Lesson-22

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

Introduction: As we approach the subject of baptism, many questions come to mind. From where did the idea of baptism come? What is its significance? Why do we have to be baptized? Is it really necessary?

There is no biblical record of baptism, as such, in the Old Testament, but history records instances or incidents where similar ceremonies were performed with similar objectives in view, so it was not a completely foreign idea when John the Baptist came with his message. The book of Luke begins with the telling of two announcements made six months apart; the one in Jerusalem, and the other in Nazareth; the one to an old man, the other to a young woman, a virgin. The same angel, Gabriel, announced the expected birth of John the Baptist, and then foretold the birth of Jesus. The first two chapters of Luke tell the story.

1. What does Luke tell us about the early life of John? Luke 1:80.

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Note: This does not tell us very much, except that he was kept out of public view until it was time for his mission.

2. Who called John, and what did he preach? Luke 3:1-3; Mark 1:4.

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Note: John’s message was for repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. Rom. 3:23 says all have sinned. In order to repent we have to acknowledge that we are sinners. If we repent, we confess. Then we have God’s promise in 1 John 1:9, that God will forgive, and “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Baptism is a sign of that cleansing.

3. Who else preached that message after Jesus’ resurrection and return to heaven? Acts 2:38; 3:19.

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4. When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, what was the first thing Jesus told him? John 3:3.

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5. What two things are involved in being born again? John 3:5; 1 John 5: 4-6.

______________________________________________________________________________

Note: These texts bring out the thought of visible and invisible indications of being born again. The visible sign is the water or baptism, while the invisible is the Spirit or the effect of the blood of Jesus applied to the heart and life, which should result in the fruit of the Spirit. This is the subject of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. See also Gal. 5:22,23. Baptism publicly acknowledges that a person has taken a stand for Christ, just as the wedding is a public proclamation and legalizes the union of two people. The invisible part of the marriage relationship is their personal relationship to each other.

Another thought on the Spirit is that when a person accepts Christ and is baptized, or is ready to be baptized, he can also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. See Acts 2:38; 8:14; 10:44-48; 19:1-7.

6. When we are baptized, what have we done? Gal. 3:27. See also 2 Cor. 5:17; Eze. 11:19,20; Gal. 2:20.

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Note: Immersion represents two things: 1) Our faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and 2) our death to self, and burial of our old life of sinful habits, and our resurrection to walk in newness of life with Jesus. And, remember, we cannot wash away anything when we just sprinkle. Examples that indicate immersion: Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:5,9,10; Acts 8:38; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12.

7. Why was Jesus baptized, and how did God the Father support it? Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:10,11; Luke 3:21,22.

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Note: Jesus, the Sinless One, must needs be baptized because He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, and He was also our Example. He began His public ministry setting us an example. He came not only to pay the price for our sin, but to show the way to live victoriously.

8. Was Jesus sprinkled or immersed? Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10.

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Note: Baptism is mentioned many time in the New Testament, but there is no mention of sprinkling. That was introduced some time after the death of the Apostles. See Eph. 4:5.

9. Since the animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, what made them effective? Heb. 9:22,28; 10:4; 11:1,3,6; Lev. 17:11.

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Note: There is no virtue in the blood of animals. It was just a figure of the blood of Jesus, which did have virtue in it. It was shed for the whole world. In order to be able to repent and confess, we must have faith in Jesus’ shed blood. So it is faith in what the sacrificial system and baptism represent, that gives virtue or meaning to these acts. Babies are not able to believe or have faith, so baptizing them is worthless, but they can be dedicated as Jesus was when He was a baby. See Luke 2:27-32,40,52; and also Mark 1:4; 16:16; Acts 3:19; Rom. 5:1,2; Heb. 11:6; 1Pet. 1:18-23.

10. The Apostles were very zealous in proclaiming the Gospel. As souls were converted, they baptized them--as many as 3000 in one day. See Acts 2:41. What was another good name for the converts, and to whom were they added? Acts 5:14; 11:24.

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11. What is another blessing of baptism? 1 Cor. 12:7-12; Rom. 12:4-8.

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12. Is it sometimes a good idea to be baptized again? Acts 19:3-5.

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13. After we are converted and baptized, what does the Lord expect from us? John 15:2,8.

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Note: the Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13:6-9, further illustrates this point. God is patient and longsuffering, and helps us every way He can, but it’s up to us to produce.

