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Have You Been Water Baptized?

Baptism held every second Sunday

If you—or someone you know—has never been water baptized since believing, we invite you to join us for a baptismal class at 9 AM, followed by the baptism at 10 AM, every second Sunday of the month.

Church membership not required. Be sure to bring a change of clothes!

Sign up at Welcome table in the back of the church, call 302-324-5400 press ext.1, or complete this form:

https://form.church/VCF/baptism

WATER BAPTISM

I. INTRODUCTION TO DOCTRINES OF BAPTISMS

In Hebrews 6:2 it says, “doctrine of baptisms,” baptisms being in the plural indicating that there is more than one baptism.

“Of the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Hebrews 6:2.

THREE DISTINCT BAPTISMS

A. Baptism by Holy Spirit into Jesus Christ at Salvation

The Holy Spirit baptizes believers “into the Body of Christ.” When you received Jesus, and became born-again, you became a member of the Body of Christ. You were put into the Body Jesus Christ. You are one with Jesus.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:12-13

B. Water Baptism

Water Baptism is an outward symbol of that which is actually accomplished by the Holy Spirit when you received Jesus. It is an outward sign to the world that you are dead to sin in Christ—your old person died. You are never going to live again as your own person. You are living dead to sin and alive to God.

Our confession is: “I am dead to sin and the world and alive unto Christ.”

C. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

II. BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST

The Holy Spirit baptizes believers “into the Body of Christ.”

“Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” I Corinthians 10:1-2

When a person receives salvation, he is “baptized unto Christ.”

Baptism signifies death, burial, and resurrection. A believer by faith believes he is raised from death into the new life through Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection.

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

This is not Water Baptism, since it says, “operation of God.” Water Baptism is not an operation of God. It is a confession of God that man does through obedience.

“Water Baptism” is an ordinance of the church that man gets involved in. Being “baptized into Christ” is an operation that Christ himself did when God rose him from the dead.

“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 unto 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: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:3-6

Like as when Jesus died, you died in Him, you were baptized into His death when you believed.

In the death of Jesus, He bore our sickness and carried away our sorrow, we executed and finished the sin and afflicted. When He died to sin once, the power of sin was broken.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27.

You have been baptized into the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

III. WATER BAPTISM

Water Baptism is an ordinance of the church, symbolizing to the world that one has died with Jesus, and has also been raised with Him in resurrection power to walk in newness of life.

Water Baptism is an outward sign of the inward work that Jesus did on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus Himself Was Baptized in Water

Jesus Himself set an example for His Church in submitting to baptism by His forerunner, John the Baptist.

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened.” Luke 3:21
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” Matthew 3:13-15

Jesus and the Apostles Commanded Water Baptism

Jesus gave commission to his disciples to water baptize. Therefore, we have the responsibility of being baptized and of baptizing.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

When you go under the water, you are going under as in the death of Jesus (not that this is when it happened—it happened 2,000 years ago). When you rise, you rise in the newness of life.

Manner of Baptism

The manner of baptism is by immersion.

The two understandings of the Greek word “baptizo” are:

  1. To immerse, submerge and emerge. To go in, to go under and come out of or get in, get out.
  2. To dye; cannot separate what goes dye touches another substance that is there—once dye touches fabric—it becomes one with the fabric, the dye itself becomes a part of that fabric in immersion, you can’t separate something that is tie-dyed from the fabric.

Thus when Jesus Christ comes into the heart of a person, you can’t separate Jesus from that person. When a person is water baptized, it is an outward identification that they have died with Christ, and Jesus Christ is in them.

They died in Him; they are risen together in him. We become one with Christ in salvation. In water baptism, this experience is testified.

(Matthew 28:18)

“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.” I Peter 3:21

“like figure”—figure is an outward sign of something. When a person has the “figure” of baptism, they take the outward sign of Jesus.

vs. 21b—Water baptism is a figure of what happened when you received Jesus Christ—an outward sign act of an inward experience.

IV. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Ghost.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit endues you with power.

“And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit needs to be received.

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13

SUMMARY

“Saving baptism” is when a person is baptized into Christ at salvation. The outward sign “Water Baptism” of the physical man being immersed in water does not produce salvation, but produces an answer of a good conscience toward God—an outward sign of what is going on.

Water baptism has nothing to do with removal of sin nature. At the same time, it is a recognition that it has happened and your conscience is free to God.

Water baptism is an excellent time to break habits, release sins, controls, bondages, fear, yokes that have been on people’s lives. It is an excellent time to loose things from a person’s life. Because if they take the newness of life, but still think they are bound by something of the old, and they still want to get free, this is a divine opportunity. People can get totally healed in Water Baptism because their faith is released.

Baptism puts you in that position of authority. It’s an affirmation of what took place in the spirit.

“I affirm to the world, peers, and myself that this is so. I reckon myself dead.”

You reckon yourself dead. You reckon yourself dead to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. “Reckon” means “take full account of, know.”

“Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” Romans 6:11

Baptism held every second Sunday

If you—or someone you know—has never been water baptized since believing, we invite you to join us for a baptismal class at 9 AM, followed by the baptism at 10 AM, every second Sunday of the month.

Church membership not required. Be sure to bring a change of clothes!

Sign up at Welcome table in the back of the church, call 302-324-5400 press ext.1, or complete this form:

https://form.church/VCF/baptism

We can’t wait to celebrate this important step in your faith journey!

Victory Christian Fellowship
100 Wilton Blvd. • New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 324-5400 • (800) 383-4223

Dover’s Victory Christian Fellowship
18 Greenhill Ave. • Dover, DE 19901
302) 734-3962

Baptism held every second Sunday

If you—or someone you know—has never been water baptized since believing, we invite you to join us for a baptismal class at 9 AM, followed by the baptism at 10 AM, every second Sunday of the month.

Church membership not required. Be sure to bring a change of clothes!

Sign up at Welcome table in the back of the church, call 302-324-5400 press ext.1, or complete this form:

https://form.church/VCF/baptism

We can’t wait to celebrate this important step in your faith journey!

Victory Christian Fellowship
100 Wilton Blvd. • New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 324-5400 • (800) 383-4223

Dover’s Victory Christian Fellowship
18 Greenhill Ave. • Dover, DE 19901
302) 734-3962

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