Why Baptism is Important and Necessary

 Romans 6

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as 

were BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST 

were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we are 

BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM into death: 

that like as Christ was raised up from the dead 

by the glory of the Father, 

even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been PLANTED TOGETHER 

in the LIKENESS of His DEATH, 

we shall be also in the likeness of 

His RESURRECTION:

6 Knowing this, that 

OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED with Him, 

that the body of sin might be destroyed, 

that henceforth we should not serve sin.

* This is why baptism is important and necessary.  

It represents being buried with Jesus Christ by baptism.  

1 Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even 

BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US

(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, 

but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Jesus instructed in John 3: 

5 ....Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water 

and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye MUST be BORN AGAIN.

Peter, taught by Jesus and supported by the Apostles, instructed in Acts 2:

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, 

lifted up his voice, and said unto them....

38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, 

and BE BAPTIZED every one of you 

IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ 

for the remission of sins, 

and ye shall RECEIVE the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 

39 For the promise is unto you, 

and to your children, 

and to all that are afar off, 

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify 

and exhort, saying, 

Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED THE WORD WERE BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Have you repented and turned from your sins?

Have you obeyed Christ's and Peter's commands to be Born Again of water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit (being filled with the Holy Ghost)?

Have you received and obeyed the Scriptures with gladness?

Don't marvel that Jesus said we MUST be Born again.

Whose Child Are You? Love others

 Whose child are you?

1 John 3:10

In this the CHILDREN OF GOD are manifest, 

and the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: 

* whosoever doeth not righteousness 

is not of God,

* neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 2:9-11

He that saith he is in the light, 

and hateth his brother, 

is in darkness even until now.

He that loveth his brother 

abideth in the light, 

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

But he that hateth his brother 

is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, 

and knoweth not whither he goeth, 

because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:14-15

We know that we have passed from death 

unto life, because we love the brethren. 

He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 

and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life

abiding in him.

* hate is likened to murder and no murderer hath eternal life. 

1 John 4:20-21

If a man say, I love God, 

and hateth his brother, 

he is a liar....

And this commandment have we from Him, 

That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 3:23 

....LOVE ONE ANOTHER 

AS HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

 Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

You Shouldn’t Argue About Religion?

Many adhere tightly to the thought you shouldn't argue about religious beliefs. "You believe your way and I'll believe mine" is the motto many hold tightly to saying "I don't want to offend anyone." 

Paul didn't believe that. 

He went into the synagogue (the place of worship)  and spake  BOLDLY for 3 months DISPUTING and PERSUADING the things concerning the Kingdom of God.  (Acts 19:8)

Paul disputed and spoke boldly trying to correct false doctrine. 

Acts 19:9-10 says he DISPUTED DAILY for TWO YEARS. 

Sound Biblical Doctrine is important. 

Paul's actions proved that. 

What a person believes and follows determines where they will spend eternity.  

Jesus said we MUST be Born Again of Water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit  (receiving the Holy Ghost).

Paul came to understand Jesus' instructions after his Damascus Road experience.  Paul had fought this Way yet now he is found disputing and teaching it daily because he knew each of us MUST be Born Again or we cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  

That's why he asked these Disciples in Acts 19:1-6 if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed. 

That's why he RE-BAPTIZED them when he found out they had not been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus  (vs 5).

That's why he laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost which they did evidenced as they spoke in tongues (vs 6).

Teach the Word.

Teach the Truth.

Teach it boldly.

Speak the Truth in love but speak - the - Truth without fear or favor of man.

Eternity is coming fast.

Souls are depending on you to show them the way.

Jesus instructed us to teach and make Disciples.

Pray for boldness and wisdom then Go make Disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever things Jesus commanded.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith 

Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

The Longsuffering of God

 ...the longsuffering of God

WAITED in the days of Noe

While the Ark was preparing 

Wherein FEW (only 8 souls) were saved.

1 Peter 3:20

The longsuffering of God is still waiting 

While the warning signs are escalating everywhere 

Waiting for you to heed His Word 

And respond before it's too late. 

There were only 8 saved that day.

No one else believed or sought to respond 

Until it was too late.

Don't wait until it's too late.

God is not willing that any should perish 

But the choice is yours just as it was theirs. 

SEEK THE LORD TODAY 

WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.

Jesus Taught Baptism

 Did you know? 

Jesus taught Peter and the Disciples how to baptize (John 4:1-2)

Peter remembered what Jesus said later on as recorded in Matthew 28:19 and yet he still commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of JESUS.

And yet....None of the other Apostles argued with Peter that it was not how Jesus said to baptize. 

Why? Because Jesus had already taught them HOW to baptize and WHO He was. 

They understood what Jesus was instructing in Mt 28:19 and knew that Peter instructed correctly. 

We do not find record anywhere that they baptized any other way than in the Name of Jesus.

Have you been baptized in the Name of Jesus?

Act 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME of the Lord.

John 3:16

John 3:16

Everyone knows it. Most can quote it.

They hold tightly to it for it's the Words of Jesus. 

Yet so many overlook the Words that Jesus spoke in the preceeding verses. 

Jesus told Nicodemus and all the Disciples who were with Him that night:

Vs 3 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE the Kingdom of God. 

He went on to explain in verse 5 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be born of water (Baptism) and of the Spirit (infilling of the Holy Ghost), he CANNOT ENTER into the Kingdom of God. 

Vs 7 - Marvel not (don't be in wonder or amazement) that I said unto thee, you MUST BE BORN AGAIN. 

You MUST be BORN AGAIN of water (Baptism) AND of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) or you cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God.

Those words are just as important as John 3:16. 

John 3:16 is a summary of all that Jesus said in the verses prior - not to nullify them or for them to be ignored.

Whosoever believes in Jesus should not perish - because if you believe in Jesus you will read His Words, you will hear His Words, you will obey His Words. 

Jesus also said in John 7:38-39....

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water. But this spake He of the spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus taught in Mark 16:16...

He that believeth AND IS BAPTIZED shall be saved; 

He continued in verse 17....

And THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW them that believe.... they SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;

Have you been baptized since you believed? Have you spoke with new tongues since you believed?

That Promise is for you and your children and as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (Acts 2:38-39)

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Luke 6:46 

Are you doing the things which Jesus said?

Marvel not that Jesus said you MUST be BORN AGAIN as He instructed in John 3:1-7.