Sermon Transcript
Reader's Version
What Is Baptism?Reader’s VersionSermon by Gene Simco
I heard a story about a drunk man who walked in on a baptism. The pastor, seeing him, asks, "Are you ready to find Jesus?" Maybe he didn’t realize the man was inebriated, but the drunk man shouts, “Yes, I am!”
So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him up and asks, “Brother, have you found Jesus?” The drunk man replies, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.” Surprised, the preacher dunks him again, holding him under a bit longer, then lifts him and asks, “Have you found Jesus, my brother?” Again, the man answers, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
By this time, the preacher is at his wit's end. He dunks the drunk man a third time, holding him under for 30 seconds until the man starts kicking his arms and legs. Finally, the preacher pulls him up and, desperate, asks, “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk man wipes his eyes, catches his breath, and says, “Are you sure this is where He fell in?”
We’ll pick up in John 4, where we saw Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus had referred to “living water”, which was a reference to the Holy Spirit. Now, we’re going to explore this as He is also discussed in John 3. In John 3, we find Jesus in conversation with a religious leader named Nicodemus. Let’s begin there, starting at verse 1.
John 3:1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, [born from above] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. Jesus says, “So don’t be surprised when I say to you, ‘You must be born again.’” Here, we’re seeing the concept of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Jesus is introducing something new here. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was selectively placed upon certain individuals. We see this all throughout the Old Testament—there are several figures recognized for being filled with the Spirit of God. Joseph is one of the earliest, as Pharaoh recognized God’s Spirit in him when he interpreted dreams and provided wise counsel (Genesis 41:38). Later, Bezalel is filled with the Spirit, granting him wisdom, understanding, and skill to create the intricate craftsmanship of the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 31:2-3; 35:30-31). Moses, though not explicitly described as filled with the Spirit, is guided by God’s Spirit to lead Israel through the wilderness. When the burden of leadership becomes too great, God shares Moses' Spirit with seventy elders, who then prophesy (Numbers 11:17, 25). Joshua, Moses’ successor, is described as a man “in whom is the spirit,” equipped with the Spirit of wisdom to lead Israel after Moses’ death (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9).
In the time of the Judges, the Spirit of the Lord empowers several leaders to deliver Israel. Othniel, the first judge, is filled with the Spirit to rescue Israel from oppression (Judges 3:10). Later, Gideon is empowered by the Spirit to lead Israel against the Midianites (Judges 6:34), and Jephthah receives the Spirit to battle the Ammonites (Judges 11:29). Samson experiences the Spirit’s empowerment on multiple occasions, giving him supernatural strength to confront the Philistines (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).
As Israel transitions to a monarchy, Saul is initially filled with the Spirit, enabling him to prophesy and lead. However, the Spirit later departs from him (1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 11:6; 16:14). David, who follows Saul as king, is anointed by Samuel, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him, remaining with him throughout his life (1 Samuel 16:13).
The prophets of Israel also experience the Spirit’s presence, as God empowers them to deliver His word to the people. Figures such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Daniel are each moved by the Spirit to prophesy and speak truth. Micah explicitly mentions being “filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord” to declare God’s message (Micah 3:8), while Ezekiel often experiences the Spirit lifting him and guiding him in his prophetic visions (Ezekiel 2:2). In Daniel’s case, his wisdom and understanding are attributed to “the spirit of the holy gods” by those around him, recognizing the divine source of his insight (Daniel 5:11).
These instances show the Spirit’s active role in equipping and empowering individuals for specific tasks, often related to leadership, craftsmanship, prophecy, or deliverance. In the Old Testament, the Spirit’s presence is often temporary and task-oriented, coming upon people as needed for God’s purposes.
But now, Jesus is saying that when we are "born again," we are made into a new creation. We become temples of the Holy Spirit. As we discussed when looking at worship, we no longer worship in temples made with hands; we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. And when Jesus returns, He will be the ultimate temple. So, through baptism, the Holy Spirit now resides within us.
What, then, is baptism? The Greek word for baptism is βάπτισμα (váptisma), which means “immersion,” “to dip repeatedly,” or “to submerge.” It can also mean “to cleanse by dipping or submerging,” “to wash or make clean with water,” or even “to overwhelm.” Baptism, like water, has a way of enveloping us entirely, and there’s deep symbolism in this act.
We find this symbolism in books like Colossians, 1 Corinthians, and Romans, which illustrate the concept of dying to oneself. In Colossians 2:11, it says:
Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Here, we see the concept of being "buried with Christ" through baptism and then being "raised to new life." Baptism is symbolic of dying to a life of sin and raising to a new life in Christ; it is also a foreshadowing of our future resurrection from the dead through Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul goes into detail about the resurrection, following a brief description of the gospel – important to understand before committing to baptism. He discusses the nature of our resurrection bodies and addresses the question, "What kind of bodies will we have when we’re resurrected?" He even calls it a bit of a silly question (foolish) but uses the illustration of a seed going into the ground and rising as something new. The emphasis is on transformation—a new creation. Being a new creation means that we’re made new, but it doesn’t mean we’re free to live however we please.
Paul also clarifies this in Colossians: “You were dead because of your sins… but God made you alive with Christ when He forgave all your sins.” Yet, this transformation doesn’t give us license to do whatever we want.
If we turn to Romans, starting in Romans 6, we’ll see this concept further explored.
Romans 6:1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.
When Paul talks about dying to our old lives, he means that we are leaving behind our former selves—those who pursued sin. Now, as new creations in Christ Jesus, we are called to live transformed lives. This is the symbolism of baptism and what it means to live a new life in Jesus.
Baptisms as we understand them in the New Testament have some roots in the Old Testament, though immersion back then didn’t serve the same purpose. For example, in the Greek version of the Old Testament, which the early church used, we see the Greek word for baptism used in instances like the cleansing of Naaman. Naaman, in his healing from leprosy, was instructed to dip in the river seven times (2 Kings 5). This was a cleansing, but not quite what we think of as baptism today.
