Anyone interested in a counterpoint, please check out the email I sent
earlier with the link to the LCMS web site on the subject.

I'm not going to do another point/counterpoint as it does not help
facilitate understanding but only fights and contention.

A ruddy brilliant book on the subject (a point and counterpoint) should
anyone be interested is here:
http://www.newreformationpress.com/books-printed/scriptural-baptism.html

Blessings,
Randy


> Basics of Baptis
>
>
>
>
>
>
> INTRODUCTION:
>
>
>
> The baptism of believers by immersion in water is the Biblical pattern. It
> symbolizes Christ's substitutionary death, His burial, and resurrection
> (Gospel) and publicly identifies an individual with Christ.
>
>
>
> It does not produce forgiveness or any spiritual merit, and it must be
> administrated only to those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord
> and
> Saviour.  Jesus in the Great Commission commands THE CHURCH to baptize
> those
> who believe the Gospel.
>
>
>
> Many churches baptize infants. They believe the ritual bestows saving
> grace
> and ensures the infant's entrance into Heaven.
>
>
>
> To other groups, infant baptism symbolizes that the child is part of the
> Christian family, similar to circumcision of the eight-day-old males in
> the
> Old Testament. Either way, many have a false sense of assurance of
> salvation
> because they were baptized when they infants.
>
>
>
> The belief that baptism saves or imparts salvation is known as baptismal
> regeneration and is another Gospel.  It is not based upon the death,
> burial
> and resurrection of Christ nor a personal trust and belief in Jesus as
> your
> Saviour.
>
>
>
> 1.     Baptism is an authoritative rule, law, decree, or command.
>
> 2.     Ordinance means "a symbolic act or ceremony commanded (ordained) by
> Christ.
>
> 3.     Only the Local NT Church has the authority to Baptize believers,
> not
> Para church organizations. It is the Pastor who performs this ordinance.
>
> 4.     It is not a sacrament - sacrament means a visible sign that
> symbolizes or confers inward grace." In other words a sacrifice.
>
>
>
>
>
> BAPTISM DEFINED –
>
>
>
> The Greek Word – Baptizo: to dip, to sink, to submerge, or to immerse.
>
>
>
> Illustration: Used in many everyday context: for dying of clothes by
> immersion into the dye, the drawing of water by dipping a cup into it or
> even the sinking of ships. Our English word is not a translation but a
> transliteration of the Greek. If English Bibles were to translate the word
> they would use one of the above meanings - such as submerse or immerse.
>
>
>
> NT word for "sprinkling" is the Greek Word - rontizo.
>
> God preserved words - when it came to the command to Baptize he said
> BAPTIZO
> not rontizo.
>
>
>
> I. BAPTISM INTRODUCED
>
>
>
> 1.     John’s Baptism was for the purpose of repentance…not salvation.
>
>
>
> Matthew 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that
> cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
> he
> shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
>
>
>
> Acts 19:3-5 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And
> they
> said, Unto John’s baptism. 4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with
> the
> baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on
> him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5  When they
> heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
>
>
>
> a.      John’s Mission was to “Prepared the Way” for the coming Messiah
>
> b.     John’s Mission pointed towards “Belief in Christ”
>
> c.      Paul’s Preaching of the Gospel produced “Believers”
>
>
>
> 2.     John’s Baptism of Christ was for the purpose of identification
>
>
>
> John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
> Behold
> the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
>
>
>
> NOTE: Christ testing (the next day) – after 40 days in the wilderness.
> Like
> Christ we too will be tested in our life – before we serve God, while we
> serve God, count it worthy because you are in good company. Will you be
> identified as a believer – a follower – a servant?
>
>
>
> a.      Christ is Identified . . . the Lamb of God
>
> b.     Christ Purpose Identified . . . to take away the sin of the world.
>
> c.      Christ Eternality Identified . . . he was before me
>
>
>
> John 1:30  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is
> preferred before me: for he was before me.
>
>
>
> NOTE – “before me”– in the Greek literally means eternally. John refers
> his
> believers back to the LOGOS – the WORD of John 1:1
>
>
>
> John 1:14   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
> beheld
> his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace
> and truth.
>
>
>
>
>
> II. BAPTISM COMMISSIONED
>
>
>
> 1.     Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
> them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20
> Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
> lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
>
>
>
> a.      GO – Daily Outreach, as you go daily, as you interact daily with
> people
>
> b.     TEACH – Evangelism – we must have purpose: reaching the lost
>
> c.      BAPTIZING – Discipleship of Believers
>
> d.     TEACHING – Reproduction
>
>
>
>                                                               i.     We
> are
> commanded to be doers . . . not just “bench warmers”
>
>
>
> Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
> own selves.
>
>
>
>                                                             ii.     We are
> commanded to be doers . . . by teaching others
>
>
>
> 2 Tim 2:2-3 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many
> witnesses,
