I. WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Romans 6:4:” Therefore we were buried with Him through

baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life”.
 The word baptism comes from the Greek verb “baptizo”
meaning to dip, to immerse.
 Baptism symbolizes one’s identification with Christ in death,
burial, and resurrection.
 Baptism describes the experience of a believer from initial
acceptance of Christ to initiation into the Christian
community.
 It is also a public declaration of one’s inward faith, a
commitment of good conscience toward God.
 Baptism is the foundation of the Christian life.
Romans 6:1-8; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5; I Peter 3:20-21.

II. WHY SHOULD WE GET BAPTIZED?

1. Wrong reasons:

 To have new clothes or organize a party for your honour;

 To do like everybody without understanding the meaning of
baptism;
 To obtain a post in the church;
 By curiosity;
 To fulfil a religious ritual that we do not understand;
 To get married or sometimes just to obey to your spiritual
authorities.

2. Good reasons:

 To obey to the word of our Lord Jesus;

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  To conform yourself to the perfect will of God;
 To not lose your salvation;
 To publicly declare your inward faith and your commitment to
follow Jesus;
 To have an experience with the Holy Spirit through the
baptism of water;
 To conform yourself to the apostles and to the first Christians
of the early Church;
 To access to a new level in your spiritual life;
 To take part to the Holy Communion;
 To identify yourself to the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.

III. WHO CAN BAPTIZE?

Matthew 28:19:” Go therefore and make disciples of all

the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
In this command, called the Great Commission, Jesus,
speaking to His disciples, ordered all of them to go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in His name.
Therefore, every Christian can baptize. Example: Ananias
(Acts 9:10-18).

IV. WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED?

Acts 8: 36-38: ”36Now as they went down the road, they

came to some water. And the eunuch said: “See, here
is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37Then 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.” 38So he commanded
the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the

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 eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized
him.”
Given that we get baptized in the name of the person in whom
we believed, only those who believed in Jesus Christ and
received Him as their personal Lord and Saviour may be
baptized.

V. WHERE CAN WE BE BAPTIZED?

Acts 8: 36-38: ”36Now as they went down the road, they

came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here
is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37Then 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.” 38So he commanded
the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the
eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized
him.”
We can be baptized anywhere where it is possible to be
completely immersed into water. It might be in a swimming
pool, a lake, a river, etc.
Luc 3:3; Acts 8:26-39.

VI. WHEN CAN WE BE BAPTIZED?

There is no specific hour at which we should be baptized. As

long as the person willing to be baptized believed in Jesus
Christ and, through appropriate teachings, understands the
meaning of baptism, s/he may be baptized.

VII. FALSE BAPTISMS

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 False baptisms are those that are not biblical due to their
formula (name used for the baptism) and/or their method
(way of doing things).
 Baptism of babies: they are unconscious of this commitment
toward God.
 Baptism of unbelievers: people who did not believe in Jesus
as being the Son of God and do not acknowledge Him as their
Lord and Saviour.
 Baptism on behalf of dead people (I Corinthians 15:29).
 Sprinkling baptism, Jumping over fire, Going under the local
church’s flag or Going under the spiritual leader’s legs: those
kinds of baptism do not fulfil the condition of being immersed
into water.
 Being dipped three times into water: it is a false baptism since
we die once and we resuscitate (come to life again) only once
with Christ.
VIII. THE FORMULA OF BAPTISM
Matthew 28:19:” Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
Acts 2:38:”Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let
every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit”.
Some baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit according to Matthew 28:19 and some in the
name of Jesus according to the apostles
 Those who baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit are not wrong, as long as they do this by
obedience to Jesus’ command and by immersion after the
person to be baptized believed in Jesus Christ.
 The apostles used to baptize in Jesus’ name because they
were living in a time and context where Jesus’ authority was

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 not acknowledged: the Jews used to believe in the Father, in
the Holy Spirit but not in the Son who brings salvation.

IX. TYPES OF BAPTISM

 The baptism of repentance: given by John Baptist to

prepare the way of the Messiah. It’s an out of date baptism
since the Messiah has already come. (Matthew 3:11).
 The baptism of Moses: that is, when the people of Israel
crossed the Red Sea under the authority of Moses who was a
type of Christ in the Old Testament. All those who went out of
Egypt (the World) to enter into Canaan Land (the Promise
Land) should be baptized under the authority of the one in
whom they believed. It is also an out of date baptism. (I
Corinthians 10:1-2).
 The baptism of the Holy Spirit: it is a second experience
with the Holy Spirit after having received Him when you
believed in Jesus Christ (in-dwelling; John 20:19-23). It is the
in-filling of the Holy Spirit that enables you to be a witness of
Jesus (Acts 1:8). This baptism is commonly followed by the
evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). Jesus is the one
who baptize with the Holy Spirit.
 The baptism of fire: that is, when you endure suffering for
Jesus’ sake. Jesus suffered by dying on the cross and every
disciple that truly follows Jesus is entitled to undergo this
baptism since there is no follower that is greater than his
master. Jesus did not only promise power but he also
predicted persecution (John 16:1-4; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:1).
 The baptism in the Body of Christ: is the fact of becoming a
member of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13).
X. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BAPTISM AND SALVATION
Baptism doesn’t have the power to save you. Otherwise, the
criminal who was crucified with Jesus wouldn’t have gone to

