Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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Brief Overview:
Jesus commands us to baptize others and set the example by being baptized Himself.
Key Points:
Baptism is a symbolic act for someone who has turned from their sin and is trusting and following Jesus Christ. It is not an act of salvation.
Baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
The person is immersed in the water symbolizing they have died to their sin. Then they are brought back up showing they are now alive in Christ.
Common Questions:
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Some churches see baptism as the New Testament continuation of the Old Testament practice of circumcision. They see baptism as the sign of the new covenant and thus baptize their children because they are children of the covenant. However, the New Testament examples and descriptions of baptism show that baptism is for those who have actively placed their trust in Jesus.
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The New Testament examples of baptism show that as a Christian leads someone to know Christ, they baptize them. In addition, the New Testament gives no explicit restrictions as to who can baptize others. In fact, Peter describes the priesthood of all believers in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Therefore, any believer is allowed to baptize a new believer.
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