Page 86 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Question: What are the steps of salvation as we turn in saving faith to Jesus?
Answer: The steps of salvation are
(1) Repentance: Being sorry for my sin and turning from my sin to Jesus.
(2) Faith: Accepting Jesus as my Savior.
(3) Confession: Publicly declaring my faith in Jesus.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BAPTIZED

The “doctrines” of a church are its beliefs and teachings. The “ordinances” of a church are its observances,
called “ordinances” because Christ commanded or “ordered” them. In a New Testament church there are two
“ordinances.” These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism is a burial and a resurrection. We are buried with Christ in the likeness of His death and we are raised
with Christ in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:23; Colossians 2:12: Galatians 3:27). It shows forth
three things:

1. It portrays or pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
2. It portrays or pictures our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life in Christ.
3. It proclaims our faith. Our faith is that if we die and are buried, we shall be raised from the dead by the
power of the Lord.

Baptism is the first of the two church ordinances. It is the doorway into the church. We are all baptized by the
Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. The body of Christ is His church. Water baptism portrays that work of the
Spirit that adds us to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

In whose name are we commanded to be baptized? In the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:19). In Acts 8:26-39, the first thing the eunuch wanted to do after he heard the gospel of Jesus
was to be baptized (Acts 8:36).

The only requirement he had to meet before he could be baptized was to believe in Jesus with all his heart. (Acts
8:37), according to Acts 2:31; 10:44-48. Those who have repented of their sins and have accepted Jesus Savior.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: Who baptized Jesus?
Answer: John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:1)

Question: Where was Jesus baptized?”
Answer: In the Jordan River. (Matthew 3:13)

Question: Why was Jesus baptized?
Answer: To fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)

Question: What is baptism?
Answer: It is a burial and a resurrection. (Colossians 2:12)

Question: What is the meaning of baptism?
Answer: It pictures three things: (Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:27)
1. It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
2. It pictures our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life in Christ.
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