Baptism's Biblical Background

OLD TESTAMENT	Genesis 17; Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 14:8-9 (w/Colossians 2:9-12)
JOHN'S BAPTISM	Luke 3:2-16; Acts 19:1-5
JESUS' MINISTRY	Matthew 3:13-16
JESUS' TEACHING	Matthew 28:19
THE EARLY CHURCH	Acts 2:36-41; 8:35-38; 22:6-16
PAUL'S TEACHING	Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 6:1-11
PETER'S TEACHING	1 Peter 3:18-22
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH	"In Acts we are told that people were baptized as soon as they were converted. This was feasible in the early Christian community, where most converts came from Judaism or had been influenced by it, and thus had a basic understanding of the meaning of Christian life and proclamation. But, as the Church became increasingly Gentile, it was necessary to require a period of preparation, trial, and instruction prior to baptism." By the beginning of the third century, this period lasted three years, culminating with an Easter morning baptism service. - Historian, Justo L. Gonzalez
BAPTISM IN SALVATION (have been, are being, will be)	1 Peter 1:3-9
Receiving Christ's Gift of Redemption	Ephesians 2:8
Living in the Reality of Baptism	1 Corinthians 1:18
Anticipating the Coming of Christ	Hebrews 9:28

SUMMARY

The Old Testament paints us a picture of total dedication and cleansing that must shape our hearts as we embrace baptism.

John reveals the essence of baptism as transformation.

In the baptism of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

• We bask in the reality of new beginnings.
• We erect a bethel (Genesis 35:7) to bring us continually back to God's gift of relationship to Him.
• We stand before our God, our Church, our family and friends, and the world, to say my sins are forgiven through the precious blood of Jesus Christ and now I press on in the power of The Holy Spirit toward a life-long pursuit of relational fellowship with The Father.