First Principles: Baptism into Christ

Purpose

 

This study helps establish that baptism—and the faith that prompts it—is the link between Christ's sacrifice and the forgiveness of our sins and gift of God's Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. God's plan to bring salvation to the world culminated in the death, burial and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the heart of the "gospel" or good news about Jesus.
  
  
  
  Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is now available. In this study we will look at the Bible's teaching about baptism, a crucial link between Christ's sacrifice and the forgiveness of our sins.
• Acts 2:36-41. The first proclamation of the good news of Jesus after his departure. What did Peter instruct those to do who believed the message about Jesus? When do we receive the forgiveness of sins? The Holy Spirit? (More on this later.) Those who accepted this message were baptized, thus they were saved. Let's look at some passages that describe more fully what takes place in baptism…
• Romans 6:1-4. In baptism, we are united with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection.
  
  
  
  The benefits of salvation made available at the cross become real for us when we participate in his death, burial and resurrection. Through baptism, we die to sin and are raised to a new life.
• Ephesians 1:3-10. An important New Testament teaching: every spiritual blessing from God is found "in Christ." What are some of those blessings listed here? (Sonship, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness…) So how does a person enter "into Christ"? (Next passage.)
• Galatians 3:26-29. We are baptized "into Christ." Note that Paul did not consider faith and baptism to be contradictory. Baptism is a tangible expression of faith that places us "in Christ" where salvation occurs.
• Infant Baptism? Colossians 2:11-12: Baptism is an immersion in water (from the Greek baptizo meaning "plunge, dip, immerse"—see Acts 8:38-39), but it does not operate "automatically" apart from the faith of the one who is baptized. Can an infant believe? Repent of sin? And what sins need to be forgiven? Ezekiel 18:20: Contrary to the widely held doctrine of "original sin," guilt for sin is not inherited from our parents. We are guilty for our own sins and saved by grace through our own response of faith.
• Sinner's Prayer? 1 Peter 3:18-21: Some claim that a person needs only to pray a "sinner's prayer" or "ask Jesus into his heart" in order to be saved. This is the predominant view in the evangelical Christian world. However, this is not the message that was preached in the Book of Acts. Everyone was called to repentance, faith and baptism, and as Peter wrote here, "baptism now saves us" by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
• Acts 22:7-16. After encountering Jesus, repenting, praying, fasting (Acts 9:9-11), being healed, and being called by God, Paul remains in sin. What was left for him to do to have his sins washed away? Why the urgency—what is so pressing about the need for baptism? What remains for you to do or think about before you are ready to be united with Christ in baptism?

Additional Helpful Scriptures:

• Matthew 28:18-20
• Mark 16:16
• John 3:3-5
• Acts 18:24-26
• Ephesians 4:4-6, 5:26
• Titus 3:3-5