I. INTRODUCTION: Matt. 28:19-20 is a commission and a commandment of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The portion of this command we are concerned
with is water baptism. Please note that there is a command to be
water baptized. We can't take an option on this. We must be water
baptized. According to Hebrews 6:1,2, water baptism is part of the
doctrine of baptisms plural.
A. Five categories that must be answered:
1. Who may be baptized?
2. When to be baptized?
3. How to be baptized?
4. Why be baptized?
5. What name should the believer be baptized into?
1. Who may be baptized
a. Baptism follows repentance and faith.
b. Therefore, it is a believer's baptism.
1. Mark 16:16
2. Acts 8:12-15
3. Acts 8:35-38
4. Acts 10:47-48
5. Acts 19:4,5
2. When to be baptized
Acts: 2:41
" 8:12
" 8:36-38
" 9:18
" 10:44-48
" 16:30-34
" 18:8
3. How to be baptized?
a. There is no question that water baptism is by total immersion.
1. Matthew 3:16
2. Mark 1:5
3. John 3:23
4. Acts 8:36-39
4. Why be baptized?
a. First, Jesus commanded it and if we knew nothing more, this should
be enough. - Matthew 28:19-20
b. It is basic Bible doctrine. Hebrews 6:1-2
c. Water baptism is a symbolic, yet real spiritual experience.
It is baptism into His:
1. Death - Rom. 6:3,4,5,11
2. Burial - Col. 2:12
3. Resurrection - Col. 3:1; Rom. 6:4,5
d. Baptism is identification with Christ. In salvation we accept
Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
In water baptism we are identified with this triune fact:
1. By baptism we stand as "dead".
2. By immersion we bury the "dead".
3. By raising out of the water, we rise to walk in "newness of
life".
5. In what name is the believer baptized?
a. Into the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit; into
the name of the eternal Godhead. Matthew 28:19
b. What is the name of the Father?
1. Ex. 3:15
2. Ex. 15:3
3. Is. 42:8
4. Jer. 33:2
5. Jer. 16:21; Amos 5:8; Ps. 83:18; Is.12:2; Ja. l:17
The name LORD is used over 6,800 times in the old testament. Not once
did God declare that His name was "Father". Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost are titles, not names.
c. What is the name of the Son?
1. Luke 1:31
2. " 2:21
3. Matt. l:21
Jesus' name is used approximately 1000 times in the N.T.
d. What is the name of the Holy Ghost?
1. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost. Acts 10:38
2. Jesus became the Christ at this anointing. Matt. 3:16
3. The fullness of the name of the Godhead was not revealed until
Pentecost. Because Jesus must first have died, been resurrected
and ascended to His place with the Father. Acts 2:32-36
4. For thirty years He was known as Jesus of Nazareth. When He was
anointed, He became known as Jesus Christ (Greek: "Christos",
Anointed One.) John 1:41
5. It was the anointing (Greek: "Chrisma", oil) which made Jesus the
Christ (The Anointed) I John 2:20,27
Thus, the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is interpreted
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the triune name for a triune
God.
II. What name is connected with baptism in Acts and the Epistles?
A. Acts
1. Acts 2:36-41 (Peter)
a. Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
b. Baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus, (LAMSA translation)
2. Acts 8:12-16; 35-38 (Philip)
a. Baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus
3. Acts 10:48 (Peter)
a. Baptized in the name of The Lord
b. Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Douay version)
4. Acts 9:5-18; 22:16 (Ananias)
a. Baptized, calling on the name of the Lord
5. Acts 16:14,15; 31-34 (Paul)
a. Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and be saved ...
and was baptized ... believing in God.
6. Acts 18:8 (Paul) I Cor. 1:10-17
a. "Believed on the Lord ... and were baptized"
b. "were ye baptized in the name of Paul"
7. Acts 19:1-6 (Paul)
a. Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
b. Baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (LAMSA)
B. Epistles
1. Romans (Paul) 6:3,4
"As many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into His death ... buried with Him by baptism".
2. Corinthians (Paul) 1:10-17
"Were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Lest any should say I
baptized in mine own name"
3. Galatians (Paul) 3:27
"As many as were baptized into Christ"
4. Colossians (Paul) 2:12
"Buried with Him in baptism" (also this points up "immersion")
III. Conclusion:
A. What is New Testament circumcision?
1. It is water baptism. Col. 2:11,12; Phil. 2:3
2. It is fulfillment of the O.T. circumcision. Gen. 17:1-14
3. It is the Seal of the New Testament covenant. Gal. 3:26,27
4. It is a sign and seal of covenant relationship, both in the
Old Testament and in the New Testament. Joshua 5:1-9
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR FAMILY NAME. Eph. 3:14,15
See also: The Name of the Godhead | Does Water Baptism Save? | Triunity Scriptures | Statement of Faith
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