In this enlightening episode of the International Gospel Hour, we dive deep into the topic of baptism—a subject that often stirs passionate discussions and differing opinions within the religious community. With insights from the scriptures, we aim to unravel the truth about baptism, addressing its significance, the subjects suitable for baptism, and the purpose it serves in the Christian faith. Through careful analysis of biblical passages, we explore the act of baptism, looking into examples such as that of Jesus and the Ethiopian eunuch, to understand its true form as an immersion.
Our subject today is one that, well, friends, believe it or not, it creates much discussion and division in the religious world. And that subject is baptism. And we’re going to search the scriptures today on the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. Great having you with us today. And if by chance you are a new listener to the International Gospel Hour broadcast, please I’d like to take a moment to tell you about our various options that we have. Now, you are currently listening to our daily 15-minute broadcast, and that’s available five days a week. And we’re thankful that you are tuning in, that you have found our broadcast. And we’re thankful for the station to which you are listening. And as I say at the end of our broadcast, friends, keep listening right here on this station or platform of your choice. Now, we also have our weekly 30-minute program, and occasionally you may hear our shorter segments called Are You Listening? or 60 Seconds for the Savior, or maybe A Couple of Minutes for Christ. We also have a weekly TV broadcast via our YouTube channel, which is located at International Gospel Hour, and we’re on a number of over-the-air television markets throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the U.K., You can also find our programming options at our website, internationalgospelhour.com. Scroll down just a bit and you will see all of our programs, even our Hispanic podcast, Cristianos Fieles, with our friend and brother Marlon Ratana of SpanishBibleSchool.org. We are indeed thankful for every opportunity to speak the oracles of God as commanded from 1 Peter 4.11. And as we declare the whole counsel of God as declared in Acts 20 and verse 27, we are thankful for you joining us. And please stay right here where you listen to International Gospel Hour. Baptism Friends, the mere mention of the word stirs discussion, strong discussion, and yes, even disagreement among sincere religious people. Disagreement among sincere religious people, personally, friends, I find that absolutely amazing. So, with all religious-related subjects, let’s return to the Bible as we discuss the subject of baptism, and we’ll do so in a moment. Matter of fact, speaking of returning to the Bible, how about this free gift for you? Here is our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our popular free booklet, Something is Wrong, but the Bible is Right, is available once again. There is just too much confusion in the religious world, and this brief, concise study reminds us that the Bible is always right. Call us toll free at 855-444-6988. And leave your name and address and just say Bible Tract. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information. Name, address and type Bible Tract in the message box. You’ll receive it very soon from your friends at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
There are many honest souls confused on baptism. And this is not the fault of the Bible, but it is the fault of false teachers. In this study, we want to learn something about what God has said on this important question. And of course, when men differ from God, they are wrong to the extent of the difference. Let’s talk about the action of baptism. Just what is the act performed when one is scripturally baptized? In Matthew 3, 16 and 17, we are told of the baptism of Jesus when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him, and, lo, a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Of course, He could not have gone up out of the water unless He had first gone down into it. It does look like He was immersed, does it not? In the latter part of Acts 8, we have one of the very plainest cases of conversion, that of the Ethiopian nobleman. When we read a little bit about his baptism, Acts 8, 36 and 39 says, And as they went their way, they came unto a certain water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. 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. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. This record says they came to the water, they went down into the water, and after the baptism they came up out of the water. Now, my honest friends, it does look like immersion, does it not? In John 3.23 we have this significant statement, And John also was baptizing in Anon near to Salem, because there was much water there. And again it sounds like immersion. But now we shall read where God tells beyond the peradventure of a doubt what the action of baptism is. First we read Romans 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. We have the same teaching in Colossians 2 and verse 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Now, let’s talk about the subjects of baptism. I mean, who should be baptized? Well, no one is a proper subject for baptism unless that one has been taught the gospel. In giving the Great Commission, Jesus said, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Matthew 28, 19 and 20. You will note that teaching precedes baptism. The ones who are baptized are to be further taught to observe all things. No one is a proper subject for baptism unless he is a believer. Jesus said in Mark 16, 15 and 16, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. On the birthday of the church, the ones that gladly received the word were the ones who were baptized, Acts 2.41, and of course these were believers. No infant can meet those requirements for baptism, therefore an infant is not a proper subject for baptism. When those believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women, Acts 8 and verse 12. Persons must repent of their sins before they are baptized. When the church was started, the ones who believed and cried out, saying, Men and brethren, what shall we do? We’re told to repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, Acts 2, 37 and 38. Friends, let’s talk a little bit about the purposes of baptism. Well, why should any and all responsible persons be baptized? We’ve already learned from Acts 2 and verse 38 that one of the primary purposes of baptism is for the remission of sins. We cannot expect to have our sins forgiven unless we will do all the things that bring about that forgiveness. We are saved by baptism and many will deny this positive declaration because But it is exactly what the divine record says. Listen to 1 Peter 3.21. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While it remains in God’s book that baptism saves us, we had better comply with this condition of forgiveness. We become children of God by baptism as affirmed in Galatians 3.26 and 27. How many are in Christ? Well, as many as have been baptized into Christ. There are many sectarian bodies calling themselves churches that one can become a member of without baptism. But you cannot become a member of the church that you read about in the Bible without being baptized into it. That’s 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 13. That one body of which we are baptized into is the church, Colossians 1.18 and Ephesians 1.22 and 23. So we’ve learned three great things about baptism. We’ve learned what the very act of baptism is. It is a burial. We have learned who the proper subjects are, those who believe. And we’ve learned what some of the purposes of baptism, what they are as well. No doubt many dear, honest souls who are not Christians will hear this lesson. So may I urge upon you to study carefully and honestly and diligently the Word of God, for your very souls depend on that. You cannot afford to take the word of a preacher for it, and the world is full of false teachers. God’s book teaches all the same thing. Find a congregation of the Church of Christ in your community. If there is no congregation located, please get in touch with us here at International Gospel Hour, and let’s see how we can help you. By doing this, you will not only save yourself, but you will be doing the thing which will bring about the salvation of many others. Dear friends, may God bless you in your efforts to find the truth. With that being said, friends, we’d like for you to receive from us, absolutely free, a Bible study called God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. It’s an awesome study booklet. We believe it will help you in your studies of our subject today of baptism. Maybe you have further questions. Reach out to us at 855-444-6988. Please leave your name and address and just say God and man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave the same information, name and address, and just type God and man in the message box. This is another new Bible study that is free from the International Gospel Hour. Friends, we hope this study of baptism has prompted you to study further as we desire to pursue truth and to see the scripture of what it has to say. This lesson was preached well over 60 years ago by the late Brother Fred Dennis. We are thankful to bring forth his lesson today. In the spirit of Hebrews 11 and verse 4, he being dead, he still speaks. We are thankful we could study the subject of baptism today. We are thankful that you joined us here on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. Please join us next time. I’m Jeff Archie and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
May this study prompt your search of God’s word for his will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory. God be with you till we meet again.
