Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament which is ordained by Jesus Christ. To the participant, baptism is a sign of his fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection, being grafted into Christ,¹ remission of sins,² and submission to God’s lordship to live and walk in newness of life through Jesus Christ.³

Those who profess repentance towards God, faith in him, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ are the only proper subjects of this sacrament.⁴

The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, in which the participant is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.⁵

Immersion, or dipping of the person in the water, is normative for the administration of this sacrament.⁶

1. Romans 6:3–5 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  Colossians 2:12 [You have] been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ↩︎
2. Mark 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  Acts 22:16 “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” ↩︎
3. Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ↩︎
4. Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  Acts 8:12 When they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Acts 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. ↩︎
5. Matthew 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ↩︎
6. Matthew 3:16 When Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.  John 3:23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized. ↩︎