“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
Alpha 5
The Discipleship Process for
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Worship And Praise
Community Church
Today’s Lesson: Baptism-
?
So far we have learned about, The Validity of the Bible,
God’s Love and Grace, Atonement, and Repentance.
As we have shown in previous lessons, Peter’s first sermon instructs us to
1) repent, 2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and 3) be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Great Commission is found in Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-18 & Lu. 24:46-48.
In it, Jesus commanded his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…
Matt 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Amen. NKJV
Mark 16:15-18
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name
they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it
will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." NKJV
Luke 24:46
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48
And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. KJV
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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The Bible presents seven illustrations to help us understand water baptism.
C
.
The earth itself was the first recipient of baptism, and to be exact, the atmosphere (firmament).
2 Peter 3:5-6
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the
water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. NKJV
Gen 1:6-8
Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." 7 Thus
God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the
firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
NKJV
The
.
The Earth was baptized.
1 Peter 3:20-21
Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being
prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us —
baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, NKJV
Crossing the
.
In the same way the Israelites were in slavery to the Egyptians, we were all slaves of sin. The Israelites were freed
from their bondage by passing through the red sea. Baptism pictures the freedom from sin that Jesus purchased
for us on the cross.
1 Cor. 10:1-5
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2
all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual
drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. NKJV
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
Old Testament T
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& Temple
The Old Testament Tabernacle & Temple revolves around three predominant ministrations on three major
articles of furniture.
See Diagram Attachment.
They are, the Altar of Sacrifice where the animals died, the Brazen Laver where the priest washed the blood of
the sacrifice from his hands and the Ark of the Covenant where the visible manifestation of the Spirit of God
(the Glory) hovered.
Remember our lesson on ATONEMENT through the BLOOD? Repentance is killing the sacrificing and
Baptism is the Laver of Water for washing! The Blood was in the Water! Atonement is accomplished in our own
personal spiritual Tabernacle through the New Testament Gospel application.
C
.
We will look more closely at this in a few moments.
B
of John the Baptist
John was the first to baptize for the remission of sins and was indorsed by Jesus to the point of baptizing him!
Matt 3:1-6, 15
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand!" 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized
by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
15 Jesus replies, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Death, Burial and Resurrection in the New Testament
Experience
Paul compares Christian baptism to a burial. In order to be buried, a person must first die. In the same way, the
prerequisite for baptism is death to sin. After we are buried in baptism, then we are raised to live a new life.
Rom 6:1-5
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live
any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 Because if we have been planted with Christ, dying as He
died, we will also be raised to life.
NKJV
When we are Baptized we identify with the burial of JESUS CHRIST.
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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In all of these examples Water Baptism Points to a New life in Christ.
Each of these pictures of water baptism show the old life being put away and the new life emerging. In baptism we
publicly identify with what Christ did for us on the cross. In baptism we put away the old life of sin and begin a
new life of obedience to Christ.
Next
let’s talk about the ________ for baptism.
John 3.1-5 very clearly tells us just how important it is: let’s read:
1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man
be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, 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.
1 Peter 3:21
…In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies
are washed clean by the water, but because in being baptized we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts
from sin.
Baptism is a ____________ issue.
Christianity, as you and know it today, originated with a man named Abraham.
God called and chose Abraham to begin a nation of chosen people – those people became the Nation of Israel
– God’s chosen people.
(reminder: Christianity came out of the Jewish religion)
God made a “promise” to Abraham or a “covenant” with him. God said if you will do what I’m asking you to do I’ll
bless you incredibly - that covenant was one of the most highly honored agreements in existence.
Now accompanying this covenant or this promise was a very specific ritual: Genesis 17.13 tells us about it . .
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your
flesh for an everlasting covenant.
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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Colossians 2.11-12
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by
the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism . . .
Paul says baptism is a circumcision, not done by human hands, but a spiritual circumcision done by Christ.
It is a “putting off” of the sinful nature by faith in the work of Christ.
Romans 2.28-29 speaks of the, “…circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,…”
So, “Baptism” Is New Testament
LOOK-
.
1. Old Testament Circumcision was an identifying mark.
2. Old Testament Circumcision happened on the 8th day.
3. Old Testament Circumcision was the removal of the “unclean” flesh.
4. The child was named on that day, the day of circumcision.
Spiritual Correlations:
1. New Testament Baptism is an ______________ mark of distinction!
2. 8 is the biblical number of new beginnings.
Just like O.T. circumcision, New Testament baptism is a new beginning.
3. Baptism removes the uncleanness from our hearts.
4. A new name is given to us in Baptism, JESUS James 2:7 - Eph. 3:15
(In baptism, the minister buries the dead and delivers the new baby all in one action!
He puts down a corpse and pulls out an infant!)
Abram had been following God, walking by faith for 24 years since his 1st call in Genesis 12:1. All this time he
anticipated God’s promise to Him of many children. Some time earlier in chapter 15 God had announced His
C_______________ with him.
Now in chapter 17 he is 99, his wife is 89 and God calls for him and all males in his home and lineage to be
circumcised.
God promises to ESTABLISH His Covenant and to make it EVERLASTING!!!
When he is circumcised, both their names are changed.
Abram to Abr-ah-am, saria to sar-ah.
After a 90 day recovery in which time God healed her womb and his seed,
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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she conceives and “Isaac” the promise is born.
If Baptism is Circumcision,
would it be safe to say that it establishes our relationship with God and brings permanence to it?!
In other words, an overture to God of costly public commitment,
Which brings about an increasing of covenant.
Baptism is where you cut ties with the world and enter into an established COVENENT with God and His
body the Church.
Essentially, it is a
ceremony!
The _______________ of baptism - for the remission of sins.
(this is made possible by the ________ of Jesus Christ – no other way)
Re*mis"sion
The act of remitting, surrendering, resigning, or giving up.
Discharge from that which is due; relinquishment of an obligation;
pardon of transgression; release from penalty, debt, etc.
Acts 2.38
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.
Acts 22.16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
And another great thing about being Baptized in the Name of JESUS CHRIST is the fact that we “put Him
in Baptism.
Galatians 3.27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
on”
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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In Summary.
Today’s Lesson is: Baptism, - WHY
1. Because it is commanded. (see pg. 1&2)
2. Because it accomplishes Atonement. Repentance brings forgiveness and Baptism brings cleansing. (see
pg. 3)
3. Because it fulfils all Righteousness. (see pg. 3)
4. Because it is a burial of your old life. Your old ways, old will, old philosophies, emotions and sins are
buried with Christ in His death, at Baptism. (see pg.4)
5. Because it is an entrance or a door to more of God. (see pg. 4)
6. Because it is spiritual circumcision. Like Abraham, I can expect my relationship with God to be more
established through Baptism. (see pg. 5&6)
7. I am given a new name in baptism. The name of Jesus. (see pg.6)
8. I get into Christ in baptism. I put Him on! (see pg.7)
Personal Application
- Have you repented of your sins?
- Have you put your trust in Christ alone for salvation?
- Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
- Have you been baptized in water since you repented?
- If not, what are you waiting for?
The Bible verses we have been reading use such terms as:
> “That same day”
> “Why tarriest thou”
> “Straightway”
The point is to act now –
“Alpha” - Second Edition 2011 Student Copy
Compiled by Wade Haskins & Anthony Langston
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