Zac Poonen - The Importance of Baptism by Immersion

Zac PoonenJanuary 17, 20229mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionZac Poonen379 messages

Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: The Importance of Baptism by Immersion Date: 01/16/2022 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The speaker argues that true baptism must be by full immersion, citing the Greek word 'bapto' which means immersion. He refutes common practices like sprinkling and infant baptism, explaining that baptism is a public testimony of dying to sin with Christ and being raised to a new life, as illustrated by Jesus' own baptism. While salvation comes through repentance and faith, baptism is a vital, visible testimony of that spiritual reality.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

The prevalence of sprinkling in ChristendomThe vast majority of Christians, including Roman Catholics, Methodists, and Anglicans, sprinkle children and call it baptism.

What the original Greek word meansThe word baptism is not English but a Greek word, bapto, which means immersion.

Why King James translators invented a new wordTranslators of the King James Version in 1611 were told not to disturb church traditions, so they invented the untranslated word baptism rather than admitting to sprinkling.

Scriptural examples of immersionScripture indicates immersion through examples like John baptizing in the river Jordan and Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch by going down into the water.

What is the meaning of baptism?Romans chapter 6 describes baptism as a testimony where we are buried with Christ into His death and raised to walk in newness of life.Romans 6:4

Testifying to spiritual crucifixion and resurrectionWe testify in baptism that we have died and been buried with Christ and that God has raised us up spiritually, which cannot be done by sprinkling water.

What the Bible teaches about infant baptismThe speaker notes that infant baptism has no basis in Scripture and points out that salvation comes through repentance and faith, not infant rites.

Is baptism essential for salvation?Salvation is by repentance and faith, and baptism is not strictly essential for salvation, as seen in the example of the dying thief.

What Jesus and the apostles taught about baptismJesus stated that whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved, and on the day of Pentecost, Peter told the people to repent and be baptized.Mark 16:16

A call to understand the meaning of baptismThose getting baptized should understand that they are testifying to dying with Christ and coming up from the water as a new person.

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Zac Poonen - The Importance of Baptism by Immersion

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