{"id":42,"date":"2023-02-20T18:17:36","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T18:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2023-02-21T14:22:52","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T14:22:52","slug":"purity-and-power","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/bible-study\/amazingfacts-bible-study-guides\/purity-and-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Purity and Power"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Are<\/span><\/strong><\/em> you tired of hurting your loved ones and wounding your conscience?\u00a0 Do you live in constant regret for your past mistakes?\u00a0 \u00a0Have you ever wished you could take a bath and come out clean inside and out?\u00a0 Then we have great news for you \u2026 you can!\u00a0 God has a plan that can totally wash all your sins away and supercharge your character \u2014 preposterous?\u00a0 Not at all!\u00a0 Christ says, \u201cWe are buried with him by baptism\u201d (Romans 6:4).\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When you accept Christ, the old life dies and the Lord promises to forget all our sins!\u00a0 Not only that, He can help you overcome every sinful habit in your life.\u00a0 Did you know the cross is mentioned 28 times in the Bible, but baptism is mentioned 97 times?\u00a0 It must be pretty important then, and no wonder, because it signifies a new life with the haunting, sinful past buried and forgotten forever.\u00a0 Read the Bible\u2019s amazing facts on this incredible subject \u2026 you\u2019ll never be the same!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This verse makes it clear that baptism is necessary for salvation.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Is baptism really essential?<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cHe who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned\u201d (Mark 16:16).<\/strong><\/p>

Answer:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Yes, indeed!\u00a0 How could any language or words make it plainer?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. But the thief on the cross was not baptized, so why should I be?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cFor He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust\u201d (Psalm 103:14).<\/strong><\/p>

Answer:<\/strong><\/em> Neither did the thief restore what he had stolen, as the Lord specifically directs in Ezekiel 33:15.\u00a0 God holds us accountable for what we can do, but He also recognizes the limitations of \u201cdust.\u201d\u00a0 He will not require a physical impossibility.\u00a0 Could the thief have come down from the cross, he immediately would have been baptized.\u00a0 Every person who is able should be baptized.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Circumstances made it a human impossibility for the thief on the cross to be baptized.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. There are many ordinances called baptism. Isn\u2019t any one of these acceptable,\u00a0provided a person is sincere and earnest about it?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cOne Lord, one faith, one baptism\u201d (Ephesians 4:5).<\/strong><\/p>

Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 No!\u00a0 There is only one true baptism.\u00a0 All other so-called baptisms are counterfeits.<\/p>

Note:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 The devil\u2019s \u201cbuffet\u201d plan for baptism says, \u201cTake your pick.\u00a0 The method of baptism doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 It is the spirit that counts.\u201d<\/p>

But the Bible says, \u201cOne Lord, one faith, one baptism\u201d (Ephesians 4:5).<\/p>

It also says, \u201cObey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you\u201d (Jeremiah 38:20).\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How many methods of baptism are biblical?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Only ONE method of baptism is biblical, not 14.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. How was Jesus baptized?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cJesus \u2026 was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting\u201d (Mark 1:9, 10).<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jesus was baptized by immersion.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Answer:<\/strong><\/em> By immersion!\u00a0 Notice that after the ordinance, He came \u201cup out from the water.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus was baptized \u201cin the Jordan,\u201d not on the bank, as many believe.\u00a0 John always found a place to baptize where \u201cthere was much water\u201d (John 3:23), so it would be deep enough.<\/p>

The Bible commands us to follow Jesus\u2019 example (1 Peter 2:21).\u00a0 Any baptism other than immersion breaks this command.\u00a0 The word \u201cbaptism\u201d comes from the Greek word \u201cbaptizo.\u201d\u00a0 It means \u201cto dip under or submerge or immerse.\u201d<\/p>

There are eight different Greek words in\u00a0the New Testament used to describe the application of liquids.\u00a0 But among these various words \u2014 meaning to sprinkle,\u00a0to pour, or to immerse \u2014 only the one meaning \u201cto immerse\u201d (baptizo) is used to describe baptism.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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5. But didn\u2019t the disciples or the apostles change the method of baptism?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cBoth Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away\u201d (Acts 8:38, 39).<\/strong><\/p>

Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 No! Please notice that Philip, a leader in the early church, baptized the treasurer of Ethiopia by immersion precisely as John baptized Jesus. And the apostle Paul warned that any who teach contrary to what Jesus taught should be \u201caccursed.\u201d\u00a0(Galatians 1:8).\u00a0<\/p>