In the New Testament, both Paul in 1 Corinthians and Peter in 1 Peter offer symbolic references to baptism through the Old Testament stories of Moses and Noah. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, draws a parallel between the Israelites’ journey through the Red Sea and Christian baptism. He describes how the Israelites, under Moses’ leadership, were "baptized into Moses" in the cloud and in the sea. This imagery reflects their passage from bondage in Egypt to a new life of covenant with God, similar to how baptism represents leaving behind a life of sin and entering into a new relationship with Christ.
Peter, on the other hand, uses the story of Noah as a picture of baptism in 1 Peter 3:20-21. He explains that just as Noah and his family were saved through water, so too, baptism now "saves" in a symbolic sense. For Peter, Noah’s deliverance from the floodwaters becomes a powerful illustration of salvation through baptism—not as a physical cleansing but as a pledge of a good conscience toward God. Both apostles use these Old Testament narratives to convey the profound transformation and new beginning that baptism represents in the life of a believer.
By the New Testament period, however, an understanding of baptism had begun to take shape in Rabbinic Judaism. So, while baptism wasn’t brand new, its meaning had evolved. John’s baptism, known as a "proselyte baptism," would be part of the process for converting Gentiles. For instance, a Gentile like Naaman the Syrian—if he had wanted to fully convert—would have needed to be circumcised and then immersed or “made clean,” since Gentiles were considered ceremonially unclean.
When John began baptizing, he was calling for this same type of baptism, but for the Jewish people themselves, which made it controversial. Many leaders took offense because John was essentially saying, "Yes, you’re Jewish, but you still need to repent and be made clean.” For them, this was a stinging statement, as it implied they weren’t truly saved.
We see the beginning of this ministry in Matthew 3 …
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” 4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Again, we see John’s message as an affront to the people. He’s telling them plainly that they need to repent and be made clean. This was, in part, fulfilling prophecy. We see predictions about John in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, where the prophets foretold that he would be the Messiah’s herald, preparing the way for Jesus.
John’s baptism was a baptism by water, symbolizing repentance. But Jesus would bring a baptism of both water and Spirit, returning us to the idea of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. John’s message wasn’t only about ritual—it challenged people to show proof of repentance by how they lived. He urged them not to rely solely on their heritage or religious status John’s preaching about the tree and its fruit echoes Jesus’ teaching. The idea of being baptized in fire here is most likely more about judgement considering the context and the way verse 12 closes.
To understand the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism, we can look to the book of Acts. As we saw in recent studies, Paul and Stephen both address this distinction in their speeches. For example, while in Ephesus, we see how Paul clarifies what type of baptism this is …
Acts 19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them., “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, but Jesus’ baptism includes the Holy Spirit as well. When you’re baptized "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," you experience true Christian baptism in Jesus.
Now, why did Jesus Himself get baptized? Let’s turn to Matthew 3 and continue from there.
Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. [ for we must fulfill all righteousness]” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
The answer to why Jesus was baptized is that He did it “to fulfill all righteousness.” It was a symbolic act on His part, but it also revealed the Holy Spirit and the Father—the full presence of the Trinity we’ve talked about.
In this one moment, we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together. This also points us to the One in whom we are baptized. Just as we ask who we worship and who we pray to, we also ask, “In whose name are we baptized?” The answer is the Trinity.
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is our Triune God. He is three persons, yet one essence.
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks directly about baptism. Let’s look at Matthew 28:18.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, [έθνη] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
A couple of things to note here: when we see the word έθνη (ethni), which I highlighted for you, it’s a term that can be translated as Gentiles, ethnicities, or nations. However, in this context, it's not just a geographical term but speaks to a personal reach. While Jesus says in Acts 1:8 to go to the ends of the earth, to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, it’s also about breaking down ethnic barriers. We’ve seen this repeatedly—the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. This still applies to us today. It's a breakdown of those ethnic divisions.
In the sending of the disciples in Matthew 10, Jesus instructs them to go only to the lost sheep of Israel, not even to the Samaritans. This makes that conversation with the Samaritan woman we saw last week all the more remarkable. But now, Jesus is expanding the mission. Salvation comes first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, and we are now entering that phase.
Now, we see who we are baptized in—the Trinity: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At this point, I want to address a relatively new heresy that has been circulating in recent years. It is often referred to as Oneness Pentecostalism. This heresy suggests that Jesus is the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit, thereby deconstructing the orthodox view of the Trinity. Orthodox, meaning the correct teaching upheld by the majority of Christianity, has always believed that Jesus is a part of the Trinity, one of the persons of the Trinity, which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons, one essence.
Oneness Pentecostalism contradicts orthodox Christianity by denying this understanding. Where this confusion arises is from how baptisms are described in Acts. In some places, the apostles say they are baptizing “in Jesus’ name.” Why is this? It’s due to recent events—the crucifixion. In their sermons, they often say, “You crucified Jesus” and “You rejected the Holy Spirit.” The short form of saying “in Jesus' name” likely emerged because Jesus was a new addition to the Jewish understanding of God. In the Old Testament, the people were familiar with the Father and the Holy Spirit, but the idea of Jesus as the Messiah was new and unexpected. So, when they baptized in Jesus' name, they were emphasizing that aspect of the new revelation.
However, we see this issue corrected through careful reading of the text. In Acts 8, we see Philip in Samaria, and we also read about the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch—both events continuing to break down ethnic barriers. We’ll revisit that in a moment, but before that, we see some clarification …
Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
We see here that the people had only been baptized in the name of Jesus, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. This is because they had not been baptized properly. As Jesus instructed in Matthew 28, baptism is done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Some who hold to the Pentecostal Oneness belief might claim that Matthew 28 only mentions the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as one person, but this is not true. According to the Greek, the terms used are distinct, referring to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three distinct persons but one essence.
