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Bible Study - Foundations of Faith
Baptism
What is a Sacrament?
At this point in our study of the Bible, it is also important to know what the word sacrament means. It is quite simple. A sacrament is:
- a sacred or holy act;
- ordained or "put into place" by God;
- that which has something visible present in this holy act;
- that in which God offers, gives, and seals (assures) to us, the blessing of the forgiveness if sins, that Christ Jesus earned for us through His death and Resurrection.
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism fits this definition perfectly.
- Baptism is a sacred, holy or extra special rite, function, and responsibility that God has given to His Church on earth.
- God himself began the rite of baptism, both by His command (Matthew 28:19) and by the baptism of his Son, Jesus (John 3:22ff).
- Baptism has something visible involved in it. It is the water, ordinary water, sweet or salty, clear or polluted, which is applied to the one being baptized. "Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit'" (John 3:5).
- Baptism, the Bible explains, offers, gives, and assures to the one being baptized, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins that Jesus purchased on the cross when He died and rose again. Acts 2:38 says, "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
No doubt some, perhaps even most of us, have been baptized. Perhaps those who have not been baptized would like to learn more about this gift from God and how to receive it. This Bible teaching lesson is for each of us.
This is what the Bible teaches about the baptism of Jesus and how He set the example of baptism for us. "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:13-17).
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