Christian Baptism
I. Definitions
A. baptizō, βαπτίζω,
"dip, immerse, baptize" (BAGD, 131).
B. Working from an English translation
only, what does the word "baptize" or "baptism" mean? Jn.
3:23; Mk. 1:4-5; Acts 8:36; Rom. 6:3
II. Historical setting
A. Jewish ceremonial washings and
proselyte baptism
B. The baptism of John the Baptist - Mk.
1:4-8; Mt. 3:5-6
C. The baptism of Jesus himself by John -
Mt. 3:13-17; Lk. 3:21-23
D. The baptism of Jesus through his
disciples during his ministry - Jn. 3:25-30; 4:1-2
III. Proper subjects for baptism
A. Penitent believers - Mk. 16:16; Acts
2:38
B.
Discuss infant baptism in relation to penitence and faith.
IV. Meaning of baptism
A. Make a list from the following
passages of some of the results or consequences of baptism - Mt. 28:18-19; Acts
2:38, 41, 47; 5:32; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-6; 1 Cor. 12:13; Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Pet. 3:21;
Eph. 5:25-27; Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5.
10.
B. Since baptism is for the forgiveness
of sins, why is it not appropriate for infants? Eph. 2:3; Psa. 51:5; Mt.
18:2-4; 19:13-15 Rom. 9:11; 1 Cor. 14:20; Deut. 1:39
C. Discuss the question of baptism and
children who are "raised in the church" in light of the following
quotation: "The child of a Christian home is in some kind of relation to
the Lord. [Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Cor. 7:14]...There must be some way in which the
religious experience of the child is not denied and treated as non-Christian
but the real meaning of believer's baptism is maintained. If the child is in a
positive relationship to the kingdom of God and to the church, as the above
texts indicate, then it is proper to teach the child to pray, to study the
Bible, and to practice Christian morality. The child is to be taught to know
the Lord.
"What then does baptism
mean for the child who has grown up in a Christian home? It must still retain
the positive significance that it has for the adult convert from the world, but
it would not have the same sense of a radical break with the past"
(Everett Ferguson, The Church of Christ, 200).
D. Discuss how baptism, grace and works
are to be coordinated properly in a theology of salvation - Tit. 3:5; Eph.
2:8-10.
V. Discuss these quotations from early church
writings. All dates are approximate.
A. "Your life was saved and will be
saved through water" (Hermas, 135 A.D.).
B. "It is the washing through which
we are cleansed of our sins, the grace gift by which the penalties for our sins
are removed....We who have repented of our sins, renounced our faults, and are
purified by baptism run back to the eternal light" (Clement of Alexandria,
190 A.D.).
C. "We as little fishes, are born in
water....It has assuredly been ordained that no one can attain knowledge of
salvation without baptism....Baptism has a spiritual effect, because we are set
free from sins" (Tertullian, 210 A.D.).
VI. Memory verse - Acts 22:16