I also want to address another heresy. Going back to Acts 19, Paul tells the people that John’s baptism was for repentance of sin, but John himself pointed to the One who would come later—Jesus. As soon as the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then, when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in other languages and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Some claim that all believers will speak in tongues upon baptism, but this is fundamentally wrong for a couple of reasons.
First, we see examples in Acts where people were baptized and did not speak in tongues. For example, in Acts 8, when the Ethiopian eunuch is baptized, he does not speak in tongues. If you look at Fortune Cookie Theology, you’ll see this point further explored.
Also, 1 Corinthians 12 is clear that not all Christians have the gift of tongues. Paul asks, "Do we all have the gift of tongues?" The answer is no. He reiterates this in 1 Corinthians 14:5, where he minimizes the importance of tongues in comparison to other gifts. He even says in 1 Corinthians 14:18, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting, I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than 10,000 words in an unknown language." Paul repeatedly makes it clear that not every Christian speaks in tongues. This point is consistent throughout his writings.
This teaching can be applied to any of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. Not all are apostles, so not all go on mission trips. Not all have the gift of tongues or prophecy. Paul emphasizes that not every believer possesses all gifts, and this includes tongues. So, the Bible provides clarity on this issue.
Now, let’s return to Matthew 28 and focus on something Jesus said that is often overlooked. We’ve already read the baptism command, but let’s look at Matthew 28:20.
Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
There are important steps on each side of baptism. Before baptism, there are certain requirements: repentance, faith, obedience, and self-denial. These are prerequisites that Scripture highlights. First, you must believe. In Romans 10, we are told that faith is essential for salvation. Second, we must confess. We must declare that Jesus is Lord.
Let’s look at the Scriptures that support this:
Romans 10:9-10
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
• 1. BELIEVE = Righteous• 2. CONFESS = Saved!
Baptism is seen as part of that confession. The Bible suggests that baptism is necessary for salvation:
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.’”
This is the ideal. However, if someone is dying and no water is available, I believe that they can still be saved by believing and confessing according to Romans 10.
Interestingly, if we look to the earliest Christian documents such as the Didache, we see that water was a part of the ideal baptism, but there was some flexibility regarding the water.
“And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.” (Didache Chapter 7 Concerning Baptism)
Note that the Didache also affirms the concept of being baptized in the name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
But, verse 10 says that we are created new in Christ Jesus for good works:
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
For those who are living, repentance is required:
• 3. REPENT – This is also part of the confession. Repentance must be sincere. We talked about the importance of moving from lip service to a lifestyle of change last week.
So, repentance is essential. It’s not just a thought; it’s an action. When Jesus was baptized, He was then tempted in the wilderness. Afterward, He came to Galilee and preached. He said, “The time promised by God has come. At last, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent of your sins and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15).
Repentance is crucial in the process. After Jesus’ baptism, He denies Himself in the wilderness, symbolizing self-denial. In the Gospel of Mark, after feeding the 4,000, the disciples begin to doubt Jesus. He heals a blind man in a parabolic way—initially, the man sees only partially, then fully, symbolizing the disciples’ journey of understanding. Jesus then begins predicting His sufferings, but Peter, confused, reprimands Him for saying such things. Jesus turns, looks at His disciples, and rebukes Peter, saying, “Get away from me, Satan. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” And then, in Mark 8:34, Jesus says:
Mark 8:34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [(eternal) life] 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?
So, we see some prerequisites to baptism here. Again, belief is implied in this process. Deny yourself—this represents repentance. Take up your cross; in other words, be like Jesus. But does that mean we will all be killed or martyred for Jesus? Maybe, maybe not. However, in Revelation, we see that the martyrs, those who are beheaded for Jesus, are the first to rise from the dead and rule with Him.
In the early church, martyrdom was seen as a noble thing, even a blessing, in a way. This stands in stark contrast to the prosperity gospel preached today, which often promises comfort and wealth instead of sacrifice.
The main point here is that we must not deny Jesus. We must confess Him with our lives. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul? Remember, the world is evil, and the passage continues by emphasizing the importance of not denying Jesus.
If we continue reading in Mark 8, starting at verse 38, we read:
Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
This passage highlights the importance of maintaining our confession of Jesus, even in the face of opposition. So, baptism also carries with it the responsibility of obedience.
In the book of Revelation, we see that cowards are excluded from the new heavens and the new earth. In Revelation 12, we read about Michael, the angel, and the defeat of the dragon in verse 10: "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, 'It has come at last—salvation and power and the kingdom of God and the authority of Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to the earth, the one who accuses them before our God, day and night.' And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." This passage shows that we must not trade Jesus for the temporary pleasures of this life. If we deny Him, it is the opposite of confession.
You might be starting to see the disconnect between the early church's understanding of baptism and what we see in modern practice. Today, we often just put people in the water without ensuring they fully understand what baptism means. We have altar calls where people respond emotionally, but this emotional response is not always a genuine, thoughtful commitment. Many people are not fully informed about what baptism requires—repentance, belief, and obedience. They might not hear the full gospel message or be asked whether they are truly ready to obey and repent. John the Baptist's challenge, "Prove it," is often missing from today's practices.
Unfortunately, this approach yields poor results. Some churches may use catchy phrases or even give out T-shirts with slogans like "No turning back," but the question remains: no turning back from what? In many cases, baptismal candidates are not even asked the important questions about their commitment. I have seen this first-hand in beach baptisms where individuals, often coming from a place of inebriation, were baptized without any real understanding or follow-through. Sadly, many of these individuals never returned to church or continued their walk with God.
