1. What is Holy Baptism?

 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost!" - Saint Matthew 28, 19.

 The Sacrament of Baptism is the act of sprinkling, pouring, or applying upon a person water in the name of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

2. What is the meaning of the word"baptize"?

 "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins," - Acts 22, 16.

 "Baptize" means to apply water, by washing, pouring, sprinkling, or immersing.

3. What makes Baptism a Sacrament?

 Baptism is not simply water, but it is a divine means of grace.

 a. Because in Baptism water is used by a special command of God.

 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them." - Saint Matthew 28, 19.

 b. Because the water is applied in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and is thus connected with God's Word.

 "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." - Saint Matthew 28, 19.

4. Who instituted Holy Baptism?

 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." - Saint Matthew 28, 19-20.

 God Himself instituted Baptism, for Christ commanded His Church to baptize all nations.

5. Who is to perform Baptism?

 "Let a man so account of us, as of the minister of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." - 1 Corinthians 4, 1.

 Baptism is usually carried out through the called ministers of Christ.  However, in an emergency and in the absence of the pastor, any Christian should baptize.

6. Who is to be baptized?

 All nations, that is, all human beings, young and old, are to be baptized.

 "They that gladly received His word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2, 41.

 Those who can receive instruction are to be baptized after they have been instructed in the doctrines of the Christian faith.

 "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." - Ephesians 6, 4.

 Little children should be baptized.  They are to be brought to Baptism by those who have authority over them.

7. How do we know that infants, too, are to be baptized?

 "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." - Acts 2, 38-39.

 First, of all, infants are included in the words "all nations."

 "They brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." - Saint Mark 10, 13-15.

 Second, Holy Baptism is the only means whereby infants, who, too, must be born again, can ordinarily be brought to the faith.

 "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." - Saint Matthew 18, 6.

 Third, infants, too, can believe.

8. What great blessings does Baptism bring?

 "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.

 First of all, it works forgiveness of sins.

 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6, 3.

 Second, it delivers from death and the devil.

 "Baptism doth also now save us," - First Saint Peter 3, 21.

 Third, it gives eternal salvation.

9. Can anyone be saved without Baptism?

 "The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him." - Saint Luke 7, 30.

 It is unbelief alone that damns.  While Baptism is a divine institution and ordinance, we must not regard iot as absolutely necessary, in the sense that no one can obtain forgiveness of sins and be saved who has not received this Sacrament.

10. How is it that water can do the great things which it does in whole Baptism?

 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3, 5-7.

 It is not the water, in and by itself, which does them, but the Word of God which is in and with the water and faith, which trusts such Word of God in the water.

11. What is the significance or meaning of Baptism?

 "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 should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6, 3-4.

 Baptizing with water shows that our old sinful nature should, by daily repentance, be drowned and die with the sins and evil lusts, and that the new man should daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and holiness forever.

Test Paper - Lesson 20

1. In your own words describe what Holy Baptism is ....................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

2. What would you answer to the objection that the simple application of water will not save anyone? ........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

3. Give a Bible passage which states who instituted Holy Baptism ................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

4. Check which of the following statements are true:
 a. Baptism is normally performed by the Christian pastor.
 b. Baptism may never be performed by a layman.
 c. In an emergency any Christian can and should baptize.

5. Give any two reasons why you believe that infants, too, are to be baptized.
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

6. Complete the following Bible passage: "Baptism .......................................................................
................................................................................." - 1 Saint Peter 3, 21

7. Explain in your own words what the significance or meaning of Baptism is ...............................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

8. Complete the following Bible passage, containing our Savior's great missionary command: "God ye therefore and teach ......................................................., ................................................
............................,........................................................................................................................,
..........................................................................................." - Saint Matthew 28, 19

9. Is the following statement true or false: The power of Baptism does not lie in the water, but in the command and promise of God which accompanies the water ..................................................

10. Give a Bible passage stating who is to be baptized ..................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.