Water Baptism in the Gospel

prepared by Daniel Keeran,MSW, Victoria, Canada

Water Baptism in the Gospel

Water Baptism in the Gospel

by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada (All scripture quotations are from the New International Version.)

If water baptism is in the good news message about forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name, we would expect to find it in the history of the church after this verse in Luke 24:47 "in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem" (see also Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16). We must conclude that the good news about Jesus preached everywhere, was the same as preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 where in verse 38 the promises of forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit are for all those present as well as their descendants and all who are “afar off,” as many as the Lord calls. Water baptism can be identified wherever it is commanded, obeyed, and administered or wherever there is a reference to washing or water in the context of salvation.

1. Matthew 28:19 Teaching and baptizing are the means of making disciples everywhere.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

2. Mark 16:15-16 The gospel that was preached to both Jews and Gentiles and believed by them, included baptism.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.”

3. John 3:5 A new birth involving water and spirit is required to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” 4. Acts 2:38-39 The good news was first preached on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus, and the promises of baptism were for everyone everywhere.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

5. Acts 8:12 The good news preached by Philip must have included water baptism.

But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.

6. Acts 8:35-36 The good news proclaimed to the Ethiopian must have included water baptism.

So Philip started speaking, and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?”

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7. Acts 10:47-48 Water baptism was in the message presented by Peter to Cornelius.

“No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

8. Acts 16:32-33 The word of the Lord included water baptism in Paul’s presentation.

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away.

9. Acts 18:8 Baptism was in the message presented by Paul to the Corinthians.

Crispus, the president of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it believed and were baptized.

10. Acts 22:16 Water baptism was in the message of Ananias speaking to Saul/Paul.

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’

11. Romans 6:3-5 Water baptism is in the message presented to the Romans.

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.

12. 1 Corinthians 1:13-17 Water baptism was in the gospel preached by Paul to the Corinthians.

Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.

13. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Baptism is accomplished by the Spirit to make one body of Christ.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14. Galatians 1:8,9 and 3:26-27 Baptism is in the faith of the true gospel preached by Paul to the Galatians.

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!..... For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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15. Ephesians 1:13-14 The Holy Spirit is given to each as a promised gift in baptism as per Acts 2:38.

And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

16. Ephesians 4:4-6 Baptism is one of the grounds of unity.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

17. Ephesians 5:25-27 The washing of water by/with the word is the means of cleansing, in the message to the Ephesians.

Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

18. Colossians 2:11-13 Baptism is a burial and resurrection with Christ, in the message presented to the Colossians.

In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

19. Titus 3:5 The washing of the new birth (see John 3:5) is for salvation. he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.

20. 1 Peter 3:20-21 The water of the flood saved eight souls, and this water of the flood is a figure of baptism that now saves you, not to wash off physical dirt but a pledge to God to stop committing sin.

In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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