The issue is often about numbers—churches are driven by a desire for higher attendance, which is more about commercialism than true conversion. I recall a pastor who once promised to jump out of an airplane if our church had over 1,000 people at Easter services. He did, but it was purely a gimmick, and there was no real focus on the spiritual depth or authenticity of conversions. This is consumerism over conversion, quantity over quality.
The disciples, however, were not concerned with numbers. Their conversions were genuine and deeply transformative, as they were willing to leave everything to follow Jesus. Even John, with his humility, recognized the importance of authentic commitment. In John 3, after the conversation with Nicodemus, we see how John understood his role in the greater work of God's kingdom.
John 3:22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. 23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” 27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
John 3:30 says, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Do we have this attitude? Are we simply preparing the way for Jesus, or is it about us, our pride, and our numbers?
Too often, we don't see this attitude in the church. Sometimes, it seems like the church is trying to make itself greater and greater, while minimizing Jesus. We've relegated Him to commercialism, to consumerism. We've created a "consumer Jesus," a version of Him that fits into our preferences and desires. But the real Jesus demands obedience. He calls us to come under His Lordship, to fully commit to Him. The "consumer Jesus" is one who asks little of us—no transformation, no repentance, no real change. But the true Jesus calls for repentance, for a sincere, no-turning-back commitment.
And here's something you don't often see. Remember the Samaritan woman in John 4. If we turn the page, we find her encounter with Jesus, where He reveals not just her past but also the living water He offers—a water that changes everything. This story highlights the real transformation that comes when we encounter Jesus. It's not just about feeling good or checking a box; it's about a complete change of heart, life, and direction. True repentance isn't just a prayer or a momentary emotional response. It's a lifestyle, a turning away from sin and a turning toward God.
John 4:1 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
This serves as a good example, but we need to keep reading. Earlier, it said that Jesus was baptizing, but in John's Gospel we see that Jesus actually didn't baptize any of them. This is a reminder to stay away from the "verse of the day" problem, where we pull a single verse out of context without understanding it in the full narrative. The Bible is meant to be read in its entirety. We need to stop quoting from books that we haven’t finished reading. Taking verses out of context can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the text as a whole.
What we need to do is approach baptism soberly. Jesus didn’t advocate for a "fine print" baptism. While we find some brief accounts of baptism in the Bible, these are summaries. When we look at the full context of God’s Word, and actually finish reading the book, we see that Jesus doesn't hide the cost of following Him. He doesn't use fine print; instead, He gives a clear warning. After teaching on humility in Luke, Jesus says this:
Luke 14:25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
No fine print there! Jesus also says this in Matthew 8:
In Matthew 8:18, when Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head.” Another of His disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
Here we see that Jesus requires us not to turn back. He also doesn’t use any fine print. He warns us about what it means to follow Him.
Jesus calls us to go beyond lip service and into a lifestyle.
In contrast to the baptisms we see today, we have prerequisites to baptism.
At C3 Church, we align more closely with how Jesus approached baptism. While we don’t require formal classes prior to baptism, we do require that a believer fully understands what being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit means. To ensure this, we ask that a person has committed to regular attendance at our church for a period of time, coming into fellowship with the congregation for education, edification, and accountability. We’ve seen the importance of this in the Acts 2 model of the church. We want to make sure that people are devoted to the Word of God, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. These are the hallmarks of a true church and a true Christian.
So, will you be devoted to those things? In other words, we want to get to know you and want you to understand what baptism really means. Baptism symbolizes a believer dying to themselves and rising into new life in Christ Jesus. It is also a public proclamation of loyalty to Jesus and a new life under His Lordship. As we saw earlier, Jesus asks, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
We’ve explored Jesus’s prerequisites for baptism, and we also see them in Luke 9:23-26:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Baptism is about more than just being a follower; it is about being a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. This is something He wants us to take seriously and consider carefully, as we’ve seen. And we should take it seriously as a church, too.
Baptism means that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we should see obedience and change in our lives. Those desiring baptism must answer yes to the following questions:
• Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?• Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?• Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from God?• Do you turn to Jesus and accept Him as your Savior?• Do you put your whole trust in His grace and love?• Do you promise to obey Him as your Lord?• Do you believe in God the Father?• Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the following truths about Him:o He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.o He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.o On the third day, He rose again, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.o He will come again to judge the living and the dead.• Do you believe in God, the Holy Spirit?• Do you believe in the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?• Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers (as seen in Acts 2:42)?• Will you persevere in resisting evil? Whenever you fall into sin, will you repent and return to the Lord?• Will you proclaim, by word and example, the good news of God in Christ Jesus?• Will you serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?• Will you strive to bring peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?
If you have answered "yes" to the following, we invite you to come to C3 Church so that you can enter into communion and community with us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Once that happens, we also want to get to know you better through fellowship where you can find accountability and support. It’s similar to how a person recovering from addiction would have a sponsor in a recovery room—someone they can turn to for guidance and encouragement. We see this as a vital part of our Christian walk, too.
Remembering that this is a spiritual transformation – and therefore a spiritual battle will occur. Once you’ve committed to baptism and you declare that you are now under the lordship of Jesus and repenting – turning from your old life of sin, the enemy will certainly take interest! You are essentially breaking up with the devil, so a spiritual battle will occur – and in order to succeed, you must be equipped with the armor of God, so let’s close with Ephesians 6 …
Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
So, no matter where you are—whether you're reading from a distance—I encourage you to seek a Bible-believing church and join a community. Or if you are in Naples Florida, I invite you to join us. The church – the Body of Christ- is an essential part of a Christian lifestyle.
Let me pray for you:
Lord, I ask that anyone considering coming to You would do so soberly. I pray that they put on every piece of Your armor to resist the enemy in times of evil. May they stand their ground, putting on the belt of truth, the body armor of Your righteousness, the shoes of peace that come from the good news, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word.
As I pray for them, I also pray that they would pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion, staying alert and persistent in prayer for all believers everywhere. Amen.
