Faith and repentance are the first steps we must follow in God’s plan of salvation. However, scripture teaches us that there are additional steps that follow these first two.

• Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore leaving (going forth from) the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

The above scripture reveals to us that after repentance and faith, the next step in the foundational doctrine of salvation is the doctrine of baptisms. Let’s examine that next step, being baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. First, we should be baptized because it is a direct command of Jesus Christ.
   1. Jesus specifically commands baptism in Mark 16:15-16, “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.’” (NLT)
   2. He directly links baptism to salvation by stating that those who respond to the gospel by believing and being baptized will be saved.
2. Second, we should be baptized because it is part of the “new birth” experience – it is part of our spiritual birth of “water and Spirit.”
   1. In the following verses, notice how water baptism is connected with receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) in the scriptural plan of salvation.
   
   

   Water	Spirit
   John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water…”	”… and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
   Titus 3:5, "... He saved us by the washing of regeneration..."	"... and renewing of the Holy Ghost..."
   Acts 2:38, "... be baptized every one of you..."	"... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
   Acts 19:5-6, "... they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus..."	"... and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them..."

   
   
   2. The scriptural record clearly reveals that water baptism is an integral, indispensable part of the new birth experience of “water and Spirit.”
3. Third, we should be baptized because it is the scriptural example set for us by the apostles. The following scriptures reveal how the apostles actually obeyed the command of Jesus.
   
   

   What was preached...	...What happened
   Acts 2:38-41 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…	…Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…”
   Acts 8:12 – “But 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 8:35-36 – “Then Philip opened his mouth… and preached unto him Jesus…	…they came unto a certain water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”
   Acts 9:17-18 – “And Ananias…entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost…	…And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith, and arose and was baptized.”
   Acts 10:44-48 – “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word…	…Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord..."
   Acts 16:29-33 – “Then he [the keeper of the prison] …came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, …and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house…	…And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

   
   
4. Fourth, we should be baptized because baptism is part of our cleansing from sin. Baptism plays a role in bringing us remission of our sins.
   • Acts 22:16 – “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
   • Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
   • Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
   1. Remission of sins is fully accomplished when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
   2. In Luke chapter 24, Jesus instructed His disciples, “…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The apostles understood that Jesus was referring to water baptism when He spoke of remission of sins. (Compare Luke 24:47 with Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16.)
   3. Note the amazing parallel between the command of Jesus Christ just before His ascension and the Apostle Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.
   
   
5. Fifth, we should be baptized because baptism identifies us as being buried with Jesus Christ.
   1. In the sixth chapter of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul describes baptism as a burial (a complete and total covering).
      • Romans 6:3-4 – “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
   2. Just as repentance represents the “death” of the “old man”, so baptism represents the “burial”. After we have repented and the “carnal man” has “died”, we must “bury” the “carnal man” so that a new man can be born into eternal life!
      • Romans 6:4 – “Therefore 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.”
      • Col. 2:12 – “Buried 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.”
6. Sixth, we should be baptized because it marks us as recipients of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus.
   1. God established a covenant (pact, contract, agreement) with Abraham and the descendants of Abraham’s son, Isaac. This covenant, which produced the nation of Israel, dictated that Abraham and his male descendants be circumcised as a mark or seal of the covenant that existed between them and God. (Genesis 17:9-14)
   2. Jesus announced the coming of a “new covenant” or testament (Luke 22:20). In Colossians 2:11, the Apostle Paul tells us that this new covenant does not dictate the outward cutting away of physical flesh, but the inward cutting away of the sin of the heart.
      • Col. 2:11-13 – “In whom (Christ Jesus) also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried 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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”
      • Romans 2:29 – “… circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter…”
   3. Paul states that just as circumcision was the mark of the old covenant, so water baptism is the mark of the new covenant. Water baptism signifies that we are partakers of the new covenant with Jesus Christ.
   4. Paul reminds us that faith is also required in this new covenant of spiritual circumcision. Abraham was justified by faith and not by works (Romans 4:1-8, 13-25) yet God still required that Abraham take the mark of circumcision. We also are justified by grace through faith and not of works, yet God still requires that we take the mark of baptism. (Mark 16:16)
   5. Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ distinguishes us as legal beneficiaries of the new covenant.

According to the Bible, there are specific things a person should do before being baptized.

• Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms…”

1. First, we must believe (or have faith) in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is closely linked in scripture to faith and believing.
   • Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
   • Acts 8:12 – “But 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.”
   • Col. 2:12 – “Buried 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.”
2. Second, we must repent from our sins and turn toward God with a sincere heart.
   • Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   • Luke 24:47 – “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name …”
3. Third, we must confess with our mouth that we believe the gospel and that we are turning away from sin and turning toward Jesus Christ.
   • Matthew 10:32 – “(Jesus said) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
   • Romans 10:9-10 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
   • 1 John 4:15 – “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
   • Acts 8:36-38 – “And 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? And 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. And 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. Fourth, we should have some understanding of the doctrine of baptism. We need to have a basic knowledge of the scriptural teachings concerning water baptism, including an understanding of why and how we are to be baptized and what baptism does for us.
   1. Although the scripture does not reveal everything that the Ethiopian eunuch was taught before he was baptized, we know that Philip must have given him some teaching on the subject. The Bible says that after Philip preached “Jesus” to him, the eunuch responded by saying, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36)
   2. This same eagerness to be buried with Christ in water baptism should be present within the hearts of all who repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and seek after God.
5. Fifth, we should be baptized even if we have already received the Holy Spirit.
   1. The Apostle Peter was sent by God to preach to the Italian Centurion, Cornelius. While Peter preached the gospel, the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and his gentile household. Even though they had just been filled with the Spirit, they were still commanded by Peter to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ.
      • Acts 10:44-48 – “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision (Jewish Christians) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed (pled) they him to tarry certain days.”