Christian Baptism Bible Study
1) PHYSICAL BIRTH Ps. 51:5 - CONCEIVED IN SIN; Jn 3:6, Rom 5:19, Eph 2:1-3, 4:18- 22 - CORRUPT AND DEAD, LIVE ACCORDING TO OUR NATURAL DESIRES; Gen 5:3, 6:5, 8:21 - ONLY EVIL; Rom 3:11-12, 5:10,12, 6:23, 7:18, 8:7 - ABSENCE OF GOOD, AN ENEMY OF GOD, DESERVING ETERNAL DEATH (HELL); I Cor 2:14 - SPIRITUALLY BLIND.
Everybody is born spiritually dead, blind and an enemy of God and is lost!
2) SPIRITUAL BIRTH (Baptism) Acts 2:38, 22:16 - GIVES FORGIVENESS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT; Rom 6:3-4 - UNITES WITH CHRIST, HIS DEATH, AND MAKES A NEW MAN; Jn 3:5-6, Gal 3:27, I Pet 3:21, Mk 16:16 - SAVED THROUGH THE RESURRECTION; Matt 28:19-20, Eph 2:8, Acts 16:15,33.
A baptized baby is cleansed, born again, united with Christ and is SAVED!
3) SPIRITUAL GROWTH Matt 28:19-20 - BAPTIZE AND TEACH; Rom 10:17 - FAITH COMES BY HEARING!
If a person is not fed physically he will die. If a person is not fed spiritually after baptism he can die spiritually. If fed spiritually, people can know who Jesus is, what He has done for them and what God's will is for their life. This is the purpose of continued church attendance and Bible Study.
4) SPIRITUAL IMPEDIMENTS (Things that harm faith) Heb 10:26-27 - SINS AGAINST BETTER KNOWLEDGE; Gal 5:19-21, I Cor 6:9-10, Rev 21:8, Matt 7:21-23 - NOT ALL WHO CALL ME LORD WILL ENTER. Heb 10:26 (keyword: willful) Demonstrate with the "Cross Witnessing Method".
WHY ALL BAPTIZED PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE IT TO HEAVEN:
WALTHER IN "LAW & GOSPEL" - "Wicked men cannot truly believe, cannot have a genuine faith." "The light of faith can be extinguished not only by gross sins, but by any willful, intentional sin."
LUTHER'S LARGE CATECHISM - "Where faith is present with it's fruits, there baptism is no empty symbol, but the effect accompanies it; but where faith is lacking, it remains a mere unfruitful sign."
LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM - "The sins of the impenitent sinners, that is, of those who are not sorry for their sins and do not believe in Jesus Christ, are to be retained as long as they do not repent." "Manifest and impenitent sinners must be excluded from the Christian congregation." "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person." I Cor 5:13
THE FORMULA OF CONCORD, TRIGLOTTA, pg 943 - "[We] reject the secure Epicurean delusion...which is without repentance and without good works, as though there could be in a heart true faith and at the same time the wicked intention to persevere and continue in sins, which is impossible;...." pg 947 - "Against this pernicious delusion the following true, immutable, divine threats and severe punishments and admonitions should be often repeated and impressed upon Christians who are justified by faith: I Cor. 6:9 'Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, etc., shall inherit the Kingdom of God.' Gal 5:21, Rom 8:13, Col 3:6, etc."
5) HOW TO LIVE UNDER BAPTISM - SMALL CATECHISM - "Baptism signifies that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever."
Therefore, after Baptism, as a person experiences sins he daily repents and renews his baptismal vow.
6) SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
through Baptism include these actions as we live the peaceful and abundant spiritual life that Christ promised He would give us.
A. DAILY REPENTANCE (Being so sorry for sin that I don't want to sin again.)
Gal 5:24-25 - "Jesus, what do You want me to do? Do it."
2 Pet 3:9 - Repent means to "turn away from your sins".
1 Jn 1:9 - Confess your sins and be forgiven.
B. DEDICATED OR SURRENDERED LIFE
Rom 6:13 - Give yourself to God!
I Cor 6:19-20 - You are bought by Christ so LIVE FOR HIM!
II Cor 8:1-5 - First, they gave themselves to the Lord!
