Baptism Ceremony

Baptism Ceremony                                               October 29, 2016 

Baptism is a personal celebration in the lives of the individual and their families. It is also a celebration within the local church family and recognition of their commitment. For this reason, baptism is celebrated in the presence of the church family gathered for worship and their outward demonstration to others.  

Water baptism marks a believer, but only the baptism of the Holy Spirit makes a believer. 

Jesus Christ purchased the life of each person nearly 2,000 years ago, through his life, death and resurrection on behalf of all humanity. The Holy Spirit has been working in our life and baptism is simply the ceremony by which we publicly acknowledge the truth of who we are, that we already belong to Christ, that he has already washed all our sins away, and that he has already given us new life through His grace. It is a happy occasion in which we rejoice in what Jesus has done for each of us. 

What does Baptism signify?  Baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God and speaks primarily of a personal, public identification with Jesus Christ 

Romans 6:3-4 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. 

Colossians 2:12-14  When you were buried with the Messiah in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.  (13)  Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses,  (14)  having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross. 

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

Galatians 3:26-28  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Through baptism and the laying on hands, we show to others we are a member of the body of Christ.  

We will lay our hands on who was baptize to receive the Holy Spirit, just as we have also had hands laid on us, and they had hands laid on them, we can follow this all the way back to the time of Jesus Christ.  This is our religious heritage.  Jesus said He will build His church. 

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

Acts 19:5-6  On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 

Acts 8:14-17  Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  (15)  They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.  (16)  Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (17)  Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 

Peter, an Apostle just wrote, he was a fellow Elder.

After a baptism, it will be followed by the laying on of hands and prayer to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

We see what happens when the Apostle Paul after counseling the believers—baptized them again and laid hands on them. 

Acts 19:1-6 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples  (2)  he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."  (3)  And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."  (4)  Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."  (5)  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 

Like baptism, the practice of laying on of hands has its historical roots in the Old Testament. In ancient times this practice, often accompanied by anointing with oil, was used to set men apart to serve God in the offices of king or priest. It was also sometimes invoked in setting apart sacrifices or other things for holy use. Similarly, laying on of hands after baptism signifies that the newly baptized person has now been set apart for God. 

Since the days of the apostles, the laying on of hands after baptism has signified the actual moment of the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the setting

apart of a convert as a child of God. It is only through the gift of God's Spirit that we can develop the godly attitude of obedience and faith. The practice of laying on of hands for the receiving of God's Spirit is mentioned in

Acts 8:17, 19:6, which we already read and in 2 Timothy 1:16 

2 Timothy 1:6  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  around 67 A.D.  Paul wrote 

Laying on of Hands is one of the milk of the word, a foundational doctrine listed in the Book of Hebrews. 

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  (2)  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this we will do if God permits.

Laying on Hands doctrine is to set a person apart before God for His special attention or blessing. 

The laying on of hands does not of itself provide the Holy Spirit. Much like baptism, the laying on of hands is a physical action with a spiritual component. When an Elder lays hands on a person after baptism, it is God (not the Elder) who gives the Holy Spirit. 

After a person is baptized, a special prayer is given, asking God to place His Holy Spirit in those who have repented and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Only authorized representatives of God—most scriptural examples are of ordained Elders—should lay hands on the newly baptized person. God is the One who gives the gift of His Holy Spirit. It cannot be bargained for or purchased. 

Once a person repents, believes and is baptized, it is through the laying on of hands that he or she receives God’s Spirit. The Spirit of God would then be in that person as the promised “Helper” 

John 14:16 I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. 

The Holy Spirit is necessary for a person to be a follower of Jesus Christ and for our salvation 

Romans 8:9-11 You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God's Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him.  (10)  But if the Messiah is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit is alive due to righteousness.  (11)  And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then the one who raised the Messiah from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you. 

With the laying on of hands after baptism (and thereby receiving God’s Holy Spirit), a whole new life will emerge in front of us, as we realize just how valuable that Spirit is. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Job 32:8  However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight. 

Ezekiel 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 

Receiving the gift of God’s Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands is only the beginning. The process of conversion and developing God’s holy, righteous character is a process that takes time 

The act of baptism marks the beginning of new life of discipleship with Christ, the human response to that gift. 

And finally, Baptism gives joy to the angels of God 

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 

As we also rejoice