14. What final commission of Jesus should spur us to action? Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16.

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	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Bible Studies Lesson 22 BAPTISM Introduction: As we approach the subject of baptism, many questions come to mind. From where did the idea of baptism come? What is its significance? Why do we have to be baptized? Is it really necessary? There is no biblical record of baptism, as such, in the Old Testament, but history records instances or incidents where similar ceremonies were performed with similar objectives in view, so it was not a completely foreign idea when John the Baptist came with his message. The book of Luke begins with the telling of two announcements made six months apart; the one in Jerusalem, and the other in Nazareth; the one to an old man, the other to a young woman, a virgin. The same angel, Gabriel, announced the expected birth of John the Baptist, and then foretold the birth of Jesus. The first two chapters of Luke tell the story. 1. What does Luke tell us about the early life of John? Luke 1:80. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: This does not tell us very much, except that he was kept out of public view until it was time for his mission. 2. Who called John, and what did he preach? Luke 3:1-3; Mark 1:4. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: John’s message was for repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. Rom. 3:23 says all have sinned. In order to repent we have to acknowledge that we are sinners. If we repent, we confess. Then we have God’s promise in 1 John 1:9, that God will forgive, and “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Baptism is a sign of that cleansing. 3. Who else preached that message after Jesus’ resurrection and return to heaven? Acts 2:38; 3:19. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, what was the first thing Jesus told him? John 3:3. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. What two things are involved in being born again? John 3:5; 1 John 5: 4-6. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: These texts bring out the thought of visible and invisible indications of being born again. The visible sign is the water or baptism, while the invisible is the Spirit or the effect of the blood of Jesus applied to the heart and life, which should result in the fruit of the Spirit. This is the subject of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. See also Gal. 5:22,23. Baptism publicly acknowledges that a person has taken a stand for Christ, just as the wedding is a public proclamation and legalizes the union of two people. The invisible part of the marriage relationship is their personal relationship to each other. Another thought on the Spirit is that when a person accepts Christ and is baptized, or is ready to be baptized, he can also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. See Acts 2:38; 8:14; 10:44-48; 19:1-7. 6. When we are baptized, what have we done? Gal. 3:27. See also 2 Cor. 5:17; Eze. 11:19,20; Gal. 2:20. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: Immersion represents two things: 1) Our faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and 2) our death to self, and burial of our old life of sinful habits, and our resurrection to walk in newness of life with Jesus. And, remember, we cannot wash away anything when we just sprinkle. Examples that indicate immersion: Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:5,9,10; Acts 8:38; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12. 7. Why was Jesus baptized, and how did God the Father support it? Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:10,11; Luke 3:21,22. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: Jesus, the Sinless One, must needs be baptized because He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, and He was also our Example. He began His public ministry setting us an example. He came not only to pay the price for our sin, but to show the way to live victoriously. 8. Was Jesus sprinkled or immersed? Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10. ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: Baptism is mentioned many time in the New Testament, but there is no mention of sprinkling. That was introduced some time after the death of the Apostles. See Eph. 4:5. 9. Since the animal sacrifices pointed to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, what made them effective? Heb. 9:22,28; 10:4; 11:1,3,6; Lev. 17:11. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: There is no virtue in the blood of animals. It was just a figure of the blood of Jesus, which did have virtue in it. It was shed for the whole world. In order to be able to repent and confess, we must have faith in Jesus’ shed blood. So it is faith in what the sacrificial system and baptism represent, that gives virtue or meaning to these acts. Babies are not able to believe or have faith, so baptizing them is worthless, but they can be dedicated as Jesus was when He was a baby. See Luke 2:27-32,40,52; and also Mark 1:4; 16:16; Acts 3:19; Rom. 5:1,2; Heb. 11:6; 1Pet. 1:18-23. 10. The Apostles were very zealous in proclaiming the Gospel. As souls were converted, they baptized them--as many as 3000 in one day. See Acts 2:41. What was another good name for the converts, and to whom were they added? Acts 5:14; 11:24. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 11. What is another blessing of baptism? 1 Cor. 12:7-12; Rom. 12:4-8. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 12. Is it sometimes a good idea to be baptized again? Acts 19:3-5. ______________________________________________________________________________ 13. After we are converted and baptized, what does the Lord expect from us? John 15:2,8. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Note: the Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13:6-9, further illustrates this point. God is patient and longsuffering, and helps us every way He can, but it’s up to us to produce. 14. What final commission of Jesus should spur us to action? Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________