No person \u2014 no matter how godly \u2014 is authorized to change God\u2019s words and commands.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Philip baptized the Ethiopian by immersion.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. Since Jesus and the disciples baptized by immersion, who introduced these other so-called baptisms which exist today?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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All forms of baptism other than immersion come from people rather than Scripture.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cAnd in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men\u201d (Matthew 15:9).<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Misguided men introduced other forms of baptism in direct contradiction of God\u2019s Word.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cWhy do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cThus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition\u201d (Matthew 15:3, 6).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorship that follows human teaching is \u201cvain.\u201d\u00a0 Just think of it!\u00a0 The sacred ordinance of baptism has been changed and made of little consequence during truth\u2019s hazardous journey through the centuries.\u00a0 No wonder the Bible exhorts us to \u201ccontend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints\u201d (Jude 3).\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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7. What must a person do to prepare for baptism?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Answer:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  1. Learn God\u2019s requirements.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
    \u2026 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you\u201d (Matthew 28:19, 20).<\/li>
  2. Believe the truth of God\u2019s Word.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cHe who believes and is baptized will be saved\u201d (Mark 16:16).<\/li>
  3. Repent of and turn away from his sins and experience conversion.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cRepent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins\u201d (Acts 2:38).\u00a0 \u201cRepent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out\u201d (Acts 3:19).<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    There are three simple things a<\/span><\/em>
    person must do prior to baptism.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    8. What is the meaning of baptism?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \u201cTherefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.\u00a0 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin\u201d (Romans 6:4-6).<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 It represents the believer following Christ into His death, burial, and resurrection. The symbolism is perfect and filled\u00a0with deep meaning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    When I am baptized, I affirm my belief in Jesus\u2019 death, burial, and resurrection.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In baptism the eyes are closed, hands are folded, and breath is suspended as in death.<\/p>

    Then comes burial in the water and resurrection from the watery grave to a new life in Christ.<\/p>

    When raised from the water, the eyes open and the candidate begins breathing again and mingles with friends \u2014 a complete likeness of resurrection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe great difference between Christianity and every other religion is simply the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.\u00a0 In these three acts is made possible all that God desires to do for us. To keep these three vital acts alive in the minds of Christians until the end of time, the Lord instituted baptism by immersion as a memorial. There is no symbolism of death, burial, and resurrection in other forms of baptism. Only immersion fulfills the meaning of Romans 6:4-6.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Death to sin.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Old life buried in the waters.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Raised a new person in Christ.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    9. But a person shouldn\u2019t be baptized until he is certain he will never slip and fall, should he?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \u201cMy little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous\u201d (1 John 2:1).<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 This is like saying a baby should never try to walk until certain that he will never slip and fall.\u00a0 A Christian is a new-born \u201cbabe\u201d in Christ.\u00a0 This is why the experience of conversion is called \u201cthe new birth.\u201d\u00a0 The ugly, sinful past no longer exists for a child of God.\u00a0 A person\u2019s sinful past is forgiven and forgotten by God at conversion.\u00a0 And baptism symbolizes the burial of that old life.\u00a0 We begin the Christian life as babies, rather than adults, and God judges us on our attitude and the trend of our life, rather than on a few slips and falls that we may experience as immature Christians.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    New Christians are like toddlers learning to walk.<\/em><\/span>
    They sometimes slip and fall.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    10. Why is baptism an urgent matter for a converted sinner?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \u201cAnd now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord\u201d (Acts 22:16).<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Baptism is a public testimony that the repentant sinner has been forgiven and cleansed by Jesus (1 John 1:9) and that his sinful, traitorous past is behind him.\u00a0 No incriminating evidence against a person exists after conversion.\u00a0<\/p>

    Men and women today stagger and struggle along under heavy loads of guilt and sin.\u00a0 This contamination and burden is so devastating to the human personality that people will go to almost any length to achieve a sense of forgiveness and cleansing.\u00a0 Many have been driven to the psychiatrist\u2019s couch, where human beings earnestly attempt to assist other human beings.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Baptism is a glorious event because it symbolizes the burial of the old life of sin and the beginning of a new life in Christ.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    But the real help is found in coming to Christ, who says to all who approach Him, \u201cI will; be thou clean.\u201d Matthew 8:3.<\/p>

    Not only does He cleanse, but He crucifies the old nature of sin within you.\u00a0 Burial in the water of baptism symbolizes the burial of the ugly corpse of the old sinful life.<\/p>