> the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
> also. 3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
> Christ.
>
>
>
> e.      WITH YOU ALWAYS – Christ Omnipresent: we are never forsaken
>
>
>
>                                                               i.     True
> Love demands Obedience
>
>
>
> John 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16  And I will pray the
> Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with
> you
> for ever; 17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
> because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
> dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 ¶  I will not leave you
> comfortless: I will come to you.
>
>
>
> 1.     Christ true love brought obedience to the cross
>
> 2.     Christ true love brought the Holy Spirit to every believer
>
> 3.     Christ true love brought his eternal presence into our lives
>
>
>
> NOTE – “another” is the Greek word “allos” meaning another of the same
> exact
> kind, a replica of what you see.
>
>
>
>                                                             ii.     True
> Love demands Praise
>
>
>
> 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do
> all
> to the glory of God.
>
>
>
> Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
> Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
>
>
>
> Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
> continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> III. BAPTISM’S EXAMPLE
>
>
>
> 1.     Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
> Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4  Therefore we are buried with
> him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
> by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
> life.
>
>
>
> a.      Represents . . .
>
>                                                               i.     His
> Death
>
>                                                             ii.     Our
> Death . . .
>
> 1.     To Self
>
> 2.     To World
>
> b.     Represents . . .
>
>                                                               i.     His
> Resurrection
>
>                                                             ii.     Our
> Resurrection . . .
>
> 1.     Unto Eternal Life
>
> 2.     Unto Newness of Life – our daily walk
>
>
>
> IV. BAPTISM PREREQUISITE
>
>
>
> 1.     Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
> his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
>
>
>
> a.      Must Be Born Again
>
> b.     Must Be Obedient
>
>
>
> NOTE: Baptism Does Not Save – Only the Gospel Saves
>
>
>
>                                                               i.     Paul
> Preached the Gospel . . . The Power of God
>
>
>
> 1 Cor 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
> not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
> effect. 18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
> foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>                                                             ii.     Paul
> Preached the Gospel must be acted upon
>
>
>
> 1.     The Gospel Message must be Trusted (the word of truth)
>
> 2.     The Gospel Message must be Believed
>
> 3.     The Gospel Message brings the Promise
>
>
>
> Eph 1:13-14  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
> truth,
> the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
> sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14  Which is the earnest of our
> inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
> praise of his glory.
>
>
>
> NOTE – “earnest” is an accounting term . . . a non refundable down payment
> on our salvation. It is the Holy Spirit of Promise. He is the non
> removable
> (Ester 8:8) seal place on the believer at salvation. It shows authenticity
> and ownership by God – he paid the redemptive price.
>
>
>
>                                                           iii.     Paul
> Preached the Gospel must be Confessed
>
>
>
> Rom 10:9-10, 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
> and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
> thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto
> righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13
> For
> whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
>
>
>
> 1.     Inwardly to God
>
> 2.     Outwardly to Man
>
>
>
>                                                           iv.     The
> Preaching of the Gospel must be Gladly Received
>
>
>
> Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
> same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
>
>
>
> NOTE – those who gladly received salvation followed in believers’ baptism
> (immersion) and were added unto the church. One can not become a church
> member without being saved and scripturally baptized.
>
>
>
> CONCLUSION
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>                   Because of Calvary
>
>
>
>                                 Pastor Miguel
>
>                          First Baptist Church of Olivehurst
>
>                        PO Box 578 - Olivehurst, CA 95961
>                  Church 530-743-1831 or Cell 530-701-5131
>
>
>
>                                 /}   Sword of the Spirit
> @##1611 KJV ###{ ]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>
>                                 \}       Use it Daily!
>
>
>
>
>
>  “Looking to the Future . . . Because People Matter!”
>
>              Jesus is the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords!
>
>                                   Preaching the Gospel
>
>                  Teaching the Word – Contending for truth
>
>                         Thank you for visiting our Web Page
>
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