Men's Bible Study

We had an excellent bible study this morning, looking at baptism (see the material below). Unfortunately we were not able to use the container as there was some building work on the go but we managed to cram into Michael's house. as it turned out we had all been baptised as consenting believers which is excellent.

Michael as ever was on a slightly different tangent to the rest of us and asked a brilliant question. He wanted to know whether or not it was better to be baptised in a river as the water was flowing which would stop the person being baptised from 'picking up' other's sins from the water. We had a healthy discussion around this issue and we think Michael grasped the point that our sins are dealt with at the point of repentance and that baptism is symbolic rather than literal.

Below is the material we used as the basis for our study, we hope it gives you a feel if the kind of things we are doing. This term we are looking at the basics of the Christian faith such as How do I know I'm saved? Prayer, what is it and how do we do it? The church, why should we bother?

Water Baptism

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matteus 28:19 Gaan dan na al die nasies toe en maak die mense my dissipels: doop hulle in die Naam van die Vader en die Seun en die Heilige Gees
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Handelinge 2:38 Toe antwoord Petrus hulle: "Bekeer julle en laat elkeen van julle gedoop word in die Naam van Jesus Christus, en God sal julle sondes vergewe en julle sal die Heilige Gees as gawe ontvang.

Reasons to be baptised:
1. Jesus was and we should follow his example.
2. We should obey the command of scripture (Acts 2:38).
3. Going down into water and coming up out of it is symbolic of your old self dying and the new self being raised up! It is simply the outward sign of the inward change that has happened in our hearts (Romans 6:4-5).
4. It is the way to PUBLICLY show your commitment to Jesus (Romans 10:9)
5. Many people testify that at their baptism God gave them a new strength and courage in their Christian Life.

Other helpful verses:
Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Matteus 3:16 Jesus is toe gedoop en het dadelik daarna uit die water gekom. Meteens het die hemel bokant Hom oopgegaan, en Hy het die Gees van God soos 'n duif sien neerdaal en op Hom kom.

Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Markus 16:15-16 Hy het vir hulle gesê: "Gaan uit, die hele wêreld in, en verkondig die evangelie aan die hele mensdom. Wie tot geloof gekom het en gedoop is, sal gered word; wie nie glo nie, sal veroordeel word.