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 heaven since he didn’t have time to be baptized (Luke 23:39-
43). We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
However, refusing deliberately to be baptized may make you
lose your salvation since “he who believes and is baptized will
be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”
(Mark 16:16).
Baptism can save you only if you have faith. There are some
sincere people who believed in the Lord and were willing to be
baptized but didn’t have the opportunity to do so. They will be
saved.
But people who had the opportunity to be baptized and
deliberately refused to do so cancel their salvation.
Faith is the essence of baptism. Baptism is the outward
declaration of your inward faith.
Acts 2:38-42.
XI. RELATIONSHIP BAPTISM AND THE HOLY COMMUNION
I Corinthians 11: 20-34.
The Holy Communion is a holy meal made up of unleavened
bread and wine. The bread symbolises the body of Christ and
the wine is an image of the blood of Christ. It is a sacred meal
that may bless or curse the one who eats it, according to
his/her consecration. The one who lives in sin while partaking
to the Holy Communion may catch illness, infirmities or even
die. A Christian who refuses to be baptized disobeys God and
therefore lives into sin and may not participate to the Lord’s
Supper.
That’s why, in the early church, people used to be baptized
before them to take part to the Holy Meal. (Acts 2:40-42).
In summary, baptism is the door by which you are allowed to
partake to the Holy Communion. However, if after being
baptized you keep on living an unholy life, you cannot
participate to the Lord’s Supper because the baptism is not a
certificate of holiness.

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XII. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BAPTISM AND THE BODY OF
CHRIST
The Body of Christ represents all the Christians around the
world, both alive and dead. The Universal Church represents
all the local churches around the world (to not be mistaken
with the Catholic Church which is said to be the Universal
Church).
Since the Body of Christ is made up of all the Christians
around the world, the baptism allows you to be accepted and
acknowledged as a member of a previous local church in all
the churches around the world.

XIII. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BAPTISM AND THE LOCAL

CHURCH
Acts 2:42-47: “42 And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread, and in prayer. 43 Then fear came upon every soul,
and many wonders and signs were done through the
apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together and had
all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking of the bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising
God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
The local church is the visible part of the Body of Christ which
is invisible. The local church represents all the Christians who
gather together in a particular place. The local church is
conducted by ministers of God whereas the Body of Christ is
conducted by Jesus Himself.

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 Baptism allows you to be acknowledged as a member of a
local church. After being baptized, it is important to exercise
your ministry (to serve God) in a local church.
XIV. LIFE BEFORE BAPTISM
Before being baptized, you must have experience the new
birth through the word of God and the Holy Spirit. In other
words, you must have received Jesus Christ as your personal
Lord and Saviour. You must get rid of your former way of
living. You must be ready to commit yourself to Christ for the
rest of your life. You must die and come to life again with Him
spiritually before you to symbolise it through the baptism.
Acts 2:37
XV. LIFE AFTER BAPTISM
Matthew 26:41:”Watch and pray, lest you enter into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.”
After the baptism, the enemy attempts to bring us back in the
world to make our baptism inefficient. That’s why you have to
keep watch and pray for you not to fall into temptation
because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
After baptism, one must commit himself to the local church
and serve in a department because service brings forth
spiritual growth. You must also win souls for Christ and lead
them to baptism because we are baptized to baptize. You
must as well spend time into prayer, seeking the face of God
for you to discover the unique plan He has for your life.
After baptism, you must live a life of sanctification and
persevere till the end so that you may take part to the Rapture
and see the one in whom you believed.
Romans 6:4; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
XVI. RELATIIONSHIP BETWEEN BAPTISM OF WATER AND
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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 Some people are baptized (filled) with the Holy Spirit before,
some after and some while they are being baptized with
water.
Examples:
1. Cornelius: Acts 10:44-48. It is just after Peter had preached
the gospel to him and that he had received Jesus as his Lord
and Saviour that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke
in tongues. And after that, he got baptized in water.
2. John Baptist’s disciples: Acts 19:1-6. They were first
baptized in water and, after Paul had laid hands on them, they
were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues and
prophesied
The Holy Spirit is a lover of baptism. That’s why, anyone
who was seeking for Him while not yet being baptized may
expect for His manifestation on the day of baptism with water.
XVII. PEOPLE WHO ARE EXEMPT FROM BAPTISM
They are men and women who wanted to be baptized but
didn’t have the means or the opportunity to do so (Luke
23:39-43). They are people who believed in Jesus but never
found someone to baptize them or died shortly after their
conversion.
However, people who had the means and the opportunity to
be baptized but refused to do so are to blame since it is
written, “he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
XVIII. OUT OF DATE BAPTISMS
Those are baptisms that were good in their formula and
practice but are no longer acceptable today.
Examples:
1. The baptism of repentance: given by John Baptist to
prepare the way of the Messiah. It’s an out of date baptism
since the Messiah has already come. (Matthew 3:11).
2. The baptism of Moses: that is, when the people of Israel
crossed the Red Sea under the authority of Moses who was a

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 type of Christ in the Old Testament. All those who went out of
Egypt (the World) to enter into Canaan Land (the Promise
Land) should be baptized under the authority of the one in
whom they believed. It is also an out of date baptism. (I
Corinthians 10:1-2).
It is an out of date baptism since Moses and the crossing of
the Red Sea were just a shadow of the New Testament. Now
that the reality (Jesus Christ) appeared, the shadow must
disappear.
XIX. HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE BE BAPTIZED?
We may be baptized only once provided we have been
baptized according to the biblical principles, as it is written
“there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).
However, we may be baptized more than once if the first time
we were baptized while being unbeliever or baby or by
sprinkling… in other words, when the first baptism was a false
one.
We can see in Acts 19:1-6 that Paul baptized John Baptist’s
disciple’s in the name of Jesus Christ after they had received
the baptism of repentance. This shows that we may be
baptized a second time if the first baptism did not comply with
the biblical principles related to baptism.
XX. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BAPTISM AND DELIVERANCE
Given that the Holy Spirit loves baptism, it is obvious that He
will manifest Himself through healings, deliverance and
miracles. That’s why the person to be baptized must not only
expect to be immersed into water but also to experience the
manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

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