Ordinance: the word stresses "what God has done" rather than: Sacrament - "a promise of what I will do. "

True ordinances were instituted in the Gospels, practiced in the Acts, and taught in the Epistles.

The Greek word "baptizo " means to dip or immerse. The Greek language has a word meaning to sprinkle (rantizo) which is used six times in the N. T. but never to signify baptism.

In Scripture, baptism always means that a new relationship has been established.

There are several types of baptism:

• Moses' baptism I Cor. 10:2 into Moses
• John's baptism Matt.3:11 into repentance
• Spirit baptism I Cor. 12:13 into the body of Christ
• Believer's baptism Matt. 28:19 into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Salvation - See Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:36-39, etc.

All persons baptized in the Acts or Epistles were first born again.

Matt. 28:1 8- 20 shows that a relationship with God has been established.

Rom. 6:1-4 explains that baptism is an identification with death, i. e. , the death of Christ.

NOTE: The mode of believer's baptism is immersion; not only because the word meaning demands it, and because this was the way it was practiced in the Scripture (cf. John 3:23; Acts 8:38- 39) but further, only by going under water and coming up out is a fitting symbol given of our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

1. baptism as joining one to a local church (but see Acts 2:41, 47).

2. baptism as a saving or meritorious act (rather it is the answer of a good conscience toward God, I Pet. 3:21).

3. infant baptism.

4. performed by one who is "ordained. "