BIBLICALIST
CLOSENew Believers
Lesson 6 of 12. Understand baptism as the saved believer’s public step of obedience after faith in Jesus Christ.
06
NEW BELIEVERS
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is obedience after salvation. Baptism is not the cause of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ saves the sinner by grace through faith. Baptism is the believer’s step of obedience after salvation. It shows openly that the believer now belongs to Christ.
Baptism does not save the soul.
Water cannot wash away sin. A religious act cannot give eternal life. A person is saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by baptism, church membership, good works, or outward ceremony.
The Gospel and baptism are not the same thing. Baptism is important, but it must not be confused with the Gospel. The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is an obedient act that follows faith in Christ.
Believe first, then be baptized. In Scripture, people heard the Word, received it, believed on Christ, and then were baptized. Baptism is not for someone trusting the water. Baptism is for someone who has believed the Gospel and wants to obey the Lord.
The message of Christ was preached.
They believed the truth that was preached.
Baptism followed faith; it did not replace faith.
Baptism connected with visible obedience and fellowship.
Baptism is for believers. Philip did not tell the Ethiopian eunuch that water would save him. The issue was faith. When the eunuch confessed faith in Jesus Christ, he was baptized.
Baptism pictures death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism points to what Christ did and what the believer now identifies with. Christ died, was buried, and rose again. The believer is publicly identifying with Christ and walking in newness of life.
Baptism is shown as going down into the water. The Bible’s picture of baptism is consistent with burial. In Acts 8, Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and the eunuch was baptized. This fits the picture of burial and rising again.
The Lord commanded baptism. Baptism is not an optional decoration for the Christian life. The Lord commanded that disciples be baptized. A believer should not trust baptism for salvation, but he should not ignore it as obedience.
Baptism openly identifies you with Christ. Baptism is a public testimony that you are not ashamed to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not make you saved. It shows that you are following the Saviour who saved you.
What should I understand about baptism? Baptism must be kept in its proper place. Do not make it less than obedience, but do not make it the Saviour. Christ saves. Baptism follows.
Baptism does not save; Christ saves.
Baptism follows faith; it does not replace faith.
Baptism pictures death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism is public obedience to the Lord.
Baptism should be done with understanding, not superstition.
Do not trust the water.
The water does not forgive sin. The blood of Christ redeems and forgives. Baptism is not a second salvation, and it is not a spiritual shortcut. It is the saved believer’s obedient testimony before God and man.
If you are saved, take the next step. If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and have not been baptized after salvation, speak with a Bible-believing pastor or church leader. Make sure you understand the Gospel clearly, then obey the Lord with a good conscience.
1. Does baptism save the soul, or does Christ save?
2. According to Acts 2:41, what happened after they gladly received the Word?
3. What does baptism picture according to Romans 6:4?
4. Should baptism come before faith or after faith?
5. Why should a saved believer be baptized?