upgraded on May 8, 2008

Jesus Requires You To Be Baptized

Mark 1:8 (NIV) I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Mark 16:16 (NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Luke 3:16 (NIV) John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John 3:22 (NIV) After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.

John 4:1-2 (NIV) The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

Acts 8:36 (NIV) As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

Acts 10:47 (NIV) "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

Acts 22:16 (NIV) And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

1 Peter 3:21 (NIV) and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


baptism - The word baptizo in Jewish usage first appears in the Mosaic laws of purification

Exodus 30:17-21 (NIV) Then the LORD said to Moses, 18 "Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come."

Leviticus 11:25 (NIV) Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean till evening.

where it means washing or cleansing. Jews baptized proselytes. John's baptism was connected with repentance so that Jews might be spiritually prepared to recognize and receive the Messiah, and it differed from the baptism of Jesus:

Luke 3:16 (NIV) John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John 1:26 (NIV) "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.

Christian baptism symbolizes union with Christ:

Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV) You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

remission of sins:

Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

identification with Christ in His death to sin and resurrection to new life:

Romans 6:3-5 (NIV) Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

and becoming a member of the Body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV) For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

The blessings of baptism are received by faith:

Romans 6:8-11 (NIV) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

(The New Compact Bible Dictionary - Zondervan)