Hal Linhartd is the head of IHOP Evangelism.
Part 1
Kansas City Evangelists' Fellowship
Are You Water Baptized?
CHRISTIAN WATER BAPTISM
Download PDF
Hal Linhardt /
www.KCEfellowship.org
WHY PRACTICE WATER BAPTISM?
Jesus commanded church leaders to baptize all His disciples
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20- 18)
Jesus connected water baptism to being saved
"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (
Mark 16:16)
Jesus, who is always our example, was baptized
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. (Matt. 3:13-17)
The Apostles commanded water baptism
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. …40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (
Acts 2:37-47)
While Peter was still speaking these words, (A) the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (
Acts 10:44-48)
Water Baptism is a demonstration of love toward God because it is the keeping His commandments. We know He loves us, the real question is do we love Him.
Jn. 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (
John 14:21; 14:23; 14:24; 14:31; 15:10
1 Cor. 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
Water baptism helps show a person’s faith as genuine
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (
James 2:17-18)
WHO IN THE BIBLE WAS BAPTIZED?
All who want God’s purpose fulfilled in life
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. (
Luke 7:30)
The Samaritans in Phillip’s ministry
12But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. (
Acts 8:12)
Ethiopian Eunuch in Phillip’s ministry
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. (
Acts 8:35-38)
The new believers in the house of Cornelius in Peter’s ministry
48And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. (
Acts 10:48)
Paul under Ananias’ ministry
17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be)filled with the Holy Spirit." 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized (
Acts 9:17-18)
Jailer and his household in Paul’s ministry
30and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. (
Acts 16:30-34)
Note: Scripture indicates that only believers were baptized. Since baptism requires repentance, faith and confession; infant baptism is invalid.
9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (
Romans 10:9-10)
OPPOSING VIEW #1: BAPTISM IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL OF THE OF THE FAITH
A. Paul said, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”
1 Cor. 1:13-17
B. Cornelius’ household and friends were saved & speaking in tongues prior to water baptism.
Acts 10:47
C. The thief on the cross was never baptized.
Luke 23:39-43
D. Zachaeus, the tax collector received salvation status prior to any baptism.
Luke 19:1-9
E. The adulterous woman breaks the alabaster vial of perfume on Jesus’ feet is declared saved.
Luke 7:44-50
F. The publican who prayed ‘God be merciful to me, the sinner’ and was justified.
Luke 18:13
G. Jesus said, “…that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name…”
Luke 24:45-47
H. The Jerusalem Council letter sent with Apostle Paul did not call for water baptism
Acts 15:28
I. Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision, which is viewed as a type of water baptism.
Romans 4:3,10
OPPOSING VIEW #2: BAPTISM IS AN ESSENTIAL OF THE FAITH
A.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
B.
Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
C.
John 3:3-8 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
D. Matt. 28: 16-20 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19" Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
E.
1 Peter 3:18-22 18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
F.
Acts 22:16 Ananias to Paul'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
G.
Titus 3:5 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
S A L V A T I O N
INITIAL JUSTIFICATION SANCTIFICATION GLORIFICATION
Pursue peace & sanctification without which no will see the Lord
Heb. 12:14
Repent and believe the gospel -
Mk. 1:15
God’s grace is always sufficient -
2 Cor. 12:9/
Titus 2:10-11/
1 Cor. 10:13
Sufferings not worthy to be compared
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God -
1 John 5 Jesus: the source of eternal life to those who obey Him -
Heb 5 /
John 3:36
To glory that is to be revealed -
Rom. 8
You have been born-again through…the word of God 1 Pet.1 If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive…-
1 John 1 The body is … raised in glory -1 Cor.15
Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life -
John 3:15
Abide in Christ or be cast into the fire
John 15
You will be revealed with Him in glory
His faith is credited as righteousness-
Rom. 4
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance -Matt. 3 /-Colo. 3:4
Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart-
Rom 10 He who has my commands and keeps them …loves Me -
John 14
When He appears, we shall be like Him
What does the Lord require? Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly -
Micah 6 /-
1 Jo. 2
By doing good seek for glory, honor and eternal life -
Rom. 2:7
Those who do His commands…have the right to the tree of life -
Rev. 22:14
Few there be who find it -Mt. 7