WATERBAPTISM An Examination of the Scriptures By Rev. D. L. McQuinn

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead WATER BAPTISM IS TO BE BY IMMERSION AND IS ATYPE OF BURIAL As we have just seen the very word Baptism means to immerse, dip or plunge. All Biblical baptisms were by immersion. Jesus and Peter both commanded baptism (immersion). 1 Sam 15:22 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. We should desire to do things the scriptural way, not try to justify tradition. Rom 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Our baptism is comparable to Christ’s burial. We obey part 2 of the gospel (burial) when we are baptized.

THE GOSPEL The Gospel of Jesus Christ is written by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor.15 : Cor 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Simply put the Gospel is the: (1) The Death (2) The Burial (3) The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE GOSPEL (CON’T) What happens to those who don’t believe the gospel? II Th 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; The Gospel not only involves believing but obeying…how do you obey the gospel? Acts 2:36-39 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, (1) Repent, (2) and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,(3) and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

Acts 8:35-40 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. WATER BAPTISM IS TO BE PRECEEDED BY BELIEVING & REPENTANCE This is undoubtedly immersion. A qualifying factor was to believe. Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.