By Kevin L. Ziegler, evangelist

Baptism is an essential part of the Gospel (Acts 8:35-36)

• Jesus said so: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16
• The Apostles preached it: (Chapters of conversions in Acts 2,8,9,10,16 & 22)

Baptism is a burial (Acts 8:38-39)

• Burial implies three things
  • The thing to be buried – money, wires, pipes, pets
  • The thing buried in – in the ground, in water, in a pocket, in a purse
  • The act of burying is NEVER different – it is ALWAYS a covering
• Jesus walked 65 miles to be immersed

Baptism is for a repentant believer (Acts 8:34-36)

• No mention of infant baptism in the New Testament
• The 3000 on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)

Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 8:39)

• We offend Almighty God by our personal sin
• Sin separates us from God
• Sin keeps us out of heaven
• How do we get rid of this sin?
• What if a person believes his sins are removed before baptism?

Baptism is an immediate act (Acts 8:36-38)

• Conversion accounts illustrate this from the book of Acts
• There is no promise of tomorrow