Rom 12:1 - Present your bodies to God!
Rom 8:5 - Change your mind about God!
C. FOCUSING ON OUR BLESSINGS
Rom 13:14 - Put on Christ! II Cor 5:17 - We become new creatures.
I Pet 1:23 - We become new BY THE WORD! Eph 4:22-23 - We have a new nature.
Col 3:10 - We are renewed after God. Jn 1:11-12 - We become God's children.
Rev 3:14-20 - We become earnest in Christ. 1 Jn 5:11-12, Jn 3:16 We have eternal life.
Realize that only the HOLY SPIRIT working through GOD'S WORD can give you power. 1 Cor 12:3
D. A RITE OF RENEWAL
(This section contains 3 prayers(*). For each, ask the group to bow their heads and close their eyes. They may
repeat the prayer after you, phrase by phrase.)
1. Confessing Our Sins
a. As God gives you a repentant heart, review what Jesus did for you on the cross.
b. Ask the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit to show you your sins. * PRAY: "Holy Spirit, show me my sins -
(wait 2 - 3 minutes to let God show them their sins.) - I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen"
c. Daily ask Jesus to forgive every sin, to take away your burdens and guilt and to free you from the
power of sin.
d. Pray on the basis of I Jn 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful ...to forgive our sins..." Get rid of
sin immediately and ask God to keep you from sinning that way again in the future.
PRAY: "Jesus, I have sinned - - - I am so sorry, I never want to sin again - - - thank You for forgiving me - - -
for assuring me I will go to heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen."
2. Rededicating Our Lives
a. Thank God for: The assurance of forgiveness and salvation; Being a child of God; Having the assurance of eternal life through Jesus your Savior.
b. As God gives you power, dedicate or rededicate your life to Christ. (As in Baptism or Confirmation.) This includes everything you are and have: mind, emotions, will, future, job, possessions, family, pride,
etc. Rom 12:6-12
c. As God empowers you and on the basis of GOD'S WORD, ask Jesus to control your life.
PRAY: "Jesus, thank You for giving me new power in my life. - - - I dedicate or rededicate my life to You and Your service. - - - control my life to Your glory. In Your name. Amen."
E. SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING THE RENEWED LIFE:
1) Read your Bible daily.
2) Speak to God in prayer constantly.
3) Receive the Lord's Supper regularly.
4) Witness of Christ daily in life.
5) The secret of life is to give yourself away for others.
Everybody is born spiritually dead, blind and an enemy of God and is lost!
2) SPIRITUAL BIRTH (Baptism) Acts 2:38, 22:16 - GIVES FORGIVENESS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT; Rom 6:3-4 - UNITES WITH CHRIST, HIS DEATH, AND MAKES A NEW MAN; Jn 3:5-6, Gal 3:27, I Pet 3:21, Mk 16:16 - SAVED THROUGH THE RESURRECTION; Matt 28:19-20, Eph 2:8, Acts 16:15,33.
A baptized baby is cleansed, born again, united with Christ and is SAVED!
3) SPIRITUAL GROWTH Matt 28:19-20 - BAPTIZE AND TEACH; Rom 10:17 - FAITH COMES BY HEARING!
If a person is not fed physically he will die. If a person is not fed spiritually after baptism he can die spiritually. If fed spiritually, people can know who Jesus is, what He has done for them and what God's will is for their life. This is the purpose of continued church attendance and Bible Study.
4) SPIRITUAL IMPEDIMENTS (Things that harm faith) Heb 10:26-27 - SINS AGAINST BETTER KNOWLEDGE; Gal 5:19-21, I Cor 6:9-10, Rev 21:8, Matt 7:21-23 - NOT ALL WHO CALL ME LORD WILL ENTER. Heb 10:26 (keyword: willful) Demonstrate with the "Cross Witnessing Method".
WHY ALL BAPTIZED PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE IT TO HEAVEN:
WALTHER IN "LAW & GOSPEL" - "Wicked men cannot truly believe, cannot have a genuine faith." "The light of faith can be extinguished not only by gross sins, but by any willful, intentional sin."
LUTHER'S LARGE CATECHISM - "Where faith is present with it's fruits, there baptism is no empty symbol, but the effect accompanies it; but where faith is lacking, it remains a mere unfruitful sign."
LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM - "The sins of the impenitent sinners, that is, of those who are not sorry for their sins and do not believe in Jesus Christ, are to be retained as long as they do not repent." "Manifest and impenitent sinners must be excluded from the Christian congregation." "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person." I Cor 5:13
THE FORMULA OF CONCORD, TRIGLOTTA, pg 943 - "[We] reject the secure Epicurean delusion...which is without repentance and without good works, as though there could be in a heart true faith and at the same time the wicked intention to persevere and continue in sins, which is impossible;...." pg 947 - "Against this pernicious delusion the following true, immutable, divine threats and severe punishments and admonitions should be often repeated and impressed upon Christians who are justified by faith: I Cor. 6:9 'Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, etc., shall inherit the Kingdom of God.' Gal 5:21, Rom 8:13, Col 3:6, etc."
5) HOW TO LIVE UNDER BAPTISM - SMALL CATECHISM - "Baptism signifies that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever."
Therefore, after Baptism, as a person experiences sins he daily repents and renews his baptismal vow.
6) SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
through Baptism include these actions as we live the peaceful and abundant spiritual life that Christ promised He would give us.
A. DAILY REPENTANCE (Being so sorry for sin that I don't want to sin again.)
Gal 5:24-25 - "Jesus, what do You want me to do? Do it."
2 Pet 3:9 - Repent means to "turn away from your sins".
1 Jn 1:9 - Confess your sins and be forgiven.
B. DEDICATED OR SURRENDERED LIFE
Rom 6:13 - Give yourself to God!
I Cor 6:19-20 - You are bought by Christ so LIVE FOR HIM!
II Cor 8:1-5 - First, they gave themselves to the Lord!
Rom 12:1 - Present your bodies to God!
Rom 8:5 - Change your mind about God!
C. FOCUSING ON OUR BLESSINGS
Rom 13:14 - Put on Christ! II Cor 5:17 - We become new creatures.
I Pet 1:23 - We become new BY THE WORD! Eph 4:22-23 - We have a new nature.
Col 3:10 - We are renewed after God. Jn 1:11-12 - We become God's children.
Rev 3:14-20 - We become earnest in Christ. 1 Jn 5:11-12, Jn 3:16 We have eternal life.
Realize that only the HOLY SPIRIT working through GOD'S WORD can give you power. 1 Cor 12:3
D. A RITE OF RENEWAL
(This section contains 3 prayers(*). For each, ask the group to bow their heads and close their eyes. They may
repeat the prayer after you, phrase by phrase.)
1. Confessing Our Sins
a. As God gives you a repentant heart, review what Jesus did for you on the cross.
b. Ask the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit to show you your sins. * PRAY: "Holy Spirit, show me my sins -
(wait 2 - 3 minutes to let God show them their sins.) - I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen"
c. Daily ask Jesus to forgive every sin, to take away your burdens and guilt and to free you from the
power of sin.
d. Pray on the basis of I Jn 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful ...to forgive our sins..." Get rid of
sin immediately and ask God to keep you from sinning that way again in the future.
PRAY: "Jesus, I have sinned - - - I am so sorry, I never want to sin again - - - thank You for forgiving me - - -
for assuring me I will go to heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen."
2. Rededicating Our Lives
a. Thank God for: The assurance of forgiveness and salvation; Being a child of God; Having the assurance of eternal life through Jesus your Savior.
b. As God gives you power, dedicate or rededicate your life to Christ. (As in Baptism or Confirmation.) This includes everything you are and have: mind, emotions, will, future, job, possessions, family, pride,
etc. Rom 12:6-12
c. As God empowers you and on the basis of GOD'S WORD, ask Jesus to control your life.
PRAY: "Jesus, thank You for giving me new power in my life. - - - I dedicate or rededicate my life to You and Your service. - - - control my life to Your glory. In Your name. Amen."
E. SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING THE RENEWED LIFE:
1) Read your Bible daily.
2) Speak to God in prayer constantly.
3) Receive the Lord's Supper regularly.
4) Witness of Christ daily in life.
5) The secret of life is to give yourself away for others.