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The New Testament Church 0002 - Lesson 6

Quiz: 
The New Testament Church 0002 - Lesson 6 Quiz

Its Ordinances (Continued)

  4. THE PROPER CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM
    1. Limited to Those of Understanding
      1. Baptism is only for those of maturity and understanding (Acts 8:12).
      2. This will be further proved in the next section where it will be shown that the baptized must first believe. No infant can believe on the Lord.
    2. Limited to Believers
      1. The Lord’s commission to the disciples
        1. Matthew 28:19-20
          1. Teaching them – “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19)
          2. Baptizing them – “baptizing them” (Matthew 28:19)
          3. Teaching them – “teaching them” (Matthew 28:20)
        2. Mark 16:15-16
          1. Preaching – “preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15)
          2. Belief – “he that believeth” (Mark 16:16)
          3. Baptism – “and is baptized” (Mark 16:16)
      2. The ministry of the apostles
        1. Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41)
          1. Peter’s message (Acts 2:36)
          2. The concern of the Jews (Acts 2:37)
          3. Peter’s response (Acts 2:38)
          4. The baptism of the Jews (Acts 2:41)
        2. Philip with the Samaritans (Acts 8:12)
        3. Philip and Simon (Acts 8:13)
        4. Philip and the Eunuch (Acts 8:36-37)
          1. The eunuch’s question (Acts 8:36)
          2. Philip’s requirement (Acts 8:37)
          3. The eunuch’s confirmation (Acts 8:37)
        5. The apostle Paul (Acts 9:6, 18)
        6. Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:34-48)
          1. Peter’s preaching (Acts 10:34-43)
          2. The conversion of the hearers (Acts 10:44)
          3. The baptism of the converts (Acts 10:46-48)
        7. Paul and Lydia (Acts 16:13-15)
          1. Paul’s teaching (Acts 16:13)
          2. Lydia’s faith (Acts 16:14)
          3. Lydia’s baptism (Acts 16:15)
        8. Paul, Silas and the jailer (Acts 16:29-33)
          1. The jailer’s question (Acts 16:29-30)
          2. Paul’s message (Acts 16:31-32)
          3. The jailer’s baptism (Acts 16:33)
        9. The Corinthians (Acts 18:8)
  5. THE PROPER AUTHORITY FOR BAPTISM
    1. Given to John (Mark 11:27-33)
      1. This is not stated directly in the passage, but seems obvious that the Lord was signifying John’s authority for baptism came from heaven.
      2. In addition to this, it would appear that the Lord’s baptism would remove any doubts (Matthew 3:13-17).
    2. Given to the Apostles
      1. To the eleven (Matthew 28:19-20)
      2. To Paul (1 Corinthians 1:13-16)
    3. Given to the Churches (1 Corinthians 11:2)
      1. The ordinances were given to the apostles.
      2. As the age of the apostles would be passing away, the apostles delivered the ordinances to the churches.
    4. Disclaimer
      1. This is a subject matter of which we must proceed with extreme caution.
      2. The authority as set forth in this class and in these notes follows scriptural principles and does not contradict the Scriptures, but we must admit that there are no verses that specifically signify that someone outside of the authority of the local New Testament could not baptize.
      3. This is also further complicated by other points.
        1. Who defines what is or is not a New Testament church? If this is defined specifically in Scripture, where may the checklist be found?
        2. How far back should we trace the authority to make sure our baptism is correct?
  6. WATER BAPTISM AND THE AGE OF GRACE
    1. The Arguments Against
      1. The other baptism
        1. Baptism planted us with Christ into His death (Romans 6:3-7).
        2. Baptism put us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
        3. Baptism put us in Christ (Galatians 3:27).
        4. Baptism buried us with Christ and is connected to our faith in the operation of God (Colossians 2:12).
      2. The commissions of water baptism
        1. John was sent to baptize (John 1:33).
        2. The eleven were sent to baptize (Matthew 28:19-20).
        3. Paul was not sent to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:17).
      3. The references decline
        1. It was mentioned with some prominence in the gospels.
        2. It was mentioned with some prominence in the beginnings of the church.
        3. It is mentioned very little by Paul.
      4. Paul’s apparent lack of concern for water baptism
        1. Paul was thankful that he was not sent to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:14).
        2. Paul couldn’t even remember if he had baptized any others (1 Corinthians 1:16).
    2. The Proofs For
      1. The commission given to the apostles seems to have been a reason to have the Lord’s help unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
      2. Paul himself was baptized (Acts 9:18).
      3. Baptisms were still frequent after the calling of the apostle to the gentiles.
        1. Cornelius (Acts 10)
        2. Lydia (Acts 16)
        3. The jailer (Acts 16)
        4. The believers at Corinth (Acts 18)
      4. Paul baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14-16).
        1. Crispus (1 Corinthians 1:14; Acts 18:8)
          1. His household was also baptized.
          2. Many other Corinthians were baptized.
          3. We do not know if Paul administered these baptisms, but it would be likely that he did.
        2. Gaius (1 Corinthians 1:14)
        3. The household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16)
        4. Maybe others (1 Corinthians 1:16)
      5. No verse anywhere signifies that water baptism would cease.
      6. The apostle Paul had a special commission.
        1. He was a church planter.
          1. As a church planter, he was concerned with preaching the gospel to those who had never heard.
          2. He baptized some, but this was not his emphasis.
          3. This would have been the emphasis of those left behind to grow the work.
        2. He wrote specifically to believers.
          1. He did not need to emphasize water baptism because he was writing to believers concerning the doctrinal and practical truths they would put in place after their salvation.
          2. This would also explain why Paul spoke very little of the torments of hell.
      7. Refuting the hyperdispensationalists
        1. The argument concerning Paul’s thankfulness
          1. Those who oppose water baptism today do so partly because they say Paul would not have been thankful concerning his few baptisms if it was meant to continue. In other words, if it was meant to continue, Paul would have been thankful to have had more baptisms than the others.
          2. This argument falls apart with these same people concerning the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). If the first point is true, then it must also be true that Paul would not have been thankful to speak with more tongues if it would be ceasing.
          3. Besides all this, the apostle Paul admonishes the believers to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
        2. The argument concerning Paul’s lack of baptisms
          1. Those who reject water baptism for the age of grace will often speak of its importance during the time of the gospels.
          2. They will then say that because Paul did not do much baptizing, it was no longer important during his ministry.
          3. Once again these people contradict themselves and more importantly the Scriptures.
            1. They say baptism was important during the life of Christ.
            2. It was no longer important in the ministry of Paul because he did not do many baptisms.
            3. Yet, we find from the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus did not baptize at all (John 3:22; John 4:1-2). The baptisms credited to Him were only done under His authority by His disciples.
          4. Like Paul, the Lord Jesus was not “sent” to baptize.
            1. He came to give His life a ransom (Matthew 20:28).
            2. He was sent to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
            3. He came that the world might be saved (John 3:17).
Andrew Ray
Daily Proverb

Proverbs 16:19

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
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