How to explain to someone that water baptism is important for Christians

Video: Why Water Baptism is Important | Pastor John Lindell | James River Church

Content

Steps
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Many Christians believe that water baptism is an important part of Christianity, but the difficulty is in explaining to other Christians, as well as non-Christians, what is the reason for this importance. This guide will help you discern the reasons for water baptism, and will help clarify many of the controversies and confusion about this process.

Steps

1 Find someone who would like to debate about water baptism and who will use the Bible as your only source of information on this topic.
2 Wait a bit to walk through the scriptures with this person.
3 Explain to the person that water baptism is very important for many reasons that are described in the Bible you are currently viewing.
4 Show the person that one of the most important reasons for water baptism is in the book of Acts, when Christ preached to people while he was baptized. (See Acts 16:13 - 15, Acts 16:31 - 33, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:36, Acts 18: 4 - 8, Acts 2; 41) It is obvious that in biblical times water baptism was part of the story when Christ preached.
5 Show the person that, according to the Bible, water baptism resulted in the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (See Acts 2:38, Acts 19: 1-6) Also known as “preparing the way of the Lord,” like the teachings of John, which indicated that water baptism turns into repentance ... (See Matthew 3: 3 & 11, Luke 3: 4 & 16)
6Show the person that even if the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was first, it is followed by water baptism (See Acts 10:46)
7 Show the person how Jesus tells his disciples about the importance of baptism at the end of the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, which He speaks before ascending to heaven. (See 'Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:16)
8Show the person that Peter is repeating this instruction to introduce the baptismal procedure in the early days of the Christian Church (see Acts 2:38)
9 Show the person that Paul teaches that water baptism is our way of identifying with the death of Jesus Christ. (See Romans 6: 4, Colossians 2:12)
10 Show the person that the stories of Noah and the flood and the discovery of the Red Sea are Old Testament examples of water baptism (See 1 Peter 3: 20-21, 1 Corinthians 10: 2) symbolizes the completion of an old life, and the beginning of a new one.
11 Show the person that the baptism of Jesus was done before God for 2 main reasons - this is what needs to be done, an example for us - what we need to follow with age and understanding. (See Matthew 3: 13-16, Luke 3: 21-22, Mark 1: 8-10, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Thessalonians 1: 6)
12 Show the person that those who were baptized gave glory to God, that is, agreed / supported His righteousness - and those who refused to be baptized - rejected God's plan (See Luke 7: 29-30):
- “And all the people listening to Him and the publicans gave glory to God by being baptized with the baptism of John. And the Pharisees and legalists rejected the will of God for themselves, not being baptized by him "
13 Show the person that the baptized person is a public symbol of personal worship of God. (See Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:11, Acts 19: 4, 1 Peter 3:21)
14 Show the person that the Bible said that those who received His words were baptized. (See Acts 2:41) Compare with John 1: 1-12 and see that accepting His words is synonymous with accepting Jesus. #
15 Show the person that it is important to be baptized again if it was done incorrectly the first time (or for the wrong reason). (See Acts 19: 2-6)
16 Show the person that the Bible says that baptism should take place as soon as possible after the person has repented. (See Acts 22:16)
17 Show the person that, according to the Bible, water baptism was always accompanied by total immersion in water. (See Matthew 3:16, John 3:23, Acts 8:38)
18 Show the person that faith or repentance must precede baptism, so that the person must be aged to understand what faith and repentance are. (See Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19)
19 Show the person a Bible Dictionary that says baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo. Click to find out the meaning. This word means to submerge, submerge, submerge; so baptism performed in any way is not biblical baptism.

Tips

Don't delay; nobody knows what may happen tomorrow.
Baptism can be performed in any place where there is enough water to immerse a person - river, lake, ocean, bathtub, pool, etc.
You don't have to be saved from being baptized. Baptism is part of the path to salvation (See Acts 2:38, Acts 19: 4-6, Acts 6:15 - 17, Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16), but may be after salvation (see Acts 10:46) ...

There is a lot of controversy about whether to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, or in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but if you think about it, then there is not much difference.

