Christian Baptism is a sovereign New Covenant ordinance of the Lord in which repentant believers submit themselves to immersion in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit at the hands of an authorized disciple. This act is a sign of believer’s faith in the Lordship of Christ; of union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection; of being grafted into Christ; of remission of sins; of walking in newness of life; and of their belonging to the new people of God — the true Israel. It is also an emblem of burial and cleansing; signifying death to the old life of unbelief, purification from the pollution of sin. Baptism is therefore a pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership.
1. sovereign New Covenant ordinance of the Lord = Mathew 28:19
2. repentant believers = Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:36,37; Acts 18:8; Romans 5:1; Gal 3:26-27; 1 Peter 3:21
3. immersion in water = Mathew 3:16; Mark 1:9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Rom 6:3-4
4. in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit = Mathew 28:19
5. submit themselves to/at the hands of an authorized disciple = 1 Cor 4:1; Titus 1:5-7 (elders who are responsible for the stewardship of the ordinances have the authority to delegate the performance of ordinances)
6. a sign of one’s faith in… Christ = Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:36,37; Acts 18:8; Acts 19:5; James 2:15-20
7. union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection = Romans 6:3-6; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:12
8. grafted into Christ = Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; Gal 3:27
9. remission of sins = Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21
10. walking in newness of life = Rom 6:4
11. their belonging to the new people of God — the true Israel = Rom 2:28-29; Rom 4:16; Gal 3:7; Mark 1:4-5
12. an emblem of burial and cleansing… purification from the pollution of sin = Hebrews 10:22
13. a pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership = Acts 2:38-39; Acts 2:41