I heard a story about a drunk man who walked in on a baptism. The pastor, seeing him, asks, "Are you ready to find Jesus?" Maybe he didn’t realize the man was inebriated, but the drunk man shouts, “Yes, I am!”
So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him up and asks, “Brother, have you found Jesus?” The drunk man replies, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.” Surprised, the preacher dunks him again, holding him under a bit longer, then lifts him and asks, “Have you found Jesus, my brother?” Again, the man answers, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
By this time, the preacher is at his wit's end. He dunks the drunk man a third time, holding him under for 30 seconds until the man starts kicking his arms and legs. Finally, the preacher pulls him up and, desperate, asks, “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk man wipes his eyes, catches his breath, and says, “Are you sure this is where He fell in?”
We’ll pick up in John 4, where we saw Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus had referred to “living water”, which was a reference to the Holy Spirit. Now, we’re going to explore this as He is also discussed in John 3. In John 3, we find Jesus in conversation with a religious leader named Nicodemus. Let’s begin there, starting at verse 1.
John 3:1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, [born from above] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. Jesus says, “So don’t be surprised when I say to you, ‘You must be born again.’” Here, we’re seeing the concept of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Jesus is introducing something new here. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was selectively placed upon certain individuals. We see this all throughout the Old Testament—there are several figures recognized for being filled with the Spirit of God. Joseph is one of the earliest, as Pharaoh recognized God’s Spirit in him when he interpreted dreams and provided wise counsel (Genesis 41:38). Later, Bezalel is filled with the Spirit, granting him wisdom, understanding, and skill to create the intricate craftsmanship of the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 31:2-3; 35:30-31). Moses, though not explicitly described as filled with the Spirit, is guided by God’s Spirit to lead Israel through the wilderness. When the burden of leadership becomes too great, God shares Moses' Spirit with seventy elders, who then prophesy (Numbers 11:17, 25). Joshua, Moses’ successor, is described as a man “in whom is the spirit,” equipped with the Spirit of wisdom to lead Israel after Moses’ death (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9).
In the time of the Judges, the Spirit of the Lord empowers several leaders to deliver Israel. Othniel, the first judge, is filled with the Spirit to rescue Israel from oppression (Judges 3:10). Later, Gideon is empowered by the Spirit to lead Israel against the Midianites (Judges 6:34), and Jephthah receives the Spirit to battle the Ammonites (Judges 11:29). Samson experiences the Spirit’s empowerment on multiple occasions, giving him supernatural strength to confront the Philistines (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).
As Israel transitions to a monarchy, Saul is initially filled with the Spirit, enabling him to prophesy and lead. However, the Spirit later departs from him (1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 11:6; 16:14). David, who follows Saul as king, is anointed by Samuel, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him, remaining with him throughout his life (1 Samuel 16:13).
The prophets of Israel also experience the Spirit’s presence, as God empowers them to deliver His word to the people. Figures such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Daniel are each moved by the Spirit to prophesy and speak truth. Micah explicitly mentions being “filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord” to declare God’s message (Micah 3:8), while Ezekiel often experiences the Spirit lifting him and guiding him in his prophetic visions (Ezekiel 2:2). In Daniel’s case, his wisdom and understanding are attributed to “the spirit of the holy gods” by those around him, recognizing the divine source of his insight (Daniel 5:11).
These instances show the Spirit’s active role in equipping and empowering individuals for specific tasks, often related to leadership, craftsmanship, prophecy, or deliverance. In the Old Testament, the Spirit’s presence is often temporary and task-oriented, coming upon people as needed for God’s purposes.
But now, Jesus is saying that when we are "born again," we are made into a new creation. We become temples of the Holy Spirit. As we discussed when looking at worship, we no longer worship in temples made with hands; we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. And when Jesus returns, He will be the ultimate temple. So, through baptism, the Holy Spirit now resides within us.
What, then, is baptism? The Greek word for baptism is βάπτισμα (váptisma), which means “immersion,” “to dip repeatedly,” or “to submerge.” It can also mean “to cleanse by dipping or submerging,” “to wash or make clean with water,” or even “to overwhelm.” Baptism, like water, has a way of enveloping us entirely, and there’s deep symbolism in this act.
We find this symbolism in books like Colossians, 1 Corinthians, and Romans, which illustrate the concept of dying to oneself. In Colossians 2:11, it says:
Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Here, we see the concept of being "buried with Christ" through baptism and then being "raised to new life." Baptism is symbolic of dying to a life of sin and raising to a new life in Christ; it is also a foreshadowing of our future resurrection from the dead through Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul goes into detail about the resurrection, following a brief description of the gospel – important to understand before committing to baptism. He discusses the nature of our resurrection bodies and addresses the question, "What kind of bodies will we have when we’re resurrected?" He even calls it a bit of a silly question (foolish) but uses the illustration of a seed going into the ground and rising as something new. The emphasis is on transformation—a new creation. Being a new creation means that we’re made new, but it doesn’t mean we’re free to live however we please.
Paul also clarifies this in Colossians: “You were dead because of your sins… but God made you alive with Christ when He forgave all your sins.” Yet, this transformation doesn’t give us license to do whatever we want.
If we turn to Romans, starting in Romans 6, we’ll see this concept further explored.
Romans 6:1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.
When Paul talks about dying to our old lives, he means that we are leaving behind our former selves—those who pursued sin. Now, as new creations in Christ Jesus, we are called to live transformed lives. This is the symbolism of baptism and what it means to live a new life in Jesus.
Baptisms as we understand them in the New Testament have some roots in the Old Testament, though immersion back then didn’t serve the same purpose. For example, in the Greek version of the Old Testament, which the early church used, we see the Greek word for baptism used in instances like the cleansing of Naaman. Naaman, in his healing from leprosy, was instructed to dip in the river seven times (2 Kings 5). This was a cleansing, but not quite what we think of as baptism today.
