Lesson 6 - Baptism

Study Goals:

• To show that baptism is an act of faith in which one’s sins are forgiven (“the wall of sin” is removed) and relationship with God is restored. (Acts 2:38-42, Acts 22:16, Colossians 2:12-13, Galatians 3:26-27)

• To show the radical nature of baptism by ---
  • Stressing that baptism requires the death of one’s old self (the surrendering of life to Christ). Never “bury” someone who is not willing to “die to self.” (Romans 6:1-6)
  • Emphasizing that the death of the old self is followed by a resurrection where the newly resurrected lives a “new life” that is devoted to pleasing Christ. (Romans 6:6-12)
• To communicate that baptism is an act of faith where one accepts God’s mercy and grace not a work where one “earns their salvation” (1Titus 3:4-7)
• To show that Bible Baptism is the immersion of a believer.
• Greek Word: (Baptizo) to immerse, submerge, to dip (the Greek word rhantizo means to sprinkle - Greek word for rain derived from this (Romans 6, Galatians 3, Colossians 2 … imagery of baptism as a burial)

NOTE: Let your student know that this study will begin with the same passage that we closed the last study with. Remind them of the context of Acts 2.

Acts 2:22-42 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

These people asked Peter what they should do to be saved. What was his answer?

• “Repent and be baptized everyone one of you…”
• Repent gives you a chance to briefly recap and reemphasize the truths of the last study.

What would happen if they did what Peter said?

• If they repented and were baptized then God would …
  • Forgive their sin
  • Give them His Holy Spirit (to live in them)
  • Add them to His family

What would happen if they did not do what Peter said?

• If they did not repent and were not baptized, then God would not forgive their sin, not give them His Holy Spirit (to live in them), and not add them to His family.

 

• NOTE: In the back of this study is a baptism illustration. It is a model for you to recreate during this segment. At this time draw out the wall of sin part, reminding the student of the results of sin. Use the Acts 2:38 passage to show that the wall of sin is removed when a person in faith turns to God and is baptized. Forgiveness, removal of the wall was promised at baptism. The next passage reinforces this truth as it tells the story of Saul’s conversion which culminates with Saul being told to be baptized, to “wash away” his sins. One again you will need to explain the setting and describe the characters.

Do you see baptism and salvation connected in this passage? If so how?

• The forgiveness of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit and being added to God’s family signify a major change in relationship and standing, but Peter does not leave the significance of their response to conjecture. He clearly lets them know that their response is connected to their salvation when he tells the people to “save themselves from this corrupt generation.”

What did those who accepted Peter’s message do?

Many heard the message but not all accepted it. What is the difference in hearing it and accepting it?

• Accepting it is believing it enough to do what it says.

Is it those who hear the message or those who accept it that receive the promised blessings?

Acts 22:1-16 “Then Paul said: 3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.” ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10” ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.” ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. 12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’”

What did Ananias want Saul (Paul) to do?

What would happen when Paul was baptized?

• His sins would be washed away (the wall removed!)

 

• NOTE: The preceding passage discussed God’s role in baptism, which is what God does when one is immersed in Christ (baptized). Romans chapter 6 is about the student’s role in baptism, which is what God calls them to do in their baptism. Baptism without these internals is a meaningless outward ritual. In Paul’s words baptism is the death and burial of the old self and its way of life. If there is no commitment to “crucify self,” there is no reason for baptism. We only bury dead people! In this segment you will once again do much of the talking. You are preaching Christ and Him crucified. You will draw out the rest of the baptism illustration to help communicate the truth of Romans 6.

Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 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.”

• NOTE: These Roman Christians had slid back into their old sinful way of life. Paul calls them back to a proper relationship with Christ and a proper attitude toward sin by reminding them of the commitment they made when they were baptized.

Paul states that these disciples had at one time “died to sin.” What do you think he meant by “we died to sin” and “how can we live in it any longer”?

From this passage do you see any hint as to when they make this commitment?

• At their baptism.
• Baptism is a participation in and a re-enactment of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
• As Christ died on the cross, our old self dies at baptism.
• Like Christ, resurrection will occur after death.
• Like Christ, I will rise to live a new life.

v.5 “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”

What does this verse say will happen “if” you die to self at baptism?

• You will “also be united with him in his resurrection.”

What happens if you do not die to self at baptism?

• “If I have not been united in death, I certainly will not be united in resurrection.”
• You would only get wet!

6-7 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

What must happen in order for you to be freed from sin?

• Die to self - “old self was crucified… anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

v.8 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”

• To state the same truth negatively: If we did not die with Christ, we believe we will not live with him.”

From what we’ve looked at so far, does it make any sense for you to be baptized if you are not ready to die to self, to surrender your life?

• Let your student know that the toughest question they will answer is not “Do I want to be saved?” but “Am I willing to die to my old way of life.”

9-14 “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery 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. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

• Your baptism is not only the time when your sins are forgiven; it is the time when you switch masters. It signals a radical change in the way you will live.
• Baptism is a participation in and a re-enactment of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

*As Christ was put to death on the cross, our old self is

put to death at baptism.

*Like Christ, resurrection will occur after death.

*Like Christ, I will rise to live a new life.

Are you ready to crucify your old self and give Christ complete, total control of your life?

Why would anyone, why would you be willing to do something so radical?

• Because you believe in Christ and His word. You trust him to run your life better than you can.

 

• NOTE: The next four passages are designed to let the student know that the baptism is an act of faith and any blessing one receives as a result is a gracious gift that God bestows because of one’s faith.

Colossians 2:12 “…having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”

Galatians 3:26-27 “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.”

Titus 3:5-7 “…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

• NOTE: Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3) that he must be born of the water and spirit. Peter commanded (Acts 2:38) that people be baptized, promising forgiveness of sins (sins washed away Acts 22) and the gift of God’s Spirit. Titus states that we are saved by the washing of rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. It is in baptism that I accept the grace and mercy of God and am born again of the water and the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:21 “…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…”

• NOTE: My role in baptism is to trust Christ and surrender self. The power of baptism is only from the power of the resurrection. My role is to trust God to run my life because I believe Him. God’s gracious role is granting forgiveness and new life. My baptism is an act of my faith, and the subsequent forgiveness and rebirth are acts of God’s grace. We are saved by grace through faith.

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

• NOTE: This question to Paul seems almost rhetorical. Not so with your student. The question “What are you waiting for?” should not be viewed as a formality. If used properly it provides a wonderful opportunity to challenge the student to do as Jesus suggested (Luke 14)and “count the cost” before taking this life altering step to establish their relationship with Christ.