Resources

Study

Work through what the church teaches, with the Scripture behind it close at hand. Tap a reference to read it right where you are. The creeds, confessions and catechisms here are historic and faithful, and good to read, but they are not all part of what this church professes.

To learn what we profess, see Our Beliefs.

Study Aids Creeds Confessions Catechisms

Choose a confession

Choose a chapter

Print this

Chapter 29

Of Baptism

1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with Him, in His death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into Him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:3-5 KJV Read in context

³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Colossians 2:12 KJV Read in context

¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Galatians 3:27 KJV Read in context

²⁷For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Mark 1:4 KJV Read in context

⁴John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Acts 22:16 KJV Read in context

¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Romans 6:4 KJV Read in context

⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2. Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.

Mark 16:16 KJV Read in context

¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 8:36, 37 KJV Read in context

³⁶And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 2:41 KJV Read in context

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

Acts 8:12 KJV Read in context

¹²But 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 18:8 KJV Read in context

⁸And 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.

3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19, 20 KJV Read in context

¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 8:38 KJV Read in context

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

4. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.

Matthew 3:16 KJV Read in context

¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

John 3:23 KJV Read in context

²³And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

← Chapter 28 Chapter 30 →

King James Version (1769 text), public domain. Text from eBible.org and the CrossWire Bible Society.