In the New Testament, both Paul in 1 Corinthians and Peter in 1 Peter offer symbolic references to baptism through the Old Testament stories of Moses and Noah. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, draws a parallel between the Israelites’ journey through the Red Sea and Christian baptism. He describes how the Israelites, under Moses’ leadership, were "baptized into Moses" in the cloud and in the sea. This imagery reflects their passage from bondage in Egypt to a new life of covenant with God, similar to how baptism represents leaving behind a life of sin and entering into a new relationship with Christ.
Peter, on the other hand, uses the story of Noah as a picture of baptism in 1 Peter 3:20-21. He explains that just as Noah and his family were saved through water, so too, baptism now "saves" in a symbolic sense. For Peter, Noah’s deliverance from the floodwaters becomes a powerful illustration of salvation through baptism—not as a physical cleansing but as a pledge of a good conscience toward God. Both apostles use these Old Testament narratives to convey the profound transformation and new beginning that baptism represents in the life of a believer.
By the New Testament period, however, an understanding of baptism had begun to take shape in Rabbinic Judaism. So, while baptism wasn’t brand new, its meaning had evolved. John’s baptism, known as a "proselyte baptism," would be part of the process for converting Gentiles. For instance, a Gentile like Naaman the Syrian—if he had wanted to fully convert—would have needed to be circumcised and then immersed or “made clean,” since Gentiles were considered ceremonially unclean.
When John began baptizing, he was calling for this same type of baptism, but for the Jewish people themselves, which made it controversial. Many leaders took offense because John was essentially saying, "Yes, you’re Jewish, but you still need to repent and be made clean.” For them, this was a stinging statement, as it implied they weren’t truly saved.
We see the beginning of this ministry in Matthew 3 …
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” 4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Again, we see John’s message as an affront to the people. He’s telling them plainly that they need to repent and be made clean. This was, in part, fulfilling prophecy. We see predictions about John in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, where the prophets foretold that he would be the Messiah’s herald, preparing the way for Jesus.
John’s baptism was a baptism by water, symbolizing repentance. But Jesus would bring a baptism of both water and Spirit, returning us to the idea of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. John’s message wasn’t only about ritual—it challenged people to show proof of repentance by how they lived. He urged them not to rely solely on their heritage or religious status John’s preaching about the tree and its fruit echoes Jesus’ teaching. The idea of being baptized in fire here is most likely more about judgement considering the context and the way verse 12 closes.
To understand the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism, we can look to the book of Acts. As we saw in recent studies, Paul and Stephen both address this distinction in their speeches. For example, while in Ephesus, we see how Paul clarifies what type of baptism this is …
Acts 19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them., “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, but Jesus’ baptism includes the Holy Spirit as well. When you’re baptized "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," you experience true Christian baptism in Jesus.
Now, why did Jesus Himself get baptized? Let’s turn to Matthew 3 and continue from there.
Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. [ for we must fulfill all righteousness]” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
The answer to why Jesus was baptized is that He did it “to fulfill all righteousness.” It was a symbolic act on His part, but it also revealed the Holy Spirit and the Father—the full presence of the Trinity we’ve talked about.
In this one moment, we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together. This also points us to the One in whom we are baptized. Just as we ask who we worship and who we pray to, we also ask, “In whose name are we baptized?” The answer is the Trinity.
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is our Triune God. He is three persons, yet one essence.
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks directly about baptism. Let’s look at Matthew 28:18.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, [έθνη] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
A couple of things to note here: when we see the word έθνη (ethni), which I highlighted for you, it’s a term that can be translated as Gentiles, ethnicities, or nations. However, in this context, it's not just a geographical term but speaks to a personal reach. While Jesus says in Acts 1:8 to go to the ends of the earth, to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, it’s also about breaking down ethnic barriers. We’ve seen this repeatedly—the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. This still applies to us today. It's a breakdown of those ethnic divisions.
In the sending of the disciples in Matthew 10, Jesus instructs them to go only to the lost sheep of Israel, not even to the Samaritans. This makes that conversation with the Samaritan woman we saw last week all the more remarkable. But now, Jesus is expanding the mission. Salvation comes first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, and we are now entering that phase.
Now, we see who we are baptized in—the Trinity: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At this point, I want to address a relatively new heresy that has been circulating in recent years. It is often referred to as Oneness Pentecostalism. This heresy suggests that Jesus is the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit, thereby deconstructing the orthodox view of the Trinity. Orthodox, meaning the correct teaching upheld by the majority of Christianity, has always believed that Jesus is a part of the Trinity, one of the persons of the Trinity, which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons, one essence.
Oneness Pentecostalism contradicts orthodox Christianity by denying this understanding. Where this confusion arises is from how baptisms are described in Acts. In some places, the apostles say they are baptizing “in Jesus’ name.” Why is this? It’s due to recent events—the crucifixion. In their sermons, they often say, “You crucified Jesus” and “You rejected the Holy Spirit.” The short form of saying “in Jesus' name” likely emerged because Jesus was a new addition to the Jewish understanding of God. In the Old Testament, the people were familiar with the Father and the Holy Spirit, but the idea of Jesus as the Messiah was new and unexpected. So, when they baptized in Jesus' name, they were emphasizing that aspect of the new revelation.
However, we see this issue corrected through careful reading of the text. In Acts 8, we see Philip in Samaria, and we also read about the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch—both events continuing to break down ethnic barriers. We’ll revisit that in a moment, but before that, we see some clarification …
Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
We see here that the people had only been baptized in the name of Jesus, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. This is because they had not been baptized properly. As Jesus instructed in Matthew 28, baptism is done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Some who hold to the Pentecostal Oneness belief might claim that Matthew 28 only mentions the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as one person, but this is not true. According to the Greek, the terms used are distinct, referring to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three distinct persons but one essence.
