About Baptism
1.8 - Foundations of the Christian Faith
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the fledgling church in Jerusalem, Peter stood to preach to the Jews who gathered from around the world for the Feast. This is how Luke records their response:
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” (Acts 2:37-39)
In this passage, the Jews who heard Peter’s message were cut to the heart, repented of their sin, were baptized in water, and then received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Without repentance, there would be no salvation and no promised Holy Spirit. Let’s shift our emphasis from repentance to baptism, which is also mentioned in this passage. When the crowds responded to Peter’s preaching, Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:37-39). They were cut to the heart, repented of their sin, were baptized in water, and then received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the appropriate response to coming to Christ. It is the expected (even commanded) next step in the faith journey. It is not an optional item.
In the early church, baptism was also a place where people “renounced the devil and the ways of the world.” It was common for any remaining demons to manifest during baptism, allowing the believer to enter his new life completely free in Jesus. This is the way things were meant to be.
If you have not yet been baptized, it’s time to contact your minister or faith community and make an appointment to get it done. This is unfinished business in God. If you were baptized before Christ came to live inside you, then we encourage you to get baptized again. Baptism was designed to happen after you repented, and it leads to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which empowers you to live the Christian life. Don’t put this off for some future time. Do it as soon as you can; Baptism is a conduit of God’s grace for you. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Your assignment: Read the following scriptures to see what God’s Word says about Baptism.
2 Corinthians 6:2
2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Acts 2:37–39
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Matthew 28:19–20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Peter 3:18–22
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Psalm 51:5–7
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Ezekiel 36:25–27
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Isaiah 55:6–7
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Psalm 32
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
←RETURN to the previous lesson | ADVANCE to the next lesson→