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3. Question: Is there a Biblical pattern for baptism set forth in the New Testament which we are to use in the evangelization process?
Answer: Yes! Because at the beginning of His earthly Ministry after Jesus was water baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit immediately descended upon Him in the form of a dove. So it would appear that by His example, Jesus taught that believing God’s Word, being water baptized and being filled with the Holy Spirit are all three very important aspects of coming into the fullness of one’s salvation experience.
We must also remember that He set the Biblical pattern for evangelizing before He ascended into heaven when He commanded the Apostles saying:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20
Here we find all three aspects of the Gospel Message to: Believe, to be baptized and to be filled. For Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Followed by the description of such being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit; thus, enabling them to: cast out devils, speak in new tongues, overcome death, and to heal the sick. And again, in the book of Luke we read:
“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49
Here again is the same commission to Preach “repentance” and “remission of sins” followed by the promise of them being filled with the Holy Spirit. And in confirmation of this commission to Preach the Gospel, we find that on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter (Preaching under the power of the Holy Ghost) established this pattern as well when he Preached saying: “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.”
“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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:38-41
In conclusion: There is indeed undeniable evidence that one must “believe” and thus, “repent” before “being baptized.” And that it is indeed God’s will for Believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
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