I also want to address another heresy. Going back to Acts 19, Paul tells the people that John’s baptism was for repentance of sin, but John himself pointed to the One who would come later—Jesus. As soon as the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then, when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in other languages and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Some claim that all believers will speak in tongues upon baptism, but this is fundamentally wrong for a couple of reasons.
First, we see examples in Acts where people were baptized and did not speak in tongues. For example, in Acts 8, when the Ethiopian eunuch is baptized, he does not speak in tongues. If you look at Fortune Cookie Theology, you’ll see this point further explored.
Also, 1 Corinthians 12 is clear that not all Christians have the gift of tongues. Paul asks, "Do we all have the gift of tongues?" The answer is no. He reiterates this in 1 Corinthians 14:5, where he minimizes the importance of tongues in comparison to other gifts. He even says in 1 Corinthians 14:18, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting, I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than 10,000 words in an unknown language." Paul repeatedly makes it clear that not every Christian speaks in tongues. This point is consistent throughout his writings.
This teaching can be applied to any of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. Not all are apostles, so not all go on mission trips. Not all have the gift of tongues or prophecy. Paul emphasizes that not every believer possesses all gifts, and this includes tongues. So, the Bible provides clarity on this issue.
Now, let’s return to Matthew 28 and focus on something Jesus said that is often overlooked. We’ve already read the baptism command, but let’s look at Matthew 28:20.
Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
There are important steps on each side of baptism. Before baptism, there are certain requirements: repentance, faith, obedience, and self-denial. These are prerequisites that Scripture highlights. First, you must believe. In Romans 10, we are told that faith is essential for salvation. Second, we must confess. We must declare that Jesus is Lord.
Let’s look at the Scriptures that support this:
Romans 10:9-10
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
• 1. BELIEVE = Righteous• 2. CONFESS = Saved!
Baptism is seen as part of that confession. The Bible suggests that baptism is necessary for salvation:
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.’”
This is the ideal. However, if someone is dying and no water is available, I believe that they can still be saved by believing and confessing according to Romans 10.
Interestingly, if we look to the earliest Christian documents such as the Didache, we see that water was a part of the ideal baptism, but there was some flexibility regarding the water.
“And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.” (Didache Chapter 7 Concerning Baptism)
Note that the Didache also affirms the concept of being baptized in the name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
But, verse 10 says that we are created new in Christ Jesus for good works:
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
For those who are living, repentance is required:
• 3. REPENT – This is also part of the confession. Repentance must be sincere. We talked about the importance of moving from lip service to a lifestyle of change last week.
So, repentance is essential. It’s not just a thought; it’s an action. When Jesus was baptized, He was then tempted in the wilderness. Afterward, He came to Galilee and preached. He said, “The time promised by God has come. At last, the Kingdom of God is near. Repent of your sins and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15).
Repentance is crucial in the process. After Jesus’ baptism, He denies Himself in the wilderness, symbolizing self-denial. In the Gospel of Mark, after feeding the 4,000, the disciples begin to doubt Jesus. He heals a blind man in a parabolic way—initially, the man sees only partially, then fully, symbolizing the disciples’ journey of understanding. Jesus then begins predicting His sufferings, but Peter, confused, reprimands Him for saying such things. Jesus turns, looks at His disciples, and rebukes Peter, saying, “Get away from me, Satan. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” And then, in Mark 8:34, Jesus says:
Mark 8:34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [(eternal) life] 37 Is anything worth more than your soul?
So, we see some prerequisites to baptism here. Again, belief is implied in this process. Deny yourself—this represents repentance. Take up your cross; in other words, be like Jesus. But does that mean we will all be killed or martyred for Jesus? Maybe, maybe not. However, in Revelation, we see that the martyrs, those who are beheaded for Jesus, are the first to rise from the dead and rule with Him.
In the early church, martyrdom was seen as a noble thing, even a blessing, in a way. This stands in stark contrast to the prosperity gospel preached today, which often promises comfort and wealth instead of sacrifice.
The main point here is that we must not deny Jesus. We must confess Him with our lives. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul? Remember, the world is evil, and the passage continues by emphasizing the importance of not denying Jesus.
If we continue reading in Mark 8, starting at verse 38, we read:
Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
This passage highlights the importance of maintaining our confession of Jesus, even in the face of opposition. So, baptism also carries with it the responsibility of obedience.
In the book of Revelation, we see that cowards are excluded from the new heavens and the new earth. In Revelation 12, we read about Michael, the angel, and the defeat of the dragon in verse 10: "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, 'It has come at last—salvation and power and the kingdom of God and the authority of Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to the earth, the one who accuses them before our God, day and night.' And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." This passage shows that we must not trade Jesus for the temporary pleasures of this life. If we deny Him, it is the opposite of confession.
You might be starting to see the disconnect between the early church's understanding of baptism and what we see in modern practice. Today, we often just put people in the water without ensuring they fully understand what baptism means. We have altar calls where people respond emotionally, but this emotional response is not always a genuine, thoughtful commitment. Many people are not fully informed about what baptism requires—repentance, belief, and obedience. They might not hear the full gospel message or be asked whether they are truly ready to obey and repent. John the Baptist's challenge, "Prove it," is often missing from today's practices.
Unfortunately, this approach yields poor results. Some churches may use catchy phrases or even give out T-shirts with slogans like "No turning back," but the question remains: no turning back from what? In many cases, baptismal candidates are not even asked the important questions about their commitment. I have seen this first-hand in beach baptisms where individuals, often coming from a place of inebriation, were baptized without any real understanding or follow-through. Sadly, many of these individuals never returned to church or continued their walk with God.
