Baptizo: bap-tid’-zo
Bapto: bap’-to: to whelm, ie. To cover wholly with a fluid. Dip.
Baptize: means to “dip,” “plunge,” “submerge” or “immerse”
Matthew 28:19 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.
Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
1. Jesus was not baptized to wash away His sins. He was sinless. Rather it was to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was establishing a standard of behavior. He was setting an example and pattern of the baptism in which He desired Christian believers to follow Him.
Bible Reference: 1 Peter 2:21-22NKJV For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 ”Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
2. Jesus was NOT baptized as a child. He was dedicated as a child to the Lord, but it was later, at a time of understanding, that He submitted Himself to the waters of Baptism.
Bible Reference: Luke 2:22 NIV When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
3. Jesus was immersed in the water, ”He went up out of the water” indicating as the word is defined, “to cover wholly, dip.” Baptism means to be totally immersed in water.
4. By submitting to the waters of Baptism, Jesus demonstrated an outward act of obedience as a result of an inward righteousness that He possessed.
Bible Reference: Hebrews 5:8-9 NKJV though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
5. When we submit ourselves to the waters of Baptism, we are demonstrating an outward sign of obedience to that same inward righteousness which we already enjoy in our heart through faith in Christ’s atoning death and resurrection.
Bible Reference: Romans 5:1 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
CONDITIONS FOR BAPTISM
* Humbly acknowledged our sins.
Romans 3:23 NKJV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
* Confessed our faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the Son of God.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. By submitting to the water of Baptism you are demonstrating your desire to be a disciple of the Lord.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the. nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
By making the choice to be water baptized, you are expressing by this outward sign the inward, change that has taken place in you when you accepted Christ in your life. It demonstrates the cleansing, resurrection and allegiance. Dying to the old life and being born to a new life. Baptism is a sign of commitment and allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and a new way of living.
