Baptism:

1. Baptism: Unwatered-down Lesson 5: A Study of Acts 22:16

2. Baptism: Unwatered-downWhat are we talking about? • By Definition—Immersion in Water • An Important Bible Subject • The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5) • A Serious Study! • Water baptism of the Great Commission is tied in some way to salvation. That’s undeniable! • WHAT IS IT’S PURPOSE? • What does it have to do (if anything) with my salvation?

3. Notice the place of baptism in Mt. 28 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • It is used as a present participle. • It is essential in becoming a Christian. • It is humanly administered. • It is “into the name of F, S, HS.” Baptism is essential to becoming a Christian & being in a new relationship with God!

4. Notice the place of baptism in Mk. 16 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • Grammatically, it identifies who’s saved. • The coordinating conjunction makes it essential. • It is an aorist participle. • It is placed, in order, before salvation. • It is as simple as a verse can be. Baptism is essential to being saved from sin!

5. Notice the place of baptism in Acts 2 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • It is in THE answer to their question. • It is as essential as repentance (AND). • It is required by the authority of Christ. • It is “FOR” the remission of sins. • It is placed, in order, before remission. • The response shows its essentiality. • It is as simple as a verse can be. Baptism is essential to obtain the remission of sins!

6. Mt. 28:18-20 Be baptized Christian New rela. w/ God Sinner Mk. 16:15-16 Believe Be Baptized Saved from sins Acts 2:38 Repent Be Baptized Remission of sins

7. “Bapt-” words in N.T. = 114 times in 91 verses Mt. 3:1 Mt. 28:19 Lk. 3:12 Jn. 1:33 Ac. 8:38 Ro. 6:3 Mt. 3:6 Mk. 1:4 Lk. 3:16 Jn. 3:22 Ac. 9:18 Ro. 6:4 Mt. 3:7 Mk. 1:5 Lk. 3:21 Jn. 3:23 Ac. 10:37 1Co. 1:13 Mt. 3:11 Mk. 1:8 Lk. 7:20 Jn. 3:26 Ac. 10:47 1Co. 1:14 Mt. 3:13 Mk. 1:9 Lk. 7:28 Jn. 4:1 Ac. 10:48 1Co. 1:15 Mt. 3:14 Mk. 6:14 Lk. 7:29 Jn. 4:2 Ac. 11:16 1Co. 1:16 Mt. 3:16 Mk. 6:24 Lk. 7:30 Jn. 10:40 Ac. 13:24 1Co. 1:17 Mt. 11:11 Mk. 6:25 Lk. 7:33 Ac. 1:5 Ac. 16:15 1Co. 10:2 Mt. 11:12 Mk. 8:28 Lk. 9:19 Ac. 1:22 Ac. 16:33 1Co. 12:13 Mt. 14:2 Mk. 10:38 Lk. 12:50 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 18:8 1Co. 15:29 Mt. 14:8 Mk. 10:39 Lk. 20:4 Ac. 2:41 Ac. 18:25 Gal. 3:27 Mt. 16:14 Mk. 11:30 Jn. 1:25 Ac. 8:12 Ac. 19:3 Eph. 4:5 Mt. 17:13 Mk. 16:16 Jn. 1:26 Ac. 8:13 Ac. 19:4 Col. 2:12 Mt. 20:22 Lk. 3:3 Jn. 1:28 Ac. 8:16 Ac. 19:5 Heb. 6:2 Mt. 20:23 Lk. 3:7 Jn. 1:31 Ac. 8:36 Ac. 22:16 1Pet. 3:21 Mt. 21:25

8. Baptism: Unwatered-down Let’s Study What the Bible Says! Ro. 6:3 Ro. 6:4 Ac. 8:38 1Co. 1:13 Ac. 9:18 Ac. 10:47 1Co. 1:14 Ac. 10:48 1Co. 1:15 Ac. 11:16 1Co. 1:16 1Co. 1:17 Ac. 16:15 Ac. 16:33 1Co. 12:13 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 18:8 Ac. 2:41 Gal. 3:27 Mt. 28:19 Ac. 8:12 Eph. 4:5 Mk. 16:16 Ac. 8:13 Col. 2:12 Ac. 8:16 Ac. 19:5 Ac. 8:36 Ac. 22:16 1Pet. 3:21

9. Baptism: Unwatered-downThe Conversion of Saul – The Setting • Saul, the persecutor of the Way (Acts 8 & 9) • He was a sinner—lost & condemned in his sins • Determined to work contrary to Jesus (Ac. 26:9) • He did it all with a good conscience (Acts 23:1) • On his way to Damascus with letters to persecute • Conversion of Saul is one of the most significant events in the history of the early church. • Many believe that Saul was converted while on that road. What does the Bible say?

