Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
BAPTISM, bap-tisMOS, BAPto*, 4x (126), Strong’s # 909
“BAPTISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH”
One. Acts 2:38, 41 (37-42). BAPTISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. “And Peter saidunto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your :sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 41 They then that received his :word were baptized: and in that :day were added about three thousand souls.” Baptism follows repentance, and is a command (imperative mood). It is performed in the name of the Lord Jesus, and precedes the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Two. Acts 8:12, 13, 16 (4-25). BAPTISM: ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF ACTS 2:38. “But when they believed :Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of :God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 And :Simon himself also believed: and being baptized, he continued with :Philip; and beholding signs done and great miracles, he was amazed. 16 for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptizedinto the name of the Lord Jesus.” Baptism was preceded by preaching of Christ, and followed the Word confirmed with signs. It was in the name of the Lord Jesus, and preceded the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Three. Acts 8:36, 38 (26-40). BAPTISM AT THE HAND OF AN EVANGELIST. “And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch says, Lo, water; what hinders me to be baptized? 38 And he commanded to stop the chariot; and both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptizedhim.” Philip first preached the gospel: Jesus, and must have explained the command of baptism. He then immediately baptized the eunuch.
Four. Acts 9:18 (10-19a). BAPTISM: A FIRST STEP IN THE APOSTLE PAUL’S LIFE (Acts 22:16 (21:37-22:21). “And straightway as if scales fell from his :eyes, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized.´ Paul first confessed Jesus as Lord (Rom 10:9), and then was commanded by Jesus to be baptized (Acts 22:16). This was a prelude to receiving the Holy Spirit. He called on the name of the Lord for remission of sins, and commanded Christians to follow his example (1 Cor. 11:1).
Five. Acts 10:47, 48 (44-48); 11:16 (1-18). BAPTISM AND GENTILES. “Can any one forbid the water, that they should not be :baptized, who have received the Holy :Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but YOU shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.”
Gentiles received the Word and the Spirit like Jews. The Spirit fell on them after receiving the Gospel. They received water baptism on the basis of receiving the Spirit, and as an apostolic command. Water baptism is closely related to Spirit baptism (11:16).
Six. Acts 16:15 (12b-15); 16:33 (16-40). BAPTISM IN EUROPE. “And when she was baptized, and her :house, she besought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my :house and abide. 33 And he took them in that hour of the night, and washed theirstripes; and was baptized, he and all :his, immediately.” Baptism was preceded by the word of the gospel – and by repentance and faith. It was immediate upon meeting the above conditions.
Seven. Acts 19:3, 4, 5 (1-7). BAPTISM ACCORDING TO N.T.UNDERSTANDING.
“And he said, Into what then were you baptized? And they said, Into the baptism of John. 4 And Paul said, John baptized a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe unto him that should come after him, that is, unto :Jesus. 5 And when they heard this, they were baptizedinto the name of the Lord Jesus.” N.T. Baptism is not unto repentance, but follows repentance. It is in the name of the Lord Jesus, and precedes receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit.