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Baptism
Why do people still get
baptised?
Christians believe that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter preached a famous sermon soon after Jesus had died, risen and ascended to heaven. He was asked by those trying to make sense of who Jesus is what they should do. His reply (or famous sermon) is found in the book of Acts (Ch 2:36-41).
Baptism symbolises two important things.
The death of our old self (as we go under the water) and the birth of our new life received as a gift from God (as we come up out of the water).
Like legs on a chair these four elements are important to our relationship with Jesus.
1) Turn away from what you’ve done wrong > REPENTANCE
2) Believe in Jesus > FAITH
3) Be baptised in water > RESPONSE THROUGH WATER
BAPTISM
4) Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit > GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN
YOU AND YOU CAN BE IMMERSED
IN HIM (BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT)
Baptism in Water
a) It is for Believers - Baptism in scripture always follows repentance &
faith. It was after a person became a disciple
that he or she was baptised. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
b) It is by Immersion - The Greek word for baptise means ‘to dip, to immerse,
to submerge’ You need plenty of water to do the job!
(John 3:23, Mark 1:10, Acts 8:3
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The moment you became a Christian, your life was linked with Jesus Christ, you were baptised (immersed) into Him and what happened to Him happened to you as well.
You died with Him to sin and to its power over you. And you rose with Him to a brand new life. When you are baptised you are identifying with Him. (Rom 6:3-7)
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8-39)
c) What does it mean -
A good confession at baptism,
‘Wow, it’s amazing. I’m in Christ! My old life is dead and buried.
From now on, Jesus is my Lord and I’m living for Him’
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