    The ordinance is of utmost importance because it publicly represents the most stupendous provisions ever made for people.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    11. How long does it take to prepare for baptism?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Answer:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 That depends on the person. Some grasp things more quickly than others. But in most cases, preparation can be made in short order.<\/p>

    Here are some Bible examples:<\/p>

    1. Ethiopian treasurer<\/strong> (Acts 8:26-39) \u2014 baptized same day he heard truth.<\/li>
    2. Philippian jailer and his family<\/strong> (Acts 16:23-34) \u2014 baptized same night they heard truth.<\/li>
    3. Saul of Tarsus<\/strong> (Acts 9:1-18) \u2014 baptized three days after Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus.<\/li>
    4. Cornelius<\/strong> (Acts 10:1-48) \u2014 baptized same day he heard truth.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Philip baptized the Ethiopian treasurer the same day he accepted Christ as his Saviour.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      At conversion, God:<\/strong><\/p>

      1. Forgives and forgets our past.<\/li>
      2. Miraculously transforms us into new spiritual beings.<\/li>
      3. Adopts us as His own sons and daughters.\u00a0 Certainly no truly converted person would want to delay baptism, which publicly pays tribute to Jesus for working all these miracles.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        12. How does God feel about the baptism of a converted person?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        God is pleased with people who are baptized by immersion.\u00a0 Is He pleased with your baptism?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 He said at His Son\u2019s baptism, \u201cThis is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased\u201d (Matthew 3:17).<\/p>

        So, today, God is well pleased when a person is baptized by immersion in harmony with His command.<\/p>

        Those who love the Lord will always strive to please Him (1 John 3:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:1).<\/p>

        Is God pleased with your baptism?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        13. Can a person experience true baptism without becoming a member of God\u2019s church?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Answer:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 No!\u00a0 God clearly outlines this.\u00a0 Notice the steps:<\/p>

        1. All are called into one body.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cYou were called in one body\u201d (Colossians 3:15).<\/li>
        2. The church is the body.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cHe is the head of the body, the church\u201d (Colossians 1:18).<\/li>
        3. We enter that body by baptism.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cFor by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body\u201d (1 Corinthians 12:13).<\/li>
        4. God\u2019s converted people are added to the church.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved\u201d (Acts 2:47).<\/li><\/ol>

          \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Baptism is the official entry into God\u2019s church.\u00a0 Being baptized without joining God\u2019s church is unbiblical.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          14. Notice four things that baptism does not do:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          First: <\/span><\/strong>Baptism itself does not change the heart of man; it is a symbol of the change that has taken place. A man might be baptized without faith, without repentance, and without a new heart. He might even be immersed after the example of Jesus, but he would simply come up a wet sinner instead of a dry one \u2014 still without faith, without repentance, without a new heart.<\/p>

          Baptism cannot make a new person. Neither can it change or regenerate anyone.<\/p>

          It is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that changes the heart in conversion.<\/p>

          One must be born of the Spirit as well as born of water.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Second: <\/span><\/strong><\/span>Baptism does not necessarily make a person feel better. It doesn\u2019t necessarily change his feelings. Some people are disappointed because they do not feel different after baptism. <\/p>

          Salvation is a matter not of feeling, but of faith and obedience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Third:<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Baptism does not remove temptations.\u00a0 The devil is not through with a person when he is baptized.<\/p>

          But Jesus is the helper of every believer. He says, \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d (Hebrews 13:5).<\/p>

          No temptation will come without a way of escape. This is the promise of Scripture (1 Corinthians 10:13).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Fourth:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Baptism does not guarantee salvation. It is not a magical rite.<\/p>

          Salvation comes only as a free gift from Jesus Christ when one experiences the new birth.<\/p>

          Baptism is a symbol of true conversion, and unless conversion precedes baptism, the ceremony is meaningless.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          15. Jesus asks you to be baptized as a symbol that your sins have been washed away. Would you like to plan for this sacred ordinance soon?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Your Answer:<\/p>

          \u00a0<\/p>

          \u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          If Jesus is speaking to you about baptism, do not put it off.<\/em><\/span>
          Baptism is a public expression of your desire to follow God fully.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

          \n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Are you tired of hurting your loved ones and wounding your conscience?\u00a0 Do you live in constant regret for your past mistakes?\u00a0 \u00a0Have you ever…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":12,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":142,"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":233,"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions\/233"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.melodiesofprayer.com\/1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}