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WWATER ATER BBAPTISMAPTISM

Who is to be Baptized?Who is to be Baptized?Eph. 4:5; Matt. 28:19Eph. 4:5; Matt. 28:19

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Who is to be Who is to be baptized?baptized?

•Nobody? Nobody? •Everybody? Everybody? •Babies?Babies?•Christians?Christians?•Lost?Lost?•Saved?Saved?

1 John 1 John 2:3-52:3-5

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•Those to whom the gospel Those to whom the gospel is sentis sentMatt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Ac Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Ac

2:21, 2:21, 37-38, 41 37-38, 41 •Those who hear and Those who hear and believe believe gospel preaching, gospel preaching, Romans 10:13-Romans 10:13- 1515

Who should be Who should be baptized?baptized?

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Prerequisites of Prerequisites of BaptismBaptism

• One who has One who has heardheard gospel gospel (taught) – (taught) – Matt. 28:19 (Acts Matt. 28:19 (Acts 8:30-31, 35-36)8:30-31, 35-36)

• One who One who believesbelieves – – Jno. 8:24; Jno. 8:24; 20:30-31; Acts 8:36-3720:30-31; Acts 8:36-37

• One who has One who has confessed faithconfessed faith – – Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37

• One who is One who is repentantrepentant – – ActsActs 2:38; 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:92:38; 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9

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Moral & Moral & Spiritual Spiritual Condition of Condition of Person to be Person to be BaptizedBaptized

• Capacity to be taught & believe – Capacity to be taught & believe – Matt. 28:19Matt. 28:19

• Lost in sin – Lost in sin – Mk. 16:16; Acts Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:2122:16; 1 Pet. 3:21

• Morally responsible & Morally responsible & accountable – accountable – Acts 22:16; 2 Cor. Acts 22:16; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Ths. 1:85:10; 2 Ths. 1:8

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Water baptism is Water baptism is not for infants not for infants

and small and small children children

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•No New Testament No New Testament authorityauthority

Adults, Adults, Acts 8:12 (3)Acts 8:12 (3)Children, Children, Matt. 14:21; Matt. 14:21; 15:38; 19:14; 15:38; 19:14; Acts 21:5Acts 21:5

•Not in Scripture, Not in Scripture, 2 Tim. 2 Tim. 3:16; 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:32 Pet. 1:3

Baptism is not for Baptism is not for BabiesBabies

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Not in New Not in New TestamentTestament

• “There is no express precept or rule given in the New Testament for the baptism of infants.” (Bishop Burnet, Anglican)

• “Among all the persons that are recorded as baptized by the apostles, there is no express mention of any infant. There is no express mention of any children baptized by them.” (Wall, History of Infant Baptism)

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Not in New Not in New TestamentTestament

“It can not be proved by the sacred Scriptures that infant baptism was instituted by Christ, or begun by the first Christians after the apostles.”

Martin Luther,cited in Gospel Plan of Salvation, Brents, 315

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•No New Testament No New Testament authorityauthority

Adults, Adults, Acts 8:12 (3)Acts 8:12 (3)Children, Children, Matt. 14:21; Matt. 14:21; 15:38; 19:14; 15:38; 19:14; Acts 21:5Acts 21:5•Not in Not in

Scripture,Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:31:3

•Children have Children have no sin,no sin, Matt. Matt. 18:3, 19:1418:3, 19:14

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•Hereditary DepravityHereditary Depravity

““As for infant Baptism, we hold As for infant Baptism, we hold that children should be baptized, that children should be baptized, for they, too, are included in the for they, too, are included in the promise of redemption which promise of redemption which Christ made…” Christ made…”

((The Smalcald ArticlesThe Smalcald Articles, THE BOOK OF , THE BOOK OF CONCORD, 311)CONCORD, 311)

Why do people Why do people “baptize” babies?“baptize” babies?

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•Dedicate / Enter ChurchDedicate / Enter Church

““The pastor of the church shall…The pastor of the church shall…furnish the parents or guardians of furnish the parents or guardians of the child who is baptized with a the child who is baptized with a certificate of Baptism, which shall certificate of Baptism, which shall also clearly state that the child is also clearly state that the child is now enrolled as a preparatory now enrolled as a preparatory member of The United Methodist member of The United Methodist Church.”Church.”

((Methodist DisciplineMethodist Discipline, par. 222, p. 116), par. 222, p. 116)

Why do people Why do people “baptize” babies?“baptize” babies?

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Water baptism Water baptism is not for is not for Christians Christians

(already saved) (already saved)

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Why Some Baptize the Why Some Baptize the “Saved”“Saved”

• ““Baptism is to be Baptism is to be administered to those, and to administered to those, and to those only, who have those only, who have exercised and professed a exercised and professed a saving faith in Christ…” saving faith in Christ…” ((Hiscox Guide for Baptist ChurchesHiscox Guide for Baptist Churches, 86), 86)

• Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16

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Why Some Baptize the Why Some Baptize the “Saved”“Saved”

• ““The spiritual change of the new The spiritual change of the new birth constitutes Christian birth constitutes Christian fellowship; but to secure church fellowship; but to secure church fellowship, that change must be fellowship, that change must be confessed in baptism.” confessed in baptism.” ((Hiscox Guide for Baptist ChurchesHiscox Guide for Baptist Churches, 39), 39)

• John 3:5; Gal. 3:27; Titus 3:4-6John 3:5; Gal. 3:27; Titus 3:4-6

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Why Some Baptize the Why Some Baptize the “Saved”“Saved”

• ““Baptism may not be Baptism may not be essential to salvation, but it essential to salvation, but it is essential to obedience.”is essential to obedience.”

((Hiscox Guide for Baptist ChurchesHiscox Guide for Baptist Churches, , 87)87)

• Acts 10:48; Hebrews 5:9Acts 10:48; Hebrews 5:9

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Baptism is…Baptism is…

•For believers who confess For believers who confess their faith their faith and repent of and repent of their sins, their sins, Acts 18:8Acts 18:8•For forgiveness of sins & For forgiveness of sins & fellowship fellowship with God,with God, Acts Acts 22:16; Gal. 3:26-2722:16; Gal. 3:26-27•For the person who wants to For the person who wants to become a become a Christian and be Christian and be saved from their saved from their sins, sins, Acts 2:38Acts 2:38