Baptism Service

Baptism Service                                                           September 8, 2018

You have seen certain things in your life you are not happy with that goes against the teachings that Jesus teaches, instructions, commands and His Word.  The Scriptures says you notice sin in your life and you want to turn around your life from doing this, which is called repent.  

You Believe and realize you need help and only the Holy Spirit can lead you in your walk with Jesus.  That is why you are doing the baptism and laying on hand now.

After you receive the Holy Spirit, nothing is going to feel different, but as you go on, the Spirit is going to start showing you, you’re hidden, little sins in your life.  We know the Holy Spirit will lead us in all things.

We are here together to celebrate one of the most meaningful experience in our Christian Life.  Even the Angels celebrate this event.  Let’s look at what the Scriptures tell us about this.

Luke 15:7 NIV  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.   Attitude.  

Luke 15:10 NIV  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The Angels are rejoicing over those who repent of their sins and turn to God’s love and forgiveness. 

The reason of this joy and rejoicing by the angels is because these are individuals rescued out of the hands of Satan and his demons and is added as a child and heir, and born and will be changed into the family of God and to become a Priest and King in Jesus’s Coming kingdom. 

Baptism and Laying on of hands is one of the 7 main doctrines of the Church (body).

Hebrews 6:1-2 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.

What are we to do about this?

Baptism is only on outward sign to others and the Laying on Hands is the covenant (receiving the Holy Spirit) with the Father because He called us to be His children.

But first, what is baptism:  Strong:  Greek: baptizō; bap-tid'-zo; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution (- an act of washing oneself.), especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash

1 John 3:1-2 NIV  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  (2)  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Galatians 3:26-27 NIV  So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  (27)  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

We are to be baptized into Jesus.

Jesus was baptized as an example for us with the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:9-11 NKJV  It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  (10)  And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.  (11)  Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (John5:37) 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}

Acts 2:37-39 NKJV  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"  (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.  (39)  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Acts 8:12 ISV But when Philip proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Messiah, men and women believed and were baptized.

Acts 8:14-17 NIV  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. (15) 

When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (16) because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (17)  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

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. 52 A.D. around

There are two actions that Jesus himself ordained that we should practice until His return.  Baptism and Passover.

Baptism is a seal that seals our union by faith with Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection, the Gospel.  Water baptism doesn’t save anyone, but it is the biblical and outward sign that our sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus, and that we’ve been united with Christ in his death and resurrection when we receive the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 6:3-5 NIV  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  (4)  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  (5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

It also seals that fact that we’ve begun a new life in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

We are filled with the joy of knowing that our sins have been completely forgiven through the sacrifice of his Savior.  We put to death our old self by baptism (burial in water) and raised as a new person.  A covenant is made. 

When we take of the Passover each year, we renew our covenant with the Father.  We think about the last year, we examine ourselves, as we are told to do.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,  (24)  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  (25)  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  (26)  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Matthew 26:28 NIV  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

John 6:44 NIV  "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 ISV The one who calls you is faithful, and he will continue to be faithful.

Remember, The Father is the One who calls each of us and He gives the gift of His Holy Spirit.  Those who lay hands on the individuals are only instruments to be used by the Father.  The Father is the One who gives the gift of His Holy Spirit, not those who lay their hands on the individual.

Let us sing a song before we leave for the Baptism service.  “Nothing but the Blood - # 114 - Robert Lowry wrote in 1876, refers to the blood of Jesus Christ washing away our sins and this “Oh! Precious is the flow.  That makes me white as snow.

Baptism Service  

Wear appropriate clothing (bathing suit and pull over shirt).

Short prayer, asks God’s blessing on this joyous occasion.

Ask: I ask you, Have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior

Ask: By the authority of our Lord and Creator, Jesus, our Messiah, I ask you, "Do you believe.

Enter the water

Ask the individual to clasp the elbow of one arm with the hand of the other, and hold the nose with the free hand.

Once you are sure the person is comfortable,

Place one of your hands behind the back of the individual, and grasp a shoulder with the other.

Bend at the knees to assist in supporting your own weight.

Then gently lower the person into the water and quickly bring them up again.  Have a towel on hand

In water, I say:  As a result of your repentance and acceptance of our Lord’s sacrifice for your sins, I baptize you, not into any sect or denomination but into the body of Christ, by His authority and in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ceremony with laying on of hands

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

Now we lay hands on the newly baptized person. God is the One who gives the gift of His Holy Spirit, not those who lay their hands on the individual. 

Do the anointing with oil with prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.