Everyone’s Questions
Why do different traditions teach different things about Baptism? *How much water? *Who should be baptized? *What happens when you are baptized? || Each of these questions can be reduced to one question: Is Baptism My Promise to God or is Baptism God’s Promise to Me? If it is our promise to God, then Baptism can only be for believers, is only a water baptism (an outward sign of an inward faith) and must be full immersion. If Baptism is God’s promise to us, then anyone (regardless of age or capability) can be baptized, the Holy Spirit is given through the water and the Word, and the amount of water is not important. Praise & Worship, because of the words of Acts 2:38-39 (“…the promise is for you and your children…”), confesses that Baptism is God’s Promise to us!
Dig Deeper: Matthew 28:18-20, Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 3:21
What Happens When We Are Baptized?
Romans 6:3-5 || We are buried with Christ, Baptized INTO His death and UNITED with Him in His Resurrection.
Dig Deeper: John 3:3-8, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Colossians 2:9-15, Titus 3:4-8
Baptism Establishes Our Identity
Romans 6:6-7 || The “who” that you are is not based upon what you have accomplished or failed to accomplish. The who that you are is based upon what Jesus has accomplished! Therefore, we are free to be who we actually are, not enslaved to try to be someone else.
Dig Deeper: Romans 12
Freedom Makes Us Different
Romans 6:22 || Being set free, made a part of God’s household, will lead us to holiness (being utterly different!) and life everlasting!