Matthew 3v6: And were baptized of him [John] in Jordan confessing their sins.
Matthew 3v13-17: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of Him. But John forbade Him, saying "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. 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: And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
John 1v31-33: And I knew Him [Jesus] not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove and it abode upon Him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spririt descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

We start with the Lord's baptism. Jesus never asks His followers to do something He hasn't already done. In the first verse we read that all that came unto John confessed their sins. We do not read of Jesus confessing His sins for He had none to confess. This is confirmed by the Holy Spirit descending upon Him and the Father's voice. Notice that he came up straightway out of the water, so he must have gone down into it first, so I would take it this was baptism by full emersion and not just a sprinkling.

Acts 8v36-39: And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? 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". And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him. 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

Here we have Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip had just preached Christ from Isaiah 53 unto the Eunuch. The Ethiopian eunuch recognised his need of baptism and asks Philip if there is anything to stop him. Philip asks him if he believes with all his heart (Philip didn't want a false confession from the mouth or the head but one from the heart). The Eunuch replies that he does believe. Notice that they went down both into the water and then came up out of the water. If this was just sprinkling then they wouldn't have both needed to go down into the water.

Romans 6v3-4: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. 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.
Colossians 2v10-12: And ye are complete in him [Jesus], which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Here Paul tells us what baptism is a symbol of. As one goes down into the water they are linking themselves with Christ's death and burial. Then as they come up out of the water they are linking themselves with Christ's resurrection. It is a symbol of our death to our old selves and our newness of life in Christ.

Acts 9v18: And immediately there fell from his [Saul/Paul's] eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Here we read of Saul (the apostle Paul) having already been Saved, being baptized.

Acts 10v47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Luke 23v43: And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

In the first verse here, Peter has just been preaching to Cornelius of Ceaesarea, his kinsmen and near friends. They have already received the Holy Ghost, and then baptism is mentioned. Peter asks if any man can forbid water and then they are baptized. The thief is accepted into Heaven without having being baptized.

Matthew 28v19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The Lord Jesus commands the disciples not only to teach the nations about Him but also to baptize them, so the responsibility is not just on the believer but also the believers they know.

Mark 16v16: He that is believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

This verse tells us that those that believe and are baptized shall be saved. Those that don't believe shall be damned. It does not say that those who are not baptized are damned, it only says those that are not belivers. The thief on the cross was not baptized before he went to paradise, but he still went.

So to conclude, it is clear from Scripture that baptism is a sign of our salvation. The responsibility is on the believer when they are ready to be baptized. The responsibility is also on the rest of us, to carry it out, for we are commanded by the Lord to do so.

So to conclude. It is clear from Scripture that one someone was baptized, they went down into the water and then came up out of it, pointing to baptism by full emersion. It is a symbol of our Salvation linking as with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. However, it does not save us, for the thief on the cross wasn't baptized and yet went to Paradise. In Act 10v47 we read of those who have already received the Holy Ghost, then being baptized, so we do not receive the Holy Ghost at baptism (we receive Him on Salvation). The only reason for hinder a person for baptism is in Acts 8, and that is if they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart.

Now read What saith the Scriptures
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