10. Baptism: Unwatered-downThe Conversion of Saul – Acts 9, 22, 26 Ac 22:6 "Now it happened, as [he] journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around [him]. 7 "And [he] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to [him], 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?‘ 8 "So [he] answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.‘ 9:6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 9:9-11 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank…for behold, he is praying. 22:12-13 "Then a certain Ananias…came to [him]; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' 9:18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; 22:16 Then [Ananias] said…'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' 9:18 Immediately…he arose and was baptized.

11. When Was Saul Saved? • When Jesus appeared to him? • No, for he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” • If he was saved, it was before he knew who Jesus was! • When Jesus told him who He was? • No, for he asked, “What do you want me to do?” • If he was saved, he didn’t know it! • When Jesus told him what to do? • “Arise, go into city, you will be told what you must do.” • If he was saved, Jesus didn’t know it! • While in the city, blind, fasting & praying? • If so, it was before his question was answered and before the gospel (with its terms of salvation) was preached to him. • If saved, he’s the most miserable saved man in the Bible! • Before Ananias came and preached to him? • “Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins” • If he was saved, Ananias didn’t know it! • Before he was baptized? • If so, he was saved from his sins before they were washed away! • Then, the words of the Bible mean nothing and prove nothing!

12. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16Acts 9:6 “Lord, what do You want me to do?” The Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” • Jesus made baptism a “must.” • Must = “obligated, bound, necessary, required” • Whatever Ananias would tell Saul to do was a “must” in the mind and words of Jesus. • Ananias did not tell him: • That he was already saved by the grace of God • That his prayers saved him • That he needed to recite “The Sinner’s Prayer” • Why didn’t Jesus tell Saul Himself directly? • God uses men to tell (1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Cor. 4:7) must

13. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ why are you waiting? 2. The “must do” came with urgency. • An immediate response was necessary! • Saul had been waiting in the city for 3 days. • Ananias asks, “Why are you waiting?” = Don’t wait anymore! • As soon as Saul heard the gospel message, “Immediately… he arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18). • Why did he do that? Why the rush if Ananias’ words had nothing to do with salvation?

14. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ be baptized 3. It is singled out/given a special place. • Baptism is commanded! It is the “must do.” • Why would baptism be commanded in the “what you must do” that Ananias delivered to Saul if it really wasn’t the “must do”? • If, as is commonly asserted, baptism is no different than any other Christian “work” or Christian “obedience,” why is it singled out? • Why not “arise & do good to others” or “pray without ceasing” or “visit orphans & widows”?

15. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ be baptized wash away your sins AND 4. One imperative tied directly to another • Both are imperatives = commands • Both are aorist imperatives in the Greek • Indicating a command needing instantaneous action • Both are in the middle voice in the Greek • Conveys the idea of individual responsibility (lit. “get yourself baptized” and “get your sins washed away”) • “And” = coor. conj. joins two equals syntactically • Two imperatives • One he could do • One he could only effect by the one he could do

16. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ be baptized wash away your sins AND 5. Inseparably tied to “wash away sins” • Passage implies Saul still had his sins! • Saul believed in Jesus & His resurrection, but… • Saul had evidently changed & grown penitent, but… • HE STILL HAD HIS SINS! Not forgiven yet! • Ananias could have used an aorist participle—”be baptized, having had sins washed away.” • He’s commanded to do something he cannot. • Impossible for Saul to wash his own sins away (only done by the blood of Jesus—1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5) • Except the washing was dependent on baptism Why?

17. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ be baptized wash away your sins calling 6. The “calling” takes place in baptism. • Should not assume “calling” and “be baptized” are mutually exclusive • “Calling” is an aorist participle, pointing back to the main verb as the means or manner in which the command is carried out • What is “calling on the name of the Lord”? • It cannot be merely calling out to the Lord in a verbal plea, for Jesus condemned appeals that stopped there (Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46). • Same word by Paul in appealing to Caesar (Ac. 25). on the name of the Lord

18. What is “calling on the name of the Lord”? Rom. 10:13-17 Sent Preacher Heard Believed Call Saved Acts 2:21 Call Saved • Was Saul saved before he called on the name of the Lord? • “Calling” is an additional step beyond faith. • Baptism itself is the means by which a sinner calls upon the Lord for salvation from sin (it is God who cleanses us). Acts 2:37-38 Peter was sent Peter said Heard Believed Repent & baptized Remission of sins Mark 16:15-16 Go Preach (Hear) Believes Baptized Saved Acts 22:12-16 Ananias came Ananias said Heard (Believed) Baptized (calling) Wash away sins 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism (appeal) Saves

19. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ be baptized be baptized wash away your sins wash away your sins 7. It is placed, in order, before washing. • God placed baptism before washing away sins • When Ananias spoke these words to Saul, what order do you suppose Saul thought? • My sins are already washed away, so I should be baptized (it’s the right thing to do). • My sins need to be washed away, and I “must” be baptized before and in order for that to happen. • Anyone who says otherwise, changes His order.

20. Answering Objections Someone says: “But Saul called Jesus ‘Lord’ when He appeared to him on the road, so he must have been saved right there, not when baptized.” • The word “Lord” was used to recognize a superior (which a bright light from heaven would be!). • “Lord” was a usual term of respectful address, which was on occasion a rough equivalent to our word “Sir.” • At this point, Saul doesn’t even know or recognize Jesus—that’s why He asks, “Who are you, Lord?”

21. Answering Objections Someone says: “But Ananias called Saul, ‘Brother Saul,’ which must have meant that he was his brother in Christ already before being baptized.” • Ananias was a Jew. • Saul was a Jew. • It was VERY common for Jews to refer to each other as “brother” or “brethren”: • Peter on Pentecost (Acts 2:29; cf. 3:17, 22) • The Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:37) • Paul to Jewish mob (Acts 22:1, 5; cf. Rom. 9:3) • Paul to chief priests and Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1) • Cf. Acts 7:2, 23; 13:15, 26, 38; 23:5-6; 28:17, 21; Luke 6:42; Hebrews 7:5, etc.

22. Answering Objections Someone says: “Doesn’t the case of Saul’s conversion prove the efficacy of “The Sinner’s Prayer” in saving a man from his sin?” • No! • Refer back to the previous seven points made. • The passage does not mention or even imply (nor does any other New Testament passage) any such thing as “The Sinner’s Prayer.” • If Saul’s praying is equivalent to “The Sinner’s Prayer,” why did it take God 3 days to answer? • The truth is, when Ananias arrived on the scene, Saul still had his sins and he gave only one solvent that would remove them—baptism!

23. Answering Objections Someone says: “The scales fell from Saul’s eyes when he accepted Jesus, and that was proof that he was then saved, before he was baptized.” • Where does it say that Saul accepted Jesus? • Something literally falling from someone’s eyes is not the same as being saved from sins. • Physical sight being restored has nothing to do with remission of sins. • Where is the verse that ties these concepts together? It doesn’t exist.

24. Answering Objections Someone says: “But water does not and cannot wash away sins, so baptism cannot be necessary for salvation.” • It is absolutely true that water does not and cannot wash away sins. God never said it did nor should anyone else. • It is the blood of Jesus that washes away sins (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). The question is, “When?” • Baptism is not the washing of sins. • Baptism is not the remission of sins (cf. Ac. 2:38). • One follows the other. Baptism is the means by which sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. • Baptism stands between the sinner & the washing away of sins in Jesus’ blood. (Neither does faith or repentance!)

25. Answering Objections Someone says: “Saul received the Holy Spirit before his baptism, thus he must have been saved before he was baptized.” • First of all, the text does not say any of that. • The text does not tell us when Saul received the Holy Spirit. • The text only tells us that he received his physical sight at the hands of Ananias. • But, even if he did receive the Holy Spirit, it does not change the command that Ananias gave to Saul, nor its purpose! (You cannot make a text say something different and even contradictory to what it actually and obviously says!)

26. Interesting! We read in Acts 2:37-38 of Peter being asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” And the answer being given, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” We read in Acts 9:6 of Paul asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” And the answer being given in Acts 22:16, “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” Same question! Same answer! Does any preacher or any person today have a right to provide a different answer to this same question?

27. Notice the place of baptism in Ac. 22:16 • Jesus made baptism a “must.” • The “must do” came with urgency. • It is singled out/given a special place. • One imperative tied directly to another • Inseparably tied to “wash away sins” • The “calling” takes place in baptism. • It is placed, in order, before washing. Baptism is essential to wash away sins!

28. Mt. 28:18-20 Be baptized Christian New rela. w/ God Sinner Mk. 16:15-16 Believe Be baptized Saved from sins Acts 2:38 Repent Be baptized Remission of sins Wash away sins Acts 22:16 Be baptized