The issue is often about numbers—churches are driven by a desire for higher attendance, which is more about commercialism than true conversion. I recall a pastor who once promised to jump out of an airplane if our church had over 1,000 people at Easter services. He did, but it was purely a gimmick, and there was no real focus on the spiritual depth or authenticity of conversions. This is consumerism over conversion, quantity over quality.
The disciples, however, were not concerned with numbers. Their conversions were genuine and deeply transformative, as they were willing to leave everything to follow Jesus. Even John, with his humility, recognized the importance of authentic commitment. In John 3, after the conversation with Nicodemus, we see how John understood his role in the greater work of God's kingdom.
John 3:22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. 23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” 27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
John 3:30 says, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Do we have this attitude? Are we simply preparing the way for Jesus, or is it about us, our pride, and our numbers?
Too often, we don't see this attitude in the church. Sometimes, it seems like the church is trying to make itself greater and greater, while minimizing Jesus. We've relegated Him to commercialism, to consumerism. We've created a "consumer Jesus," a version of Him that fits into our preferences and desires. But the real Jesus demands obedience. He calls us to come under His Lordship, to fully commit to Him. The "consumer Jesus" is one who asks little of us—no transformation, no repentance, no real change. But the true Jesus calls for repentance, for a sincere, no-turning-back commitment.
And here's something you don't often see. Remember the Samaritan woman in John 4. If we turn the page, we find her encounter with Jesus, where He reveals not just her past but also the living water He offers—a water that changes everything. This story highlights the real transformation that comes when we encounter Jesus. It's not just about feeling good or checking a box; it's about a complete change of heart, life, and direction. True repentance isn't just a prayer or a momentary emotional response. It's a lifestyle, a turning away from sin and a turning toward God.
John 4:1 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
This serves as a good example, but we need to keep reading. Earlier, it said that Jesus was baptizing, but in John's Gospel we see that Jesus actually didn't baptize any of them. This is a reminder to stay away from the "verse of the day" problem, where we pull a single verse out of context without understanding it in the full narrative. The Bible is meant to be read in its entirety. We need to stop quoting from books that we haven’t finished reading. Taking verses out of context can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the text as a whole.
What we need to do is approach baptism soberly. Jesus didn’t advocate for a "fine print" baptism. While we find some brief accounts of baptism in the Bible, these are summaries. When we look at the full context of God’s Word, and actually finish reading the book, we see that Jesus doesn't hide the cost of following Him. He doesn't use fine print; instead, He gives a clear warning. After teaching on humility in Luke, Jesus says this:
Luke 14:25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
No fine print there! Jesus also says this in Matthew 8:
In Matthew 8:18, when Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head.” Another of His disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
Here we see that Jesus requires us not to turn back. He also doesn’t use any fine print. He warns us about what it means to follow Him.
Jesus calls us to go beyond lip service and into a lifestyle.
In contrast to the baptisms we see today, we have prerequisites to baptism.
At C3 Church, we align more closely with how Jesus approached baptism. While we don’t require formal classes prior to baptism, we do require that a believer fully understands what being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit means. To ensure this, we ask that a person has committed to regular attendance at our church for a period of time, coming into fellowship with the congregation for education, edification, and accountability. We’ve seen the importance of this in the Acts 2 model of the church. We want to make sure that people are devoted to the Word of God, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. These are the hallmarks of a true church and a true Christian.
So, will you be devoted to those things? In other words, we want to get to know you and want you to understand what baptism really means. Baptism symbolizes a believer dying to themselves and rising into new life in Christ Jesus. It is also a public proclamation of loyalty to Jesus and a new life under His Lordship. As we saw earlier, Jesus asks, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
We’ve explored Jesus’s prerequisites for baptism, and we also see them in Luke 9:23-26:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Baptism is about more than just being a follower; it is about being a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. This is something He wants us to take seriously and consider carefully, as we’ve seen. And we should take it seriously as a church, too.
Baptism means that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we should see obedience and change in our lives. Those desiring baptism must answer yes to the following questions:
• Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?• Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?• Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from God?• Do you turn to Jesus and accept Him as your Savior?• Do you put your whole trust in His grace and love?• Do you promise to obey Him as your Lord?• Do you believe in God the Father?• Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the following truths about Him:o He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.o He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.o On the third day, He rose again, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.o He will come again to judge the living and the dead.• Do you believe in God, the Holy Spirit?• Do you believe in the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?• Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers (as seen in Acts 2:42)?• Will you persevere in resisting evil? Whenever you fall into sin, will you repent and return to the Lord?• Will you proclaim, by word and example, the good news of God in Christ Jesus?• Will you serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?• Will you strive to bring peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?
If you have answered "yes" to the following, we invite you to come to C3 Church so that you can enter into communion and community with us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Once that happens, we also want to get to know you better through fellowship where you can find accountability and support. It’s similar to how a person recovering from addiction would have a sponsor in a recovery room—someone they can turn to for guidance and encouragement. We see this as a vital part of our Christian walk, too.
Remembering that this is a spiritual transformation – and therefore a spiritual battle will occur. Once you’ve committed to baptism and you declare that you are now under the lordship of Jesus and repenting – turning from your old life of sin, the enemy will certainly take interest! You are essentially breaking up with the devil, so a spiritual battle will occur – and in order to succeed, you must be equipped with the armor of God, so let’s close with Ephesians 6 …
Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
So, no matter where you are—whether you're reading from a distance—I encourage you to seek a Bible-believing church and join a community. Or if you are in Naples Florida, I invite you to join us. The church – the Body of Christ- is an essential part of a Christian lifestyle.
Let me pray for you:
Lord, I ask that anyone considering coming to You would do so soberly. I pray that they put on every piece of Your armor to resist the enemy in times of evil. May they stand their ground, putting on the belt of truth, the body armor of Your righteousness, the shoes of peace that come from the good news, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word.
As I pray for them, I also pray that they would pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion, staying alert and persistent in prayer for all believers everywhere. Amen.