Chapter 4 -

When is water baptism carried out?

 

 

 

 

We have already discussed how water baptism cannot save us and take us to Heaven, and that we first need a change of mind in relation to God and need to receive Jesus Christ into our life (John 1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name). Only then will we be saved, if we personally turn to Him (John 5:40).

   The sequence of water baptism is also connected with this: we first have to receive the word of God and believe in it, and water baptism will come after that. In the days of the early congregation, the order was that people first received the Gospel and then went to be baptized. We can look at this in the light of some verses from the Acts:

 

- (Acts 2:40,41) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

 

- (Acts 8:5, 6,12) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.

6  And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

 

- (Acts 8:35-39) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus.

36  And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?

37  And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

- (Acts 9:17,18) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.

 

- (Acts 10:44,47,48) While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

- (Acts16:13-15) And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women which resorted thither.

14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.

15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she sought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

 

- (Acts 16:30-34) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.

32  And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

 

- (Acts 18:5,8) And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

8  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

 

- (Acts 19:1-5) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2  He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?  And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3  And he said to them, To what then were you baptized? And they said, To John’s baptism.

4  Then said Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.