Baptism is necessary, just as repentance, confession and belief. Without baptism, I believe one is still in their sins. Paul states in Romans 6.3,4 that Baptism allows us to walk in newnewss of life. For someone who is seekign to follow Christ, I believe this is greatly significant and vital.
Paul understood this in Acts 22.16 as he recounted his story and said, “Arise and be baptized, washing away your sins.” There is a symbolism, but there is a great truth. It is baptism that puts us into Christ, Galatians 3.27.
Also, a good look would be to Cornelius. Acts 10 tells us that he was a righteous man and one who feared God, yet Peter stressed the importance of baptism in Acts 10.47.
I believe accepting Christ as your Savior means that if Christ said it, I necessary that I do it. To be in Christ, means we must enter the waters of baptism. (Galatians 3.27)
Thanks for the discussion and my apologies for forgetting to find your comment.
Chris