Introduction: Baptism Is An Important Subject. Should One Really Concern Himself To Perform It As It Was In the Bible? We Think So. Moses Was Told of God To Make the Tabernacle After the Pattern Given In the Holy Mount. God's Children Should Observe Baptism After the Pattern Given In the Holy Book. Four Things Are Necessary To Have Scriptural Baptism.

      I. FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM, THERE MUST BE A PROPER ADMINISTRATOR.

A. Jesus Himself Sought Proper Authority (Mark 1:9)

B. The Disciples Were Baptized of John.

C. We Find Only the New Testament Church Baptising In the Bible.

D. If There Were No Need of Authority, Then Anyone Could Baptise.

E. Christ Gave Authority To the Baptist Church, Read the Commission in Matthew 28.

      II. FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM, THERE MUST BE THE PROPER MODE.

A. Some Say the Proper Mode of Baptism Is Either Sprinkling Or Pouring.

B. The Bible Identifies the Proper Mode of Baptism As Immersion.

1. Look at the Word used in Mark 1:9.

a. It cannot mean to pour.

b. It cannot mean to sprinkle.

c. It can only mean to Immerse.

C. Jesus Came Up Out of the Water (Mark 1:10).

D. The Eunuch Came Up Out of the Water (Acts 8:38).

E. All Scholars Agree That In the New Testament the Word Baptize Means Immerse.

1. Some say God has given them authority to change the mode.

2. Some say God wouldn't object for the sake of convenience.

      III. FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM, THERE MUST BE A PROPER CANDIDATE.

A. Only Someone Who Has Been Saved Is a Proper Baptismal Candidate.

1. Note the eunuch (Acts 8:36-3?).

2. Note Paul (Acts 9:17-18).

3. Note the disciples of John (Acts 19:1-5).

4. Note the people on Pentecost (Acts 2:4l).

5. Note Lydia (Acts 16:14-15).

B. Anyone Who Has Not Been Saved and Is Dipped Is Still Lost. The disciples of John in Acts 19:1-5 prove this.

      IV. FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM, THERE MUST BE A PROPER DESIGN.

A. Baptism Is Not To Obtain Salvation. See Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, and I Peter 3:21. Note the phrase "like figure."

B. The Like Figure Is Found In Romans 6:3-4.

C. The Only Condition For Salvation Is Found In Acts 16:31.

D. Baptism Is a Commandment of the Lord.

E. It Is Necessary To Church Membership.
====== [From Berlin Hisel, Outlines in Systematic Theology, nd., reprinted by Central Baptist Church, Marion, KY. Used with permission; scanned by Jim Duvall.]

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