"Church Community: Streaming the Grace Benefits of the Gospel Through Baptism"

Romans 6:1-11; 1 Peter 3:15-21; Colossians 2:8-15; Galatians 3:26-27

1. Baptism is a public declaration by those who have faith in Christ that they are truly trusting in Christ, that they are united with Christ, and that they have committed themselves to Christ, Galatians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25, Romans 6:1-5; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13, 36, 38; 10:47; 16:14, 15, 33, 34; 18:8.

2. Believers baptism is an act of obedience to Christ's command, Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 14:37.

3. Baptism is a physical and spiritual experience of the work of God in saving us, Romans 6:3-5; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14.

4. Baptism is the natural expression of repenting and believing in Christ, Acts 2:38; 8:35-36; 10:44-48; 16:33; Galatians 3:26-27.

5. Conversion and baptism are a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit experience, Matthew 28:16-20.

6. Baptism is the new covenant sign of the church/people of God.

7. Baptism is a public commitment to God to persevere in faith until the end, 1 Peter 3:21.

John Owen describes baptism as “a solemn pledge of our entrance into Covenant with God, and of our giving up ourselves unto him in the solemn bond of religion.” D. A. Carson has described baptism as “a sign of both entrance into the Messiah’s covenant community and of pledged submission to his Lordship.”

Discussion questions

1. Ask members of the group to tell their conversion and baptism story. Does infant baptism count in light of #1, 2, and 4? Why or why not?
2. Why is the fellowship of the local church more lasting, intimate, cherished, warm, comfortable, profound [add other appropriate adjectives] than your group of friends that meets at Starbucks on Wednesdays?
3. How is our union with the others members of TACC similar or different than our union with Christ?
4. Can the remembrances of your baptism be a means of assurance that you are a believer?
5. Does anybody in your group want to be baptized? Need to be baptized?