BAPTISM

- As administered by John Mt 3:5-12; Joh 3:23; Ac 13:24; 19:4 - Sanctioned by Christ's submission to it Mt 3:13-15; Lu 3:21 - Adopted by Christ Joh 3:22; 4:1,2 - Appointed an ordinance of the Christian church Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15,16 - To be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Mt 28:19 - Water, the outward and visible sign in Ac 8:36; 10:47 - Regeneration, the inward and spiritual grace of Joh 3:3,5,6; Ro 6:3,4,11 - Remission of sins, signified by Ac 2:38; 22:16 - Unity of the Church effected by 1Co 12:13; Ga 3:27,28 - Confession of sin necessary to Mt 3:6 - Repentance necessary to Ac 2:38 - Faith necessary to Ac 8:37; 18:8 - There is but one Eph 4:5 - ADMINISTERED TO . Individuals Ac 8:38; 9:18 . Households Ac 16:15; 1Co 1:16 . Only to professing believers Ac 2:38; Mt 3:6; Mr 16:16; Ac 8:12,37; 10:47,48 . Scriptures supporting infant baptism Pr 30:6 - Administered by immersing the whole body of the person in water Mt 3:16; Ac 8:38,39 - Emblematic of the influences of the Holy Spirit Mt 3:11; Tit 3:5 - Typified 1Co 10:2; 1Pe 3:20,21

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The holy ordinance by which persons are admitted as members of the Christian community. It is administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and is a visible and public profession of faith in Christ and his salvation, of vital union with him, of the obligation to live a new life according to his precepts and in his service, and of the expectation of sharing in his glorious and heavenly immortality. It is not by any means to be regarded as a regenerating ordinance, though significant of regeneration. It was established in the Christian church by Christ and his apostles, and is binding on his followers to the end of time. The use of water in this ordinance is grounded in part on its qualities as the great element of purification, and on the rites of the ancient dispensation, in which "water and blood: were the divinely appointed symbols of moral renovation and atonement.

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BAPTISM. → JOHN'S Mt 3:5-8,11,13-16; 21:25; Mr 1:4,5,8-10; 11:30; Lu 3:7,8,12,21; 7:29,30; 20:4; Joh 1:25,26,28,31,33; 3:23; 10:40; Ac 1:5,22; 10:37; 11:16; 19:3,4 → CHRISTIAN Mt 28:19; Mr 16:16; Joh 3:5,22; 4:1,2; Ac 1:5,22; 2:38,41; 8:12,13,16,36-38; 9:18; 10:46-48; 16:14,15,33; 18:8,25; 19:4,5; 22:16; Ro 6:3,4; 1Co 1:13-17; 10:1,2; 12:13; 15:29; Ga 3:27; Eph 4:5; 5:26; Col 2:12; Heb 6:2; 1Pe 3:18,21 → OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Isa 44:3; Joe 2:28,29; Zec 12:10; Mt 3:11,16; Mr 1:8; Lu 3:16,22; 24:49; Joh 1:32,33; 3:5; Ac 1:5; 2:1-4,38,41; 8:15-17; 10:38,44,45,47; 11:15,16; 19:2,6; 1Co 12:13; Tit 3:5,6; 1Pe 3:20,21
* See HOLY SPIRIT

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It is well known that ablution or bathing was common in most ancient nations as a preparation for prayers and sacrifice or as expiatory of sin. In warm countries this connection is probably even closer than in colder climates; and hence the frequency of ablution in the religious rites throughout the East. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the rite or ordinance by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship. Baptism signifies-- A confession of faith in Christ; A cleansing or washing of the soul from sin; A death to sin and a new life in righteousness. The mode and subjects of baptism being much-controverted subjects, each one can best study them in the works devoted to those questions. The command to baptize was co-extensive with the command to preach the gospel. All nations were to be evangelized; and they were to be made disciples, admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, by baptism. (Matthew 28:19) It appears to have been a kind of transition from the Jewish baptism to the Christian. The distinction between John’s baptism and Christian baptism appears in the case of Apollos, (Acts 18:26,27) and of the disciples at Ephesus mentioned (Acts 19:1-6) We cannot but draw from this history the inference that in Christian baptism there was a deeper spiritual significance.

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baptism. Baptism, n. a washing or sprinkling with water, a holy ordinance and sign of admission into Christ's Church

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Bap″tism (�), n. [[OE. baptim, baptem, OE. baptesme, batisme, F. baptême, L. baptisma, fr. Gr. �, fr. � to baptize, fr. � to dip in water, akin to � deep, Skr. gāh to dip, bathe, v. i.]] The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.