What is baptism?
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament instituted by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death, burial, and resurrection; of his being ingrafted into him;a of remission of sins;b and of his giving up himself unto God through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.c
- aRomans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27
- bMark 1:4; Acts 2:38, 22:16
- cRomans 6:3-4
Beddome's Scriptural Exposition 29 questions answered from Scripture
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Doth the scripture speak of a baptism with the Ghost? Yes.
“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” Matthew 3:11
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And was this accomplished? Yes.
“They were filled with the Holy Ghost” Acts 2:4
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Doth it also speak of a baptism of sufferings? Yes.
“Are ye able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Matthew 20:22
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And was Christ indeed eminently baptized therewith? Yes.
“I am come into the deep waters where the floods overflow me” Psalm 69:2
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But is there besides these a baptism with water? Yes.
“I baptize you with water” Matthew 3:11
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Did the Jews baptize before John? No.
“For they ask why baptizest thou, if thou be not the Christ, nor Elias?” John 1:25
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Did John’s baptism introduce the gospel dispensation? Yes.
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ —John did baptize” Mark 1:1, 4
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And had it a reference to a Saviour shortly to come? Yes.
“He said, that they should believe on him, which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus” Acts 19:4
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Was John sent of God, to baptize? Yes.
“He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me” John 1:33
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Did the people receive his baptism as from God? Yes.
“They justified God, being baptized with the baptism of” Luke 7:29
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And was John’s baptism the same for substance as that of Christ? Yes.
“For Jesus baptized, and John also was baptizing” John 3:22–23
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Was Christ himself baptized? Yes.
“Then cometh Jesus unto John to be baptized of him” Matthew 3:13
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Did he thereby confer an honour upon this ordinance? Yes.
“For there came a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17
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And is this a powerful engagement upon us to submit to it? Yes.
“For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” Matthew 3:15
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Is water baptism a sign of our fellowship with Christ? Yes.
“For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” Galatians 3:27
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Is it a sign of our fellowship with him in his death? Yes.
“We are baptized into his death” Romans 6:3
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And in his burial? Yes.
“We are buried with him in baptism” Romans 6:4
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And in his resurrection? Yes.
“For we are planted together in the likeness of his resurrection” Romans 6:5
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Is this fellowship by faith? Yes.
“We are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God” Colossians 2:12
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Is baptism a sign of our ingrafting into Christ? Yes.
“We are baptized into Jesus Christ” Romans 6:3
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And of the crucifixion of the old man? Yes.
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him” Romans 6:6
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And of the destruction of sin? Yes.
“That the body of sin might be destroyed” Romans 6:6
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Doth it signify the removal of the guilt of sin? Yes.
“Be baptized for the remission of sins” Acts 2:38
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And the washing away the filth of it? Yes.
“Be baptized and wash away thy sins” Acts 22:16
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But is baptism of itself sufficient for any of these purposes? No.
“For it is the blood of Christ that cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7
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Is baptism an engagement to yield ourselves unto God? Yes.
“Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead” Romans 6:13
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And to live in brotherly love? Yes.
“For we are baptized into one body” 1 Corinthians 12:13
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And to walk in newness of life? Yes.
“We also should walk in newness of life” Romans 6:4
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And was it designed to be a standing ordinance in the church of Christ? Yes.
“To the end of the world” Matthew 28:20
Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.
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