Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Introduction:
Baptism is one of the two significant and important ordinances given by Jesus Christ for his Church to practice. The other of course, being the Lord's Supper.
     A. Through Satan's deception, some have offered an easier form of administering baptism.
     B. Some have corrupted the purpose and teach that it saves.
     C. And yet others have all but done away with it, attempting to make their religion gratifying for the flesh.
     D. Students of church history and the history of Theology affirm that more controversy has arisen over the subject of
          baptism than any other specific doctrine.  I want to present five Biblical qualifications for Scriptural baptism.
I. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST HAVE A PROPER SUBJECT; ONE WHO HAS BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
     A. Baptism is only for repentant sinners who have received Christ as their Savior. Notice the record of John the
          Baptist,  (Mat 3:1-2, 5-9) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying,
          Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
     B. The Words of Jesus, (Mark 1:14-15) "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching
          the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
          believe the gospel."
     C. Born again Believers are the only fit subjects for baptism. Notice
         1. The Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:36-37.
         2. Acts 16:29-33 tells us the story of the Philippian jailer, who trusted Christ as his Saviour and then was baptized, he
             and all his after they were saved.
         3. Acts 18:8 tells us that Crispus, a chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house and with many
             of the believing Corinthians, were baptized.
     D. Without exception, in the New Testament, baptism was only administered upon those that had repented of their sin and
          received Christ as their personal Savior.
II. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM DEMANDS A PROPER MODE OR MANNER, WHICH IS IMMERSION.
     A. Mode deals with the method of Scriptural baptism.
         1. If there was more than one way for baptism to be administered the Word of God would have revealed it to us in the
             Scriptures. But He did not.
     B. Every Greek lexicon will tell you that the meaning of baptize is to place under, to immerse and thus the Scriptures
          confirm.
         1. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory
             of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)
         2. Buried with him in baptism,...(Col 2:12)
         3. Baptism is an act signifying the burial to an old life and the resurrection to the new life of worship and service.
         4. Just as circumcision was a required token of the Old Testament covenant and had to be observed before an Israelite
             could approach God in appropriate service and worship.
             a. Even so baptism is the sign of the New Testament church covenant, and one must bear the token of the covenant 
                 in order to render appropriate worship and service to God.
     C. Every Scripture example was by the mode of immersion.
         1. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
             and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" (Mat 3:16)
         2. "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him
             no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39)
             a. Baptism pictures a burial and speaks of the Believer's death to the rule and reign of sin over his life.
             b. Baptism illustrates the new life of the Believer as he rises from the watery grave to walk in that newness of life he
                 has in Christ. (Rom 6:4) "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised 
                 up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
III. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM DEMANDS A PROPER PURPOSE, THAT PURPOSE IS OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST DECLARING I'M SAVED, IT IS NOT AN EFFORT TO GET SAVED.
     A. The religious world is in a state of confusion as to why one should be baptized.
         1. Some make baptism necessary for salvation, stating that you must have theirs or go to Hell. Such a statement is a lie!
             a. The thief on the Cross-was promised a place in Paradise, yet he had no baptism. Luke23: 43
         2. Others teach that it is the act of being baptized where one's sins are literally washed away, but the Scriptures declare
             that it is:...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son that cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
     B. If you were told that your baptism saved you, you were told a lie.
     C. If you were told that baptism was necessary for salvation, you were told a lie.
     D. The Scriptural purpose of baptism is to:
         1. Picture to the world that you have died to sin's rule and reign and authority over your life.
         2. That because you have received Christ as your Savior, your obedience and allegiance is now to him.
             a. You are willing to portray to the world that your intentions are to follow Christ and live for him.
IV. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST HAVE PROPER AUTHORITY FROM ONE OF THE LORD'S LOCAL, VISIBLE, AUTONOMOUS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES.
     A. Jesus founded His Church, in the days of his earthly ministry (1Co.12:28),
         1. He left it on earth as his Body (Eph.1:22-23)
         2. For a place (Heb.10: 25) where his followers could come, worship Him, fellowship with other believers, be spiritually
             encouraged.
         3. And receive divine instruction for spiritual maturity and strength against the wiles of the Devil.
         4. He used only the material prepared by John the Baptist and had his baptism.
         5. That was John's ministry for he came to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17
     B. His Churches are distinct from all the man-made churches that exist.
         1. His Churches preach Christ the only true Savior, holy, harmless and undefiled. Acts 4:12
         2. His Churches preach that such as received him are saved eternally and kept by the power of God. John 1:12 (1 Pet
            1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten
            us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and
            undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
            salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.)
         3. His churches preach and practice that only Believers are to be baptized.
             a. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
                 of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
             b. "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
                 Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37)
     B. Baptist reject baptisms by those organizations who had their beginnings this side of Calvary and who have a founder
         other than Christ.
         1. Such cannot possibly be the Lord's churches.
         2. This is the reason that Baptist do not accept those who have been baptized by other organizations even those that
             have been immersed.
V. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM MUST HAVE A PROPER ADMINISTER, AN ORDAINED BAPTIST PREACHER.
     A. All baptisms administered in the New Testament were administered by ordained preachers, including
          Philip.  Acts 21:8
     B. You may be saved that's known only to you and the Lord.
     C. You may be sincere in your worship and I could not question that.
         1. But, you do not have Scriptural baptism unless it meets these Biblical qualifications.
     D. The Authority for baptism lies in the Lord's New Testament churches only.
         1. No one has the right to take upon himself the privilege of baptizing anyone apart from the authority of one of the
             Lord's churches.
         2. This ordinance was given to the Lord's churches and it can only be acted upon by his churches.
CONCLUSION:  Do You Have Scriptural Baptism?  It mattered to Jesus as to who baptized him and why he was baptized and how it was administered. It ought to matter to you.