1 John 5-7 For three testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

Our God is also Lord, in Jesus is Lord. Jesus, obviously, the Son and the Holy Spirit are what we are anointed with, and the name of Christ means "anointed one." Jesus is tarnished and anointed.

It doesn't matter what title you use for Jesus. What's in your heart matters. God will take what is in your soul and baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
It doesn't matter what the baptism looks like (for example, ceremony, place, etc.), the correct attitude of the person is important. (See 1 Samuel 16: 7).
Baptism does not require any special teachings, you just need to be willing to do what Jesus, Peter and Paul said to do as part of repentance and faith, preparing to receive the Holy Spirit.
Since Acts, water baptism has been performed by believers who were already baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. This is probably a good idea to follow.
If you are unsure, search the Holy Scriptures, but you will not find there one that says that water baptism has an expiration date, or that it can be omitted. (See Hebrews 13: 8)
You don't need any special clothing for this. Wear your usual clothes or a swimsuit.
Baptism is something you can do as part of your approach to the Lord. If your desire is sincere to be with God, He will respond in a personal way, in the form of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, Luke 1: 8-13). Not in honor of the baptismal reward, but because you asked according to His word.
It is also important that water baptism itself is not salvation. “Jesus answered: truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. " (John 3: 5 - 6). Jesus also said about the Holy Spirit that “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Every man and every woman must receive and be changed by the Holy Spirit. And “He saved us not by works of righteousness, which we would have done, but by His mercy, by the bath of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3: 5).
Everyone who chooses to accept and follow Him must follow Jesus in order to be baptized and remember that Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire (John 1:33) and gives you a new Spirit to be born again and be able to get into Kingdom of God.
If you do not repent (change your mind), you will die anyway.
The scriptures say that Salvation comes by grace, through faith, not through works. Grace is what we receive after being baptized and is a sign of repentance.Jesus said: “He who will believe and be baptized is saved ..” Mark 16: 16. Jesus showed by his example that baptisms for repentance were accepted by John; so be baptized as Jesus commanded (John 3: 1-8).
John explained: “I baptize you in water for repentance, but he who follows me is stronger than me; I am not worthy to bear His shoes; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire ”(Matthew 3:11).

Warnings

The sinner's prayer is not a substitute for baptism. Baptism is what God chose as a sign of repentance. He does not approve of substitutions. (See Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21).
Scriptures such as Romans 10: 9 are not a reason not to be baptized. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you will be baptized the way He said. (See Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18). These Scriptures are also written for the Romans who were saved (see Romans 1: 7-8) and they followed the instructions to be saved. (See John 3: 5, Acts 2:38).
Although many preachers and Christian authors oppose water baptism, or consider it an addition. Jesus, Peter and Paul are one in this importance. You have to choose who you follow. (See Galantes 1: 6-12, Timothy 3:18, Titus 1: 9, Jude 3).
In Acts 2:22 - 36, Peter tells people about Jesus: who He is, and how He was crucified, and then He was resurrected. In verse 37, people are struck to the core, and they ask what to do.

In verse 38, Peter tells everyone to repent and be baptized. In verse 41 we are told that those who willingly received His words (Peter's) were baptized.

Those who have not yet been baptized can be categorized as follows:

1) They were not struck by the words to the very heart (they don't care);

2) They did not repent;

3) They did not believe Peter;

4) They disobeyed Peter;

5) They rebelled against Peter's words.

Indifference, non-repentance, unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion are all contrary to Jesus' wishes. Why, then, do people choose these options?
Everyone who transgresses the teaching of Christ and does not abide in it (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19) does not have God; he who abides in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. John 1: 9.
Grace is not an excuse for not being baptized. Paul commanded the Ephesians to be baptized anew, and later told them that they were saved by grace. (Acts 19: 4, Ephesians 2: 8).
The Bible is against fighting words (Psalm 56: 5, 2 Peter 3:16). You must choose what Jesus tells you to do (John 14:21).

What do you need

Plenty of water is enough to dip a person
A person who has already been baptized with water and the Holy Spirit and who will help baptize you with water
Comfortable clothes